2301Thomas Jefferson to Henry Jackson, 1 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
After I had sealed my letter of yesterday , a mail arrived, bringing me one from mr Cathalan , which informs me that mine to him of July 3. had never got to his hands. as this went thro’ the same channel (the Sec y of state’s office) with mine to you of July 5. it shews that the doubt expressed in your favor of Nov. 9. was real, and that that letter had not then got to hand. it covered one to...
2302Thomas Jefferson’s Statement of Taxable Property in Albemarle County, 1 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
A list of the taxable property of the subscriber in Albemarle Feb. 1. 1816. 5. white tythes . 74. slaves of 16. years old and upwards. 14. d o of 12. years & not 16. 33. horses, mules, mares & colts. 1. gig. 1. four wheeled carriage, a Landau. MS ( MHi ); written entirely in TJ’s hand on verso of a portion of a reused address cover to TJ; endorsed by TJ: “Sheriff Albem. taxable property 1816.” The
2303Thomas Jefferson to David Bailie Warden, 1 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
It is long since I have written to you. the reason has been that from one of your letters I concluded you were returning to the US . by yours of Apr. 9. 15. I found you were still at Paris . I can assure you that I did every thing in your case which could be done, as far as decency or effect permitted: but I found that nothing would avail; & ceased under the hope that your presence here might...
2304Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Popular Election of Juries, [ca. 2 April 1816] (Jefferson Papers)
to the preceding Extracts I will add an observation. our republic is founded on the principle that the people are the source of all powers, & the safest depository of such as they are competent to exercise. their competency is principally restrained to the election of those who are to exercise powers over them. hence, in the Executive department, they chuse the Chief magistrate, indirectly. in...
2305Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 2 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 23 d & 24 th ult. were a week coming to us. I instantly inclosed to you the deeds of Cap t Miller ; but I understand that the Post-master, having locked his mail before they got to the office, would not unlock it to give them a passage. Having been prevented from retaining my collection of the acts & Journals of our legislature by the lumping manner in which the Committee of...
2306Thomas Jefferson to Thomas W. Maury, 3 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 24 th Ult. was a week on it’s way to me, and this is our first subsequent mail day. mr Cabell had written to me also on the want of the deeds in Cap t Miller’s case, and as the bill was in that house, I inclosed them immediately to him. I forgot however to desire that they might be returned when done with, and must therefore ask this friendly attention of you. You ask me for...
2307Thomas Jefferson to Christopher Greenup, 4 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Oct. 9. arrived here during a two months absence from home, to which I returned a little before Christmas only. I have thought it best to detain the answer thro’ the month of January to lessen the risks of bad weather. indeed we have never known a month of more snow and constant bad weather. I now inclose 8. Dollars, the amount of mr Stevens ’s bill in notes of the Virginia bank...
2308Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 4 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter covering that of Gen l Scott is recieved, and his is now returned. I am very thankful for these communications. from 40. years experience of the wretched guesswork of the newspapers of what is not done in open day light, and of their falsehood even as to that, I rarely think them worth reading, & almost never worth notice. a ray therefore now & then from the fountain of light is...
2309Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Fox, 6 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of Jan. ___ informing me of your intention to publish the result of your experience in the art of dying and coloring various substances used in common life; and the prospectus specifying the objects particularly. whatever doubt may have heretofore existed it must now be apparent to all that we must become a manufacturing nation, to the extent of our own wants....
2310Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 7 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 19. requests my advice as to the 4500. Dollars Treasury notes of Gen l Kosciuzko ’s payable the 16 th of April next, which of course ought to be invested in time in some other form bearing interest. I am unacquainted with the different kinds and prices of US. stock, and I would trust no other; but I think we had better as soon as it can be done advantageously, exchange it...
2311Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 7 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you an order on D r Thornton for 150. Dollars which he informed me he was ready to pay on demand as also mr John Harvie ’s bond for 104.56 D due on the 1 st prox. which D r Brockenborough will I suppose pay as usual when due. I have this day given an order in favor of W m Marshall for 13.91 D and something additional for clerks tickets which the order will explain. I shall have...
2312Thomas Jefferson to William Marshall, 7 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Higgenbotham presented me on your part 2 tickets in the suit of Livingston v. myself for 13.91 D for which I inclose you an order on mr Gibson . I shall be glad to recieve from you a copy of the decree, and if costs were allowed me (as I believe they were) process for their recovery against whomsoever was made responsible for them. you will percieve that provision is made in the inclosed...
