51Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Law, 24 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
The enrolment of my name among those of the members of the Columbian Institute is an honor which I recieve with the acknolegements it so justly calls for. I place it to the account of their kindness, and not of any services I can now render them. age and it’s effects forbid me that expectation, and teach me that it is not among the ruins of memory that new materials for science are to be...
52Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Eston Randolph, 20 January 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
As mr Randolph and yourself have the Shadwell mill in partnership this year and the details of it’s business, on account of his absences, will chiefly fall on you, I submit to you the following considerations as to the rent. while Shoemaker held the mill the rent was fixed in money at 1280.D. a year payable quarterly. when mr Randolph and M c kinney took it they wished it to be fixed in flour...
53Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 26 August 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I told Newby that I should refer to yourself entirely the choice of an overseer, but that before the evening I would write to you on the subject. I was just going over to Goodman’s , to make some enquiry about his brother , Tomlins , E t c. he tells me it is a brother whose name I have forgot who drinks. I think it began with an F., but that Nathan is perfectly sober, good humored towards the...
54Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Eston Randolph, 20 August 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The purchase of Pantops renders it necessary for me to understand exactly the conditions of the lease you have on it. M r Eppes has always told me they were exactly the same as those of my lease to Craven , which was agreed between yourselves to be the model. indeed I have some faint recollection of having drawn the articles myself on that model, at the request of mr Eppes , or perhaps of both...
55Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Williamson, 25 December 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Without knowing in what way my having been or not been in England , or my having seen or not seen it’s present king may be interesting to any one I answer the enquiries of your favor of the 19 th inst. by informing you that while I was in Europe , I was three times in England . my stay the first & last time was of not more than a week or ten days each time; but the second journey there was as...
56Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 15 March 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
The author of the inclosed having expressed a wish to Th: Jefferson that it might appear in our Southern papers, he sends it to mr Ritchie to give it a place in his columns or not, as he shall think it deserves; Th:J. being unacquainted with the author & taking no interest in his proposed publication. he presents to mr Ritchie his salutations & assurances of great esteem & respect. PoC ( MHi...
57Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 10 February 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Jan. 16. I promised you a sample from my Commonplace book , of the pious disposition of the English judges to connive at the frauds of the clergy, a disposition which has even rendered them faithful allies in practice. when I was a student of the law, now half a century ago, after getting thro Coke Littleton, whose matter cannot be abridged, I was in the habit of abridging and...
58Thomas Jefferson to Thomas W. Maury, 27 January 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favored with yours of the 17 th . mr Cabell had apprised me of the objections to the power of imprisonment given to the a functionary of our College; and having explained to him the reason of it I must refer you to him for a sight of my letter . the object seems to have been totally mistaken, and what was intended in tenderness to the pupil has been misconstrued into an act of severity,...
59Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey and Thomas W. Maury, 14 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return from Bedford after an absence of 7. weeks I find here your favor of Nov. 24. for which I thank you & for the information it contains. during my absence I expect a petition to the assembly from mr Sampson , Col o T. M. Randolph , Jefferson Randolph and my self was sent to yourself and mr Maury (whom I pray to consider this letter as addressed to him as well as to yourself) on the...
60Recommendation of William McClure by Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Mann Randolph, 12 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer W m M c lure removed from N.C. to this neighborhood under an engagement to instruct us in the use of the Spinning Jenny. several of these machines have been made by him & by our own workmen, and our Spinners are taught to use them so completely as to ensure our being able to clothe our own people by the labor of a few of the least useful of them. his principal profession is that of...
61Thomas Jefferson to Thomas A. Holcombe, 26 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Presuming that Saturdays & Sundays are vacation days at your school I ask the favor of you to permit my grandson Francis Eppes and his cousin Baker to pass them with me at this place. they shall be returned again on Monday morning. and as I shall have to ask the same favor of you again at the end of the ensuing week which I shall stay here, I will conform exactly to the hours of sending for...
62Thomas Jefferson to Thomas T. Tucker, 12 May 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with the request of your letter of Apr. 28 I now acknolege the reciept of 8580. Dollars in treasury notes from the Commissioner of loans in Richmond ; that I have also recieved mr Barnes ’s acknolegement of his receipt at Washington of 4,860. Dollars in Treasury notes, & 10.D in other paper for which I had given him an order . I am not informed of mr Short ’s reciept of the...
63Thomas Jefferson to Thomas T. Barr, 19 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very sensible of the honor done me by the Kentucky Agricultural society , in appointing me one of their honorary members . distance will be one great obstacle to my being of use to them; but a much greater and growing one will be the increasing torpor of age, now sensibly felt in body and mind. should any occasion arise however in which I can serve their institution, I shall do it with...
64Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 16 April 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
We are out of sallad-oil, and you know it is a necessary of life here. can any be had in Richmond ? I must get you to enquire, and to be particular as to it’s quality. if fine I would be glad to have half a dozen quarts. if midling 2. or 3. bottles will do. if absolutely not good get a single bottle only to serve till I can get some from Philadelphia . we all mr Jefferson will be so good as to...
65Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph (1792–1848), 2 October 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sep. 15. came to hand only yesterday. I hasten therefore to inclose you letters to my two most particular friends Gen l Dearborne & mr Gerry . the latter lives at Cambridge . Gen l Dearborne lives, I believe, three miles from Boston , but comes to his office in town probably every day or two. wishing you a pleasant journey & profitable residence there, I salute you with esteem &...
