Couple finds Thomas Jefferson letter at Old Town Alexandria's American Legion

In his letter, Jefferson opens with mention of the weather. He gives Barlow directions to Monticello, including places he'll find once he crosses the Georgetown Ferry.

Historians know this, without having seen the letter that was sent, because Jefferson made copies of many of his papers. Oberg checked Jefferson's copy of the July 1808 letter in New Jersey, and confirmed that there was no record of anyone having found the actual sent letter before now.

The letter also appears in a volume about Barlow, "The Life and Letters of Joel Barlow," compiled by Charles Burr Todd and digitized and published online by Google.

In his travel tips, Jefferson marks the good and bad establishments, and notes distances -- six miles to the "Fairfax Court House," the first stop, and then seven miles from Walton's Tavern, the last stop, to Monticello.

Jefferson closes:

"In the hope that nothing may intervene to deprive us of the pleasure of possessing Mrs Barlow and yourself here after presenting her my respects I salute you with friendship and great consideration TH JEFFERSON"

As for the letter Bennett found, a huge stain covers the paper. The date and reference to the weather are clearly visible, but the travel notes are faded. The page is split down the middle, where it was clearly folded.

Touching history

Bennett, who owns a private consulting business, and her husband, who works for the Pentagon, live in Lorton. She rarely stops into Post 24. That Friday she was nearby visiting a friend and decided to swing by.

After finding the letter, the couple called the National Archives and the Library of Congress, which eventually led them to Stypeck, and to Gary Eyler, who owns the Old Colony Shop in Alexandria and is an expert in early American manuscripts.

The next Tuesday, Bennett rushed into his shop.

"I'm not going to tell you what it is," she said. "I want you to tell me."