2871From Thomas Jefferson to Champagni, [19 January 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
Vous me faites l’honneur, Monsieur, de demander mes conseils sur le projet que vous avez conçu, de vendre vos biens ici, et d’aller vous etablir en Amerique. Je vous repeterai ce que j’ai eu l’honneur de conseiller à d’autres, qui en ont eté dans la suite tres contents. C’est de ne vendre ici, qu’après que vous vous auriez rendu en Amerique, que vous auriez bien parcouru les etats dont le...
2872From Thomas Jefferson to R. & A. Garvey, 19 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your letter of Jan. 8. on the subject of the duties paid by Mr. Boylston on his cargo of whale oil, but being about to take a journey which will absent me from Paris three months, it will be necessary for Mr. Boylston to desire his correspondent at this place to undertake the sollicitation of that reimbursement. Your bill for 59₶ 5s has been presented to-day and paid. I sent...
2873From Thomas Jefferson to François Soulés, 19 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour of inclosing to you the sheets on the subject of Wyoming. I have had a long conversation with M. Crevecoeur on them. He knows well that canton. He was in the neighborhood of the place when it was destroyed, saw great numbers of the fugitives, aided them with his waggons, and had the story from all their mouths. He committed notes to writing in the moment, which are now in...
2874[From Thomas Jefferson to the Abbé Morellet, 19 January 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 19 Jan. 1787. Entry in SJL reads: “Morellet l’Abbé.” Not found; but see Morellet to TJ, 11? Jan. 1787 .]
2875From Thomas Jefferson to Elizabeth Blair Thompson, 19 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this day honoured with your favour of the 10th. instant and have the happiness to inform you that Mr. Bannister has been here near two months, and appears to enjoy as perfect health as any person can. I am in hopes he will have no more relapses.—I am much obliged by your kind expressions of concern at the accident which prevented me the honour of seeing you at Titchfeild. Certainly if I...
2876From Thomas Jefferson to Hilliard d’Auberteuil, 27 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly received the letter you did me the honour to write, and the verses therein inclosed on the subject of the M. de la Fayette. I have taken measures to present the public with this acceptable present ; but the newspapers here are slow in complying with the applications addressed to them. It is not for a stranger to decide on the merit of poetry in a language foreign to him. Were I to...
2877From Thomas Jefferson to Gelhais, 27 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Un quartier du loyer de la maison de M. le comte de Langeac etant echu ce mois ci, je lui ai prevenu des titres de la demande que vous avez eu la complaisance de m’adresser. Mais il m’a montré un arret de surseance par lequel les reclamations de ses creanciers contre lui sont suspendues. A cet arret, emandant de l’autorité supreme du païs, c’est de mon devoir de me conformer aussi. Je lui ai...
2878From Thomas Jefferson to Segond, 27 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received the letter with which you have been pleased to honour me, complaining of the nonpaiment of interest on the sum due to you from the United States. I feel with great sensibility the weight of these complaints; but it is neither in my province, nor in my power, to remedy them. I am no ways authorised to interfere with the money matters of the U.S. in Europe. These rest...
2879From Thomas Jefferson to John Stockdale, 28 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I will thank you to send me by the Diligence Sterne’s works complete, 5. vols. 12mo. published by Cadell 1780. I name this edition because it brings all his works into the smallest compass of any one I have seen. If you know of any edition still smaller I would prefer it, elegantly bound. A friend here has desired me to procure there two peices of Pope, viz, ‘Happy the man whose wish and care...
2880From Thomas Jefferson to Anthony Vieyra, [28 January 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honour of presenting his compliments to Mr. Vieyra and is sorry to have been out of the way when he did him the honour to call on him yesterday. He returns him the copy of his book which he had been so kind as to leave with him, and which Mr. Jefferson has gone over with much satisfaction, and with a conviction of the great erudition of it’s author. PrC ( MoSHi ); not...
2881From Thomas Jefferson to R. & A. Garvey, 29 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honour to inclose you a paper from the Douane equivalent to the Acquit a caution which they have mislaid. They insist that the variation between the Acquit described in this paper, and that described in your letter proceeds from an error in the latter, and that no such Acquit á caution as you describe has been transmitted to them. I wish however the error may not be with them:...
2882To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 January 1787 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of the 16th. of Dec. since which I have received yours of Nov. 25. & Dec. 4. which afforded me, as your letters always do, a treat on matters public, individual & oeconomical. I am impatient to learn your sentiments on the late troubles in the Eastern states. So far as I have yet seen, they do not appear to threaten serious consequences. Those states have suffered by the...
