11From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 7 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
It is time I should inform you what has been done in pursuance of the commission you honored me with relative to the olive trees. My former letters have informed you that I immediately lodged orders at Marseilles to have sent a good number of olive plants of the best species and a great quantity of olives. The olives were to be sowed to raise stocks (which always yeild a bad fruit of their...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Parent, 7 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
N’ayant pas encore reçu reponse à mes lettres ecrites en Amerique pour demander permission d’y aller pour quelques mois il est très possible que vous me trouverez à Paris si votre projet de venir ici les premiers jours de ce mois s’execute. Je serai bien aise de vous voir et de vous parler au sujet de votre fils. En m’expliquant vos idées à son sujet je saurai si je puis vous etre de quelque...
13From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 8 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 26. to Mar. 27. is duly received and I thank you for the interesting papers it contained. The answer of Don Ulloa, however, on the subject of the canal through the American isthmus, was not among them tho’ mentioned to be so. If you have omitted it through accident I shall thank you for it at some future occasion, as I wish much to understand that subject thoroughly. Our...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Lewis Littlepage, 8 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 12. has been duly received, and in exchange for it’s information, I shall give you that which you desire relative to American affairs. Those of Europe you can learn from other sources. All our states acceded unconditionally to the new constitution except N. Carolina and Rhode island. The latter rejects it in toto. N. Carolina neither rejected nor received it, but asked...
15From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 9 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter of Mar. 1. by the way of Havre and those of March 12th. and 15th. by the way of London no opportunity of writing has occurred till the present to London. There are no symptoms of accomodation between the Turks and two empires, nor between Russia and Sweden. The Emperor was on the 16th. of the last month expected to die certainly. He was however a little better when the last...
16To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
Since mine of Jan. 14. yours of Jan. 2. & Mar. 1. have been handed to me; the former by mr̃ Jones, whom I am glad to know on your recommendation and to make him the channel of evidencing to you how much I esteem whatever comes from you. the internal agitations of this country & the inactivity to which England is reduced by the State of imbecillity in which the madness of the king has...
17To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknolege the honor of your two letters of Nov. 27 and Feb. 13 both of which have come to hand since my last to you of Dec. 4 and 5. the details you are so good as to give me on the subject of the navigation of the waters of the Patowmac and Ohio are very pleasing to me, as I consider the union of those two rivers as among the strongest links of connection between the eastern &...
18From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 10 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since mine of Jan. 14. yours of Jan. 2. and Mar. 1. have been handed to me; the former by Mr. Jones, whom I am glad to know on your recommendation and to make him the channel of evidencing to you how much I esteem whatever comes from you.—The internal agitations of this country and the inactivity to which England is reduced by the state of imbecillity in which the madness of the king has...
19From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 10 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the honor of your two letters of Nov. 27. and Feb. 13. both of which have come to hand since my last to you of Dec. 4. and 5. The details you are so good as to give me on the subject of the navigation of the waters of the Patowmac and Ohio are very pleasing to me, as I consider the union of those two rivers as among the strongest links of connection between the eastern...
20To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 11 May 1789 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of the 15th. of March. I am now in hourly expectation of recieving my leave of absence. The delay of it a little longer will endanger the throwing my return into the winter, the very idea of which is horror itself to me. I am in hopes this is the last letter I shall have the pleasure of writing you before my departure. The madness of the king of England has gone off, but...
21From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 15th. of March. I am now in hourly expectation of recieving my leave of absence. The delay of it a little longer will endanger the throwing my return into the winter, the very idea of which is horror itself to me. I am in hopes this is the last letter I shall have the pleasure of writing you before my departure. The madness of the king of England has gone off, but...
22From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Treasury, 11 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to acknolege the receipt of your letter of Feb. 20. which came very opportunely to set us to rights as to the order of application of the money to be raised on the last loan. Our bankers insisted that some resolution of Congress authorised them to furnish no money for any other purposes till they should first have received all the interest which should become due on the Dutch...
23From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 12 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this moment returned from Versailles, and it is the last moment allowed me to write by this occasion. The Tiers etat remain unshaken in their resolution to do no business with the other orders but voting by persons. The Nobles are equally determined and by a majority of ⅘ or ⅚ to vote only by orders. Committees of accomodation indeed are appointed, but with little prospect of effect....
