1From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 22 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of May 28. inclosing those you had been so kind as to bring for me from America, as I had before been with a note informing me that such letters were in your possession. We had hoped you might have taken your passage in the French packet which might have given us the pleasure of seeing you here. Your arrival however in London was so well timed with respect...
2From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 4 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The morning after John left me at Dover, that is to say, on Friday, the wind became so favourable as to place me at Calais in three hours. At the moment therefore of your writing your friendly letter, to wit at a quarter before four of that day, I was on the road between Calais and St. Omer and I reached Paris in 48 hours from Calais. Whenever you come again to Paris come by the way of St....
3From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 17 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur de Tronchin, minister for the republic of Geneva at this court, having a son at this time in London, I take the liberty of introducing him to your acquaintance. A respect for the father induces me to this liberty, together with an assurance that the son merits it. He is young and may need a monitor, who, with the gay, may mix the serious, when it becomes necessary to keep him out of...
4From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 4 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Having found an opportunity of furnishing myself with a horse here, I notify it to you according to what we had agreed on, to prevent you the trouble of getting me one in England. No news to give you but of the decision of the celebrated cause. La Villette banished. Madame la Motte condemned to be branded and whipped and to remain in a hospital all her life. But it is said the branding and...
5From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 16 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the receipt of your favor of May 21. I have been in daily expectation of receiving from you a particular state of the cost of my press &c. Mr. Paradise wrote me that it was about five guineas, but I knew there would still be some additions. The moment you will be so good as to favor me with this information I will remit you a bill for that and the eight guineas I formerly took the...
6From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 9 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 16th. of June. Since that your favors of May 21. 21. and June 12. have come to hand. The accounts of the K. of Prussia are such that we may expect his exit soon. He is like the snuff of a candle; sometimes seeming to be out; then blazing up again for a moment. It is thought that his death will not be followed by any immediate disturbance of the public tranquillity; that...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, [10] August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
An opportunity will offer by Mr. Bullfinch of acknowleging the receipt of your favours of July 5. and 18. and as I mean by the same hand to write my American letters, the number of these obliges me to abridge with you. I therefore make this previous declaration that there shall be neither prayer nor compliment in this letter, nothing but a simple tho’ sincere proffer of respect to Madame,...
8From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 13 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 9th. of August and since that have received yours of Aug. 23. I have not yet heard of Mr. Adams’s return to London, nor when that may be expected if it has not already taken place. I have nothing public and proper for the post. A letter from Mr. Barclay dated at Mogadore in July shews he was on his return. I impatiently wait an answer from Mr. Adams as...
9From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 23 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Being desired by a friend to procure him a copying press I take the liberty of putting the inclosed under cover to you and of requesting you to pay for it and have it sent as therein desired. I wish it may be in time to come with the other articles that it may not multiply my applications for passports. Be so good as to let me know whether Mr. Tessier has any hesitations about going beyond the...
10From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 22 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
How the right hand became disabled would be a long story for the left to tell. It was by one of those follies from which good cannot come, but ill may. As yet I have no use of that hand, and as the other is an awkward scribe, I must be sententious and not waste words. Yours of Sep. 18 and 22. and Oct. 1. and 4. have been duly received, as have been also the books from Lackington and Stockdale,...