2883From Thomas Jefferson to Zachariah Loreilhe, 30 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter from a friend of mine in S. Carolina informs me that, with that letter, he sends some plants, addressed to the care of Monsr. Otto, Chargé des affaires of France at New York. The letter is come to hand, but no plants. Fearing they may remain on board the Packet boat last arrived at L’Orient, or neglected in some warehouse, I take the liberty of asking your friendly enquiries after...
2884From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 16th of Dec. since which I have received yours of Nov. 25. and Dec. 4. which afforded me, as your letters always do, a treat on matters public, individual and oeconomical. I am impatient to learn your sentiments on the late troubles in the Eastern states. So far as I have yet seen, they do not appear to threaten serious consequences. Those states have suffered by the...
2885From Thomas Jefferson to St. John de Crèvecoeur, [ca. February 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
I return you your papers with many thinks. Monsr. de Chalut who has shewn me many civilities, being desirous of sending some packages of pictures to Charles town I advised him to send them by the packet from Havre to New York, and to have them reimbarked thence to Charles town. He asks me for a correspondent at New York to whom he may address them. Knowing that men of the same language and...
2886From Thomas Jefferson to Cunningham and Haddaway, 1 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to be obliged to inform you that I am not able to procure an order for your being permitted to work your passage back to America, nor able otherwise to comply with your desires, being neither invested with the power, nor furnished with the means of doing it. I imagine you have come under particular contracts with your captains, which doubtless they will either perform, or make...
2887From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 1 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters were of the 31st. of Decemb. and 9th. of January, since which last date I have been honoured with yours of December the 13th. and 14th. I shall pay immediate attention to your instructions relative to the S. Carolina frigate. I had the honour of informing you of an improvement in the art of coining made here by one Drost, and of sending you by Colo. Franks a specimen of his...
2888From Thomas Jefferson to John Stockdale, 1 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
You have two or three times proposed to me the printing my Notes on Virginia. I never did intend to have them made public, because they are little interesting to the rest of the world. But as a translation of them is coming out, I have concluded to let the original appear also. I have therefore corrected a copy, and made some additions. I have moreover had a map engraved, which is worth more...
2889From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Treasury, 1 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Franks, who acted as Secretary to Mr. Barclay on his mission to Marocco, having occasion for money for his journey, I furnished him with fifty pounds sterling by draught on the fund appropriated to those purposes, for which I now inclose you his receipt. Mr. Barclay settled his account to the time of his being at Madrid on his return, of which, I presume, one or both those gentlemen will...
2890From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Barclay, 2 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
You could not have obliged me more, my dear Madam, than by the friendly application you have made. The thousand livres shall be delivered into the hands of any person you will be so good as to direct to call for them; or to any person you please in Paris at a moment’s warning. My last letter from Mr. Barclay was dated Alicant Jan. 6. He was well, and was to set out in two days for Madrid, from...
2891From Thomas Jefferson to François Soulés, 2 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you the papers M. de Crevecoeur sent to Normandy for. The account of the destruction of Wyoming begins page 40. You may rely certainly on the author’s facts, and you will be easily able to separate from them his reflections. You can best judge whether an account of that interesting settlement, condensed into a few lines might not form an agreeable episode in your history, and prepare...
2892From Thomas Jefferson to Christian Frederick Michaelis and Others, 4 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The American Philosophical Society having heretofore done themselves the honour of naming you one of their members, the President has been pleased to transmit to me the Diploma made out in the forms used by the society, and authenticated by their seal. I do myself the honour of forwarding it to you and at the same time of assuring you of the sentiments of esteem & respect with which I have the...
2893To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 6 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
Your favors by Col o. Franks have come safely to hand. he will set out from hence the 8 th. inst. the packet being to sail from Havre the 10 th. I inclose you the copy of a letter lately received from mr̃ Barclay, & of the paper it inclosed. in a letter from mr̃ Carmichael is a postscript dated Dec. 25. in the following words “since writing the preceding, the Portuguese Ambassador has pressed...
2894From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 6 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors by Colo. Franks have come safely to hand. He will set out from hence the 8th. inst. the packet being to sail from Havre the 10th. I inclose you the copy of a letter lately received from Mr. Barclay, and of the paper it inclosed. In a letter from Mr. Carmichael is a postscript dated Dec. 25. in the following words ‘since writing the preceding, the Portuguese Ambassador has pressed...
