1From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you by Col. Digges (the first opportunity which has occurred) Mr. Wythe’s and my arguments in Bolling vs Bolling bound up together. The former are valuable in themselves, the latter to none but myself; but being so to myself, I am induced to recommend the book to your particular care. It will enable you better to foresee your adversary’s objections, than to answer them. Give me leave to...
2[From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 27 November 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 27 Nov. 1783 . Entry in SJL reads: “W. Short. Foreign arrangement—Skelton’s affairs—Martin—Western cession—importance of establishing interest in Congress-residence of Congress-instructions on that head—Patsy’s situation.” Not found.]
3[From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 19 December 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 19 Dec. 1783 . Entry in SJL reads: “W. Short. 1st. hope desperate—2d doubtful—to dispose of P. C. [Peter Carr]—call on Key for money and conveiance.” Not found.]
4[From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 29 December 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 29 Dec. 1783 . Entry in SJL under this date, immediately following entry for preceding letter to Bernard Moore, reads: “W. Short. do. for the Nottoways.” Not found.]
5[From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 18 January 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 18 Jan. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Short. P. C. [Peter Carr] disapproving Wmsbg—approving Jmscy [James City] but query as to healthfulness—refer to him—subject in cypher—Nicholas—health better.” Not found. TJ evidently enclosed in this letter a cipher based on the word “Nicholas,” a cipher he used in subsequent letters to Short. In an undated extract of his letter of 30 Apr....
6From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1 March 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry my letter found you so much indisposed, and still more so that it should have added to your sufferings. But you must learn to bear these things by always calculating on the possibility of a cross as well as pyle and having a plan of reserve to turn to by way of comfort. I can yet add nothing more on the subject. Nine states appeared on the floor to-day. But eight of them are...
7[From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 9 March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 9 Mch. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Wm. Short. European news—Philada. station.” Not found.]
8[From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 18 March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 18 Mch. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “W. Short. Affair with Gilliam.” Not found, but see Short to TJ, ca. 10 Mch. 1784 .]
9[From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 16 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 16 Apr. 1784. Entry in SJL reads: “Wrote answer W. Short to be num[quam] non par[atus]—Morris’s bills fate unknown—try to get remittance by last this month—Luz[er]ne taking [leave].” Not found.]
10From Thomas Jefferson to William Short (Extract), [30 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
Whether Congress will keep ministers abroad is still undecided. A disposition however seems to prevail to add to the present commission for negociating foreign treaties of amity and commerce. One of our own delegates and one other gentleman have proposed the mission to
11[From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 7 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 7 May 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Short. In cypher.” Not found.]
12From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 7 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the departure of the post an event has taken place which obliges me to send this by express in hopes of overtaking him at Marlborough. Congress have to day added me to the commission for negotiating treaties of commerce with the European powers. This was hastened by the receipt of a letter by this day’s post from Dr. Franklin which gives reason to beleive that Mr. Jay is on his passage...
13From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 2 April 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from l’Orient. When are we to see you? Your letters leave us in doubt whether you mean to protract this odious term of the 4th. of April, or to return to your quarters then and be content to go on with your French at leisure. I am in hopes this will be your choice. You lost much by not attending the Te-deum at Notre dame yesterday. It bids defiance to description. I will...
14From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 30 April 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Another packet is arrived which sailed from N. York the 22d. of March. As yet we have only a few letters which come through the post office. We have reason to expect there is a passenger from New York and that he may have letters for us. We know that Mr. Adams is appointed minister to the court of London, and a Colo. Smith his Secretary of legation. The newspapers tell us that Rhode island has...
15From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 2 May 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
By your servant I inclose you a bill of the Caisse d’escomte for two hundred livres. We have received this day some public letters from America. These contain a permission to Doctr. Franklin to return, and a substitution of myself in his place. There is no appointment of a Secretary of legation, but I suppose it out of doubt that Colo. H. will be annexed to this legation. Smith is fixed in...
16From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 28 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I must beg a thousand pardons for not having sooner answered your kind enquiries after Patsy’s health . I was yesterday out the whole day, therefore scribble a line just as I am setting out to Versailles this morning. Her indisposition was slight, occasioned by a cold. The cold still remains, but the headach, and slight fever have left her. If we make an appointment to meet you at all it will...
