1Commission as Surveyor of Albemarle County, 6 June 1773 (Jefferson Papers)
To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Know ye, that we the President and Masters of the College of William and Mary in Virginia, by Virtue of a royal Grant from their late Majesties King William and Queen Mary, of the Office of Surveyor General of the Colony of Virginia to the said College, have constituted and appointed, and by these Presents do constitute and appoint Thomas...
2To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 27–28 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Nothing under the title of news has occurred since I wrote last week by express except that the Enemy on the 1st. of March remained in the neighbourhood of Charlestown in the same posture as when the preceding account came away. From the best intelligence from that quarter there seems to be great encouragement to hope that Clinton’s operations will be again frustrated. Our great apprehensions...
3To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 6 May 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry I can give you no other account of our public situation than that it continues equally perplexed and alarming as when I lately gave you a sketch of it. Our army has as yet been kept from starving and public measures from a total stagnation by draughts on the States for the unpaid requisitions. The great amount of these you may judge of from the share that has fallen to Virginia. The...
4To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 2 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have written several private letters to you since my arrival here, which as they contained matters that I should be sorry should fall into other hands, I could wish to know had been received. If your Excellency has written any acknowledgements of them, they have never reached me. Mr. Griffin tells me he has seen several letters just received by Mr. Bingham from Martinique which give...
5To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 6 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
A Vessel from West Florida has brought to the President of Congress intelligence from Govr. Galvez of the surrender of Mobile. No other particulars than that contained in the inclosed paper are mentioned, except the verbal report of the Capt. that the Garrison consisted of about 800 including inhabitants &c. Seven or eight vessels have just arrived from the W. Indies as you will also observe...
6To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 23 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Nothing material has taken place since my last. The fact is confirmed that Clinton has returned to N.Y. with part of the Southern army, and has joined Kniphausen. They are at present man[oeuvering] for purposes not absolutely known, but most probably in order to draw Genl. Washington to an action in which they suppose he may be disabled to give the necessary co-operation to the french...
7To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 26 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am at length able to give you some answer on the subject of the map in the hands of Dr. Smith . As the Doctor lived out of Town and it was difficult to know when he was to be found in it, and as I supposed the request would go with greater weight through Mr. Rittenhouse, I asked the favor of him to speak to the Doctor on the subject. Through forgetfulness or want of opportunity he failed to...
8To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 9 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed extract of a letter from General Washington No. 1 will give your Excellency a more particular account of the late embarkation from N. York than has been before obtained. On Thursday last Congress were informed by General Potter and Col. Johnston who came expresses for the purpose that a general mutiny of the Pennsylvania line stationed near Morris Town apart from the rest of the...
9From James Madison, enclosing a Communication to La Luzerne, 2–3 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your favor of the 23d. of March . The publication of which you wish to have a copy for your private use is not yet finished; as soon as it is I shall take care to provide one for you. I have repeatedly reminded Dr. Smith of his promise with respect to the map, but have never obtained any thing more than a repetition of the promise. He is at present an inhabitant of Maryland....
10To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 16 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed paper is a copy of a report from a Committee now lying on the table of Congress for Consideration. The delicacy and importance of the subject makes me wish for your judgment on it before it undergoes the final decision of Congress. The necessity of arming Congress with coercive powers arises from the shameful deficiency of some of the States which are most capable of yielding...
11To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 1 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
On the receipt of your request as to the map I procured a copy with one of the pamphlets and have put it under the care of Col. Febiger who will have it conveyed. It is effectually secured against injury on its passage. I inclose your Excellency a letter from Mazzei although indeed its contents are of no great moment. I have not received the antecedant one referred to in it. The Executive have...
12To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 5 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with your request I have procured and now send you a copy of the Constitutions &c. published by order of Congress. I know not why the order in which they stand in the Resolution was varied by the Committee in binding them up. The encomium on the inhabitants of Rhode Island was a flourish of a Delegate from [that] State who furnished the Committee with the account of its...
