1William Tatham to William Short, 20 September 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Ship America at Sea, 20 Sep. 1788 . Sends this letter by a “Monsr. La’ritz,” a French officer from Hispaniola who is on his way from Charleston to Dover and whom he wishes to introduce; sends also the “proceedings of Carolina in Convention on the Grand FŒdral Question. I am allso to return my sincere thanks to Mr. Jefferson and Yourself. I stand indebted for Freindship not heretofore fully...
2[To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 5 October 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
[[5 Oct. 1788 . Recorded in SJL Index, but not found. See William Tatham to TJ, under 1 Dec. 1789.]]
3To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, [1 December 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
I am just inform’d of Your Arrival and that You are expected in Richmond. I am confined to my Bed but that shall not prevent me from being among the first to congratulate You on your Return to Your Native Land, because I do it in sincerity. I am told You came by way of London. I hope You receiv’d a Packet from me at that Place (tho’ I rather imprudently made it an object with a Boat Man at...
4To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 17 February 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
In hopes an opportunity may offer this week to Monticello, I shall embrace it to solicit Your Patronage and assistance in a business [to] which I have turned my attention till something of greater moment may offer thro’ the channel I consulted you about before you left us. I have in view two objects, the first a map of the southern division of the United States, including all to the southward...
5To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 1 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Colol. Monroe will afford me an Opertunity of sending a Power in the buisiness of my Map; and I allso take the liberty of sending one for Mr. Short, and one for Mr. Skipwith: leaving the Propriety of forwarding them to Your own choice. Conscious how much the Public concerns must engage Your Attention; I wish it to be understood that I am not solicitous to intrude my private buisiness on Your...
6To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 15 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond ,] 15 Aug. 1791 . Mr. Ross and himself, in pursuance of TJ’s proposals for a western post, dispatch his brother to “form Contracts and Arrangement to the North Fork of Holston agreable to your Plan.” He has also set on foot a subscription among merchants, hoping “some Man of enterprize … may be dispos’d to engage in pushing the Matter as far as possible.—This will probably produce a...
7To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, [before 26 August 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
I will make no appology for this intrusion on the first hours of your leisure; for you are no stranger to my zeal in the service of that Country, to whose prosperity you have devoted your own labours. It is therefore proper to consult You in what concerns the National wellfare; and certainly it is of great moment to bring speedily forward, the arrearages of Virginia on the score of its...
8To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 9 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just inform’d that You will certainly be at Alexandria the 17th. Inst. on the business of the federal City, and the hopes I had entertain’d of seeing You here is vanishd. It wou’d have given me great pleasure to have consulted You on my several objects in pursuit of general utility: as it is; and the Virginia Assembly so near at hand, your knowledge of my singular situation will plead a...
9To George Washington from William Tatham, 1 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
Although a knowledge that I am at this place and have possessed the confidence of the Minister in bearing his Dispatches to his Court will be matter of surprize and suspicion to the Enemies of good order when communicated to America (as it will be thro’ various channels,) I have a persuasion that I possess too much of your good opinion to be censured there unless accusation and conviction of a...
10To Alexander Hamilton from William Tatham, 2 May 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Being fully satisfied that the sentiments of our two very young Representitives in this Country holding the appointments of Charge de Affairs and Consul, of the United States are so different from those you have openly avowed that you will not be amongst the number of their correspondents, a knowledge of your public Character without a personal acquaintance induces me to communicate to you...
11To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 1 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
By inclosing to you authentic documents concerning the late inestimable discovery of the Life-Boat , which has been introduced into full practice, in saving the crews of vessels wrecked amidst the most tremendous Breakers of this coast, I acquit myself of a duty to my fellow Citizens and to my country. I flatter myself this contrivance will be found of great use on the Jersey coast, such...
12To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 17 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
During several Years absence, & a month since my arrival here, I have felt myself precluded from paying the respects of a sincere friend to you, in person, on account of information communicated to me by Genl. Henry Lee, (while Governor of Virginia) accompanied by the return of a letter of mine unanswered, that, “I had so intruded on you, the last time, we met at Richmond in Virginia, that you...
13To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 22 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Trivial circumstances sometimes produce great ends:—You mentioned; yesterday after Dinner, your wish that some person would invent a means of facilitating the passage of your decanters round the table. I will engage to furnish you one, in a few days, which shall afford an useful lesson in the public economy of our Country; and it can no where else be so happily introduced. It shall be cheap,...
14IV. William Tatham to William Armistead Burwell, 13 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with your request, I have endeavoured to charge my recollection more minutely, concerning the particulars of my intercourse with Mr. Jefferson (at present the President of the United States) at several times while the British Army were in Virginia, in and about the year 1781. At the time General Arnold arrived within the Capes, I was preparing for a journey from Richmond, on...
15To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 15 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
W. Tatham’s Compts. to the President—He has written to Messrs. Learmonth’s & Berry, (the House he is concerned for) Merchts. in London, for a Camera Obscura for the President’s use, to be made as elegantly Plain as possible, by the best Workmen, with spare Glasses of several focuses, Diagonal Head, &c, compleat.—It will be paid for out of W.Ts own private Monies in the Companies hands; but he...