17American Commissioners to William Short, [27 July 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
A Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States of America and his majesty the K. of P. having been arranged with the Baron de Thulemeyer his Majesty’s envoy extraordinary at the Hague specially empowered for this purpose and it being inconsistent with our other duties to repair to that place ourselves for the purpose of executing and exchanging the instruments of treaty, we hereby...
18The American Commissioners to William Short, 5 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
A Treaty of Amity & Commerce between the United States of America & his Majesty the King of Prussia having been arranged with the Baron de Thulemeyer his Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary at the Hague specially empowered for this Purpose and it being inconsistent with our other Duties to repair to that Place ourselves for the Purpose of executing & exchanging the Instruments of Treaty, we hereby...
19From John Adams to William Short, 30 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 23. and I hope e’er this time the Baron has received Orders to Sign in both Languages. This is a favourite Point with me; but yet I would not make it a Sine qua non. I would urge it with decency, but give it up at last if it could not be [avoid]ed. Our Treaty with France is in English and French. That with [Ho]lland is in English and Dutch, and neither made...
20From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas and William Short, 1 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been duly honoured with the receipt of your separate letters of Aug. 23. and should sooner have returned an answer, but that as you had written also to Mr. Adams I thought it possible I might receive his sentiments on the subject in time for the post. Not thinking it proper to lose the occasion of the post, I have concluded to communicate to you my separate sentiments, which you will of...
I have rec d. from M r: Jefferson a copy of his letter to you of the 1 st. ins t: & agree fully with him in sentiment that we should agree to consider the french column as the Original, if the Baron thinks himself bound to insist upon it; but if the practice of his Court will admit of the execution in the two languages, each to be considered as equally original, it would be very agreable to...
22From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 14 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 9th. came to hand yesterday. I wrote to you on the first instant, by the post which was to leave Paris the next day and should have arrived at the Hague on Tuesday the 6th. That you did not receive it then can have proceeded from no other cause than the infidelity of the post office in opening letters and detaining or suppressing them altogether. I receive very few which do...
23From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 24 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Finding the assistance of a private Secretary necessary in my office I would wish you to accept of the appointment. In this case it will be necessary for you to abandon your plan of continuing at St. Germain’s. I need not detail to you the ordinary business in which you will be engaged. That will open itself on you of course. But it is necessary for me particularly to authorize and instruct...
24From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 28 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor (of no date, but I suppose by the company it was in that it was about the 17th.) and thank you for the intelligence it contains, and particularly that of my daughter’s health. Colo. Humphrey’s letter came to hand at the same time. Ere this I hope he has received mine inclosing one to Mr. Jay which I sent by the first post after my arrival here. We had a cold...
25From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 3 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last, which gave you reason to expect I should leave this place tomorrow, I find I shall not be able to get away so soon. Nor can I indeed fix a day; tho’ my expectations are that it will not be many before I shall leave it. Your’s on the subject of the prisoners came safely to hand. I shall be obliged to you if you will write, as of your own motion, to enquire what will be the amount...
26C. W. F. Dumas to Humphreys and Short, 6 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Je suppose que pendant l’absence de son Excellence Mr. Jefferson mes Lettres sont toujours ouvertes par Mr. Humphrys comme Secretaire de la Légation, et les Incluses pour N. York, après avoir été lues et extraites si on le juge à propos, fermées et acheminées par la voie directe de France, sans passer par le Royaume voisin, où je suis expressément requis par ceux d’ici de ne point faire passer...
27C. W. F. Dumas to William Short, 2 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous adresser l’incluse pour le Congrès, toujours ouverte, ainsi que celles qui suivront, afin que S. E. M. Jefferson ait la satisfaction à son retour de voir ce que vous jugerez à propos d’en noter ou extraire pour le tenir au courant des affaires de ce pays. Je suppose, Monsieur, que vous savez ce que c’est que l’ Ouverture dont je parle dans l’incluse . Mais il est de mon...
