28901To Thomas Jefferson from William Wirt, 14 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I fear you have forgotten my disposition, since you seem to think that your favor of the 10th. might require an apology. It is to me obliging and grateful, beyond expression. I cannot, better, deserve your good opinion, than by answering your proposition in the same spirit of frankness, in which it is made. My desire to go into the army proceeded from no dislike to my profession: it arose from...
28902To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 8 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel a considerable degree of embarrassment on the present occasion, but trust to your good nature for excusing the liberty I take, & the trouble I give you—My object is to state to you that I have for a long time been acquainted with the character of Mr G. Latimer, * The Collector & have known him personally for some years, & that he has allways appeared to me to be a man of business & of...
28903To James Madison from Caspar Wistar, 26 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr. J. Otto who will have the honour of presenting this, is the Gentleman whom you favoured with an introduction to Mr. Pinckney. Having returned very lately from Europe, I have requested him to Communicate to you the result of his observations & inquiries, & as he will be at the Seat of Government in a few days he will wait upon you for the purpose. Having been engaged in Commercial pursuits,...
28904To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 29 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to present to you Mr. Edward Tilghman Junr. a merchant of this City, who has some representation to make to the Treasury Department. He is the Son of a very worthy & respectable Citizen, & is a frank candid honourable young gentleman— With Sentiments of the greatest respect I beg leave to Subscribe Your obliged friend DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
28905To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 1 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The fear of intruding upon you at a time when you had not leisure, & the belief that you seldom have leisure now, have prevented me so long from offering you my sincere thanks for your kindness in the appointment of Mr Dobell —I hope & believe that he will merit your confidence, and am certain that he will ever retain a grateful sense of it—Since my last I have been favoured with two notes...
28906To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 10 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have delayed my reply to your favour of March 22d. in order to inform myself more fully respecting some of the heads of your inquiry— My acquaintance with Dr Barnwell commenced about a year & a half since, in consequence of a communication he made to the A.P.S., which was ordered to be published, but was lost by the Printer. He has since then sometimes visited me, & conversed respecting...
28907To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 18 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to trouble you with the inclosed for Captain Lewis , they do not include many points, because his instructions have really anticipated every thing which occurred to me, & of course admitted of no additions but in detail. I have also avoided several subjects which I expected would be fully detailed by Dr Barton , as being particularly within those departments of Science to which he...
28908To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 19 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I fear that I am doing wrong by writing to you upon a subject with which I am not acquainted, but one of the friends of Mr Hensler a Swiss now in this City, extorted a promise from me that I would mention him to you with a view to his employment in surveying the Coast &c—I therefore beg leave to state to you that many circumstances which have occurred during his residence here, have made a...
28909To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 16 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
It has happened to me more than once, to feel great pain & regret while I was writing to you, on account of the trouble I occasioned you, & the liberty I was taking, in soliciting promotion &ca., for the persons in question. I assure you those sensations occur with unusual force on the present occasion, which is this—Dr. Bache has nearly concluded his tour [of] attendance on the Missisippi...
28910To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 2 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Please to accept my Sincere thanks for your kind communication of Feby. 25 last. I assure you that I sincerely regret the part I have taken in proposing an appointment which was contrary to a principle that seems so very correct. I confidently hope that he will give you satisfaction for he appears to have excited very unusual sensations of concern in the minds of many of our mathematical...
28911To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 12 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to inform you that Mr Hulings of New Orleans formerly lived in this City & appeared to be a very promising young gentleman— He has resided a long time on the Missisippi I have often heard him mentioned & allways with respect as a man of business and a good citizen— With the highest esteem I have the honour to be your friend & servant RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR ); at head of text: “To...
28912To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 15 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to make known to you my Brother, Thos. Wistar , who is one of a very worthy and respectable Committee of the Society of friends, deputed by that body, to solicit the attention of Congress to the subject of African Slavery, as it may be Connected with Louisiana & the other territories subject to their immediate Controll—This letter is not necessary, for I know that your attention...
28913To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 15 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to recommend to you the Bearer, Mr. P. Kuhn Junr., a very amiable & worthy young gentleman who is about establishing a commercial house at Gibralter—He is the Son of a Gentleman of very high character for honour & integrity, who has been long & successfully engaged in the mediterranean trade—as he has been educated in his Father’s Compting House, & has acquired a knowledge of...
