181William Short to John Jay, 4 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of forwarding for the President of the United States, a letter from Count D’Estaing which he submitted to my inspection some days ago. He had concieved the present a favorable moment for carrying into execution the plan there proposed, for the reasons mentioned in his letter. He had hoped that the influence and credit which M. de la fayette enjoys would have been sufficient to...
182From Thomas Jefferson to the Abbés Arnoux and Chalut, 5 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Instead of the pleasure, my dear friends, of meeting you again in Paris, of recounting to you our revolution, and enquiring of you the details of yours, I have now to write you a letter of Adieu. Receive my sincere thanks for the kindnesses beyond number which you rendered me while in Paris, and my regrets that I am now to be cut off from the pleasure of your society and conversation. I shall...
183From Thomas Jefferson to Le Veillard, 5 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Our government having thought proper to assign me functions here, I shall no more have the pleasure of greeting you in Paris. Instead of this I am to bid you a thousand friendly and affectionate Adieux, praying you to accept my thanks for your manifold civilities and kindnesses to me while in Paris. I shall ever retain a grateful sense of them. I hope that by this time you have recovered that...
184From Thomas Jefferson to Philip Mazzei, 5 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival in Virginia after a short and pleasant passage I found my name announced in the newspapers as Secretary of state. I was surprised because I had answered negatively to the question whether I would accept any post in the domestic administration. I did not yet know that that answer had been so long on it’s way that the nomination had taken place. Still I thought I should easily...
185Enclosure: Jefferson’s Diary of Philip Mazzei’s Affairs, 3 December 1789–22 March 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
1789. Dec. 3. Called on Mr. Blair in Wmsburg. He was very sick. He promised me as soon as he was well he would send me an exact state of Mr. Mazzie’s affairs in his hands. Mr. Wythe paid the price of his seal to W. Nelson. [Dec.] 9. Called on E. Randolph in Richmond. He thought he could give me a state of his proceedings on returning to his lodgings but having returned there he wrote me the...
186To Thomas Jefferson from John Francis Vacher, 5 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
New York, 5 Apr. 1790 . Having learned that an “interpreter and Secretary in the foreign Languages” would be needed in the Department of State, he offers himself as a candidate: “Being a Native of France and having a Knowledge of the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese Languages, I have flatter’d my-self that it would not be deemed presumptive in me, after fourteen years Residence in this Country...
187From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Remsen, [5 April 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Th:J. sends to Mr. Remsent the letters of Mr. Short to be filed, first copying and sending him the paragraph mentioned to him before. He will thank him for the printed cypher he established with the O. of Foreign Aff. as he may use it safely with Mr. Short, who will have access to his copy at Paris. RC ( CtY ); undated, but endorsed by Remsen: “Mr. Jefferson April 5. 1790” addressed: “Mr....
188From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 5 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honor of inclosing for the perusal of the President rough draughts of the letters he supposes it proper to send to the court of France on the present occasion. He will have that of waiting on him in person immediately to make any changes in them the President will be so good as to direct, and to communicate to him two letters just received from Mr. Short. RC ( DNA : RG...
189From Thomas Jefferson to Walter Boyd, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter from your brother which accompanies this will inform you that I delivered to him at Bladensburg the miniatures you confided to me, and conferred with him on his affairs. I learnt from himself the following circumstances. His eldest son is 17. years old, by a first wife. He wishes him to enter into commerce, and thinks a stock of £500. would suffice. His second son, George, who is by...
190To Thomas Jefferson from Maria Cosway, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I fear My Dear freind has forgot me; Not One line ever Since your Departure from this part of the world! I have heard of you, tho’ not from you. Dont let my reproches be too Severe for I am willing to think you have been prevented by important reasons. However Silence from a person who feels the privation of your letters, would be impossible. The greatest effort I can Make is a short letter,...
191From Thomas Jefferson to Montmorin, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States having thought proper to assign to me other Functions than those of their Minister plenipotentiary near the King, I have the Honor of addressing to your Excellency my Letters of Recall, and of beseeching you to be so good as to present them with the Homage of my respectful Adieux to his Majesty. It is with great Satisfaction that I find myself authorized to...
192Enclosure: George Washington to Louis XVI, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
As the Time limited for the Duration of Mr. Jefferson’s Residence in Quality of our Minister plenipotentiary near your Majesty will shortly expire, and the public Interests require that he should undertake other Functions, we have directed him to take Leave of your Majesty, and to assure you of our Friendship and sincere Desire to preserve and strengthen the Harmony and Confidence which so...
193From Thomas Jefferson to Montmorin, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States having been pleased in the Month of June last to give me Leave of Absence for some Time from the Court of France, and to appoint Mr. William Short Chargé des Affaires for the United States during my Absence, and having since thought proper to call me to the Office of Secretary of State comprehending that of foreign Affairs, I have now the Honour of requesting...
194From Thomas Jefferson to Rayneval, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Instead of paying my respects to you again in person as I had flattered myself when I left your court, our government thinking proper to dispose otherwise of me, it remains that I write you my letter of Adieu, returning you my sincere thanks for all the civilities and attentions with which you were so good as to honour me during my residence with you: and most particularly for the ease you...
195From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of March 28th. Since that yours of the 2d. and 6th. of January have come to Hand, together with the Ratification of the Consular Convention. I send you herewith a Letter from the President to the King notifying my Recall, with a Letter of Leave to M. de Montmorin, and another of Credence for you to the same, all of which you will be pleased to deliver to him. Copies of them...