13To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 November 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
By the conveyance through which you will receive this the Delegates have communicated to the State the proceedings in Congress to which the territorial cessions have given birth. The complexion of them will I suppose be somewhat unexpected, and produce no small irritation. They clearly speak the hostile machinations of some of the States against our territorial claims, and afford suspicions...
14To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 January 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the day of written on the eve of your departure from Richmond came safe to hand by the last week’s post. The result of the attack on your administration was so fully anticipated that it made little impression on me. If it had been consistent with your sentiments and views to engage in the new service to which you were called , it would have afforded me both unexpected and...
15To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 March 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last to you on the subject of the map in the hands of Dr. Smith I informed you of the little chance of getting a copy of it for you. Nothing has since occurred which affords the least expectation from that quarter. But I have met with a bundle of old pamphlets belonging to the public Library here in which is a map published in 1650 which from this and other circumstances I am pretty...
16To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 26 March 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter has been lately received from you by the President of Congress , accompanied by a bundle of papers procured from the Cherokees by Colonel Campbell. As it appears that these papers were transmitted at the request of the late President, it is proper to apprize you that it was made without any written or verbal sanction , and even without the knowledge of Congress; and not improbably...
17To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 16 April 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 24 of March with a letter inclosed for Mr. Marbois came to hand yesterday. I intreat that you will not suffer the chance of a speedy and final determination of the territorial question by Congress to affect your purpose of tracing the title of Virga. to her claims. It is in the first place very uncertain when a determination will take place, even if it takes place at all; and...
18To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 February 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 31 of Jany. was safely brought me by Mr. Thomson. That of the 7. instant came by yesterdays mail. The anecdote related in the first was new to me; and if there were no other key, would sufficiently decypher the implacability of the party triumphed over. In answer to the second I can only say at this time that I feel deeply for your situation: that I approve of the choice you...
19To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 12 February 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I acknowledged yesterday by the post your two favors of the 30th. Ult : and 7th. inst: I add this by Col: Jameson just to inform you that your letter to the Secy. of F. A. has been referred to a Committee consisting of Mr. Jones, Mr. Rutlidge and Mr. Wilson, who are to confer with Mr. Morris as Agent of Marine, and report to Congs. whether any and what remedy can be applied to your...
20To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 13 February 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
The Chevr. de la Luzerne having just given me notice that he shall send an Express to the Romulus in ½ an hour I sieze the opportunity of inclosing a copy of the British Kings speech which presages a speedy establishment of peace. What effect this circumstance may have on your mission is at present uncertain. For myself I cannot think that any thing short of a final and authentic ratification...
21To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 February 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
The Committee, to whom was referred your letter to Secretary Livingston, reported to Congress yesterday that they had conferred with Mr. Morris who was of opinion that no vessel would sail from American ports after the arrival of the British King’s speech until the suspence produced by it should be removed, and that if your immediate embarkation were still wished by Congress it would be proper...
22To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 18 February 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of the 14th. one of them inclosing a letter to Miss Floyd were received by yesterday’s mail. The last paper from N.Y. as the inclosed will shew you has brought us another token of the approach of peace. It is somewhat mysterious nevertheless that the preliminaries with America should be represented by Secy. Townsend as actually signed and those with France as to be signed , as...
23Memorandum from James Madison, [ca. 6 March 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
Plan proposed consists of 1st. permanent revenue. 2. abatements in favor of the States distressed by the war. 3. common mass of all reasonable expences incurred by the States without sanction of Congress. 4. territorial cessions. Manner in which the interests of the several States will be affected by these objects: N. Hamshire will approve the establishment of permanent revenue, as tending to...
24To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 22 April 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 14. inst: written in the Susquehanna with the several letters inclosed were safely delivered to me. I did not fail to present as you desired your particular compliments to Miss K. Your inference on that subject was not groundless. Before you left us I had sufficiently ascertained her sentiments. Since your departure the affair has been pursued. Most preliminary arrangements,...
25To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 6 May 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 21. Ult. written at Col: Pendleton’s was brought to hand by the post of last week. Col: Floyd’s family did not set out untill the day after it was received. I accompanied them as far as Brunswick, about 60 Miles from this, and returned hither on friday evening. Mr. Jones will attend the Assembly, and proposes to begin his journey this afternoon, if the present rain should...