2313Thomas Jefferson to Philip Thornton, 7 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of Jan. 24. and accord ing to the request have inclosed to mr Gibson of Richmond an ord er on you for 150 one hundred and fifty Dollars. I was disappoint ed
2314Thomas Jefferson to Henry Jackson, 8 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I am really ashamed, Sir, to repeat at such short intervals the liberties I take with your cover. but I recieved last night a letter from mr Ticknor from Gottingen , two days after mr Terril had left us, and my anxiety that an answer should overtake him induces me to attempt it. mr Ticknor writes me he will be in Paris in the spring as early as the roads will permit, by which time I am in...
2315Thomas Jefferson to George Ticknor, 8 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I had written you on the 14 th of Jan. by duplicates through your father and the Secretary of state , when a mr Terril , a young friend and relation of mine visited us, on his way, viâ Paris to Geneva for his education. this direct conveyance tempted me to write you a short letter by him on the 31 st . he left us two days ago, & yesterday I recieved your favor of Nov. 25.
2316Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Austin, 9 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 25. is just now recieved. I am in general extremely unwilling to be carried into the newspapers. no matter what the subject; the whole pack of the Essex kennel open upon me. with respect however to so much of my letter of Jan. 9. as relates to manufactures, I have less repugnance, because there is perhaps a degree of duty to avow a change of opinion called for by a change of...
2317Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 9 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Before the receipt of your letter of Jan. 27. I had received those of Dec. 20. & Jan. 14. which remained unacknoleged. this I am certain you will pardon when I assure you that I pass from four to six hours of every day of my life at the writing table, answering letters in nine tenths of which neither my interests nor inclinations are engaged. this mass of labor obliges me to marshall marshal...
2318Thomas Jefferson to Elisha Ticknor, 9 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 26. is at hand, and I had the happiness by the same mail to recieve a letter from your son dated Gottingen Nov. 25. this requiring an immediate answer, I avail myself of your kindness, and now inclose it with a request that you will be so good as to forward it. I am much pleased to learn that he is so well satisfied with his situation at Gottingen . but Paris and Rome will...
2319Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Milligan, 11 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The last letter recieved from you was of Aug. 20. on the 27 th Oct. I wrote you a statement of our balance 136.75 D and that I should that day write to mr Gibson to remit it to you. I wrote to him the next day , and the day following set out for Bedford and was absent two months, so that I never heard from mr Gibson of the actual remittance. so that yet I have no reason to doubt it, and the...
2320Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Wine Consumption, 15 February–21 July 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
1816. Wines Feb. 15. rec d quarter cask Port wine } 120. bottles have lasted 156. days which is 3. bottles in 4. days. it is probable the other wine used in same time makes it up 1. bottle a day, or 400. bottles a year. July 21. it is out MS ( MHi ); entirely in TJ’s hand.
2321Thomas Jefferson’s Notes for a Settlement with William D. Fitch, 17 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes for a settlement with mr Fitz . Feb. 17. 16. There are 3. subjects of account between us. 1. the Warehouse 2. Rent for his tenemt. 3. firewood. The Warehouse. this account was settled with Craven Peyton to the end of the year 1808. 1809. I settled the account for this year on the 6 th Aug. 1813 £ thus. 1810. Aug. 6.
2322Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Miller, 17 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure to announce to you that your bill is passed; so that you may now take possession of your property, and sell and do with it what you please. I recieved the information last night in a letter of the 14 th from mr Cabell , our Senator, who undertook the care of the bill. you would do well to write to the clerk of the House of Representatives for a copy of the law, paying the...
2323Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 17 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
It is impossible for you to note and preserve every thing as it passes in newspapers. I have therefore cut out of the Virginia Argus of Feb. 14. the inclosed paper . have it filed with the papers on the Louisiana title, and when you have to take up that subject it will suggest to you facts for enquiry. it is from some hand acquainted well with the subject, it & contains some facts not in the...
2324Thomas Jefferson to Isaac A. Coles, 18 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
At our last court it was settled with the county surveyor that he should attend to make the survey in the case of Col o Monroe & mr Short on Wednesday next the 21 st inst. he will come here the overnight, so as to be ready to begin it early the next day, that he may finish it in the day. I must ask the favor of you to come and let us make a close of this business. I wish you could come the...
2325Thomas Jefferson to James L. Jefferson, 18 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
My sister Marks tells me you are in want of clothes and other necessaries, and are living at the tavern at the ferry until the question is decided about my brother ’s will. I wish you would come and stay with us. I have proposed this on one or two former occasions, and would now press it. you shall employ your time as you please, and as usefully to yourself as you please, in which, and in any...