28C. W. F. Dumas to William Short, 2 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Cette nuit part pour Paris Mr. le Rh. Gr. de Salm, chargé d’affaires les plus importantes pour cette Republique et pour la France. Il aura la bonté de vous remettre une Lettre de ma part. Il auroit bien des choses à dire à S.E. Mr. Jefferson. Je l’ai averti qu’on étoit absent, mais qu’il pouvoit s’ouvrir à vous en toute confiance, comme s’il le faisoit à Mr. Jefferson lui-même. Celle-ci est...
29From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 15 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
So far all is well. No complaints; except against the weathermaker, who has pelted me with rain, hail, and snow, almost from the moment of my departure to my arrival here. Now and then a few gleamings of sunshine to chear me by the way. Such is this life: and such too will be the next, if there be another, and we may judge of the future by the past. My road led me about 60 miles through...
30C. W. F. Dumas to William Short, 27 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Je vous suis bien obligé de la bonté avec laquelle vous avez pris la peine de m’instruire du sort de mes Lettres, et de ma Traite. Voici une autre Lettre pour le Congrès, qui partira quand elle pourra: ce sera du moins le 10 de May prochain, s’il ne se présente pas d’occasion plus prompte et aussi sure. Vous aurez le temps d’en noter à loisir ce que vous jugerez digne de Mr. Jefferson. Le...
31From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 27 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you on the 15th. from Lyons, and on my arrival here had the pleasure to find your favors of the 12th. and 14th. with the letters accompanying them. In the hurry of my departure from Paris I omitted to explain myself to you on the subject of the map. The kind of paper on which they are struck is not very material. I had intended 50 on such paper as the proof was, and 200 on a thinner...
32From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 29 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mine of the 27th. acknowleged the receipt of your favors of the 12th. and 14th. to which I must now add that of the 22d. which came to hand yesterday. Be so good as to give M. de Crevecoeur two maps and a copy of my book which I promised him. I am not certain whether I left the new leaves so that you can find them. If I did, I wish them to accompany the book. I think the engraver’s charges...
33From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 7 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday at Marseilles your favor of Mar. 26. I was just then setting out for this place, and therefore deferred answering you till my arrival here. I now inclose you a letter for the Count de Montmorin, which, with that to the King, be pleased to deliver to M. de Montmorin. Is the letter to the king sealed with the seal of Congress? If it is, nothing is necessary to be said on the...
34From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 12 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
At Marseilles they told me I should encounter the ricefeilds of Piedmont soon after crossing the Alps. Here they tell me there are none nearer than Vercelli and Novarra, which is carrying me almost to Milan. I fear that this circumstance will occasion me a greater delay than I had calculated on. However I am embarked in the project and shall go through with it. Tomorrow I set out on my passage...
35From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here this evening, and set out tomorrow morning at day break for Marseilles. From thence I must write to Mr. Jay, and I cannot write till I receive some information at Marseilles. The letter will get to Paris the 8th. or perhaps not till the 9th. and as the packet should sail the 10th. the object of this letter is to pray you to have a trusty Courier ready to start for Havre the...
36From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 4 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received last night at Aix your favors of April 4. 6. and 24. by which I perceive that M. de Crevecoeur goes by the present packet and leaves Paris the 7th. I must therefore beg the favor of you to dispatch the inclosed letter to Mr. Jay by a courier in the instant of receiving this to M. de Crevecoeur if he shall have left Paris. The courier must go day and night rather than run any risk of...
37From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 5 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you a short letter of the 1st. from Nice, and another of the 4th. from this place. I have now a little more time to go thro’ the articles of your several favors of the 4th. 6th. and 24th. With respect to the maps to be struck on bank paper, if there be any difficulty they may be omitted, because I can have them done at London where that operation is familiar.—Nothing can have been more...
38John Stockdale to William Short, 15 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall esteem it a particular favor if you’ll be so good as to send immediately on receipt of this, Mr. Jefferson’s plate for the Map of Virginia &c., as I have had his Book printed and waiting for publishing some time. The Season for Sale of Books in London, is now far advanced. Mr. Jefferson in his Letter dated Febry. 27th. inform’d me that I should certainly receive it by the 10th. of...