24From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 17 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now to acknolege the receipt of your favors of Octob. 20. and Dec. 20 . My proposition (referred to in your letter of Octob. 20) was to fix times of paiment for my part of Mr. Wayles’s debt on his private account, and that these paiments of my third should discharge me and my property of all responsibility for the remaining two thirds. Without having acceded to my propositions you...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Louis de Pontière, 17 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your letter of the 6th. instant and sincerely sorry that you should experience inconveniencies for the want of the arrearages due to you from the United States. I have never ceased to take every measure which could promise to procure to the foreign officers the paiment of these arrears. At present the matter stands thus. Congress have agreed to borrow a sum of money in...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Vaughan, 17 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acknolege, all together, the receipt of your favors of Mar. 17. 26. and May 7. and to return you abundant thanks for your attention to the article of Dry rice, and the parcel of seeds you sent me. This is interesting, because even should it not take place of the wet rice in S. Carolina, it will enable us to cultivate this grain in Virginia, where we have not lands disposed for the wet...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 19 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Feb. 16 to Apr. 13. of May 3. and 10. are received, and the two last are sent to Mr. Leroy who will communicate them to the academy. You know that the States general are met and probably have seen the speeches at the opening of them. The three orders sit in distinct chambers. The great question whether they shall vote by orders or persons can never be surmounted amicably. It has...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Price, 19 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 4th. inst. is duly received. I am in hourly expectation of receiving letters permitting me to go to America for a few months, and shall leave Paris within a very few days after I shall have received them. As this is probably the last letter I can have the honour of writing you before my return, I will do myself the pleasure of putting you into possession of the state of...
29From Thomas Jefferson to St. John de Crèvecoeur, 20 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the receipt of your several favors of Oct. 20. Nov. 20. and Jan. 5. and to thank you for the pamphlets you have been so kind as to send me. A conveiance by the way of London enables me to write the present, for I never think of writing news by the circumnavigation of the Bordeaux packet. You know that your states general are met, and you have seen the speeches of the king...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Moustier, 20 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you on the 13th. of March by the way of London. Another conveiance the same way now occurring, I avail myself of it to send you a list of the deputies to the States general, which I presume will be interesting to you. You will already have received the speeches of the king, Garde des sceaux, and Mr. Necker, as I know that M. de Monmorin wrote to you the evening of...
31From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 21 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not yet, my dear friend, received my leave of absence, but I expect it hourly, and shall depart almost in the hour of receiving it. My absence will be of about six months. I leave here a scene of tumult and contest. All is politics in this capital. Even love has lost it’s part in conversation. This is not well, for love is always a consolatory thing. I am going to a country where it is...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Jerningham, 21 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received with much pleasure your charming poem on enthusiasm and return you many thanks for it. I mark with peculiar satisfaction the prophecy relative to my own country and am enthusiast enough to believe it will be in some degree verified. The honour of your acquaintance while you were in Paris would have made me very happy, and I shall think myself authorised to court it, should any...
33From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 21 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not yet received my leave of absence, but I expect it hourly, and shall go off within a week after I receive it. Mr. Short will stay till I come back, and then I think he has it in contemplation to return to America; of this however I am not sure, having avoided asking him lest he should mistake mere curiosity for inclination. If he does not go, all which I am going to say may be...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Barrett, 24 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of Mar. 6.—Were the appointment of a Consul at Rouen to depend on me, there is assuredly no one who would have so just a claim to it as yourself. But it will rest with the President. In my letter to Mr. Jay on the subject of the Consulships I have ventured to suggest some ideas on the subject, and tho’ I did not at the time know that you would settle at Rouen,...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Giovanni Fabbroni, 24 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Mar. 25. and to thank you for your attentions and services to my friends Mr. Short and Mr. Rutledge. Those gentlemen have spoke to me of yourself and Madame Fabbroni in terms which shew they have been very sensible of your civilities and are very grateful for them. Be so good also as to convey to your brother my acknoledgements for the present...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 1 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not before acknoleged the receipt of your favor of April 28. because I expected every post to receive Mr. Paradise’s deed. But a letter from Mrs. Paradise by yesterday’s post damps our expectations. I do not doubt but you have urged every spur to hasten Mr. Young. But Mr. Paradise insists on my writing to you on the subject. In fact he is on a gridiron till he can receive these papers...