2895From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 6 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 6th. of May last by Mr. McQuin, and of sending you by the same gentleman some seed of the Sulla, or Spanish St. foin. I hope it has succeeded, as some seeds of the same parcel which I sowed in my garden have vegetated well and gave me an opportunity of seeing that it is a most luxuriant grass. It’s success in the climate of Malta seems to ensure it...
2896To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 7 February 1787 (Madison Papers)
I leave the inclosed open for your perusal & that of your Collegues & others to whom you may chuse to shew it; only taking care that neither copies nor extracts be taken. Be so good, when you are done with it, as to stick a wafer in it and forward it to the Governor. I am with sincere esteem Dr. Sir Your friend & servt P. S. I do not know whether you are acquainted with young Bannister who...
2897From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, 7 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A former letter which I wrote to announce the arrival of your son in Paris in good health has failed to go by the occasion which was expected. He will have the happiness therefore of announcing that good news in person. I congratulate you on his character which is substantially good. He has never I think done an imprudent thing since he left you, unless we call by that name, as I believe we...
2898From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, Jr., with enclosure, 7 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you fifteen hundred livres being all the money I have in this moment. I must beg the favor of you to leave me your accounts to pay to the amount of your balance. My reason is this. Being to set out on my journey within a week, I shall then have occasion to draw money from my banker for the paiment of my own accounts, and would wish to make one draught of the whole. Nevertheless if it...
2899From Thomas Jefferson to Anne Willing Bingham, 7 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I know, Madam, that the twelvemonth is not yet expired; but it will be, nearly, before this will have the honour of being put into your hands. You are then engaged to tell me truly and honestly whether you do not find the tranquil pleasures of America preferable to the empty bustle of Paris. For to what does that bustle tend? At eleven o’clock it is day chez Madame. The curtains are drawn....
2900From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Virginia, 7 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour of inclosing to your Excellency a report of the proceedings on the inauguration of the bust of the Marquis de la Fayette in this city. This has been attended with a considerable, but a necessary delay. The principle that the King is the sole fountain of honour in this country, opposed a barrier to our desires which threatened to be insurmountable. No instance of a similar...
2901From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I leave the inclosed open for your perusal and that of your Collegues and others to whom you may chuse to shew it; only taking care that neither copies nor extracts be taken. Be so good, when you are done with it, as to stick a wafer in it and forward it to the Governor. I am with sincere esteem Dr. Sir your friend & servt., P.S. I do not know whether you are acquainted with young Bannister...
2902From Thomas Jefferson to David S. Franks, 8 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I discover that by mistake you have among the papers some that are not destined for America. I recollect PrC ( MHi ); MS faded, some words being supplied by the editors with reference to the first of the two letters written to Franks on this date. Franks’s acknowledgment of a letter of the 8th indicates that only one was received (Franks to TJ, 11 Feb. 1787), and only one is recorded in SJL ....
2903From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 8 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The packet being to sail the day after tomorrow, I have awaited the last possible moment of writing by her, in hopes I might be able to announce some favorable change in the situation of the Count de Vergennes. But none has occurred, and in the mean time he has become weaker by the continuance of his illness. Tho’ not desperately ill, he is dangerously so. The Comptroller General M. de...
2904From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 8 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your favor of the 3d. inst. and thank you for the letters it covered. This will be handed you by two American gentlemen Colo. Franks and Mr. Bannister, who propose to go passengers in the packet, and whom I beg leave to recommend to your notice. I shall set out this day sennight for the South of France and probably shall be absent from Paris two or three months. Mr. Short,...
2905From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 9 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was dated Dec. 25. since which I have been honoured with your several favors of Dec. 29. Jan. 5. 9. and 23. I thought that your affairs could not be more interesting than they have been for a considerable time. Yet in the present moment they are become more so by the apparent withdrawing of so considerable a personage in the drama as the K. of P. To increase this interest...
2906[From Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Doradour, 11 February 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 11 Feb. 1787 Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found.]
2907From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 11 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A friend in S. Carolina sent a letter and a box of plants for me to Mr. Otto, chargé des affaires of France at New York. The letter came by the packet the Courier de l’Europe, and was sent to me from l’Orient. I presume Mr. Otto sent the box of plants by the same conveiance but as the packet received orders on her arrival at l’Orient to repair immediately to Havre, she landed only her...
2908From Thomas Jefferson to De Puisaye, 11 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Les talents que vous possedez, Monsieur, doivent bien vous faire reussir en Amerique, comme partout ailleurs. Vous ne pouvez pas manquer d’y trouver à quoi les occuper. Vous avez bien prevu que la manque de la langue du païs vous fera eprouver des difficultés. Je vous assure qu’ils ne seront pas mediocres, et je vous parle de ma propre experience. Il faudra aussi vous preparer d’y rencontrer...