16To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 13 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I lament your going away, at this time, exceedingly; as I am fearful the Secretary of the Navy has too many delicate Scruples to close with me on any ground. I am summoned, by a letter from my Counsel in Carolina, to attend to an important Case where I have the Dfdt. on Sp[ecia]l. B[ai]l. by origl. attachment: If no arrangement is now made, I cannot leave my cumbersome baggage behind me; & to...
17To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 6 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inform You that I am thus far on my way to the Southward, having in vain spent the best part of the year, at great expence, without any thing conclusive with the Secretary of the Navy. I beg leave to state to you Sir, nevertheless, that, if that Naval department is designed to exist, there seems to be an Auxiliary one much needed: It should comprehend the economy of our...
18To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 29 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
You will have recieved Your Camera Obscura, which was sent from hence to Alexandria a few days ago, I understand, by Palmers Packet. It was opened at the Custom house, as was also the working drawings of a Seventy four of the latest improved British Construction, which I have found means to come at directly from the Navy office: had Mr. Smith treated me with that gentlemanly respect which I...
19To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 30 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Considering Capt. Hunter’s proposition, herewith inclosed an acquisition to the United States, I became the bearer with a desire to second the application in person, under favorable impressions; and ready to speak to such facts as might be enquired of me so far as I had knowledge. Procrastination by indisposition must appologize to the Government, & to Capt. Hunter, for the delay which has...
20To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 24 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Recd. of the President of the United States (T. Jefferson) The Sum of Seventy Eight Dollars, Eighty four Cents; being the Sum calculated by Mr. Goldsburg on a reference to Colol. Stricker’s letter touching the amount without profit; & which will be at any time adjusted should any error have occurred. London Augt 16 1805 Invoice of Goods Shipped by Learmonths & Berry of London on account & risk...
21To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 25 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting herewith a tolerable correct Fac-simile of the Tomb of Ferdinand Columbus; which, I presume, will be deemed worthy of a place in that valuable repository The Transactions of the Philosophical Society . On my landing in Spain, in January 1796, I was at considerable pains to procure information concerning the great discoverer of this Western Continent. At...
22To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 4 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The declaration you were pleased to make yesterday at my Office, that, so soon as The Topographical surveys were completed, you felt disposed to transmit them to Mr. Aaron Arrowsmith (a London Geographer) for his use, renders it my duty to request, in the most serious & respectful manner, that you will suspend any determination on that subject till a relaxation from a pressure of business...
23To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 7 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
When you did me the honour to mention, the other day, the doubts you entertained concerning the correctness of the ordinary recieved opinions touching the effect of the latteral pressure of fluids acting on the interior of a leading main-pipe, I hesitated to give an immediate answer as to what instances (if any) had occurred to me, in a practical case, where the operation had been risqued...
24To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 26 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of your enquiry of me yesterday, touching the chase of the French Ship by Three Brittish Frigates, I have asked my servant (Joseph Harrison, a Black man of very exemplary truth integrity & confidence) what he reccolects of the circumstances involved in your question. We were four or five nights at Church’s Island, opposite the place where the Ship was burnt, and I flatter myself...
25To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 27 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The Atty. Genl. will have advised you that Mr. Burr left Fredricksburgh, in a Stage, for Richmond yesterday morning, & would be safe lodged there last Night. Mr. Rodney arrived at Fredricksburgh this morning, quite fatigued; & so soon as his dispatches were ready, I left Fredricksburgh about Nine, & my Servant is dispatched, fifteen Minutes ago on fresh Horses (per Post Masters) to deliver the...
26To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 12 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Rodney will have advised You, officially, of all which concerns the law proceedings against Colol. Burr &c.—As to my own part (subsisting with difficulty as I am obliged to do) I wish to be as little conspicuous as possible in a matter which I have not time to analize, much less to follow it up with my usual zeal. Some suspicious circumstances induce me to conjecture that, whatever may be...
27To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 1 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Official communications will have been made to You, from this place, touching proceedings respecting a Flag of Truce which arrived here last Friday, & was immediately ordered off. As I had just carted my boat from the North Landing (of which I gave you a descrip in my last) & arrived here at the very Moment the Flag vessel was sent away, I determined on following her down, to observe her...
28To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 3 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Just as I am closing this, Mr. Edward Roberts, a respectable person of this place, expeditiously from the Pleasure House, Lynnhaven Bay , reports the three British Ships to be under way—Wind at East— DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
29To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 4 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The perpetual anxiety which subsists here, to hear speedily from the Federal City, has induced me to submit to Your consideration the adoption of a public, & commercial , Tellagraph, in some plan similar to the idea transmitted. I would recommend the adoption of the following method vizt. [GRAPHIC IN MANUSCRIPT] As these numerical Characters are competent to denote any extent in Numbers, some...
30To Thomas Jefferson from William Tatham, 7 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Proclamation reached this place last night, was printed this Morning, & is gone to London. I presume, by this time, His B. Ms. Ships in the road have it; & they must recieve it as they please! I regret that we cannot draw a line between the duty & inclination of some of their Officers, whose hearts (I really believe) would join us in bringing Admiral Berkley to justice, for an...