28914To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 6 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last , which inclosed a letter to Major Lewis, I have been informed that Monsieur Pieroux, while Commandant near the mouth of the Missouri, had sent a party of Indians up the river on a voyage of discovery, & that they returned after an absence of two years—this was communicated to me by Col: OHara of Pittsburgh who saw Pieroux at Kaskaskias during the Revolution War—I believe that...
28915To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, [before 9 April 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to offer you my most sincere & affectionate congratulations on the recent election, which I hope will contribute to your individual happiness as much as I am certain it will to the benefit of our beloved Country—Sensible of the laborious task which is now imposed upon you, it is with great reluctance that I intrude upon your valuable time, & beg from your good nature an indulgence...
28916To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 4 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure of inclosing Capt. Hand’s Receipt for the box Containing La Cepede’s work upon Fishes—there was a loose paper which accompanied them inscribed for you but no other memorandum—I took the liberty of placing in this box Segur’s Account of Fk. William of Prussia which I believe you will read with great interest—I wish it was generally read, for no one can reflect without horror...
28917To James Madison from Caspar Wistar, 10 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
It is with great regret that I trespass upon your valuable time, but I cannot well avoid it in the present instance. Mr. Jacob Otto, a young gentleman of respectable Connections in this City, has embarked for England, for the purpose of arranging some very important Commercial affairs; his friends wish to procure for him a letter of introduction from you to Mr. Pinkney our Minister at London,...
28918To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 24 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer Mr. H. Toland Junr is a very interesting young Gentleman & Son of a very worthy Citizen of Philadelphia—I could not let him go to Washington without giving him an opportunity of paying his respects to you— Jefferson is very well employed, and in good health— With the greatest regard, I beg leave to Subscribe myself your obliged friend DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
28919To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 28 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to present to you the Bearer Mr. Isaac Roberdeau—The Son of the late Colo. Danl. Roberdeau who was much distinguished here by his activity & patriotism at the commencement of the revolution—Mr. Roberdeau married a niece of our friend the late Dr Shippen Miss Blair of Germantown & has been long engaged in pursuits which must have given him experience in the line of his profession....
28920To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 20 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to inform you that the College of Physicians of Philada. have sent by the mail which carries this a Pamphlet containing “Additional Facts & Observations relative to the Pestilential Fever,” & that they request you to accept it as a mark of their respect—I believe it contains indisputable proofs of a Contagious quality in the yellow fever, in the instances there specified, & if this...
28921To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 29 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to present to you two very respectable travellers who are now on their way to the seat of Government for the purpose of offering their respects to you. It is most probable that you are already well acquainted with the name & great merits of each as Dr. Anthony Fothergill is the Physician of Bath in England who has distinguished himself by so many publications all of which are...
28922To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 2 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am afraid that you will Consider me as having forgotten. my Engagements, & indeed you have too much reason—I hope your good nature will be exerted, & that you will extend your Patience about 25 days more—my professional duties which have been unusually imperious, & frequent indispositions, I hope will Serve as my apology— I am thus far on my way to Pittsburgh; & intend to take Washington on...
28923To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 26 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I sincerely regret my omission respecting the head of the Mammoth, not only an account of the delay which it has occasioned, but also because it has given you additional trouble—We want the intire Cranium or Scull, & also the external bones of the face—the Sockets of the tusks being very incomplete externally—I learn that there was part of a head among the bones lately at Pittsburgh, but have...
28924To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 17 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I received the two french works which accompany this—viz A Plan of Public Education, & a Treatise on the Intellectual Operations, from Mr Livingston the Minister at Paris I am afraid that I have detained them too long & crave therefore that Indulgence you have ever extended to your faithful friend RC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “His Excellency The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ...
28925To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 12 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I assure you that I did not wait for a second invitation from you—The pleasure of Complying with your wish will ever be a sufficient inducement to take me much further than Washington, if there were no other object, but the examination you propose is very interesting to me, & I am certain of deriving much pleasure from a view of Baltimore & the Federal City with its improvements. My delay has...
28926To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 5 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to inclose a letter addressed to Dr Goforth, & to request that you would be pleased to direct it, & send it to the Post Office. We Cannot ascertain his residence with Certainty, as he formerly lived at Washington Kentucky, but has removed to Cincinnati, or some place in its vicinity, as you Can probably procure the necessary information, from some of the Members of Congress, we beg...