37From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 1 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of May 22. and receive it with great pleasure as it assures me you will write to Mr. Hanson to settle Mr. Wayles’s account with us. I have never seen a copy of that account since the one you transmitted first after his death, nor have Mr. Eppes and Mr. Skipwith explained to me the objections made, fully. One objection I know is to interest, and another to the...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Lucy Ludwell Paradise, 1 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of May the 5th. and 15th. should not have been so long unacknoleged but that I expected always that the next post would bring us the long-expected deed. Your last of May 26. puts off our hopes indefinitely. I cannot paint to you Mr. Paradise’s impatience to leave this place. He happened to be present when I received your letter, and instead of pressing him to write Mr. Young, I...
39From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 1 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 26. came to hand yesterday. The balance shall be immediately remitted. Perhaps it may be disagreeable to Mr. Grand to give a bill of exchange for so small a sum, in which case I will send the cash itself by Mr. Paradise adding to it the price of Sterne’s sentimental journey, printed in London by Wenman No. 144. Fleet street in 16s. or in 24s, which I will beg the favor of you...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 3 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Revolving further in my mind the idea started yesterday evening of the king’s coming forward in a seance royale and offering a charter containing all the good in which all parties agree, I like it more and more. I have ventured to sketch such a charter merely to convey my idea, which I now inclose to you, as I do also to M. de St. Etienne. I write him a letter of apology for my meddling in a...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Rabaut de St. Etienne, 3 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
After you quitted us yesterday evening, we continued our conversation (Monsr. de la Fayette, Mr. Short and myself) on the subject of the difficulties which environ you. The desireable object being to secure the good which the King has offered and to avoid the ill which seems to threaten, an idea was suggested, which appearing to make an impression on Monsr. de la Fayette, I was encouraged to...
42Draft of a Charter of Rights, 3 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
A Charter of Rights solemnly established by the King and Nation. Done, on behalf of the whole nation, by the King and their representatives in the States general, at Versailles, this —— day of June 1789. { Signed by the king, and by every member individually, and in his presence. PrC of Dft ( DLC ); entirely in TJ’s hand. PrC of Tr ( DLC ); also in TJ’s hand. The Dft and the
43From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Louis Clérisseau, 7 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
En visitant le cabinet de Segur à Nismes, mon cher Monsieur, j’y observais un vase antique qu’on avoit fouillé dans les ruines de cette ville, qui me frappoit beaucoup par sa singularité et sa beauté. A qui peut on penser à Nismes qu’à lui qui nous a donné ses beaux restes? Et à qui aurois-je dû penser, moi, qu’a lui qui m’a aidé à transplanter le plus beau de ces restes en ma patrie? Je me...
44From Thomas Jefferson to John Brown Cutting, 7 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Tho your last letter (recd. yesterday) supposes you will be setting out for Paris before this can reach you, yet on the bare possibility of your being delayed I just write a line to acknolege the receipt of that letter and of one of May 22., and to thank you particularly for the one received yesterday which conveyed very interesting intelligence which I had not before. The latest letters here...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Grand & Cie., 9 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Mr. Haskell, being employed to act here on behalf of a company, and likely to have occasion to deposit and pass thro the hands of a banker considerable sums of money, is disposed to give a preference to your house. He wishes therefore to be made known to you. I had not the honour of an acquaintance with Mr. Haskell in America, but he brought to me from thence the most...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 12 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
As I may not be able to get at you at Versailles I write this to deliver it myself at your door. With respect to the utility or inutility of your minority’s joining the Commons I am unable to form an opinion for myself. I know too little of the subject to see what may be it’s consequences. I never knew an instance of the English parliament’s undertaking to relieve the poor by a distribution of...
