1To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 18 December 1779–9 January 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
We Know at last, that D’Esteing’s melancholy affair happened in Georgia; that our few regulars there behaved very well; and we hear that it was the militia who did not Keep their ground; and that the pretended treachery did consist in the villany of one of our officers from New-England, who deserted and informed the enemy of Desteing’s plan for the attack. We are convinced that D’Esteing’s...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 8 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreable to what I said in letter 23, dated florence January 5th, I have again the mortification to say, that I am still deprived of the honour of Your commands. In letter 8. I had desired to have my letters inclosed to my good friend Mr. Mark Lynch Mt. [Merchant] in Nantes, or Dr. Franklin. In my preceding I desired that you would be pleased to inclose them to the said Mr. Lynch, Mr. John...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 2 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
It is 8 days since we heared another anecdote of british wild barbarity, which I really did not believe. It comes however authenticated to day in the Spanish gazette, the extract of which is inclosed. The english Commander is supposed to have been Commodore, alias Govr., Johnstone, or his Lieutenant. I must repeat what I said in letter 15. “What a happy circumstance for us to have divided in...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 15 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 15 June 1780 . Sends Leyden gazette of 6 June with accounts of “various insolent and ignominious actions of the British subjects at sea.” The whole world now believes that “the sentiments contained in the enclosed Manuscript No. 1. may be considered as the Emperors”—an East India Company now forming at Trieste under his auspices. King of Naples goes on as fast as possible to form his...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 4 April 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 4 Apr. 1780 . Abstract, with liberal quotations, of Edmund Burke’s speech in Parliament on Economical Reform, delivered 11 Feb. 1780. Sends text of Louis XVI’s message to the widow of Capt. Couedic, which Mazzei hopes will be translated for the “perusal of our people.” Enlarges on the good qualities of the French king. RC ( NN ); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Mazzei; 4 p. At head of...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 12 May 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, May 12, 1780 . De Ternay’s fleet with 6,300 troops under Lt. Gen. Rochambeau sailed from Brest on 2 May; a second division, with 3,000–4,000 men is expected to sail in about three weeks. The Spanish fleet, with 11,460 men, sailed from Cadiz on 28 Apr. Observations on the comparative naval status of the three powers. France is fast winning the confidence of the other European powers;...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 18 February 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you the inclosed copies, containing my corrispondence with Mr. D’Acosta and Dr. Franklin, being the most satisfactory proof I can give of having done what I prudently and decently could do to find the means for proceeding on the important business so strongly recommended to me. My delay to write to Dr. Franklin, and the distance between the first and second letter have proceeded cheafly...
8[To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 5 December 1779] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Nantes, 5 Dec. 1779 . Mazzei’s “Representation” of his conduct as agent for Virginia in Europe states that in a letter of this date, his second dispatch to TJ, “he foretold, that we ought not to expect any good from the Irish commotions, and signified his reasons for such a conjecture, which he confirmed in letter 11, dated Paris, April 10th 1780,” q.v., below (Marraro, Mazzei , p. 88)....
9To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 8 March 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Florence, 8 Mch. 1782 . Five months have elapsed since the capitulation of Cornwallis and several vessels have arrived in France which sailed from America after that event; does not complain of being neglected before that time but is “greatly disappointed and mortified” by the present silence. Recapitulates the substance of his earlier dispatches; has received no financial aid; has lived too...
10[To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 2 October 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Florence, 2 Oct. 1781 . Mazzei’s “Representation” of his conduct as agent for Virginia in Europe states that in a letter of this date, his dispatch “No. 26” to TJ, he wrote: “My Bill drawn by your Excellency’s order, on Messr. Penet, D’Acosta, Freres & Co., has been protested. I am at a loss what to do. It was my intention to tell my circumstances to this Sovereign, and was I to do it, I...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 12 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
A very good piece of intelligence, which I received yesterday, has been followed by very mortifaying news arrived in Town today. Yesterday I was informed, that 9. days since it was resolved in the King’s council to lend Congress, in arms and such other things as they want, to the amount of 16. millions of livres. I must give you a clear notion of my authority to enable you to weigh with your...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 22 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Bad news have long legs. I have just seen the Capitulation of Chs. Town in the London extraordinary gazette. I never was so afflicted in Virginia, by our bad events, as I am now. I thought I was singular in that, but our good Americans here tell me that it is the Same with them. We are really dejected, and we would be much more so, if all circumstances did not agree to make us hope that we...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, [27 November 1779] (Jefferson Papers)
It is 8. days since I arrived at this place from Rochelle, near which City I was set a-shore in an Island by a Portugueese vessel from Cork in Irland. The various circumstances, which have contributed to my liberty, and several other anecdotes since I left the Capes of Virginia; deserve I think that I should trouble you with an account of them; but an illness of 2. months and half, and the...