28927To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 20 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I presented your letter respecting the Roman Coin to the Society, & was requested to assure you in the name of the members of that Institution, that they accept with particular Satisfaction this new proof of your regard, & shall allways consider it as entitled to particular care, not only on account of its intrinsic merit, but of the liberal and enlarged views with which it was originally...
28928To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 30 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
When I left Washington it was my intention to have written to you much sooner but I have procrastinated to this time in consequence of languor which was induced by the heat before my arrival at your hospitable abode where I got rid of a part of it— A principal reason for my writing was to state to you my belief that the languor you were affected with was not the pure Consequence of increasing...
28929To James Madison from Caspar Wistar, Jr., 15 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 15 October 1801. Calendared as a three-page letter in the lists probably made by Peter Force (DLC, series 7, container 2). Wistar, professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, was a vice president of the American Philosophical Society at the time.
28930To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 22 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure of informing you that I have received from Mr Livingston at Paris, the Natural History of Fishes, by the Celebrated La Cepede, which the Author delivered to him to be presented to you—it composes six Quarto Volumes—I ought not to trouble you with the enquiry how to send it, but as I know of none but the circuitous rout by Sea—I believe it will be best to wait for your...
28931To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 17 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to present to you Mr Thos. Benger a native of Newfoundland who has resided many years near this city & is greatly respected here—He will be interesting to you on account of his efforts to improve the mode of preparing our black oak bark for exportation as a dye stuff & he goes to Washington to apply for a patent for his improvement. As Mr Benger can give you more information than I...
28932To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 18 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
If Congress should adjourn about the 25 Int. I am afraid that I shall not enjoy the pleasure of meeting you at Washington, which I assure you will greatly diminish my gratification there— I hope to leave this by May 12 & will proceed to the Federal City without delay, I will label the different pieces & name them as well as I can, so that upon your return you will have all the information...
28933To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 28 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not expect any medical Gentleman to call upon me in the way you have Stated, & can only conjecture respecting the Person—A Mr. Philip Thornton whose father lives in the district you have mentioned, left Philada in June last, & I believe has settled in Virginia near the Rappahannock— He engaged as a house pupil in the Pennsylvania Hospital, & was to stay Several years, but after a year &...
28934To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 27 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I sincerely regret the trouble I am obliged to give you, but the inclosed were directed by the Society to be forwarded to you with a request that they might be transmitted to Mr Levingston— With the warmest wishes for your health & happiness I am most respectfully your friend & servt RC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “His Excellency The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 7...
28935To James Madison from Caspar Wistar Jr., 29 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to introduce to you two very distinguished Travellers, Dr. Anthony Fothergill lately from Bath in England, where he has been long established & enjoyed great reputation honourably acquired by numerous successful exertions in the Cause of Science & humanity and the celebrated Baron Humbolt, who is now on his way to Europe after an excursion of more than five years in South America &...
28936To James Madison from James Witherell, 4 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
I am under the necessity of asking information to whom I am to apply to administer the Oath of Office to me, having seen a publication in a News paper purporting that Govr. Hull applied to Judge Woodward to be qualified, who answered him that neither him self nor any other person was Authorized to administer the Oath to him. This reminded me of the provision of the Ordinance organizing the...
28937To James Madison from Thomas Witherspoon, 13 October 1802 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 13 October 1802. Acknowledged in Daniel Brent to Witherspoon, 19 Oct. 1802 (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14), as a request for a copy of the laws of the last session of Congress. Brent declined the request, stating that the State Department could only furnish officers of state governments with copies of congressional laws “through the Executives of the several states.”
28938To James Madison from John L. Boqueta de Woisery, 26 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor, of informing you, that the work to which you had the Kindness of subscribing: is entirely finished. In order to render it, more complete, I have added thereto the plan of Louisianna. In view, Sir, of pleasing you, and saving to you some trouble: I had them framed and Guilt as the original. The price of the frame with the Glass is twelve Dollars; Which the two engravings 10...
28939To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Wolcott, 18 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have taken the liberty of detaining the letter of Mr Edwards that accompanies this, until I had an oportunity of conferring with Mr Kirby on the subject of letter. Mr Kirby’s letter will express to you his opinion on the same subject. I beg you to believe Sir, that any other man whose claims were equal, or nearly equal to those of my brother should, by me, have been prefered to him—but, all...
