1From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Hewitt Key, 14 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr and mrs Key to dine at Monticello tomorrow, Friday his dinner hour is half after three. ItF : Gonnelli Collection.
2From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Miller, 17 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to mr Miller for the trouble he has taken with his Polygraph, and unwilling to add to it by that of bringing it here, as it can only come in a carriage, he sends a boy with a small vehicle for it; and hopes mr Millar by coming to dinner tomorrow, or next day, or any day which suits him will give him an opportunity of expressing his thanks personally. OCHP .
3From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas W. Gilmer, 13 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Thomas W. Gilmer to dine at Monticello to-day with Gen l La Fayette. Privately owned.
4From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Lehré, 1 August 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Age and debility after a recent illness oblige Th: Jefferson to borrow the pen of another to thank Col o Lehré for his kind letter of July 5. to assure him of the gratification it affords him to learn that those who have thought well of him continue their kind dispositions and that those who have thought otherwise begin to change opinions. he never had a wish but for the good of all his...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sewall, 16 November 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Th Jefferson returns his thanks to D r Sewall for the information he has been so kind as to furnish him of the institution of a Medical school in the College of Columbia. he sincerely wishes it success and that it may have it’s share in the merit of lessening the afflictions of mankind. he is particularly obliged to him for his interesting account of the medical institutions of our country. we...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Leiper, 27 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my solicitation of July 22. at your request the ground on which I stand is entirely changed, and it is become impossible for me to ask any thing further from the govmt. I cannot explain this to you, and even request you not to mention the fact. I should not have sent it to you, but that I cannot offer you false excuses. my frdshp for you is the same , but this method of proving it is no...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 10 April 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 1 st instant, and am happy to learn that we are likely to have a good biography of the late judge M c Kean. altho’ we served together in revolutionary scenes, and after these in others equally trying, yet length of time and the wane of memory have left me no recollections which would be worth noting. the general remembrance can never be obliterated that...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Boswell, 26 August 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Brockenbro’ Proctor of the University of Virga informs me that you have been so kind as to send him for that instn 2. boxes of minerals procured in Germany. for this proof of the int. you take in that instn I beg leave on it’s behalf to return you it’s thanks. I hope it will fully repay the patronage of our country by the effect it will have on it’s future science morals and good fame. it...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 9 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Oct. 29. was duly recieved. our Report was ready on the 6 th of Oct. except as to a single blank to be filled with the result of an account not then in hand, this was not rendered to me till the day before yesterday and I this day commit the whole to the mail under address to the Gov r as required by law. I hope you will always print our reports in 8 vo being most convenient for...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Hewitt Key, 2 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Hilliard, the expected agent for purchasing our library being now here, Th: Jefferson is obliged to request from mr Key the return of the catalogue for communication to him. mr Key will still be so good as to prepare his supplement at his leisure and to accept the friendly salutations of SzGeBPU .
11From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 21 October 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from N. H. Lewis as Secretary of the Rivanna company, as also a copy of the interlocutory decree of Chancellor Brown for the appointment of Commissioners, which is the object of this letter. I have informed mr Lewis that I leave all further proceedings in this matter to you, and shall confirm whatever you do in it. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
12From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 3 March 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Th Jefferson asks the favor of mr Ritchie to add Charlottesville to the address of his paper, without which it goes to the Milton P.O. with which he has no intercourse, & the consequence is that his Enquirers accumulate there till some accident offers a conveyance whereas with Charlottesville he has daily communicn. he salutes him with esteem & respect MHi .
