451To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 12 May 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
If I could be induced by any means to attaching any value to any prophecy of mine, it would be the having led you to give me your foresight into futurity. Although I am willing to to take it with the prudent proviso which you annex to it, yet I value it most highly, as I have ever done what I have received from your for now near half a century. The ultramad ministers of France seem disposed to...
452To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 28 July 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I am thus far on my way to the land which I mentioned to you in a former letter; & having stopped here at an early hour to repose myself I make use of a part of the after noon to have the pleasure of writing to you. Hitherto I have travelled on what are called good roads, & yet I find myself much more fatigued than I had expected to be. It is true that the carriage which I hired at Utica, in...
453To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 9 October 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kind favor of the 8 th ult o was waiting for me here, & I received & read it with those feelings which I always experience in what comes from you. I am under real obligation for the manner in which you have allowed me to substitute the next summer for this fall. For independently of the full sufficiency I have had of locomotion for the present, another obstacle would have presented itself...
454To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 29 March 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The last letter which I have had the pleasure of writing to you, was of the date of Octob: 9. in acknowlegement of your kind favor of the 8 th of Sept r . You are well assured that my long silence has not proceeded from indifference to the gratification of hearing from you, but from an unwillingness to add to your burthen, already too great, of correspondence with your friends. In the mean...
455To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 17 April 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your most agreeable favor of the 10 th was recieved here two days ago. You say nothing of your health & therefore I have the gratification of believing it good—I met at the Society last evening your old friend M r Patterson of the Mint, & several other of your friends, all of whom partook with me in this pleasure, more especially Mr Patterson who is about your age, & who never fails when we...
456To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 10 May 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not intend to have troubled you again so soon when last I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 17 th of April in acknowlegement of your kind favor of the 10 th of that month—I send this letter at a venture & merely to take the chance of finding you before you set out on your journey south—Here is the cause of it. I learned last evening from a son of Judge Peters, that his father has...
457To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 19 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The date of this letter will shew that I have been detained here much longer than I had expected—Whilst the extent of this delay remained undefined I was unwilling to give you the trouble of a letter, & therefore have abstained even from acknowleging & thanking you for yours of the 17 th of May— I now think I may fix with sufficient certainty the time of my departure, to venture to mention...
458To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 7 August 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure of informing you of my arrival here, & thus having now approached so near to Monticello as to shew my fixed determination of attaining the point I have so long been aiming at, that it might suggest reasonable doubts of my determination. I here encounter a circumstance which will cause a few days delay however. Last year when Gen l Cocke was in Phila da , I was induced to...
459To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 3 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing as I do, how every letter adds to the burthen which every mail you I have postponed perhaps longer than I should otherwise have done to have informed you of my arrival here, & to have enquired as to the health & present situation of yourself & your interesting family around you. Owing to the wet season & the state of the roads in consequence thereof, I had a most tedious & disagreeable...
460To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 2 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I had this pleasure on the 3 d ult o I do not write this in order to add to the burthen of correspondence with which I know you are already overloaded, but merely to ask you to send me one line by the ministry of one of the young Ladies, that I may know how your health is, what news you have from M r Gilmer, & whether M de d’Epinay arrived safe. I sent her in three divisions by three different...
461To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 18 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have abstained from acknowleging your favor of the 9 th ult o that I might not add to your already too heavy load of correspondence. Your letter however came most opportunely; for it was on the heels of a report which had just reached us the very night before, of your being very ill—Your information as to the imposthume explained the ground of this report, & your relief from it was a great...
462To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 23 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you the three letters inclosed merely because they are the complement of those I sent in my letter of the 18 th inst. They are much too prolix to insist on your reading them—Burn them therefore by way of despatching if it should best suit you. The idea of sending them to you occurred to me merely because they offered some views on what has now become a mere historical subject; which...