196From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
At Philadelphia on my way here I received your favor of Nov. 19. and since my arrival here, those of Nov. 3. 25. 30. Dec. 25. and Jan. 12. have come at different times. My last private letter to you was from Alexandria. I shall send a duplicate and triplicate of it because of it’s importance to me. On delivering my letters of leave I will beg the favor of you to make the accustomary present...
197Enclosure: Jefferson’s Instructions for Procuring Household Goods, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
This, Mr. Short may recollect, was the form of the little clock which was stolen from the chimney of my study. The parts a.b. c.d. were parts of a cone, being round and tapering to the top, where a gilt head was put on. I would wish one to be made like that, as to the pedestal part, but with obelisks as is represented here a.b. c.d. instead of conical columns as the former had. No gilt head to...
198From Thomas Jefferson to Boonen Graves & William Crafts, 8 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I received on my arrival here a fortnight ago your favor of Jan. 28. I had then with me all the bonds I had received in consequence of the authority delegated to me by the state of South Carolina on that subject, and have since delivered them to Messrs. Izard and Butler the Senators of the state, whose receipt I have in these words. ‘New York March 23. 1790. Received on behalf of the State of...
199From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 8 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I was obliged, by the approaching departure of a ship for Europe which was to carry letters from me, to pass over the last post in answering your favors of the 16th. 18th. and 22d. Immediately on receipt of the first I waited on the Secretary of the treasury with your memorial, and said to him what I shall not repeat to you. He seemed very ready to suppose that passion might have mingled...
200To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 8 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your Letter of the 31st past, relating to Encroachments made on the Eastern Limits of the United-States, by Settlers under the British Government, pretending that it is the Western and not the Eastern River of the Bay of Passamaquoddy, which was designated by the Name of St. Croix in the Treaty of Peace with that Nation; and requesting of me to communicate any Facts, which my Memory...
201Proclamation of the Consular Convention of 1788, [9 April 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation Whereas a Convention for defining and establishing the functions and privileges of the respective Consuls and vice-Consuls of his most Christian Majesty and of the said United States, was concluded and signed by the Plenipotentiaries of his said most Christian Majesty and of the said United States, duly and respectively...
202To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 10 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Accept at this late Period my Congratulations upon your safe Arrival in America. I know not whether to add the farther Congratulation upon your Appointment to and Acceptance of the Office of Secretary of State because the latter is not yet ascertained on this Side of the Atlantic. You will find enclosed a Paper from your friend Sir John Sinclair to whom you was so kind as to introduce me. Pray...
203From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 11 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
A Vessel being about to sail from this port for Cadiz I avail myself of it to inform you that under the appointment of the President of the U.S. I have entered on the duties of Secretary of state comprehending the department of foreign affairs. Mr. Jay’s letter of Oct. 2. acknoleged the receipt of the last of yours which have come to hand. Since that date he wrote you on the 7th. of Dec....
204From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 11 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter by last post I forgot to inclose you the bill of exchange for £50. sterl. which you were so kind as to furnish me with, and for which I had no occasion. I now inclose it having first torn off the signature. Having been deprived by the snow of the use of my own carriage, which I left at Alexandria, obliged to come on in the stage, and still to have my horses brought on and a...
205From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson, 11 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Where are you, my dear Maria? How do you do? How are you occupied? Write me a letter by the first post and answer me all these questions. Tell me whether you see the sun rise every day? How many pages a-day you read in Don Quixot ? How far you are advanced in him? Whether you repeat a Grammar lesson every day? What else you read? How many hours a day you sew? Whether you have an opportunity of...
206To Thomas Jefferson from David Ramsay, 12 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Give me leave to congratulate you on your return to the United States. This should not have been withheld till this late hour had I not been informed that you had not set out for New-York till lately. I have some time since received a letter from you enquiring concerning two French men supposed to be in this country. After many fruitless inquiries I at last got some information from Mr. Petry...
207William Short to John Jay, 12 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I make use of the present private conveyance merely to forward to you the journals of the national assembly and some other papers. You will find among them the answer of M. Montesquieu to M. Necker, and the list of gratifications called the livre rouge . It is thought the committee of pensions exceeded their powers in publishing this list. The preface contains a kind of unnecessary libel...
208To Thomas Jefferson from Mary Walker Lewis, 14 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with pleasure I inform you that Mr. Lewis is much recoverd; he has been over your Plantations the other side the River but not withstanding he finds him self not able to write you; and desires me to send you a line, and to assure you that he will write very fully as soon as he can and as often as you would wish. We send you with this a hhd. of Hams containing 64 of Bacon and 6 Venison...
209Editorial Note: Report on Copper Coinage (Jefferson Papers)
On Wednesday, 7 Apr. 1790, a “member from South Carolina presented to the House a letter addressed to him from John H. Mitchell … reciting certain proposals of Matthew Boulton of the kingdom of Great Britain for supplying the United States with copper coinage to any amount that government shall think fit to contract with him for, upon the terms therein mentioned,” whereupon the letter and...
210I. John H. Mitchell to Thomas Tudor Tucker, 22 March 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope you will excuse the liberty I have taken in writing to you on the subject of a letter I a few days ago received from a friend in England, the purport of which was to request of me to send the Congress a few specimens of some coins he had made as a specimen for a copper coinage for the British Government, and at the same to request of some person to lay his proposals before Congress for...