13From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Appleton, 8 February 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes of acc t between the University & Tho s Appleton 1824. Feb. 8. by lre of this date 10. Capitals & 2 semi d o for Rotunda w d cost 6,140 1400 marble squares of 12.I. @ 22. D 50 c the hundred 315 6,455 By proceeds of 4000.D. remitted 3940.50 2514.50 DLC
14From Thomas Jefferson to John L. Thomas, 25 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I am so oppressed with writing that I put off answering your two letters in the expectn I should meet with you in my rides to the University. mr Page (exr of mr Eppes) informed me of his draught on me as soon as he made it and I immediately assured him it should be honored. this shall accdly be done with little delay. I wish to hear of the arrival of my Bedf d tob o in Richm d but will draw...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 29 March 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved, a day or two ago, a small pamphlet on Materialism without any indication from what quarter it came. but I knew there was but one person in the United States capable of writing it and therefore am at no loss to whom to address my thanks for it and assurances of high esteem and respect. ScU .
16From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Clark, 16 September 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been confined to the house by sickness now 4. months I can no further comply with the request in your letter of Aug. 18. than by thanking you for it’s kind expressions towards myself acknoleging the pleasure I receive from every testimony that my services have been acceptable to my follow citizens and assuring you of my best wishes and respects MHi .
17From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, 11 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Bad news, my dear Jefferson, as to your sister Anne. She expired about half an hour ago. I have been so ill for several days that I could not go to see her till this morning, and found her speechless and insensible. She breathed her last about 11 o’clock. Heaven seems to be overwhelming us with every form of misfortune, and I expect your next will give me the coup de grâce . Your own family...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Beale Ewell, 13 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to D r Ewell for the copy of his eloquent oration of the 4 th of July last, which he has been so kind as to send him. he recognises in it the true spirit of 76. and rejoices always to see the ardor of those days still fostered in the bosoms of his f. c. and with his thanks he prays D r . E. to accept the assur es of his constant attamts and best wishes for his...
19Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Paper Model of Thomas Mann Randolph’s Plow, [ca. 2 May 1817] (Jefferson Papers)
MS ( NNGL , on deposit NHi ); cut and folded by TJ.
20From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 17 June 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 13 th on the subject of my arrearages, on looking into mr Gibson’s acc ts who acted for me till 21, I find a payment of 10.D. for the Enquirer on June 9. 20. so that I suspect I was mistaken in supposing I had written to Col o Peyton to pay for the paper. I presume that on changing my agent in 20. or 21. I omitted to give the general order and that my arrears commence after...
21From Thomas Jefferson to John L. Thomas, 9 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
We have as yet no library nor consequently employment for a librarian. and when we need one we propose a compensation of 50. D. a year only, counting that some one of the professors will undertake it for that, the fact is also that a librarian must ever be a aman of a high order of science and able to give to enquirers an account of the character and contents of the several books under his...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas J. Rogers, 18 January 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to mr Rogers for the copy of his 3 d edition of his Biographical Dictionary which he has been so kind as to send him. he sees with pleasure so many worthy names rescued from oblivion, and he hopes that a ready demand for them will continue to call for renewed and enlarged editions. he salutes mr Rogers with esteem & respect. MHi .
23From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Grotjan, 10 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your affectionate mother requests that I would address to you, as a namesake something which might have a favorable influence on the course of life you have to run. few words are necessary. with good depositions on your part. Adore God. reverence and cherish your parents. love your neighbor as yourself; and your country more than life. be just. be true. murmur not at the ways of Providence....
24From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 30 November 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
It has not been in my power till yesterday to get a printed copy of the new edition of our statutes which was necessarily to accompany our Report to the literary fund. all go with the mail, which carries this I wish it were convenient to print these things in 8 vo that they might be bound together when printed send me a copy if you please and accept my friendly respectful salutns MHi .
25Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Eston Randolph, 22 March 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I sincerely regret that we happen to see the same subject in lights so very different, with respect to the mill . but the rent of a real property must, you know, be a fixt thing. as it’s original cost cannot be varied, so the interest or rent on that cannot vary with daily and transient occurrences, and especially on a lease for time. it is easy to reduce a rent, but impossible to raise it...
26Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 7 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
It is long since I have ceased to read any newspaper but yours , and I shall continue to read no other. withdrawing therefore from all others I pray you to have me discontinued as a subscriber to the Compiler. should the legislature have the report of the University Commissioners printed in a pamphlet be so good as to send me half a dozen copies. mr Gibson as usual will pay you for these as...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Eston Randolph, 26 September 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 24 th was recieved yesterday. the clause of arbitration in the lease was a sufficient provision between Shoemaker and my self because we understood every part of it in the same way. so it was with mr Randolph & M c Kinney. but you and myself differ so materially and in so many points that to enter into a contract with opposite meanings & to propose to go thro’ it by arbitrations...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Carstairs, 13 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
When we began our buildings at our University, we adopted it as a rule that we would be governed in all our prices by those established by long experience & due competn in Phila, and you were so bind as to procure & send me the printed book of Carpenter’s prices, in the other branches of work we have been able in different ways to learn your prices, except those of plaisterer ’s work, of these...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Eston Randolph, 22 May 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The distress in which I am to meet debts of the most pressing urgency obliges me to remind you of the arrearages due to me on the mill account. according to the account rendered by yourself to the 1 st of last July there was then a balance acknoleged due of 650.09D my acc t made it more. this difference was left to Jefferson to settle with you, and it was agreed between you to arbitrate it as...
30Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Eston Randolph, 21 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
On casting my eye over your account I observed that I should have to ask the favor of you to have me furnished with the details of the flour delivered, to wit, a statement of the dates, quantities & persons to whom delivered, without which I cannot settle either with the boat men, or mr Gibson . I imagine you take the boatmen’s receipts by which th ey stand charged to their employer. a...
31Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 6 October 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by mr John Wayles Baker son of the Treasurer of this state, and a connection of mine whom, in a former letter , I mentioned to you with my grandson Francis Eppes , presuming they would go together to the College of Columbia . you will find him a youth of excellent dispositions and orderly conduct, and well worthy of any patronage and good offices you may be so kind as...
32Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ewell, 17 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10 th finds me at an occasional but very distant residence from Monticello , where I have been already a month and shall continue a month longer. the book you are so kind as to mention have having ordered to me, never came to hand. I should not have been unmindful of the duty of acknoleging this mark of attention, as I now do for what was i n tended as well as for the sheets...
33Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sully, 17 April 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 5 th & also the half dozen cups which you have been so kind as to have forwarded to me, for which accept my thanks. Ellen will express to you herself her obligations for what was addressed to her. I am this day writing to Paris for some books and gladly place among them the Recueil of M. Durand , which I presume was published there. for the Pompeiana I...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Willis White, 8 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your letter of the 3 d proposing for my acceptance a book, on which you wish me to give an opinion, which you should be at liberty to publish. this I invariably decline. I have neither the talents, the taste, nor the time for the office of a Reviewer of books. such an undertaking, if executed with fidelity to the publick, would require me to read the book with critical...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cox, 5 September 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 16. was rec d in due time and I am thankful for the trouble you propose to undertake to procure for me at the ensuing vintage a barrel of the Scuppernon pure juice without any adultern of brandy or other short . I would wish it to be sent early in November when it will be endangered by neither the heat or cold of the season. I will give that cask a fair trial as well whether...
36Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 19 June 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I find it impossible to get a copy of Madison ’s map without linen or rollers, and as it is indispensable to have one at the meeting of the Commissioners for the University I must pray you to get me one of those which you say can be had with linen & rollers. I should prefer one with the borders of the county counties coloured, but not the body. the agent who has them, will roll one very...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 19 January 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I rec d the bottle of wine you were so kind as to send me about a fortnight ago and have kept it in the hope your father could come and dine & taste it here. he had at length promised for yesterday but his business obliging him to set out to Richm d and having some friends with me we tried it . we found it so heavily charged with brandy that all flavor of the wine was absorbed in that of the...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Appleton, 10 August 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I had been so long without hearing from you ( my last from you being dated Oct. 8. 24.) that I sat down to communicate my anxieties to you which I had accdly done in a long letter when the mail of that day brought me your’s of Apr. 13. and rendered mine of course useless. I learn with regret that you had suffered inconvenience from the want of remittances, your former letters had given me...
39Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on a Meeting with Thomas Whittington, 16 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Dec. 16. Tho s Whittington , well acquainted with the lines, attends and searches them with us whereupon the following material corrections & discoveries are made. the supposed corner beyond the N. Lond. road from which we begun the S. 50. E. line is not our corner nor in our course. he shews a plain marked tree in the course much further beyond the N.L. road and says the corner is farther...
40Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 9 November 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
The Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia , at their last semiannual meeting of Oct. 2 . having agreed to a Report of the conditio n of that institution , it’s disbursements and funds, as required by law, I now inclose it, with the accounts of the Bursar & Proctor . some difference will be found between the Proctor’s account , & the general view presented in the Report of the board ,...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Ward, 13 March 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
The manifestations of concern taken by my fellow citizens in the difficulties which have befallen me and of which your letter of Feb. 26. is an example give me unexpressible satisfaction. I have been an unskilful steward of my own affairs. but never thought of burthening others with them. a fair market for my property was all I wished, and, could it be obtained, would relieve me from all debt,...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas J. O’Flaherty, 26 March 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
The papers which I now return have been delayed only long enough to be communicated to mr Madison & returned by him. They are advantageous testimonials certainly of your familiarity with the languages in which they are written. but until the debt of the University (180,000.D) shall be discharged and it’s funds liberated, the institution cannot be opened, and the uncertainty when this will be...
43Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Eston Randolph, 22 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
You need not hurry yourself at all as to the extracts from your Day-book. a letter from George Stevenson to mr Randolph just recieved gives the uneasy information that your son Eston is very ill at Baltimore . indeed he says that he is in imminent danger. his case is an inflammatory fever. having given this cause of alarm, mr Stevenson will undoubtedly write by every mail while the crisis...
44Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 4 December 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you the annual report of the Visitors of the University to the Literary board with it’s documents, to be laid before the Legislature . we have had two copies prepared, one for each house, of the ground plan of the establishment. but a s these are in a box, not proper for the mail, & the girls expect to set out for Richmond on Saturday, I will send the box by them, and you will...
45Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Carstairs, 16 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Availing myself of the circumstance of our former acquaintance, I took the liberty on the 1 st of November of requesting your information on the subject of Philadelphia prices for builders, for our government in a College we are building here : and M r Carey in a letter since that informed me you had been so kind as to call on him, and to recieve for me a copy of the Philadelphia Builder’s...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 13 March 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
The interest you are so kind as to take in the measures proposed for relieving me from embarrasment brings on you the trouble of the letter I have recieved an application from persons in N.C a desirous of manifesting from their goodwill to me by contributions in money, if acceptable, and offering to dispose of a portion of tickets if the way of lottery is preferred. this renders it necessary...
47From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 4 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with the request of Col o Bowyer, conveyed through you, to furnish a list of the books proper to prepare his son for the bar, I inclose you copies of two letters, written formerly, and on occasions which called on me for full and mature consideration of the subject. these will not only specify the books to be read, but also the reasons for their preference, and the course of...
48Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ewell, 28 September 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return after an absence of three weeks from home, I found here your favor of the 6 th inst. I concur with you entirely in favor of hospitals, and think the religion of a place more justly tested by the number of it’s hospitals than of it’s churches. I return you the Note inclosed in your letter , and sincerely sympathise with your misfortunes, which the evils of the times have suffered...
49Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sewall, 11 April 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved your favor of Mar. 30. and the papers it inclosed which I have read with satisfaction and now return. they certainly give more effectual recommendation of your merit, than any thing I can offer, who not having the pleasure of acquaintance with you, could give no testimony but by reference to them. this could add nothing to the respect with which they will impress others equally...
50Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Gimbrede, 29 December 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favored with your letter of Dec. 18. and am sorry it is not in my power to give any satisfactory answer to it’s enquiries. the walls of our buildings are not yet compleated and the entire finishing of the structures necessary is to be accomplished before we proceed to procuring professors. when this will be must depend altogether on the aids which the legislature may give to this object....