47From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 15 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Paradise calls on me in the moment of the departure of the post, decided to set out to London immediately. I have however prevailed on him to agree to stay to the 29th. instant, when, if his deed is not arrived, he is decided to go and see his creditors openly, and I am not to offer a persuasion to the contrary, even should I be here. Indeed I could offer him no good reason, because the...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Paul Cahierre, 15 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 9th. instant. My Congé is not yet arrived, but I have every possible reason to expect it every hour, insomuch that I do not despair of being able to take my passage in the Baltimore ship. However lest I should not, I inclose you two letters the one to the French Consul at Baltimore, with whom I am particularly acquainted, the other to a Mr. Curson, these...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Curson, 15 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, Monsieur Cahieres, established at Elizabeth town in New Jersey, being about to embark from France in a vessel bound to Baltimore and to carry his lady Madame Cahieres, with him, I take the liberty of recommending them to your notice and attention. Their want of acquaintances in Baltimore may render your counsels useful while their merit renders them worthy of them. The...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Jacob Gerrit Diriks, 15 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your favor of the 7th. instant I have the honor to inform you that such foreign officers only are to be paid here as are named in a list sent from the Treasury board and that on examination of that list I do not observe your name on it. There are 33 persons in it, but I am not able to say to what corps they belonged. I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedt. humble servt., PrC (...
51From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 17 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you on the 9th. and 12th. of May by the way of London. This goes through the same channel to the care of Mr. Trumbul. Having received no letter from you of later date than the 25th. of November I am apprehensive there may have been miscarriages, and the more so as I learn, thro another channel , that you have particularly answered mine of Nov. 19. The death of the...
52Enclosure: Caractere de Monsiery Neckar, 17 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
La Nature donna à cet homme une passion violente pour la gloire, sans lui accorder les qualités necessaires pour ne la chercher que par des voies droites. Elle le doua d’une imagination feconde, jointe à un talent borné; ce qui l’empechera toujours d’approfondir les objets, de les combiner, et d’en saisir l’ensemble. Dans Geneve, sa patrie, il avoit probablement connu l’influence des richesses...
53To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of May 11. Yours of Mar. 29. came to hand ten days ago: and about two days ago I received a cover of your hand writing, under which was a N. York paper of May 4. & a letter from mr. Page to Mazzei. There being no letter from you makes me hope there is one on the way which will inform me of my Congé. I have never received mr. Jay’s answer to my public letter of Nov. 19. which...
54From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of May 11. Yours of Mar. 29. came to hand ten days ago: and about two days ago I received a cover of your hand writing, under which was a N. York paper of May 4. and a letter from Mr. Page to Mazzei. There being no letter from you makes me hope there is one on the way which will inform me of my Congé. I have never received Mr. Jay’s answer to my public letter of Nov. 19....
55From Thomas Jefferson to David Ramsay, 18 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
At the request of a gentleman of this country I take the liberty of inclosing you a note relative to two persons in whom he is interested, and to ask you to take the trouble of enquiring after them, and of communicating to me such information as you may be able to obtain. Your letter if sent to Mr. Jay’s office will be sure to find me whether in Europe or America; for I am in hourly...
56From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 18 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of your favors of May 29. (two of that date) and June 11. I shall hope to meet you in America and talk over the subject of the last wherein I think you undervalue too much your art, which is a most noble one when possesed so eminently as it is by you. I fear much that our country is not yet rich enough to encourage you as you deserve. But of this when we meet....
57From Thomas Jefferson to Dugald Stewart, 21 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
In the letter which you were pleased to read to me Mrs. Colden has treated so superiorly the education of her son, and shewn herself so capable of deciding what is best for him, that you and I can only suggest facts and leave the judgment on them to her. As far as Science is the object of Mr. Colden, no place in the world can pretend to a competition with Edinburgh. Next to that the...
58From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 21 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of the 18th. promised that I would inclose you a bill of exchange, which I now do for the sum of £12. sterling to discharge my balance to you and pay a subscription for a copy of your print of Gibraltar. I have not yet received my Congé, but live in daily hopes of it. I am Dear Sir Your friend & servt., PrC ( DLC ).
59From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 24 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of the 17th. and 18th. inst. gave you the progress of the 17th States general to the 17th. when the Tiers had declared the illegality 18th of all the existing taxes, and their discontinuance from the end of their present session. The next day being a jour de fete could furnish no indication of the impression that vote was likely to 19th make on the government. On the 19th. a council...
60From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 27 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Not having had occasion to write to you lately, I have yet to acknolege the receipt of your several favors of Apr. 18. 25. 28. May 2. and 23. There having been no Congress from November to April has been the reason that I have not yet received [the] permission I had asked to go to America, and which I am now in daily expectation of receiving. I shall leave Paris within 4 or 5. days after...