26To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 13 May 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Marbois lately took occasion in our family to complain of ungenerous proceedings of the British against individuals as well as against their enemies at large and finally signified that he was no stranger to the letter transmited to Congress which he roundly avered to be spurious. His information came from Boston where the incident is said to be no secret, but whether [it] be the echo of...
27To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 May 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
In obedience to your request I am to answer by this post your favor of the 7. inst. received yesterday. My brevity will therefore be excused. For the tenor of the conditions on which Congress were formerly willing to accept the Cession of Virga. I beg leave to refer to their resolutions of the 6 of Sepr. and 10 of Oct. 1780. I take it for granted you have their Journals. The expunging of the...
28To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 10 June 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress have received two letters from Mr. Laurens dated one the fifteenth of March the other fifth of April . In the former persists in the jealousy expressed in his letter of the thirtieth of December of the British Councils. He says that Shelburne had
29To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 17 July 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of the 1 and 17 of June, with the debates of Congress and the letter for Miss Floyd and the Cyphers inclosed in the former, and your amendments to the Constitution inclosed in the latter, have been duly received. The latter came by yesterdays mail. I feel too sensibly the value of these communications to omit my particular acknowledgments for them. The usual reserve of our...
30To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 August 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
At the date of my letter in April I expected to have had the pleasure by this time of being with you in Virginia. My disappointment has proceeded from several dilatory circumstances on which I had not calculated. [One of them was the uncertain state into which the object I was then pursuing has been brought by one of those incidents to which such affairs are liable. The result has rendered the...
31To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 September 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 31 ult: came to hand yesterday. As the reason which chiefly urged my departure for Virga. has ceased I have been led to protract my attendance on Congress by the interest I felt in some measures on foot, and the particular interest which my Constituents have in them. Two of these were the territorial cession and the permanent seat of Congress. The former was a few days ago...
32To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 30 September 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was written on the supposition that Mr. Jones and myself would be on our way to Virga. by the middle of Ocr. and that my best chance of an interview with you might be at Alexandria at the time of the races. On further thought I fear that you may be led by that suggestion to suspend your setting out longer than you proposed, and that I may not find it practicable to leave this place...
33I. Notes by Madison, [October 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
Permanent seat of Congress North River—recommended for the permanent seat of Congress chiefly by its security against foreign danger. Falls of Potowmac—By 1. geographical centrality—2. proximity to western Country already ceded—3. inducement to further Cessions from N.C. S.C. and Georgia. 4. remoteness from the influence of any overgrown commercial city. Falls of Delaware—By 1. centrality with...
34To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 10 December 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
My journey from Annapolis was so much retarded by rains and their effect on the water courses that I did not complete it till the ninth day after I left you. I took Col. Mason in my way and had an evening’s conversation with him. I found him much less opposed to the general impost than I had expected . Indeed he disclaimed all opposition to the measure itself but had taken up a vague...
35To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 February 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 11. of Decr. ulto. came safe to hand after a very tedious conveyance. Mr. W. Maury having broken up his school in this Neighbourhood in order to attempt a superior one in Williamsburg and his pupils being dispersed, I have sent the book for Mr. P. Carr into the neighbourhood of Doctr. Walker whence I supposed it would most easily find its way to him. I thank you for the mark...
36To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 17 February 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you a few days ago by the post acknowledging your favor of the 10th. of Decr. Mr. Maury has since afforded me an opportunity which I cannot omit to acknowledge that of the first of Jany. which has just come to hand, and to express the concern I feel at the account it gives of your ill health. I hope earnestly that this will find it in a better state and that I may soon receive a...
37To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 16 March 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the 20. Ult. came duly to hand a few days ago. I cannot apprehend that any difficulties can ensue in Europe from the involuntary and immaterial delay of the ratification of the peace, or if there should, that any imputations can be devised which will not be repelled by the collective force of the reasons in the intended protest; some of which singly taken are unanswerable. As...
