1From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 24 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 14th. and communicated it to Mr. Paradise, who desires me to observe that, after retaining a very moderate subsistence for himself and Mrs. Paradise (as that of £200 a year apeice which has been proposed) his first and ruling object is to pay his debts: that therefore instead of desiring a full third of all remittances from Virginia, including debts, he...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Grand & Cie., 23 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your letter wherein you mention that the arrears of interest due from the United states to M. de Fleury have been attached in your hands on my behalf. I beg leave to observe to you that it is only five hundred and seven livres, part thereof, which I paid on his order to M. de la Vallette, and which it is necessary for you to stop. All over that sum, you will be pleased to pay...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Ruellan & Cie., 23 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 20th. instant is just received, with the letter it inclosed; for your care of which be pleased to accept my thanks. The young Mr. Talbots as well as their father, family, and circumstances are equally unknown to me. A letter from the father came to me about the time I was honoured with yours of the 13th. [of] March. In that letter he informed me that he had [two] sons in the...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Rayneval, 17 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
As the moment of my departure approaches, I take the liberty of recalling to your mind the order I have sollicited for the delivery of our arms and stores at Nantes, arrested there by Schweighauser & Dobrée. I am very anxious to be enabled to give final orders on that subject before I go, and therefore am obliged to be troublesome to you about it.—I have the honor to be with sentiments of the...
5From Thomas Jefferson to John Rutledge, Jr., 17 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been informed that the mercantile body at Lisbon are very attentive to strangers, and particularly that Mr. Gueldermestre the Dutch consul there would be worth your acquaintance, I applied to Messieurs Boyd & Ker to obtain letters for you to Mr. Gueldermestre and such other merchants as you might like to know. I enclose you their letters of introduction, as also their letter to me.—I...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Durival, 13 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Being about to take a journey to London a little before the death of the Count de Vergennes, I asked from him a passport for several objects which I had thought of bringing from thence. He first satisfied himself from the Marquis de la Luzerne, upon the point of reciprocity, that the Minister of France in America is allowed to import every thing, for his own use, duty-free, without any...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 13 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Mar. 26. and Apr. 3. are both received: so is Mr. Rutledge’s of the latter date. My Congé is not yet received, and indeed I do not expect it till the last of the month. If you will give me a state of what will be your route I shall be able to give you notice when I receive it in time for you to push to Paris before my departure. This will enable you to go on at your leisure. But be...
8From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 12 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Having asked permission of Congress to go to America this spring and return again in the ensuing fall, and being in expectation daily of receiving that permission, I have so arranged my business as to be able to depart within a week after the Congé shall come to hand. It is necessary for me in the mean time to know the vessels in the different ports which may be bound to the United states,...
9From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 12 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you which was of Mar. 8. I have had the honor of yours of April 2. I have moreover on the 1st. inst. repaid to Mr. Sartorius the little disbursements you have been so kind as to make for me from time to time. To wit for postages omitted at my last paiment 10₶ – 7 expences attending Mr. Barclay’s papers 6 – 8 – 9 do. Mr. de la Fayette’s bust 17 –13 do. for...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 9 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 27th. has been duly received, and in answer to the information relative to D. I can only beg the favor of you to avail yourself of any moment which may occur wherein principles either of fidelity or venality might induce him to give up the books, for the U.S. I will answer the price as far as 12. or 15. guineas for that containing his correspondence from Aug. 1777. to Mar....
11From Thomas Jefferson to Willink, Van Staphorst & Hubbard, 9 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 2d. instant, and a few hours before I had received one from the Treasury board settling for us the order in which the monies of the last loan shall be paid. This takes a middle ground, ordering, according to your wish, the paiment of the interest for the ensuing month of June in the first place, and then ensures to the particular purpose committed to me...