28940To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Wolcott, 12 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Benjamin Richard, a citizen of New York, formerly of New London in this State, is about to establish himself in business at Malaga in Spain. Mr Kirkpatrick the present Consul at that place is said to be a subject of the King of G. Britain. Mr. Richard supposes that a native citizen of America, suitably qualified for the office, would be prefered to a foreigner, and, in short, is desirous...
28941From Alexander Wolcott to Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Jesse Atwater of New Haven, in this State, is desirous of making a voyage across the Atlantic, as well for the reestablishment of his health which is at present infirm, as for the gratification of his curiosity. Mr. Atwater is a well informed sensible and trusty man, and if Government should need a confidential Messenger to carry dispatches, either to England, or France or to both...
28942To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Wolcott, 21 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
It is understood here that there is, at present, a vacancy in the judiciary department of the Territory of Michigan. I take the liberty of recommending to you, Mr Jesse Atwater, who now fills the office of Post Master at New Haven, as a man whom I believe to be, in all respects, well qualified to fill the vacant office with honor to himself, and benefit to the Territory. I have the honor to be...
28943To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Wolcott, 18 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The Office of Collector of the district of New Having being, by the death of Mr Bishop, now vacant, I take the liberty of expressing my opinion that the appointment of his son Abraham Bishop to the office, would be as gratifying, I believe more so, to the people of this state, than the appointment of any other man. I am with perfect respect Sir your Obedt. Servt. RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR ); in...
28944To James Madison from Alexander Wolcott, 18 September 1805 (Madison Papers)
¶ From Alexander Wolcott. Letter not found. 18 September 1805 . Acknowledged in Daniel Brent to Wolcott, 3 Oct. 1805, as dealing with impressed seaman Anthony Powers, whose father, Gregory Powers of Stow, Ohio, had also written to the State Department in a letter received “about the first of Sepr” ( DNA : RG 59, Preliminary Inventory 15, entry 929, Misc. Correspondence with Collectors of...
28945To James Madison from Alexander Wolcott, 10 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
My apology for coming upon you again, so soon, with solicitations for favours, is this. I am not able to frame an excuse, when I am urged by a man whom I would not disoblige, to write but a line in his behalf. Mr. William Vandeursen Jr. of this town would be glad to be employed by government to carry dispatches to Europe. He is a young Gentleman of fair character sensible and honest, and I...
28946To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Wolcott, 8 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The death of Mr. Imlay, late commissioner of loans within this State, having created a vacancy in that office, I take the liberty of naming Mr Jonathan Bull of Hartford as a person perfectly qualified for the office. Mr Bull, if I mistake not, was early recommended to you as a successor to Mr Imlay whenever one should be appointed. He is a man of irreproachable character, and I may venture to...
28947To Thomas Jefferson from George Wolcott, 16 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received the Commissions your Excellency has been pleased to honor me with—appointing me Surveyor of the Customs—and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Saybrook—I accept them with gratitude and to the best of my ability shall faithfully discharge the Trust reposed in me I am Excellent Sir most respectfully your Obedient Servt. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “His Excellency...
28948To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 10 October 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I have this moment recd. you favour of Septr. 25th. but being oblidged to set out on my Tour to Vermont in a few Hours, I cannot consult my papers, nor reply as particularly as would otherwise be in my power. I do not know Campbell & till after the publication of Colo. Pickerings accounts in the Aurora, I did not know that such a person was employed in the Treasury. I have since been informed...
28949To John Adams from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 28 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
I embrace the earliest opportunity which I have been able to improve, since your arrival at Quincy, to express my sincere acknowledgements for the distinguished proof which I have rec’d. of your confidence, in being appointed a Judge of the second Circuit of the United States. My friends have communicated to me the circumstances which attended this appointment, by which I learn with the...
28950To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott Junior, [February 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
By Letters lately recd. from Albany, by Gentlemen interested in the Merchants Bank, we are informed, that a meeting of political characters connected with the Legislature, has been held, and that it has been resolved at all events to suppress this Company. This violent decision was altogether unexpected, as from prior intelligence, it appeared that several influential characters of the ruling...