17311To Thomas Jefferson from Jean & David Baux, 12 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Marseilles, 12 Dec. 1788. Have received from Boston a shipment of whale and cod oil; this oil, shipped before the prohibition of the admission of such oils in France was known, arrived on the ship Cato, Captain Wm. W. Stephens, belonging to Daniel Parker of Boston. Mr. Parker being in Paris at the time, they wrote him on this matter and he replied that he had spoken to TJ and that TJ had been...
17312To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 12 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter has been just sent me by Miss Rittenhouse and I avail myself of the delay of Mr. Morris to give it a conveyance. Since mine already in the hands of Mr. Morris further returns have been received from the Western Counties of this State, which tho’ not the entire residue, reduces the final result to certainty. There will be seven representatives of the federal party, and one a...
17313From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 14 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 6th. has been duly received. The accident of the wine of Haut-brion is of no consequence; and if you should not already have received or engaged for more to replace it, I can do without it, because I have asked leave to take a trip to America which will occasion my absence from hence during the next summer. My hope is to sail in April and return in November. You will...
17314To Thomas Jefferson from William Carmichael, 14 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with real concern that I inform you that His Catholic Majesty died this morning at forty one minutes past twelve, after a short illness which until two days ago was represented as of little consequence. You must have known the conjectures which have been formed of a long date of the supposed consequences which would follow his decease. I have no pretentions to Prophecy, I will however...
17315From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 14 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment received your favor of the 6th. inst. and have examined the several letters to Mr. Short. There is evidently but one among them which contains a letter within it, and the Superscription of that one is in quite a different handwriting from the one you inclosed for him. It is a letter, probably from Virginia, which has passed thro’ the hands of M. de Crevecoeur at New York,...
17316To Thomas Jefferson from Dominique Audibert, 15 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Marseilles, 15 Dec. 1788. Is fully aware of the honor done him in being entrusted to further TJ’s beneficial views on the commercial relations between Marseilles and the United States; will zealously endeavor to learn by experiment how much potash can be used supplementally with soda and other materials in the manufacture of soap, glass, china, and dyes, and at what price the manufacturers...
17317From Thomas Jefferson to Elizabeth Wayles Eppes, 15 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last of July 12. I told you that in my next I would enter into explanations about the time my daughters would have the happiness to see you. Their future welfare requires that this should be no longer postponed. It would have taken place a year sooner but that I wished Polly to perfect herself in her French. I have asked leave of absence of Congress for five or six months of the next...
17318From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 15 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
My last of July 10. acknoleged the receipt of your favors down to May 24. Patsy’s age requiring now that she should return to her own country, other considerations that Polly should accompany her, and not chusing to trust them to any care but my own during such a voyage, I have asked from Congress leave of absence for 5. or 6 months of the ensuing year, during which I propose to accompany them...
17319To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 15 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
New York, 15 Dec. 1788. Introduces the bearer, “Mr. Johnston, a citizen of this state, and a Member of a worthy and respectable Family in it,” who is sailing to Lisbon, “and ‘tho not determined to go on from thence to France, thinks it probable that he may visit it before his Return. My Respect for his Family, and good opinion with which his Character has impressed me, induce me to recommend...
17320To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 16 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 16 Dec. 1788. Asks for information about Col. Samuel Blackden; has not heard from Blackden since 15 Oct. although he has written him repeatedly and pressingly. Blackden is entrusted with the sale of some of Claiborne’s lands; he himself has to return to Virginia and asks TJ to inform him, before his departure, of “anything of Colonel Blackden and his transactions since the sale he made...
17321From Thomas Jefferson to George Gilmer, 16 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your last letter of Dec. 23. was unlucky, like the former one, in arriving while I was absent on a call of public business in Holland. I was discouraged from answering the law part of it, on my return, because I foresaw such a length of time between the date of that and receipt of the answer, as would give it the air of a prescription after the death of the patient. I hope the whole affair is...
17322From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 16 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Mine of July 11. acknoleged the receipt of yours of April 15. The necessity that my daughters should now return to their own country, and an unwillingness to trust them to such a voiage without being with them, has induced me to ask of Congress a leave of absence for 5. or 6. months of the next year. If I obtain it in time, I propose to embark in the month of April, and to pass two months at...
17323To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Paine, 16 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you by Mr. Quesney. I also wrote you a long letter of (I believe) 14 or 16 pages, enclosing a Philadelphia News paper with the account of the Procession on the 4th. of July. I requested Mr. Bartholemy to enclose it in his dispatches which he promised me to do. This is about ten weeks ago. I was then setting off to the Iron Works in Yorkshire to execute a small Bridge. The work goes on...
17324To Thomas Jefferson from Meunier, 18 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 18 Dec. 1788 . He has left his former residence and fixed himself at a new address, which he joins to this letter. TJ will thus be able to give him his orders concerning the two books that Foulloy left with him during his absence. Asks TJ to advise him when he has heard from Congress about them. RC ( DLC ); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Meunier; endorsed by TJ: “Foulloy (Meunier for...
17325To Thomas Jefferson from John Trumbull, 19 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of the 26th. Novr. with the Bill enclos’d (and which has been duly honor’d) came to hand in due time. By the Diligence which leaves town tomorrow morning, you will receive a Box containing your Harness and Saddles. The maker wishes them to be unpacked as soon as they come to your hands. They are taken to pieces for the convenience of package;—the Box likewise contains what further...
17326From Thomas Jefferson to James Currie, 20 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
‘Procrastination is the thief of time.’ So sais Young, and so I find it. It is the only apology, and it is the true one for my having been so long without writing to you. In the mean time I shall overtake the present epistle, if it be as long getting to you as my letters are sometimes coming to me from America. I have asked of Congress a leave of 5. or 6. months absence the next year to carry...