12From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 8 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am in hopes this is the last commission I shall have to trouble you with before my departure. It is to have made for me without a moment’s delay a trunk such as is described below which I have written so that you may tear the note off and send it to the trunk maker with a prayer to execute it instantly. As soon as it is done I must get you to take measures to have it brought by the first...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Lucy Ludwell Paradise, 6 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with yours of Mar. 31. Mine to yourself and Dr. Bancroft will already have answered so much of it as relates to Mr. Paradise. The idea suggested of his going with me to America, was intended chiefly as a threat against the refusing creditor. It could only have been carried into execution in the case of that creditor’s continuing obstinate. The propositions he has since made were...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Madame Oster, 5 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 1st. instant, and chearfully undertake that Mrs. Bannister shall certainly receive the one addressed to her, as I can deliver it myself in person. I hope to sail for Virginia about the 1st. of May and shall be ready to execute there any other command you may have. I presume you have heard of the death of Colo. Bannister. I have the honour to be with great respect...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Payne, 4 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
As the time of my departure approaches and I hear nothing from you as to my commission of Jan. 28. nor what remained of the former, I take the liberty of reminding you of them and of desiring you to send without delay what you can procure and to forward me your account that I may have it paid. With respect to the books which cannot be immediately found I shall hope you will continue to look...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Baptiste LeRoy, 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you with many thanks the Volume with D. Bernoulli’s paper which I have read with great satisfaction. I observe that the proposition of M. Bernoulli differs from Mr. Rumsey’s in several essential points. 1. His Water was to be raised by man: Rumsey’s by elastic vapour. 2. Bernoulli ’s water was to act on an inclined plane: Rumsey’s on a direct one. 3. Bernoulli ’s was to act by it’s...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Sarsfield, 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I could not name to you the day of my departure from Paris because I do not know it. I have not yet received my congé, tho I hope to receive it soon and to leave this some time in May so that I may be back before the winter. Impost is a duty paid on any imported article in the moment of it’s importation, and of course it is collected in the seaports only. Excise is a duty on any article,...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 30 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Paradise writes to you by this post on the subject of the proposition made to him by the Creditors to take the money in the funds and a third of his Virginia income instead of £400 a year. I think with him that he should accept it. My greatest objection is that it will not admit of a plain and unsuspicious execution. For it will be a question, pretty difficult to decide in England, and...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Boyd, Ker & Co., 30 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honour to present his compliments to Messieurs Boyd & Ker and to inclose them a letter for Mr. Rutledge, with two bills of exchange of twelve hundred livres each. PrC ( MHi ). SJL Index records an undated letter from Boyd, Ker & Co. under this date, perhaps an acknowledgment of the above.
20From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, [26 March?] 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am plagued to death with the applications of people who knowing the friendship you are so good as to entertain for me, wish to make use of it for their purposes. In general I get rid of them by a positive refusal to add to the thousands of applications and perplexities which you have already. You will see that the inclosed however cannot be parried altogether. I cannot refuse to send it to...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Thiery fils aîné, 26 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Ne connoissant que trés peu la ville de Boston, je ne suis nullement capable de vous donner des renseignements assez surs pour vous decider d’y faire un etablissement. Je crois qu’on doit etre bien sur de son fait avant de se compromettre a une entreprise qui pourroit bien manquer. Je vous prie Monsieur de vous adresser à Monsieur Parker, qui est logé au Palais royal audessus du caffè de...
22From Thomas Jefferson to D’Aranda, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall always be happy to find occasions of expressing the respect and veneration for you with which I was inspired during your residence at Paris. I wish you may think this a sufficient justification of the desire I feel of being sometimes recalled to your memory, as well as of the liberty I take in recommending to your notice the gentleman who will have the honor of presenting you this. He...
23From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Rutledge, the son of Governor Rutledge of South Carolina, will have the honour of delivering you this. I suppose you must have been personally acquainted with his father, but surely so by reputation. It would suffice therefore to announce his son to you, in order to obtain your attentions and friendly offices for him. It is to gratify myself then that I add my sollicitations to the same...
24From Thomas Jefferson to John Rutledge, Jr., 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your favor of March 3. and in consequence send you letters for Mr. Carmichael and Count d’Aranda at Madrid. I will endeavor to procure you some for Lisbon also, and will forward them to Bordeaux for you if you will let me know your latest day at that place, or I will send them after you to Madrid. I am in hopes you will conclude to go on to Bordeaux, as there is nothing in...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Willink & Van Staphorst, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I find by your favor of the 19th. inst. that we are not likely to agree in opinion as to the intentions of Congress and the board of Treasury; for it is their intention which forms the law for us both. I have asked of you the money for the medals and another purpose because I thought, and still think, it was their intention that these purposes should be executed in their turn: you have refused...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 24 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I informed you in my last that I would write you again on the subject of Admiral Paul Jones’s affairs. He had provided another fund for fulfilling his objects, and only desired me to call on you by way of supplement. I have therefore waited till I could know the extent of that fund; and I now find it is more than sufficient to answer the purposes with which I am charged: so that there will be...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Lucy Ludwell Paradise, 24 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Very much to do must always be my apology for acknoleging so late the receipt of your letters, and it will always be a true one in my present situation. I have been the less uneasy about this as I have from time to time mentioned to Doctor Bancroft what was necessary in the way of business. We wait with anxiety to hear whether the refusing creditor has yet come in. Tho’ Mr. Paradise does not...