39From James Madison to William Short, 16 May 1787 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter came to my hands a few days ago from Mr. W. Nelson, with a request that I would forward it. Being apprehensive that no opportunity may soon offer, of sending it by a French packet, I make use of a private conveyance which I hope will be equally safe and more expeditious. By the same conveyance you will I understand be furnished with a commission for taking depositions in a...
40From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 21 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The only incalculable part of my journey now drawing to a close, I am able to give you a state of my future motions from which there will probably be no considerable variation, unless any considerable accident happen. I expect to arrive on the days following at the several places named. May 23. Bourdeaux 31. Nantes June 4. Lorient 7. Rennes 8. Nantes 11. Tours 13. Orleans 15. Paris As there is...
41From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 8. which had arrived at Aix after I had passed that place, followed me here where I have received it, as also that of May 21. The one by Colo. Smith I received at Bourdeaux . He had left that place a week before I reached it. I wrote to him to the care of Mr. Carmichael. I left Mr. Barclay at Bourdeaux. He waited only the post of the day before yesterday to set out for Paris....
42From James Madison to William Short, 6 June 1787 (Madison Papers)
I have been sensibly obliged by your favor of the 23. of March which arrived by the last Packet. I had previously received from Mr. Jefferson information concerning the dislocation of his wrist, and the remedial journey which he had projected. His friends are particularly interested and none more than myself in his recovering the entire use of a member, without which they must lose the...
43From John Jay to William Short, 5 July 1787 (Jay Papers)
M r Walton delivered to me immediately on his arrival, your Letter of the 21 March with the Medals & c . mentioned in it; & I was last week favored with your subsequent one of the 4 May last, with the other Medals and the Papers. Accept my Thanks for your Attention in transmitting the Speeches of the King of France & his Minister to the Notables—Such Intelligence is interesting. It seems from...
44John Jay to William Short, 5 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Walton delivered to me immediately on His arrival, your Letter of the 21 March with the Medals, &c. mentioned in it; and I was last week favored with your subsequent one of the 4th: May last, with the other Medals and the Papers sent with it. Accept my Thanks for your Attention in transmitting the Speeches of the King of France and his minister to the notables. Such Intelligence is...
45From James Madison to William Short, 24 October 1787 (Madison Papers)
I offer you my sincere acknowledgments for your two favors of May 7th. and Augst: 1. The latter has been rendered particularly valuable by the acquaintance it has afforded me with Monsr. Crevecoeur who has already verified the character under which you present him. The paper which I inclose for Mr. Jefferson will shew you the result of the Convention. The nature of the subject, the diversity...
46From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 10 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
After two days of prosperous journey I had a good gleam of hope of reaching this place in the night of the third day. In fact however I got on the third day only to within 8 hours land journeying and the passage of the Moerdyke. Yet this remnant employed me three days and nothing less than the omnipotence of god could have shortened this time of torture. I saw the Saturday passing over, and,...
47From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 13 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of the 6th. with the agreeable information of the convalescence of my daughter, for which I thank you. I expect we shall be able to leave this place on the 19th. What route I shall take will depend on information not yet received relative to the roads, and partly too on the weather’s becoming milder than it now is. So that at present I can only ascertain the...
48From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 29 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received from you three letters of Mar. 9. 14. and 17. and written you two of the 10th. and 13th. In the last I mentioned to you that I should leave this place the 19th. but I have been drawn on from day to day by the hope of seeing the business on which I came settled on the basis of positive engagement: and the great object of the month of June appeared so sure that we were about...
49From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 9 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here on the 6th. inst. having been overtaken at Cleves by the commencement of a storm of rain hail and snow which lasted to this place, with intermissions now and then. The roads however continued good to Bonne, where beginning to be clayey and to be penetrated with the wet they became worse than imagination can paint for about 100 miles which brought me to the neighborhood of this...
50[From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 19 April 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
[ 19 Apr. 1788 . Recorded in SJL Index. Not found; the letter may have concerned the matter of the conference with Lambert that Vernes had discussed in his letter to TJ of 10 Apr. 1788, which TJ received at Strasbourg on 16 Apr.]