463To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 19 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
The vol s of Hall arrived safe. I am much pleased that they gave the pleasure which I hoped, to the several readers at Monticello, & only regret that you did not keep this little work. I have learned since my return here that he is the son of the Sir James Hall who was in Paris with a son of Lord Lettish, Lord D. They were both the friends of Dugald Stewart & both inclined to republicanism—If...
464To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 27 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I have already had the pleasure of acknowleging & thanking you for your gratifying favor of the 8 th ult o a most clear & instructive exhibition of a subject with which I was of course little acquainted. My letter was of the 19 th of Jan y the last I have written except one of the 8 th inst.— I allow myself to give you the present trouble only on account of the occasion, which induces me to...
465To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 27 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kind & most acceptable remembrance of the 4 th inst. calls for all my thanks. It gave me the most sincere pleasure to recieve from your hand, the details respecting the University—The first steps are always the most difficult, & these being now made with so much success, I look forward with the most sanguine hope to its future progress. I beg you to be assured that you cannot confer on me...
466To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 27 June 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kind letter which I last recieved from you (that of April 4) gave me much & real gratification by the details you were so good as to enter into on the subject of the University—they are indeed the most encouraging. And I beg you to believe that my absence from the State has not had the effect of diminishing in the smallest degree my earnest desire to learn all that is favorable to this...
467To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 4 October 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
It is always a great gratification to me to recieve one of your letters. That of Aug: 9. I found here on my return from my summer’s excursion—It gratified me first by informing me that your long confinement had not affected your general health, of which I was very apprehensive, & secondly by the account you give me of the state of the University—That account came here most opportunely—for a...
468To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 2 November 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot too much thank you for your kind letter of the 14 th It gave me great relief from the anxiety I was under on account of reports as to your health & the affairs of the University—To the last, as mere reports, I should have paid no attention, after those which prevailed on the same subject, & without even the shadow of a foundation, some time ago. But the Richmond Enquirer which I see...
469To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 14 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I had this pleasure on the 2 d ul to & trust that letter got safe to hand. I inclosed in it a song composed & sung at a public dinner by a man of your own age, & who to me has always professed the longest & most invariable friendship for you. I sent at the same time the discourse of a Russian on public education. I thought it might perchance amuse you to see the ideas in those climates on this...
470To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 11 January 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 3 d inst. was received here the day before yesterday. It was not until today that I was able to find Mr Boyé—Here is what I learned from him. Being desirous to return the instruments to you in person he deposited them in a place of perfect safety when he left Richmond for the North, to await his return—He feels great regret at having thus detained them from you after they...
471To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 4 March 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I never felt myself under the same degree of restraint in taking up my pen to write to you—for there seems a propriety in abstaining from bringing into view a subject which is painful, & at the same time I cannot be ignorant of what is a subject of public discussion. I have followed the debates of the assembly with impatience & anxiety, as I had seen a letter from a gentleman in Virginia, whom...
472To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 6 May 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
It has given me infinite pleasure to hear from you by the letter which you were so good as to send by M r Randolph, dated March 24. He gave it to me a few days ago only, on his return from Boston; having passed through this City without stopping on his way thither. I was indeed very anxious to hear of you & of your health, though unwilling to trouble you with a letter & impose on you the tax...
473To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 6 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last of Oct. 3. from N. York, (which, I hope, was recieved) I have come to this place. I have not yet fixed my winter-quarters here, but probably shall do so, for the same reasons as heretofore, the greater convenience of accomodation. If any change of views however should have taken place since I last had the pleasure of hearing from you, & you should advise my endeavoring to place...
474To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 25 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have postponed from day to day answering your kind & friendly letter of the 15th. because I expected every day would fix the point of Monroes return or stay. The papers now tell us he has really taken leave—of course his return certain.—This would in some degree diminish my original sin of Virginianism—which I suppose would, if necessary, be objected, by those who are fearful or not...