66Thomas Jefferson to Thomas T. Hewson, 18 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Our last post brought me your favor of the 8 th instant informing me that the American Philosophical society had done me the honor of reelecting me to the Presidential chair of the society. I beg leave through you, Sir, to renew my thanks for these repeated proofs of their good dispositions towards me. no one can feel with more sensibility the object obligations imposed by the suffrage of so...
67Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Appleton, 31 January 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you a long letter on the 14 th inst. and as it went by Duplicates one thro’ mr Vaughan of Philada , the other thro’ the Sec y of States office , I do not doubt you will receive them. but a gentleman now setting out direct for Paris , you may recieve this before either of the others. I will repeat therefore from that letter only a single article. it informed you that ‘I had put into the...
68Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Wilson, 8 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter, tho dated Apr. 9 . did not get to my hands till the 5 th inst. I now return the account it inclosed, & mr Lyon’s statement as requested, having retained copies. the only concern I ever had in the administration of mr Wayles’s estate was in the arrangement of his books & papers immediately after his death in 1773. the commencement of the revolution beginning happening a year or two...
69Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 20 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
In the even current of a country life few occurrences arise of sufficient note to become the subject of a letter to a person at a distance. it would be little interesting to such an one to be told of the distressing drought of the months of April & May, that wheat & corn scarcely vegetated and no seeds in the garden came up; that since that we have had good rains but very cold weather, so that...
70Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Humphreys, 8 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 2. did not come to my hands until the 5 th instant. I concur entirely in your leading principles of gradual emancipation, of establishment on the coast of Africa , and the patronage of our nation until the emigrants shall be able to protect themselves. the subordinate details might be easily arranged. but the bare proposition of purchase by the United states generally would...
71Thomas Jefferson to Thomas A. Holcombe, 28 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to the Principal of the Lynchburg academy with whom Francis Eppes a grandson of his is, the only child of a deceased daughter , whom he has but rare opportunities of seeing. there is with him also another connection, master Baker . it will be a gratification if they can be permitted to come and stay with him till Monday morning when they shall be sent...
72Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Clark, 20 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 7 th is duly recieved, and I now, according to your request, inclose you a letter to Govern r Barbour from whom I am persuaded you will recieve every aid and facility in his power towards the furthering your object. at the same time I fear that the destruction of our records by the British during the war, not only at all the County courthouses they could visit, but at the...
73Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, [6 September 1814] (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your letter of Aug. 31. it was our first authentic information of what was passing at Richmond , and we are so flooded with lies that all is as blank paper to me which does not come thro’ a known channel. you see therefore, how acceptable your Letters will be to me. I can give you nothing in exchange but the state of health of the family, which at present is all in perfect...
74Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Moore, 28 April 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 20 th was recieved two days ago. I distinctly recollect that on your satisfying me that the law for locating & opening the Western road could not be executed by barely the agents named in it, I authorised you to employ others, particularly a packhorseman, with a packhorse & tent, and one or more assistants in the surveying (I do not recollect the number exactly) and that I...
75Thomas Jefferson to John F. Watson, 2 June 1816, with John F. Watson’s Receipt to Thomas Jefferson, 7 June 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I had recieved the 9 th vol. of the Edinb. Review some days ago, and yesterday the 10 th came to hand, with your favor of May 27 24 . and in compliance with that I now inclose you a 5. Dollar note of the bank of Virginia , and salute you with esteem and respect. Rec d Germantown June 7. 1816 from
76Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 3 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just had sight of a statistical document so very curious that I am exceedingly anxious to obtain a copy of it. it is entitled ‘a statement of the revenue tax for the year 1815 arising on lots land and other property’ a two sheet table printed in your office. if you can procure me a copy you will greatly oblige me. Accept assurances of my friendly respect. PoC ( MHi ); on verso of a...
77Thomas Jefferson to Thomas C. Flournoy, 8 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Th Jefferson presents his compliments and his thanks to mr Flournoy for the copy he has been so kind as to send him of his oration on the 4 th of July. it has stated with great truth & justice the causes of the war in which we are engaged, and which he trusts will be deemed in history sufficient thro’ all time. if the sentiments expressed by mr Flournoy , and which are the peculiar honor of...
78Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine McMahon, 3 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Mar. 24. is recieved, and nothing could have been so pleasing to me as to have been able to comply with the request therein made, feeling especial motives to become useful to any person connected with mr M c Mahon . but I shall state to you the circumstances which controul my will, and rest on your candor their just estimate. when I retired from the government, 4. years ago, it...
79Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 14 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have safely recieved the 4. bottles of oil you sent me and find it very good insomuch that I wish to get more of the same batch. for this purpose I inclose you 10.D. and pray you to get as much more as that will pay for, letting me know at the same time the price, and how much more of the same oil the person has: because if it be cheap, I may still lay in a larger stock of it. send it up by...
80Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Voigt, 20 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return from a journey after an absence of 3. weeks I found here mr Patterson’s letter of Apr. 24. covering your bill for the clock, amount 115. D 50 C, and I have this day desired mess rs Gibson & Jefferson of Richmond , my correspondents there, to remit you that sum immediately, which I hope will get safe to hand. mr Patterson writes me you will keep in mind my recommendation of...