1To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 28 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 28 Nov. 1786. Requests that TJ obtain letters of introduction from his friends in Paris for James and Nathaniel Hayward, of Charleston, S.C., who expect to reside for some time in Dijon in order to acquire a knowledge of the language; has made the same request of Lafayette. They are “young Gentlemen of Character and Fortune” who will “do honour to your Introduction”; if they go to...
2To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 18 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 18 Sep. 1787 . Introduces Benjamin Parker, nephew of Daniel Parker, a student at “Cambridge Colledge in Massachusetts,” who will spend three months in Paris before returning to America; “being hard of hearing … prevents him from seeking society with that goùt which might be expected from his age and situation.” RC ( MHi ); 2 p.; endorsed. Recorded in SJL as received 23 Sep. 1787.
3To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 18 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have only time to enclose your Excellency a Copy of a Letter received yesterday from Mr. Barclay, and to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 9th. Ulto. by Mr. Bullfinch. The maps, occasioned by Mr. B’s excurtion in the country after his arrival, did not reach me untill the 6th. inst. Mr. Neele took them in hand on the 7th. and will finish the plate within the period mentioned and...
4To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 11 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed is Mr. Jones’s answer to your Question. I have given to Mr. Stockdale 4 Vols. of Pope’s Iliad and Odysey, which were not ready in time for the last parcel. They will accompany those last ordered from Stocke . The Compendio del Vocabolerio degli Accademici della Crusca for Mr. Short at 13/6 and Cicero on old age, I think for you, price ⅙.—I forward Lackingtons list of the books sent...
5To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 6 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you by Mr. Littlepage on the 4th. inst. That Letter contains an account of Cash recieved and disposed of on your account. I do not know whether I have made a just calculation of the Livrs. expended in Paris on my account, but this and every other article is submitted to your alteration. I enclose the reviews of the last Month as both your and Mr. Adams’s Names are mentioned, and have...
6To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 22 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you on the 18th. inst. in answer to your favor of the 9th. of August, since which I have received yours of the 13th. inst. Mr. A. returned here on the 7th. or 8th. He took up the subject on which you impatiently wait an answer on his arrival, a short letter on which, you must have received before this. However he is still thinking on it, and you will hear more...
7To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 23 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I replyed fully to yours of the 9th. Ulto. on the 18th. of the same sinee which I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you. Mr. Dilley informs me the Books are shiped agreable to the inclosed Bill of Lading accompanied with the account ammounting to £25/14.0 sterg. I have also the honor of forwarding a Copy of a Letter received this morning from Mr. Barclay at Morocco of the 26th. of...
8To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 5 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 16th. Ulto. When I sent the press I gave the Gentleman who carried it a Letter for you of the 21st. of May which you do not acknowledge the receipt of, or at least but one of that date. It contained the ammount of what I gave for the press, which was 5 Guineas and 5/ for the Box = £5.10. The press shall be sent agreable to your request. I am called off, and have...
9To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 1 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 23d. ulto. The first printing press has been forwarded some time. Mr. Woodmason is disposed to consider himself free’d from every obligation respecting the safe conveyance of his machine to Paris. He looks upon himself acquitted on presenting the Bill of lading, and receipt of the Captain. Upon this principle, the one is forwarded and payed for. I hope no...
10To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 29 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last fryday’s post and by Mr. Parker on Saturday. In the former, I find I left out, on the credit side, the 2 pr. of shoes which Mr. Short paid for, amounting to 13/4, which deducted from the £1.10.7 which I make the ballance between us, reduces it to seventeen and three pence. Mr. Adam , setts off this morning for the Hague to take leave in person of their High Mightinesses and...
11To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 21 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your goodness will doubtless attribute my silence to a necessary attention to the duties of office, which since my arrival, have been neither few nor small . I was at a loss when I took my leave for Expressions to convey to you a proper Idea of the impression which your politeness and Hospitality had made on my mind, and now I can only thank and assure you, that while gratitude is considered a...
12To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 4 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Adams wrote you on the 11th. ulto. by post, accompanied with an Answer to Mr. Lamb signed, the receipt of which is not yet acknowledged. I immagine he is waiting for your answer to that before he decides on the subject.—The business of the Secretary has been long done, but whether it will be made use of I cannot yet discover. I am Sir your Excellency’s most obedt Humble servt., RC ( MHi );...
13To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 28 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
John left yours of yesterday’s date with the order for 8 Guineas at my house this morning. I have not seen him and it shall be paid in the morning. I am apprehensive your calculations may yet fall short, should this wind continue in its station. Supposing it to have been impossible for you to have passed this morning, I dispatch this, to request you will draw on me for what you want, and I...
14To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 23 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I was so exceedingly hurried the few Days that I remained in London after the receipt of your polite Letter (preparing for this excurtion, to the Prussian Camp) that it was not in my power to assure you how much I thought myself honoured by your attention, and of my determination to avail myself of the opertunity of establishing a Corespondence where the returns would be so evidently in my...
15To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 1 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of forwarding to your Excellency a Copy of a Letter I received this day from Mr. Barclay at Morrocco dated the 16th. of July ulto. I have sent a Copy to Mr. Jay and shall forward a duplicate by the next Vessel. I am your Excellency’s most Obedt. Humble Servt., RC ( MHi ): postmarked; addressed. Noted in SJL as received 23 Sep. 1786. Enclosure: Barclay to Commissioners, 16 July...