475To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 29 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure of acknowleging on the 25th. ulto. your favor of the 15th. Since then I have seen that Mr Bowdoin has left France. Not knowing whether the interposition of Bonaparte, mentioned by you, had produced its effect, I supposed, if it had not, that Mr. B’s departure indicated its not being counted on for the present. It appeared to me at the same time that Mr B’s return left a...
476To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 27 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 25th. of Novr. —& also on the 29th. of Decr.—The object of the present is simply to enquire, so as to ascertain whether those letters were recieved—I very well conceive that your extreme & multiplied occupations, should not have left you time to answer them under the present pressure of affairs—& this is by no means to ask it, if it should be...
477To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 26 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been so often disappointed that I was determined not again to announce my visit to Washington, until I should have set out—I left Philadelphia yesterday, & shall arrive on tuesday or wednesday—Since the roads have been in a travelling condition, I have been detained from day to day by various business with persons at New York & therefore out of my control—It was important to be done...
478To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 21 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The memda. shall be attended to with care & with pleasure— The fine weather will carry me first to Congress hall & then to Rep’s— I find medicinal waters useful to me in this climate & those of Ballston peculiarly so—But if I should be able to give them up it will give me a great deal of pleasure to visit Monticello—I wish however it were in my power to impart to you a conviction, which I have...
479To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 28 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
You will find inclosed the chain & seal. Chaudron had several—fresh from Paris as he told me, & tout ce qu’il y a de plus nouveau . He and myself selected half a dozen that we thought the handsomest which I brought to Mrs. Elwyn, & out of them she chose the one sent—By means of this epuratory process I hope it will merit the approbation of the person for whom you destine it. Candor obliges me...
480To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 20 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I ought perhaps sooner to have acknowledged the receipt of the 20: d. for the watch-chain—It gave me pleasure to find it was agreeable to your taste, & I hope therefore it was so to the person for whom you designed it. I thank you for having sent my letter to Price—but he has given no answer or sign of life since—I hope however he will follow the instructions contained in it, & discontinue...
481To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 8 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I write on the first moment of recieving yours of the 6th. The injunction there as to preliminary steps shall be obeyed. Mr. Lewis left this yesterday morning for Washington—of course you have the result of the Osage—I hope the decision will not be that I am to go in the vessel you allude to—It has been said that it is a small vessel—I have never seen any thing respecting it except the...
482To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 10 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 8th. I answered your favor of the 6th.—Since then I have not heard from you—& this day being Sunday, no letters are to be had from the post-office, so that if there should be one there I shall not get it until to-morrow—of course too late for to-morrow’s mail, which goes off before the hour of distribution. I have been at work with all possible activity in huddling up my affairs—not a...
483To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 14 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure of writing you on the 8th. & on the 10th. in answer to yours of the 6th. I have looked with anxiety for your second letter—It has not yet arrived, although this morning’s mail must have come, it being now 3. o’clock—I have been working incessantly to arrange my affairs, and at the same time to obey your summons to Washington, if my presence should be deemed necessary—I...
484To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 15 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your second favor (July 13) is just recieved, & I am extremely happy to be freed by the present determination, from the apprehensions of the schooner—It is one of my real misfortunes to be so bad a mariner & to have such need of a good & easy vessel. It had a serious influence on my return to America, & kept me a long time in France beyond the time I had fixed. I observe that you would prefer...
485To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 23 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
As the time of my departure is delayed as mentioned in your favor of the 20th. I should not so immediately have troubled you again, if it were not that I wish thus early to say, before any arrangement be made as to the vessel, how sollicitous I am that it should be a commodious & safe one, & therefore as large as the nature of the case will admit of. My marine indisposition is a thing...
486To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 27 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote on the 23d.—Will now trouble you with only a few words, & these I should spare you if it were not for my anxiety as to the vessel on which I am to go. Since my last I have seen Mr Erskine on his return from Washington—In the course of conversation he mentioned in my presence, that Government had some intention he understood of sending the next time one of their armed vessels—As it is...
