1William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 23 October 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I now submit to you the last sheets of my sketches of M r H. which I am sorry to find more numerous than I expected, and I pray you to forgive the very great trouble which I am sincerely ashamed of having imposed on you.—Your remarks have been of great service to me not only by enabling me to correct mistakes in fact, but by putting me on a severe inquisition of my style which I am perfectly...
2William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 2 October 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent you about three or four weeks ago a second, and by the last mail, a third parcel of my biographical M.S.—Not having heard of their arrival and having had frequent proofs of the irregularity of the mails, I begin to be fearful that the packets have miscarried.—I beg you to be assured that it is not with the most distant intention of hurrying you in the kind and obliging office which you...
3William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 25 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
W m Wirt , with respectful compliments to M r Jefferson , sends a few more sheets of the biography—and thinks he may venture to add the consoling assurance that a few more pages, (20, or at the most 30) will put an end to the trouble to which M r Jefferson has been so kind as to subject himself. RC ( MHi ); dateline at foot of text; endorsed by TJ as received 1 Oct. 1816 and so recorded in SJL...
4William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 10 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the remarks with which you have been so good as to accompany the return of the sheets. The story of Livy I had from Judge Nelson who gave it as a declaration to him from M r Henry himself. I think with you that the statement must be inaccurate: his indolence forbad it and Livy I find is not among the books left by him, of which I have a catalogue—I have moderated the passage...
5William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 24 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I accept, with gratitude, the terms on which you are willing to remark on my manuscript—and send herewith three sections, ninety one pages. There will be an advertisement prefixed to it, stating the authorities on which the narrative is founded, and appealing to the candor and indulgence of the public on account of the peculiar disadvantages under which the work has been written. This, I...
6William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 10 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose it proceeds from the circumstances of my having lived in your neighbourhood, for several years; the brotherly intimacy and affection which has always subsisted between your nephews, the M r Carrs , and myself; and the paternal kindness with which you have always treated me, that I feel a sort of filial right to be more troublesome to you, than my judgment can entirely approve: but I...
7William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 24 July 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Henry ’s resolutions , as given by Judge Marshall , were copied from Prior Documents . Your conjecture that the 5 th resolution was the 5 th as offered by M r Henry , or at all events that which produced “the bloody debate” derives great strength from the resolutions of
8William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 15 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The clerk of the court of chancery has, this day, for the first time put into my hands the fi: fa. in your case with Scott which I hasten to enclose to you—and beg you to believe me as ever RC ( MHi ); endorsed by TJ as received 17 Mar. 1815 and so recorded in SJL . RC ( DLC ); address cover only; with
9William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 27 July 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The summer vacation of our courts, gives me an opportunity of taking up the materials which I have been for several years collecting for a life of Patrick Henry , and seeing what I could make of them. Will you have the goodness to excuse the following questions suggested, in a great degree, by a comparison of the communication you were so kind as to make , with others, from different quarters....
10William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 20 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just rec d yours of the 13 th and can only assure you of my constant attention to your interest. I can not think with patience, of your having this repose, to which you are so justly entitled, interrupted, in this way and yet, rather inconsistently I am sincerely pleased at having an opportunity of being any way useful to you: for I am yours in very truth devotedly yours Tr ( MdHi :...
11William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 15 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have your favor by the last mail, covering an hundred dollars (a draft on Gibson & Jefferson ) as a fee in the suit of Livingston against you. This is much more than an equivalent for any trouble I have had in the case. In truth, I have had no trouble in it. The investigation has been to me both a pleasure and instruction, and in itself, a compleat remuneration. From you I should never have...
12William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 19 May 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 3 rd covering a copy of your letter to Colo. D. arrived at a time when I was absent on an excursion to the superior court of Powhatan from which I have just returned. If the bulwark of vanity which surrounds D. be not impregnable, or the spirit of faction which rules him, as wild and deaf as the winds of winter, I think your letter must touch him—but I much fear that he is...
13William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 17 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 15 in reply to mine of the 10 th inst. has been brought to me from the office this instant. The copy of your letter to D. has been shewn to one person only— W m H. Cabell . The effect of it was to dispose him to lend D. $500. And I wrote my letter in a persuasion produced by that incident, as well as by its effect on my own feelings, that with the use of that letter, something...
14William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 10 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I have your favors by the last mail and will attend to them with much pleasure. If any thing could be done for Colo. D. here, it would be by shewing the copy of your letter to him. I shall retain it for another mail that I may recieve your directions as to making use of it or not. You may rely upon it that D.’s name has no magic in it here: he is considered as the foe of M r Madison . And the...
15William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have perused, with equal pleasure and conviction, your view of the question touching the batture at New Orleans : the copy is now returned. With such aid, I think it must be the fault of your counsel if they leave any room for candor to doubt or even for sophistry to cavil, with any hope of success. I had noted a few slight omissions which it will be necessary to supply in order to clear the...
16William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 27 June 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your last favor was brought to me from the post-office, too late, by some accident, to be answered by the returning mail. It gives me pleasure to assure you that succeeding interviews have completely removed the apprehensions expressed to my friend D. Carr in relation to this cause: and did I not know to whom my letter was addressed & by whom, alone, its contents are known, I should regret...
17William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 24 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved your favor of the 19 th and will, with very great pleasure, attend to its request and instructions. M r Wickham had previously made known your desire both to M r Hay and myself: he cannot join us in the defence although he is still unresolved to take the plaintiff’s case. You conjecture rightly as to the cause of action—it is Livingston’s expulsion from the batture by an...
18William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 18 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
About four years ago you were so good as to state that if the life of Henry was not destined to come out very speedily you would endeavour to recollect what might be of service to it and that having run your course with him for more than twenty years and witnessed the part he bore in every great question you would perhaps be able to recal some interesting anecdotes. I do not refer to your...
19William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 10 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Alexander M c Rae esq r & Maj r John Clarke , two gentlemen, justly reputed for integrity and talents, and well known I believe, Sir, to you, are just about to embark for Europe , with views which I am authorized to state to you. In conjunction with severa l other gentlemen, they have formed a project of introducing m anu factures into Virginia