1From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 16 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Edwards, son of the Senator from Kentucky, goes to Williamsburg for the benefit of the law school in the college. He is a young man of understanding, considerable reading, and great avidity for knowlege. As such permit me to recommend him to your notice and patronage, and to your aid also in procuring books which generally forms one of the principal difficulties in the way of young...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 4 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
A person here imagines he has discovered a new property […] [magne]tic needle, which however, for want of a well-made dipping needle, he can[…] at least to my satisfaction. there is no such instrument at this plac[e. I] think I recollect to have [seen a] very fine one at your college. I must the[refore] take the liberty of solliciting you to make an experiment for us, which […] the less...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 13 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I take great Pleasure in transmitting the Result of the Experiment, which you wished to have made . The Instrument is delicate, & appears well formed. The Needle, which is 9 Inches in Length, is supported as usual, by a transverse Axis; but each Extremity of the Axis rests upon three small Friction Wheels, whilst the Parts of the Axis which touch them are highly polished, & of Steel. The...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 1 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Mar. 13. & to thank you for the trouble you have taken. the result of your observations [impress] me strongly with the belief that the person on whose account I [wrote] to you will be disappointed in his supposed discovery. however he has still hopes, and wishes me to ask you to take the trouble of trying again under certain precautions, which, as...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 15 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have endeavoured to understand the Directions of the Gentleman , & would have been happy to have made such Experiments as he wished; but, before this can be done, he must express himself more clearly. At present, I am entirely at a Loss for his Meaning. Indeed, from some Expressions, I suspect he confounds the Compass with the Dipping Needle. Has he a clear Idea of the latter Instrument?—I...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 10 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you many Thanks for your Goodness in forwarding the interesting Papers , lately communicated to Congress. Whether the Public will coincide with the Secretary in the Conclusions he has drawn from them, must be very doubtful.—If, as Mr Gerry says, the Minister of France appeared sincere & anxious to obtain a Reconciliation; if his Views too, were liberal in Regard to a Treaty; if this...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 27 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 10. came safely to hand. we were for a moment flattered with the hope of a friendly accomodation of our differences with France by the President’s nomination of mr Murray our minister at the Hague to proceed to Paris for that purpose. but our hopes have been entirely dashed by his revoking that and naming mr Elsworth, mr Patrick Henry & Murray. the two former not to embark...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 6 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
A mr Thomas P. Smith of this place, who is particularly able in the line of chemistry, and is master also of the Linnean Botany is desirous of getting a birth in your college, if these professorships still exist there & are vacant. I could not inform him on these points. I remember that in our reformation of the plan of the college in 1779. there was a professorship of Chemistry, Botany &...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 17 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I should certainly have answered your Favour by the succeeding Post, had I received it in Time. Unfortunately it did not come to Hand ’till the next Morning. I am sorry I cannot return such an Answer as could be desired. The Professorship of Chemistry &c has not been actually abolished; but after Dr McClurg left us, two Professorships of Humanity were instituted in it’s Stead.—This Revival of...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 31 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your favor of the 17th. & communicated it to mr Smith. I lately forwarded you a letter from Dr. Priestly, endorsed ‘with a book ’; I struck these words through with my pen, because no book had then come. it is now recieved, & shall be forwarded to Richmond by the first opportunity: but such opportunities are difficult to find; gentlemen going in the stage not liking to take...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 11 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you many Thanks for your Care of Dr. Preistly’s Book. If an opportunity should offer for Norfolk, & the Book were directed to Col. Byrd—the Collector, it would come safe to Hand. Some Merchant connected with Norfolk would take Charge of it, & I doubt not, attend to the safe Delivery. I mention this only to save you a Trouble, to which I am so unwilling to expose you. I am particularly...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 30 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I mentioned in a former Letter , that a Meeting of the Visitors of this College was expec[ted] on the 25h. Inst. & that I would communicate to them Mr. Smith’s Proposition; or rather, your Recommenda[tion] of that Gentleman.—A Meeting was obtained, but Not[hing] of Consequence was done. Some preparatory Steps we[re] taken for a full Discussion of collegiate Business, [on] the 4h. of July. I...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 1 November 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Wilkinson , the late Agent or Steward for Mrs. Paradise , having departed this Life, I have been solicited by a Friend of mine, Mr Coleman , to mention him to you, as a fit Successor; upon the Supposition, that you had, in Conjunction with some other Gentlemen, full Authority to act in such a Case. I have said to Mr Coleman, that I was disposed to beleive, you had declined an Acceptance of...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 24 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