14[To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 19 March 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 19 Mch. 1780 . Mazzei’s “Representation … of His Conduct, from the Time of His Appointment to Be Agent of the State in Europe untill his Return to Virginia,” written in 1784 and printed in Marraro, Mazzei , q.v., p. 86, states that in his 9th dispatch, of this date, he sent the Governor of Virginia a “narrative of Mr. Mazzei’s captivity.” No copy of the 9th dispatch has been located,...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 3 May 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
In letter 7, the first of which I sent by Marquis de la Fayette, I took the liberty to propose to you the sending to Leghorn, if possible, under french colours a cargo of the best tobacco. I have since been informed by the Tuscan Minister (who is American in the heart, and is of some service to me) that good Indigo would be likewise a very profitable article there, and especially at present. I...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 8 August 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have at last been honored with your Excellency’s commands. The following papers (the first I have received from Virginia, except a short letter from Mr. Bellini last year) came to my hands yesterday; viz, Copy of a letter from the Board of Trade, dated Williamsburg Novr. 13. 1779. Your private letter dated Williamsburg April 4. 1780. Three official ones, dated Richmond, one May 12; and two...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 19 May 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
It is obvious that the European adventurers cannot, during the war, fetch from America but a Small proportion of their Capital. My intention has always been to persuade them to leave the Greatest part of it in our funds; which would be the means of interesting them in our welfare, and of taking a great deal of paper money out of circulation. The late resolutions of Congress tending to so...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 2 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived in this metropolis 8 days since; have been at Dr. Franklin and Marquis Caraccioli frequently and have seen several others who are likely to influence those in power; but have not as yet been introduced to any of them myself. Marquis Caraccioli was for us already, and will do all his endeavours to put me in the way of being useful. Marquis de la Fayette, the bearer of this, truly...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 10–19 April 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 10–19 Apr. 1780 . Russia has confirmed her strict neutrality, dashing England’s hopes, and has insisted as well that her trading vessels are not to be visited. This declaration has been well received in Europe; and hence “I hope … soon to see the friends and allies of Great Britain limited to the inhabitants of the Coast of Barbary, with whom they can’t help sympathising from a...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 20 May 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 20 May 1780. Gives a sketch of the plan of operations by the French land and naval forces recommended by Mazzei in influential quarters. Has sent a copy of his plan to Rochambeau by the Comte de Deux-Ponts, “to whom I gave a letter of recommendation for you dated March 27th.” Postscript: John Adams before sailing for America made “the first and strong motion towards sending us effectual...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 5 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Being still deprived of the honour of an answer from you, I think it a duty to inform you of it. You may probably have sent me before now, either new Commissions and Instructions, or the duplicates of my first, and expect that I have received them. Untill I do, I shall trouble you every now and then to remind you, that to my great sorrow I am, and must continue to be a useless servant of the...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 21 April 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The first time I spoke, according to my Instructions, to Dr. Franklin on the purport of my mission, he observed that so many People had come to Europe from every State on that kind of business, that they had ruined our credit, and made the money-men shy of us. I said that Virginia should not partake of the blame on my account, as I would not let them know my business, unless I was pretty well...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 4 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
From Rappannack, or york River, I wrote to Col. Maddison, that the season being so far advanced I had a mind not to wait untill I got to Italy to propose the exchange of goods on the terms expressed in my Instructions, and that least I should be taken, and of course be obliged to throw my papers over-board, I had interlined in some of my private old papers the cifer and the substance of the...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 20 April 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
It is about a month Since Mr. Penet came here from Nantes. I got intelligence of it next day, went to See him, had a Short conversation, and Spoke very a little, as I was determined to find out his Sentiments before he could know mine. He appeared to be confused irresolute and discontented both from his discourse and countenance; complained of your drafts to a large amount in favour of a...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 8–12 February 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Nantes, 8–12 Feb. 1780 . Is still at Nantes but has been obliged to beg personal financial assistance from Tuscany. Action of the Spanish and British fleets off Cadiz; capture of numerous Spanish merchantmen by Admiral Rodney. French success under M. LaMotte Picquet at Martinique. Encloses extracts from French Gazette to show “the monstrous contrast” between the published accounts in Spain and...
26[To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 19 August 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Genoa, 19 Aug. 1780 . Mazzei’s “Representation,” written in 1784, states that he wrote in his dispatch No. 21, of this date, “that some money might be obtained there [Genoa] at 5 P. Cent. Interest, allowing three or four P. Cent for all charges, once for ever, which rendered the loan much cheaper to the borrower than one P. Cent Annually, as it had been offered for charges by Doctor...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, [20 October 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
In letter 20, dated Paris, June 22d., I said that I should set out for Genoa and Florence, and do all my endeavors to pave the way for executing such orders as I might receive. So I have done, and with as much success in both places, as I could almost wish, considering that I have nothing to show to corroborate what I say in regard to my Commissions. I have greatly lessen’d here and there the...