28From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 24 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 16th. inst. and since that have received yours of the 2d. inst. from Rome. By this I find you would leave Rome the 4th. and I am much afraid you will have left Florence before a letter will get there which I wrote Feb. 28. inclosing my commission for Genoa. I think I sent this letter to Florence under cover to your bankers: yet I am not sure that I did not send it to...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Willard, 24 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been lately honoured with your letter of Sep. 24. 1788. accompanied by a diploma for a doctorate of laws which the University of Harvard has been pleased to confer on me. Conscious how little I merit it, I am the more sensible of their goodness and indulgence to a stranger who has had no means of serving or making himself known to them. I beg you to return them my grateful thanks, and...
30From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 20/31 from Petersburg came safe to hand, and is the only proof we have received of your existence since you left Copenhagen. I mention this that, reflecting how and what you have written heretofore, you may know how and what you may write hereafter. I shall put nothing into this letter but what is important to you, and unimportant to any government thro which it may pass. To...
31From Thomas Jefferson to MacCarthy Brothers, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to acknolege your favor without date as also that [enclosed from Mr. Alexander Cain of] Bordeaux [who has desired] me to apply to the government so the bounty [….] which bounty [….] because [….] has mislaid or lost his clearance, and can only supply it by his own oath and that of others of his crew. I cannot ask of the government in any one case what I would not ask in every...
32From Thomas Jefferson to François Soulés, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honor of notifying to you before that the manuscript which I put into your hands contained notes which I had made, in the course of my reading for my own use as the member of a legislature in America. As such it was necessary for me to know not only the law of the moment but what it had been at other times. The qualifications of a knight of a shire have been different at...
33From Thomas Jefferson to James Swan, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honor to present his compliments to Mr. Swan and to express his regret that his absence today prevented him the pleasure of seeing him. He now returns him his letters in which he finds a great deal of good matter, and many useful views. In the course of perusing them, Mr. Jefferson noted on a bit of paper the following doubts, the importance and justice of which are...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Baptiste de Gouvion, 19 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honor heretofore of apprising you of the measures taken for paiment of the arrearages of interest due to the foreign officers, and that it rested on two points. 1. The success of a loan opened in Holland. 2. Orders from America to apply to that object so much of the money to be borrowed when so much shall be in hand. The last object is fulfilled by the resolution of Congress...
35From Thomas Jefferson to William Gordon, 18 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I received in due time your favor of Dec. 9. and also the six copies of your history. I put off acknoleging the receipt in hopes I might find time previously to read them. But that time is not yet come, and I am unwilling longer to delay my thanks for your attention in sending them. I have had occasion to consult your history in various parts, and have always done it with satisfaction. In...
36From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 18 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 29. 1788. came to hand the last month. How it happened that mine of Aug. 1787. was fourteen months on it’s way is inconceivable. I do not recollect by what conveyance I sent it. I had concluded however either that it had miscarried or that you had become indolent as most of our countrymen are in matters of correspondence. The change in this country, since you left it, is...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 17 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter to you extended from Dec. 23. to Jan. 11. A confidential opportunity now arising I can acknolege the receipt of yours of Jan. 15. at the date of which you could not have received mine. You know long ago that the meeting of the States is to be at Versailles on the 27th. of April. This country is entirely occupied in it’s elections which go on quietly and well. The Duke d’Orleans...
38From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 16 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
That you may see whether any of my letters to you or of yours to me have miscarried, I will here state them. Mine have been Sep. 20. 24. Nov. 21. Dec. 8. Jan. 22. Feb. 9. 28. Yours which have been received are Sep. 24. Oct. 2. 3. 11. 18. 28. Nov. 19. 29. Dec. 23. 31. Jan. 14. Feb. 11. 17. 25. We have no news from America since my last. This country is entirely occupied in electioneering, which...