As young Munford has returned to America, it is highly probable he will again solicit your Attention in some Way or other. Knowing your Disposition to befriend young Men of Talents, I thought it a Duty to make his Character known to you. He has plunged deeper into Villainy, than any Youth of his Age I have ever heard of. His History which is now well known, from Norfolk to L’orient; from...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 19 April 1801 [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to Mr. Madison , by a preceeding Post, upon a Subject which I now beg to mention to you, as I apprehend from the last Paper recd. here, that he may not yet have arrived at the federal City. It was my wish to have avoided a direct Address to you; because I would not add, in the smallest Degree, to the Burthen of Solicitations to which you are exposed. But my Friendship for a Person,...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 9 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have never had time to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Dec. 24. yet it came very opportunely, and probably saved me from doing what I might have been led to. the subject of your letter , appeared here soon after, and conducted himself on a plan as incomprehensible, as it was unworthy.—yours of Apr. 19. is recieved. your friend Doctr. Barraud has nothing to fear (barring just...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 10 July 1801 [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Wm. Brent who is a Member of our College, & a Son of Mr Daniel Brent, wishes to be made known to you. I cannot refuse his Request, as he is so worthy of the Esteem of every wise & good Man. Equally respectable for the most promising Talents, as for the Purity of his Heart, I hope to see him, in in a few Years, an Ornament to our College & a truly valuable Member of Society. I thank you for...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 8 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctr. Logan of Philadelphia brought on his son here, to place him at the college of Georgetown during his own stay with Congress. but that College is on such a footing that I advised him to send him on to William & Mary, where I could prevail on you to take him under your special patronage. understanding that you sometimes take students to board with you, he is most [peculiarly] anxious that...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 16 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recd. your Favr. by the Son of Dr Logan; & tho’ I cannot take him into my Family, at present, yet I will, with great Satisfaction, make a Point of having him established in a Manner which cannot fail of being agreable. I will also superintend his Education with Zeal; & I trust, with that Success which will neither disappoint the Solicitude of a Parent, nor be unworthy of your Recommendation....
20To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 15 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am greatly obliged to you for your Favour , by the last Post. From the Examination, which I have been able, as yet, to give the Work, it appears to contain much valuable Information; & to do real Honour to the mathematical Talents of it’s Author. But for your Goodness, it is probable, I should have remained a Stranger to so interesting a Work; especially as the Americans have not been,...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 13 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Being appointed by the Executive of this State, in Conjunction with two other Gentlemen, Mr J. Taylor, & Mr Venable, to collect all necessary Information relative to the Claim , which In Maryland has, of late, seriously revived, upon a part of the Territory of Virginia; & finding in your Notes on Virga. P. 363 Papers mentioned, particularly—1. “Survey & Report of the Commissioners appointed on...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 19 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 13th. with regard to the papers which respect the claim of Maryland to the South branch of Potomak, whose titles are particularly mentioned by you as extracted from the Notes on Virginia. I can say no more than is there said. the source from whence the papers are to be obtained is always stated there when known to myself. I think the Commissioners should...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 29 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Our College having just lost it’s Professor of Mathematics , I am extremely anxious to procure, if possible, a Person for that office, who shall be, in every Respect, perfectly qualified. It has occurred to me, that Mr Mansfeild, the Author of the ingenious Dissertations , with which you favoured me, might be induced to accept the office. As you are acquainted with him, & probably, have some...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 24 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
This is the first moment it has been in my power to answer your letter of Jan. 29. I do not know whether you are apprised that Mansfield has been made Surveyor general of the US. and went last summer with his family to Indiana. his salary is 2000. D. but I do not know that he is satisfied with his situation. he knows he is to be called on to make surveys of certain waters in that quarter which...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 29 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am preparing to get a road established from this place to N. Orleans as nearly in the direct line as the mountains will permit, passing about 20 miles below the blue ridge & parallel with it to Franklin C.H. our last post office on the Southern confines of Georgia, & thence in a direct line (as nearly as localities will permit) to the mouth of Pearl river, & thence to N. Orleans. it is...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 3 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have often regreted, that I parted with the Instrument, which you mention ; & which would have been so convenient in the very useful work you have in View. Cap. Hutchins prevailed upon me to let him have it in the year 84. I intended to have procured one more perfect in it’s Construction; & this Summer have given Directions for that Purpose. I have been anxious to obtain one as a travelling...
27Bishop James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
M r W m Rives , the Son of M r Rives of Nelson County , will present this to you. He has lately been obliged to quit leave College , on Acc t
28Bishop James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 19 November 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Having seen your Observations upon the late solar Eclipse, I took the Liberty to transmit a Copy of them to M r W. Lambert , in Washington , & to request him to favour me with a Calculation of the Longitude of Monticello founded upon them. I now transmit his Paper , & hope it will prove agreable to you. The Facility & Accuracy of M r L. in astronomical Calculation is very remarkable. This I...
29Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 29 December 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 19. arrived here just as I had set out for Bedford , from whence I returned a few days ago only, & found your letter here. I thank you for mr Lambert’s calculation on my observations of the late eclipse of the sun. I have been for some time rubbing up my Mathematics from the rust contracted by 50. years pursuits of a different kind, and thanks to the good foundation laid at...