17327To Thomas Jefferson from Le Couteulx & Cie., 20 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 20 Dec. 1788 . Enclose a letter from Jonathan Nesbitt, formerly at L’Orient and now in America trying to recover his debts in that country. His letter requests that TJ “endeavor to obtain him a Sauf Conduit from his Majesty for a Year” to enable him to arrange his affairs with his creditors, an appeal that they support the more urgently “as some of M. Nesbit’s Creditors form a claim on...
17328To Thomas Jefferson from André Limozin, [ca. 20 December 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Le Havre, ca. 20 Dec. 1788 ]. Acknowledges TJ’s letter of “the 11th instant. Our Customshouses Collector hath received orders to admitt importation of American Whale and Sparmacety oyll.” Has received a letter from Mr. Lewis Moore, dated at London 14 Dec., inquiring about the clock shipped to America; asumed that Mr. Moore, whose address is “Colchester Street Tower Hill,” was an American....
17329To Thomas Jefferson from John Mason, 20 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 20 Dec. 1788 . Acknowledges TJ’s letter of 24 Nov.; would have replied sooner, but he expected a ship from America with “samples of the manufactures” mentioned; they did not come by her; will order them from London. They “have a vessel sailing for Potomack in eight or ten days,” and if TJ has any commands he will be “extremely careful in forwarding them.” RC ( MHi ); 2 p.; endorsed.
17330From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 21 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you were of May 8. and July 6. That of the latter date was only to inclose a bookseller’s proposals for sending some books to America. The one of May 8. acknoleged the receipt of yours of Dec. 14. since which those of Apr. 6. and July 17. are come to hand. I informed you also in the letter of May 8. that the Vinegar was at length lodged for you in the hands of M. Limozin at Havre to...
17331To Thomas Jefferson from Béthune-Charost, 22 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Arras, 22 Dec. 1788 . The Vicomte de Martel has asked him to inquire whether a bill of credit which he holds against the United States will be paid. Although the United States may be disposed to meet its obligations fully, Martel would be willing to take a great reduction in the amount due if payment were made immediately. The sum amounts to 80,000 dollars in continental paper money,...
17332To Thomas Jefferson from Fernán-Nuñez, 22 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 22 Dec. 1788 . The Ambassador of Spain, persuaded of the interest TJ takes in everything concerning his court, communicates the sad news he has just received of the death of the King of Spain on 13 Dec. RC ( ViU ); 1 p.; in French; written in third person as from “Mr. L’Ambassadeur d’Espagne”; see following, note.
17333From Thomas Jefferson to Fernán-Nuñez, 23 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
M. Jefferson est tres sensible à la perte que l’Espagne vient de faire par la mort de son auguste Souverain. Les vertus de ce prince lui avoient merité à juste titre l’hommage de l’estime universelle, et repandront sur sa mort les regrets de tous. M. Jefferson y mele les siens trés sincerement, et a l’honneur de faire à M. l’Ambassadeur son compliment de condoleance. Dft ( ViU ); written at...
17334To Thomas Jefferson from Maria Cosway, 23 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Give me leave to present you Mrs: Cowley the first femal dramatic Author in this Country, she has most distinguishd talents, she is the most elegant writer, great poet, and a great Genius, a particular friend of mine and an amiable woman. You have I hope some frindship for me, speak of me with Mrs: Cowley. You will like her, take care of your heart, she may run away with it. How [I] envy her...
17335From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 23 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It is true that I received very long ago your favors of Sep. 9. and 15 and that I have been in the daily intention of answering them fully and confidentially; but you know such a correspondence between you and me cannot pass thro’ the post, nor even by the couriers of Ambassadors. The French packet boats being discontinued, I am now obliged to watch opportunities by Americans going to London,...
17336To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 23 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here yesterday and this days post has brought me your letter of the 8th. That sent to Milan agreeably to my request has not yet come to hand. The uncertainty of the time I should be obliged to remain in the neighbourhood of Milan added to my great anxiety to hear from you made me desire you to address your letters there. I still hope it will be forwarded to me though its long...
17337From Thomas Jefferson to Lucy Paradise Barziza, 24 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 29th. of November, and happy since that to see the safe arrival of the Count de Barziza, Mr. and Mrs. Paradise at this place. I am sensible of the painful position in which you have been placed between persons so dear to you. The annuity of £150. settled on you by Mr. Paradise was an act of reason and justice. I suppose however that the first...
17338From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
A sick family has prevented me, for upwards of a month from putting pen to paper but in indispensable cases, and for some time before that I had been waiting to receive American news worth communicating to you. These causes have occasionned my silence since my last which was of the 12th. of August, and my leaving unacknoleged, till now, your several favors of July 24. Aug. 14. Sep. 9. and Nov....
17339To Thomas Jefferson from D. Lamy, 25 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 25 Dec. 1788. TJ will recall that Lamy presented, on behalf of François Bon & fils of Lyons, a power of attorney, signed by two notaries of Lyons and certified by“ Mr. Basset, Lieutenant general de la Sénéchaussée de Lyon,” which TJ refused to authenticate because he did not know Mr. Basset’s signature; Lamy tried to see TJ again on the past Tuesday to reassure him about the signatures,...
17340Jefferson’s Statement of Refusal to Authenticate Writings, December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The minister plenipotentiary for the United states of America finds himself under the necessity of declining to authenticate writings destined to be sent to the United states, for this main reason, that such authentication is not legal evidence there. After a reason so sufficient it seems superfluous to add that, were his authentication admissible in the courts of the United states, he could...