2326Thomas Jefferson to Joel Yancey, 20 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter of the 14 th from mr Gibson informs me my tob o was not then down. this occasions me to send the bearer express, our cross mail being too dilatory to be depended on. my anxiety on this subject is occasioned by my having money engagements due at our last and next court which depend for fulfilment on the tob o getting to mr Gibson ’s hands, until which I cannot draw on him. I imagine...
2327Thomas Jefferson to Alexander J. Dallas, 26 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
According to request in your’s of the 12 th I will give the best statement I can of Isaac Briggs ’s case with the joint aid of memory and the papers to which I have recourse. After the acquisition of Louisiana it became extremely interesting to the government of the US. that the communication between Washington & New Orleans should be made as short and rapid as possible. it seemed to me very...
2328Thomas Jefferson to Alexander J. Dallas, 26 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
When the law past laying a direct tax, & established the offices of Assessor & Collector, as it appeared that the first of these officers would be of extreme importance to the landholders, whose property would be taxed very much at his will, I consulted such principal men of our district as I was able to see, and there was but one opinion on the subject. all agreed they would rather trust to...
2329Thomas Jefferson to Alexander J. Dallas, 26 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
My other two letters being on distinct subjects, and to go perhaps into other hands, I write this separately. will you pardon a criticism on your tariff which the public papers have given us compleat, but as yet without the report explaining it’s principles? having written to Europe for some wines, I was led by curiosity to look at that part of the tariff to see what duties I should have to...
2330Thomas Jefferson to Isaac Briggs, 27 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to thank you for your pamphlet on manufactures. you have availed a question of political economy of the sound process of Mathematical reasoning, and proved very solidly the expediency of our encoraging manufactures to the extent of our own wants . when we shall have reached that point, should there still be surplus labor, whether that should be employed in agriculture or manufactures will...
2331Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 28 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
You enquire whether Say has ever been translated into English? I am certain he never has in America , nor do I believe he has in England . I have never seen his work named in their catalogues or advertisements nor do I believe it has been noticed by the Edinburgh reviewers. nor have they noticed the Review of Montesquieu , altho Duane sent them a copy. you will render this country a great...
2332Thomas Jefferson to Francis W. Gilmer, 28 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry it is not in my power to furnish you any documents on the subject of the Louisiana boundary. all these went with my library. soon after the acquisition of that country, I investigated it’s history & boundaries minutely, made out a Chronological series of it’s historical events, and formed a memoir establishing it’s boundaries from Perdido to the Rio Bravo . these were sent to our...
2333Thomas Jefferson to David Higginbotham, 28 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The Surveyor left wi th me your plat and deed which I now inclose. he foun d the disputed bounds to contain 68. a s so that you deduct 680.D. from your last payment to mr Short , of which I this day give him notice. PoC ( MHi ); on verso of reused address cover of James Monroe to TJ, [22] Jan. 1816 ; torn at seal, with one word rewritten by TJ; at foot of text: “M r
2334Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 28 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The arbitrators, surveyor E t c met on the 21 st . they decided the line in your favor, but divided costs as a tax on you for so careless a designation of the line as to entrap a subsequent purchaser. the disputed lines were found to contain 68. acres. the costs will be 6. or 7.D. a piece to you. I inclose you the original award & the plat you inclosed to me. RC ( MWiCA : Robert Sterling Clark...
2335Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 28 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Having procured an appointment for the 21 st inst. the Surveyor , arbitrators, parties (by their agents) and witnesses met. the forenoon was showery but the difficulty & uncertainty of all collecting again from different parts of the county induced all to go thro’ the work. the Surveyor run the lines, and instead of something less than 30. a s as had been conjectured, he found them to contain...
2336Thomas Jefferson to John Bradbury, 29 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter has laid by me a month unacknoleged and unacted on; which should not have happened, had not an engagement in a business of peculiar pressure obliged me to suspend all correspondence till I got thro’ it. I have now written to the Secretary at war , expressing to him your wish and your fitness for the appointment of a Commissioner on the Arkansa road. I should be very glad indeed if...
2337Thomas Jefferson to William H. Crawford, 29 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of quoting to you the passage of a letter I have recieved from a mr John Bradbury of New York , as follows. ‘I notice in the reports of the proceedings of Congress that a road is in contemplation from S t Louis to the Northern boundary of Louisiana ; for the laying out of which Comm rs are to be appointed. I am well acquainted with a considerable portion of the country from...