2909From Thomas Jefferson to Tarbé, 11 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai l’honneur, Monsieur, d’accuser la reception de la lettre que vous m’avez fait celui de m’ecrire, et de vous informer que votre billet d’echange a eté presenté et payé, et que le vin est arrivé á sa destination. Je vous prie de vouloir bien agreer mes sinceres remerciments pour toutes vos bontés et les assurances des sentiments d’estime et de respect avec lesquels j’ai l’honneur d’etre...
2910From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 11 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My hand recovering very slowly from the effects of it’s dislocation, I am advised by the Surgeons to try the waters of Aix in Provence. From thence I think it possible I may go as far as Nice. As circumstances might arise under which a passport might be useful, I take the liberty of troubling your Excellency for one. I propose to set out on Thursday next. I would at the same time ask an...
2911From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Burney, 12 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of the 20th. of January, and am now to return you my sincere thanks for your very kind attention to the instrument I had desired. Your goodness has induced you to give yourself a great deal more trouble about it than I would have presumed to propose to you. I only meant to intrude on your time so far as to give a general instruction to the workmen. Besides...
2912From Thomas Jefferson to Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 12 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barclay the American Consul general for France being at present out of the kingdom, I have given orders to Mr. Grand, banker at Paris, to pay your draught for one hundred and eighty six livres advanced by you for the relief of the shipwrecked Americans. I thank you for your attention to these unfortunate people. It will rest with Mr. Barclay to give such future directions as he shall think...
2913From Thomas Jefferson to Schweighauser & Dobrée, 12 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received the order of Congress for the settlement of your accounts, of which order you were pleased to send me a copy in your favor of Jan. 27. I have reason to expect still an additional order on the same subject. This will probably arrive by the time I shall have compleated a journey into the South of France which my health obliges me to take. I purpose to return by the way of...
2914From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 14 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
As I propose to write you on business by Mr. Cairnes who will set out in a few days for London, the object of the present letter is only to inform you that the Count de Vergennes died yesterday morning and that the Count de Montmorin is appointed his successor: and further to beg the favor of you to forward the inclosed by the first vessel from London. I set out on my journey on Sunday the...
2915From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 14 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
In the letter of the 8th. instant which I had the honour of writing you, I informed you that the Count de Vergennes was dangerously ill. He died yesterday morning, and the Count de Montmorin is appointed his successor. Your personal knowlege of this gentleman renders it unnecessary for me to say any thing of him. Mr. Morris, during his office, being authorized to have the medals and swords...
2916From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 14 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
In the letter of the 8th. instant which I had the honour of writing you, I informed you of the illness of the Count de Vergennes. In one of the present date which I send by the way of London, I have notified to you his death which happened yesterday morning, and that the Count de Montmorin is appointed his successor, with whose character you are personally acquainted. As the winds have been...
2917From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 14 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter is to announce to Congress the death of the Count de Vergennes and appointment of the Count de Montmorin to succeed him. As the winds seem to have been contrary to the sailing of the packet boat, I send it by post and beg the favor of you to deliver it to Colo. Franks if he is not gone; and if he is, to send it by the first vessel. I have received duly the papers which...
2918From Thomas Jefferson to Simon Bérard, 16 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A friend of mine in Charlestown sent me a box of plants and a letter to New York to the care of Mr. Otto, Chargé des affaires of France there who delivered them to Capt. Sionville of the packet Courier de l’Europe. The letter came to hand without the box of plants. I wrote to Mr. Champion of L’Orient to ask the favor of him to enquire for the box. He wrote me word the vessel was gone on to...
2919From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Champion, 16 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
On receipt of the letter you were so kind as to write me, I wrote to M. Limozin to make enquiry for the box of plants which was the subject of the letter with which I troubled you. He called on Capt. Sionville of the packet the Courier de l’Europe, who informed him he did bring such a box of plants, that having forgot from whom he received them and for whom they were intended, and there being,...
2920From Thomas Jefferson to Philip Mazzei, 16 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Anacreon. Antoninus. Sophocles. Xenophon’s Cyropaedia. Aeschylus. ——’s Hellenics. Euripides. ——’s Anabasis. Aristophanes. Herodotus. Seneca’s tragedies. Thucydides. Terence. Quintus Curtius. Plautus. Justin. Lucian. Diodorus Siculus. Horace. Dyonisius Halicarnassus.