39From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 16 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you by yesterday’s post. The present is merely to avail myself of a private conveiance which occurs to London to send you my American dispatches and pray you to forward them by the first safe conveiance to New York preferably to any other port. Vessels going to Philadelphia have to go up the river, a navigation of many days. Those going to Boston expose us to as long an intermediate...
40To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 12th. of Jan. since which I have received your’s of Octob. 17. Dec. 8. & 12. That of Oct. 17. came to hand only Feb. 23. How it happened to be four months on the way, I cannot tell, as I never knew by what hand it came. Looking over my letter of Jan. 12th. I remark an error of the word ‘probable’ instead of ‘improbable,’ which doubtless however you had been able to...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 15 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10th. is just now received, and as the refusal of one of Mr. Paradise’s creditors to accede to the deed of trust, will occasion some change in Mr. Paradise’s plan this again will require that the whole be dispatched. As the post goes out in the morning, and his lodgings are very distant from me I cannot consult him expressly on the occasion, but many conversations have put me...
42From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 15 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since closing my letters which accompany this I have received an answer from London on the subject of the other volumes of Deane’s letters and accounts suggested to be still in his possession. This information renders it certain that none such are in his possession, and probable that no others exist but the two which I have purchased. I am in hopes therefore we may conclude that the recovery...
43From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 12th. of Jan. since which I have received yours of Octob. 17. Dec. 8. and 12. That of Oct. 17. came to hand only Feb. 23. How it happened to be four months on the way, I cannot tell, as I never knew by what hand it came. Looking over my letter of Jan. 12th. I remark an error of the word ‘probable’ instead of ‘improbable,’ which doubtless however you had been able to...
44From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 15 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10th. is come to hand to-day. I inclose you a bill of exchange of £25. from Grand & co. on Thelusson fils & co. in order to face my affairs with which I give you so much trouble. I expect Lackington will call on you as soon as you receive this for a sum of about £5. Be so good as to tell him to add to my catalogue No. 5894. Baretti 3/. (He will understand this.) Besides this...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Bréhan, 14 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you on the 15th. of February, soon after which I had that of receiving your favor of Dec. 29. I have a thousand questions to ask you about your journey to the Indian treaty, how you like their persons, their manners, their costume, cuisine &c. But this I must refer till I can do it personally in New York, where I hope to see you for a moment in the summer, and to...
46From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Treasury, 14 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
No opportunity having occurred to send my letter of Feb. 27. I have had time to receive an answer from our bankers, and to write them again. In their answer they quote some resolution of Congress appropriating the monies borrowed in 1787. and 1788. to the paiment of interest to the end of the year 1790. on the Dutch loans, and the residue to salaries and contingent expences arising in Europe....
47From Thomas Jefferson to D’Estaing, 13 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My friend Mr. Short, who is returning from Italy, expects to pass by Toulon, and wishes permission to see the docks and arsenals of that place. It is understood that this is not permitted without a special order. I therefore take the liberty of asking from you a letter to any person at Toulon who can procure this gratification for Mr. Short and also for Mr. Rutledge who is with him. They have...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 13 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last, which was of Dec. 21. yours of Dec. 9. and 21. are received. Accept my thanks for the papers and pamphlets which accompanied them, and mine and my daughter’s for the book of songs. I will not tell you how much they have pleased us nor how well the last of them merits praise for it’s pathos, but relate a fact only, which is that while my elder daughter was playing it on the...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Moustier, 13 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now to acknolege the honor of your several letters of Aug. 12. Oct. 17. and Nov. 27. and your postscript to Madame de Brehan’s of Dec. 29. I have been discouraged from writing to you by the idea that your friends here must give you infinitely more exact information of what is passing, than I could do, who see things imperfectly only, as a stranger. But your complaints of the...
50To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1789 (Jay Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 1 st . instant through the post. I write the present incertain whether mr Nesbitt, the bearer of your last, will be the bearer of this, or whether it may not have to wait some other private occasion. they have re-established their packet-boats here indeed; but they are to go from Bordeaux, which being between four & five hundred miles from hence, is...