38To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 25 April 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 16th. of March came to hand a few days before Mazzei called on me. His plan was to have proceeded hence directly to Annapolis. My conversation led him to promise a visit to Mr. Henry from whence he proposed to repair to Richmond and close his affairs with the Executive. Contrary to my expectation he returned hither on Thursday last
39[To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 8 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 8 May 1784 . Recorded in SJL as received 24 May 1784. Not found.]
40To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 8 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 8 May 1784. “Near a whole week has already passed without the meeting of a house. 79 are requisite for business, of which about 60 have arrived. … Not a single idea can as yet be formed of the politics which will predominate.” MS not found; extracts reprinted from Stan. V. Henkels, Catalogue No. 712, 14 Dec. 1893, Lot 199. See record entry in Vol. 7: 235.
41[To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 14 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 14 May 1784 . Noted in SJL as received in Boston 19 June 1784, “inclosing on account B. Harrison John Pirkman’s draught on John J. Rogert [Bogert] Phila. for 333 ⅓ D.” Not found, but see TJ to Madison, 1 July 1784 .]
42To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 7th. inst: with another pair of Spectacles inclosed came safe to hand on thursday last. I shall leave the person for whose use they were intended to take choice of the most suitable and will return the other pair to Mr. Dudley by the first conveyance, unless I meet with a purchaser which I do not expect. The arrangement which is to carry you to Europe has been made known to...
43To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 3 July 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
The Assembly adjourned the day before yesterday. I have been obliged to remain here since on private business for my Countymen with the auditor’s and other departments. I had allotted towards the close of the Session to undertake a narrative for you of the proceedings, but the hurry on which I did not sufficiently calculate rendered it impossible, and I now find myself so abridged in time that...
44To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 20 August 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 1st. July written on the eve of your embarkation from Boston was safely delivered by your Servant Bob about the 20th. of the same month. Along with it I received the pamphlet on the W. India trade, and a copy of Deane’s letters. My last was written from Richmond on the adjournment of the General Assembly and put into the hands of Mr. Short. It contained a cursory view of...
45To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 7 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Some business, the need of exercise after a very sedentary period, and the view of extending my ramble into the Eastern States which I have long had a curiosity to see have brought me to this place. The letter herewith enclosed was written before I left Virginia and brought with me for the sake of a conveyance hence. Since the date of it I have learned that Mr. Short who was to be the bearer...
46To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 September 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
In pursuance of my intentions as explained in my last dated in Philada. I came to this City on Saturday last. The information I have here received convinces me that I can not accomplish the whole route I had planned within the time to which I am limited, nor go from this to Boston in the mode which I had reckoned upon. I shall therefore decline this part of my plan, at least for the present,...
47To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
My last dated from this place on the 14. ult. informed you of my projected trip to Fort Schuyler. I am this moment arrived so far on my return to Virginia. My past delay requires so much hurry now that I can only drop a few lines for the packet which is to sail on the 15th. inst: The Marquis and myself were overtaken at Albany by Mr. de Marbois on the same errand with ourselves. We reached...
48To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 17 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival here I found that Mr. Short had passed through on his way to N. York and was there at the date of my last. I regret much that I missed the pleasure of seeing him. The inclosed was put into my hands by Mrs. House, who received it after he left Philada. My two last, neither of which were in cypher, were written as will be all future ones in the same situation, in expectation of...
49To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 9 January 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was dated in Philada. Octr. 17. I reached this place the 14th. day after that fixed for the meeting of the Assembly and was in time for the commencement of business. Yesterday put an end to the tedious Session. According to my promise I subjoin a brief review of its most material proceedings. An act for the establishment of Courts of Assize . This act was carried through the House of...
50To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 22 January 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have remained here since the adjournment of the Assembly chiefly with a view of gaining from the Office of the Attorney some insight into the juridical course of practice. This has given me an opportunity of forwarding you 6 copies of the revisal with a few of the late newspapers under the cover which incloses this. They will go in a vessel belonging to Mr. Alexander. The gentleman also...