16To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 22 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Calculation and Business only I have received your favour of the 2d. inst. and will attempt to explain the two articles with which I credited you in my account Current of the 3d. of Decr. ulto. The first article ammounting to Liv. 113.₶ is stated by Mr. Short in his letter of the 21. of Novr. 1787 and is composed as follows, viz. 8 ells of double florence at 4.₶15. = 38.₶ 0 6 ditto of White...
17To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 21 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In a Letter which I wrote your Excellency this morning, I mention forwarding by Mr. Smith your press, but it is not in his power to take it. I shall send it by the first Gentleman who will not be much incommoded by it. Perhaps Mr. Trumbull or Dr. Bancroft will have the pleasure of presenting it. This delay will enable me to have a board made to fit it, in which tho’ no great ingenuity is...
18To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 3 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I propose embarking in the Packet for Falmouth the day after to-morrow. It is probable I shall be in London in about 18 or 20 day’s. My last Letters from Mrs. Smith inform me that she had received a Letter from General Sullivan addressed to me as follows: Dr. Sir I take the Liberty of enclosing a draught in your own favor upon Govr. Jefferson for 46£. 17. 10s. stgr. payable at 10 day’s sight,...
19To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 26 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
By introducing the bearer Mr. Daniel Parker (who I think you encountered once at my lodgings in Leicester fields) I have the satisfaction of doing him a favour, and presenting to you a fund of Commercial and political knowledge, which you may draw freely upon during his stay at Paris, without being in the least apprehensive of failure or protest. I have been guilty of this, so frequently,...
20To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 12 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 4th. inst. and am glad you have found a horse that will suit you. I am pleased that the affairs of the Cardinal and Cagliostro are so well terminated. I suppose by this time the whole affair is sunk beneath the horizon of notice. May not something be soon expected to command the public attention in a more serious and important line? What is the News from Potsdam? I...
21To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 15 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to introduce the Bearer Dr. Walker a young Gentleman from Virginia.—Nothing new has transpired since my last of the 8th. inst.—Amsterdam I have no doubt has surrendered, as letters from there of the 9th. say, that 2 deputies were sent to the Princess, to know what terms she finally required, and authorized to give assurances of the disposition in the people to comply with her wishes...
22To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 5 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed are the Copies of the Letters which you requested in one of yours. I have no tolerable excuse to offer for not sending them before and I cannot yet tell a——without a qualm of conscience. Mrs. Smith I suppose is disposed to open a Corespondence, as she requests me to forward a note addressed to you. I am too Gallant a H——d to enquire of the contents, as it is sealed. I also send those...
23To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 8 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 8 Oct. 1787 . Acknowledges TJ’s letter of 28 Sep. ; would be “much flattered if Congress would join you in opinion relative to the appointment you mention”; agrees “fully respecting the proper conduct which ought to be pursued relative to the Island ”; thinks “it would be fortunate for U.S. if we could see it once fairly entered upon.” Sends copy of John Adams’ letter of 25 Aug. which...
24To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 8 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of informing you of my arrival last night from England in the Portland Packett, which sailed from Falmouth on the 23d. of Decr., and shall take the earliest opportunity that my private affairs will allow, to present myself to you at Philadelphia, not doubting but it will be satisfactory, to have a detail of the present political State of Europe, from one who has been...
25To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 16 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 31st. of Decr. ulto. and cannot express my astonishment sufficiently strong at the perusal of the first sentence relative to Mr. Littlepage’s not having delivered my Letter of the 3d. of Decr. I waited upon him with it, and when I gave it him, begged he would be particularly carefull of it as it contained our accounts. He promised, and put it into a small box of...
26To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 7 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your goodness will pardon the Liberty I take in addressing a Letter particularly to you, at the moment perhaps, in which you are, more importantly engaged than to attend to my individual wishes and pursuits—The veneration however, that I have for you as the Cheif majestrate of my Country, connected with the particular respect I have for your private Virtues derived from the acquaintance I...
27To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 22 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote by this evenings post and attempted to explain in a satisfactory manner our account. I shall be pleased to be informed that I have succeded, and that every article appears clear to you. You have never yet informed me whether the picture I send you was the one you saw at Bermingham or Brumigum, and whether the price I gave, was anything near what you could have obtained it for, previous...
28To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 9 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
After sincerely wishing you many happy returns of the season, I take the liberty of introducing Mr. Thomas L. Shippen of Philadelphia. He has many interesting and not a few amiable lines of Character, and promises fair to make a shining and respectable Character. He has sometimes appeared to me rather exposed to step on slippery and dangerous ground and risk his usefulness in future life to...
29To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 21 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I was much pleased by the receipt of yours of the 4th. inst. to find you had arrived safe at Paris, and that the rout you took proved so agreable, as to induce you to recommend it to me, when I visit Paris. If that should ever happen again, St. Omar’s and Arras shall be visited, not only on account of your recommendation, but to indulge my natural disposition which sometimes throws me out of...
30To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 4 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer Mr. Stewart was an officer in our troops during the war and some time under my immediate command. He proposes returning to America in the French Packet of November. Permit me to introduce him to your Excellency and recommend him to your civilities during his stay at Paris. Any Letters you may commit to his care when he departs for America will be taken care of, and he will be able...