487To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 7 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I take up my pen to answer your favor of the 2d.—It will be in time to go by the Tuesday’s mail from Washington. Your letter came to me from the post office—& must have gone there under cover to some one—as there was no postmark on it, nor your frank, and yet it came free—It contained Mr Madns. letter which I here return agreeably to your request. The concurrent disposition of you both in...
488To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 10 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter of the 7th. I have had incidentally a conversation with a person acquainted with the Baltic, apparently with a view to the operations of the belligerents in that quarter. Such subjects being constant topics at table, no suspicion whatever could exist as to the real motives. He stated that at the end of October, such quantities of ice begun to float in that sea, particularly in...
489To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 27 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 19th. was recieved here too late to answer it in time for yesterday’s mail from Washington—The next mail being tuesday, I write now to secure this being at Washington in time for it. I was extremely gratified by your letter, as it relieved me from the anxiety of the direct voyage, & the little vessels. It gave me great pleasure also to learn that the final arrangements would...
490To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 31 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote on the 27th. to which I beg leave to refer—I mentioned the reason of not proposing the subject in question to Richd. R.—I know no one to whom to offer it, although I am persuaded there are many very proper who would be delighted with it. I am extremely anxious that their political principles should be proper & acceptable from a variety of considerations; & this confines my choice,...
491To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 4 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
My letters to you not recieved at the date of yours of the 29th. were of the 27th & 31st. ulto.—Several parts of them are anticipated by your’s. The announce as to the Aviso was inserted in the papers four days ago by the post-office. Several applications were immediately made to the Navy agent here & to the Collector by the owners of vessels, who did not know which would be the department, as...
492To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 11 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 6th. was recieved yesterday—Without advancing so far as to leave the least room of suspicion of my object I find that Mr Biddle’s plan is to pursue the commencement he has made in the practice of the law & would not quit it—Of the other two one has an office under the State that he apprehended he should lose, but now having lost that apprehension in a great measure, it is...
493From William Short to Jacob Wagner, 20 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday morning your favor of the — covering the copy of Mr M’s note to you—Agreeably to your suggestion I wrote (by the same days mail) to avoid delay, to Mr G:——I have no preference as to place as I there informed him—I pointed out two places which wd. probably be most convenient.—It is only necessary that the fund to draw on shd. be on the other side of the atlantic on account...
494To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 28 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you of the 18th. instant Mr Gibbon has arrived here with the despatches that were to be committed to me for France—& with a part of the papers destined for me—others have followed successively & I now hold all that were intended to be given me—The vessel was ready on the 26th. agreeably to contract & after that day demurrage begins. We should have sailed probably yesterday,...
495To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 30 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I ask your permission to present to you a particular friend of mine, Mr Geo: Harrison of this City. He purposes making an excursion to Washington & will be accompanied by his Lady. Mr Harrison’s own respectability & situation would have insured him the opportunity of paying his respects to you in person—But it is peculiarly my desire to be the chanel of introducing to you a most estimable &...
496To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 30 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Hare who is going to Washington wishes to have the honor of being introduced to you. I am extremely happy that he furnishes me this occasion of testifying the sincere regard I have for him, as I value him highly & have long considered him among my first & most worthy friends here. He is also an officer & a distinguished member of the Philosophical Society over which you preside. It is with...
497To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 2 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter which I address this day to the Sec. of State from hence will explain the present state of your aviso, & that we are now only waiting for the tide; the wind being adverse—I came here last evening having waited only for yesterday’s southern mail—Had there been no delay at all the vessel wd. have sailed from hence on Wednesday last—As it is it will sail to-day—the delay has been...
498To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 25 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure of addressing you from the country seat of a friend where I have come to spend seven or eight days, in order to repose myself from the fatigues of my sea and land voyage, before entering on those of preparing for the one now commencing. I should have returned to Paris to-day but for a cold attended with a slight fever which confines me here— This will last I hope but a few...