2338Thomas Jefferson to Gilbert J. Hunt, 29 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 30. was recieved on the 14 th inst. and I now return you the Prospectus with my signature, and 2. Dollars for the copy subscribed for in a Richmond bank bill which I understand is recievable with you at par. the volume when published may be forwarded by mail. I salute you with respect PoC ( MHi ); on verso of reused address cover to TJ; at foot of text: “M r G. J. Hunt. N....
2339Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 29 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 16 th I received yesterday your favor of the 16 th inst. informing me that the General assembly had been pleased to appoint me one of the Directors of the board of public works recently instituted by them. the spirit with which they have entered on the great works of improvement and public instruction will form an honorable epoch in the history of our country, and I sincerely...
2340Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 29 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
As the outer letter may be to go into different hands I place in a separate one my thanks for your kind offer of the comfortable quarters of your house in the event of my acting as a Director of the public works. but at the age of 73. volunteer journies are out of the question. those to Bedford are of necessity. for them however I chuse my own time, am there with one or two nights only...
2341Thomas Jefferson to James Oram, 29 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Th Jefferson returns to mr Oram the prospectus of Ware ’s English grammar with his signature and a Dollar Richmond bank note, which he understands is recievable at par at N. York , the price of a copy which when published may be forwarded by mail, and tenders him his respectful salutations. PoC ( MHi ); on verso of reused address cover of Bernard Peyton to TJ, 31 Jan. 1816 ; dateline following...
2342Thomas Jefferson to John F. Watson, 29 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 5 th inst. has been recieved, as are also the 7 th and 8 th volumes of the Review, and I now inclose you 13. Dollars, the amount of the last 5. volumes as nearly as I can come, there being no fractions of Dollars in our bank bills. those inclosed are of Richmond as desired. I shall be glad to recieve from mr Earle the other volumes as fast as they come out: Accept the...
2343Thomas Jefferson to Robert Ould, 2 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to thank you for the copy of the Abridgment of the Lancastrian method of education which you were so good as to send me. when that method was first introduced I was too much engaged in business to pay more than a very limited attention to it; altho’ it was the subject of considerable discussion before the public; and since my retirement no circumstance has led my enquiries towards it....
2344Thomas Jefferson to Robert Saunders, 2 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of Feb. 20. covering covering an acknolegement of the Cashier of the bank of Virginia at Richmond that you had deposited there the su m of six hundred and thirty five Dollars 48 cents to my c redit for the use of John Baptist Fancelli : and I recieved un der the same cover a return of Fancelli ’s letters of At tor
2345Thomas Jefferson to Garrit Storm, 2 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to the enquiries of your letter of Feb. 23. concerning Alexander Quarrier I can inform you that I have known a person of that name ever since the year 1783. he was then a coachmaker in Philadelphia in partnership with Hunter . he removed to Richmond where I knew him well many years as a very worthy citizen. he was a captain in the militia of the city, in the artillery I believe, and...
2346Thomas Jefferson to George Watterston, 2 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I am afraid that for some time I shall be occasionally troublesome to you. I suspect that I stuck a paper containing an epitaph intended for Dabney Carr into the Recherches historiques of Mazzei where they speak of that gentleman. this work is Ch. 24. N o 246. if there, will you be so good as to inclose it to me? I sent the 2. vols of Virginia laws by my grandaughter Ellen Randolph , now at...
2347Thomas Jefferson to James Barbour, 5 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
If I knew what you possessed, or what you particularly wished my attention more especially applied to the latter might better have fulfilled them. sending at random I fear I may add little to your actual possessions. but I do the best I can by sending those things which are not absolutely possessed by every body. for the garden. Sprout Kale. which no body in the US . has but those to whom I...
2348Thomas Jefferson to Richard Peters, 6 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to thank you for the copy of your Discourse on agriculture which you have been so kind as to send me. I participate in all your love for the art, and wish I did also in your skill. but I was never but an amateur, and have been kept from it’s practice until I am too old to learn it. we are indebted to you for much of our knolege as to the use of the plaister, which is become a principal...
2349Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 8 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Being uneasy at the delay of my tob o in Bedford , I lately sent an express there to be ascertained as to it’s departure. mr Yancey informs me by that, that it is all at Lynchburg , that he has contracted with D r Cabell to send the whole on the return of his boats which were then down, and makes himself responsible it shall leave Lynchburg by the 10 th this being the season for the to which...
2350Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 8 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
According to your kind permission I am beginning to be troublesome to you. I have occasion for 8 tons of plaister of Paris, and mr Randolph informs me it is to be had at Rockets’s for 9.D. and he names a mr Mordecai who has a large quantity there. will you be so good as to procure me that quantity & engage the Milton boats to go down to Rocket’s for it, which I am told they will do for a...