2861From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 21 February 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved with great pleasure your favor of Jan. 8 . informing me of your return to America, and of the measures you have taken for adding useful arts and inhabitants to our country. The machines which perform the labours of man are peculiarly valuable in a country where there is more to do than men to do it. Perhaps we may not be entirely mature for all the articles of your catalogue,...
2862From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, [26? February 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
The matter referred to us in your letter of the 25th. Inst. we conceive to be improper for us to meddle in, I mean as to the necessity, and duties of a Field Quarter Master. The expences of defence in cases of actual invasion being altogether Continental, I mentioned early in the present invasion to Baron Steuben the propriety of directing every expenditure to be through the hands of...
2863From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 4 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You shall receive the money necessary for the purchase of the horses as fast as it can be prepared and as shall be practicable in concurrence with other pressing claimants. You know how difficult it is to fix on precise days for the treasury. Therefore all I can say with precision is that it shall be paid out of the present emission. Dft ( Vi ); written by TJ on address leaf of Claiborne’s...
2864From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 7 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We were not able to proceed to the consideration of the prices proposed to be given in your department till we could get a late arrangement of our own which interfered with some articles of you[rs]. This we got to day, and have come to the determination inclosed. Your first article we omitted because we give but two thirds of the allowance there proposed; the 2d because we have no such...
2865From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 9 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In Council, 9 Apr. 1781 . This communication consists of an extract from Lafayette’s letter Annapolis, 4 Apr., notifying TJ that field pieces and ammunition were being sent from Lafayette’s army to Gen. Greene. To this TJ added the following note: “Majr. Claiborne will be pleased to take measures for the transportation of the above.” Tr ( Vi ); 1 p.; at foot of text: “A Copy.”
2866From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Baron Steuben being very desirous to have as large [a] collection of Boats made as possible and joined to those he now has at Sandy Point, You are hereby authorized to impress all boats proper for the transportation of troops in James or Appamattox rivers (excepting only one horse Boat at every ferry, and such cases of extreme hardship as in your discretion you shall think should exempt the...
2867From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 1 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Just returned from a journey of 3. or 4. months I have been immersed in such a mass of writing that it has been impossible for me sooner to acknolege your favors of June 9. 13. and 21. With respect to the quality of lands in general in the counties of Monongalia and Harrison, it is impossible for me to give any opinion, because I never was in that part of the country at all, nor nearer it than...
2868From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 23 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of the 18th and 19th inst. came to hand yesterday. Experience has for some time past convinced the Council that as the mode of acquiring waggons, horses &c. by Impress is the most irritating, so it is the most expensive which can be adopted. They therefore have generally meant to discontinue Impresses and to have purchases made wherever a delay can be admitted. And indeed it is...
2869From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 18 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It being necessary to collect at Hoods as large a number of boats as possible to transport men and horses across the river as occasion may require, you are hereby authorized to impress all the boats on this and Chickahominy river except only one to be left at each ferry and except also such boats as from particular circumstances of which you are to Judge in your discretion it woud be attended...
2870From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 3 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The establishment of a Harness Manufacture in Albermarle, seems advisable, but the Barracks will be much better than Charlottesville, because the German commanding Officer may and probably will prohibit the men from leaving the Barracks. The necessity of the most active exertions to procure provisions for our Army has obliged us to require Mr. Brown to appoint a Deputy in each County, instead...
2871Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 10 May 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Were I twenty years younger your fav or n ot recieved till Oct. 16. should not h ave long unacknoleged. but the torpor of age is on me, writing is particularly slow and irksome. this oblig es me to brevity. I remember well your duck foot paddle and am pleased to learn that you expect to make it a means of defence; altho I hope there will be no occasion for it in your time or mine. one war is...
2872From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 8 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am of opinion that American tenants for Western lands could not be procured, and if they could, they would be very unsure. The best as far as I have been able to judge are foreigners who do not speak the language. Unable to communicate with the people of the country they confine themselves to their farms and their families, compare their present state to what it was in Europe, and find great...
2873From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The operations against Portsmouth being now discontinued, œconomy and respect to the rights of our Citizens require that the Horses impressed for that Purpose be returned to their owners. This I know will be a troublesome and expensive undertaking, but it may be effectually done I hope if every Person who impressed is instructed to look out and return all the Horses impressed by himself....
2874From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, [before 5 March 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
[William] Boswell one of the Southern riders stationed at Abram Mitchell’s within 15 Miles of Taylors ferry. He had letters for Genl. Greene which had gone from hence to his station in 48 Hours. He had then had them 6 hours when Mr. [John] Jones saw him, and ensisted on Mr. Jones’s taking the letters (tho’ an utter stranger to him) and tho’ he was not going to Taylor’s ferry. Mr. Jones took...
2875From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 17 February [1781] (Jefferson Papers)
I have submitted your Letter of yesterday to the consideration of the Gentlemen of the Council, who are present. It is thought that as the Letter of the Draft Law has left it to the Militia Officers to determine who are the proper Subjects of the Law, so the exemptions specifyed by the Law itself imply that no others shall be allowed. Whether the Staff Officers of the Continent or State are...
2876From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne and Granville Smith, 24 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In Compliance with a resolution of the General Assembly of March 16th, I must beg the favor of you as soon as the Impress warrants to which the resolution refers shall have been fully executed to procure from the several persons who have been employed in the Execution of them a report of their Proceedings therein which may be done by way of Calendar under these Heads, to wit: 1st. The Species...
2877Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 3 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of Jan. 10. 12. & Feb. 1. came to hand only a fortnight ago. the inclosed contains my answer to the latter, for communication to the Legislature . so many false views on the subject of the Batture have been presented in & out of Congress that duty to myself, as well as justice to the citizens of N. Orleans & of the Western country generally required that I should avail myself of...
2878From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 10 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
It is represented to be expedient that some permanent partition & appropriation should be made of the public buildings at New Orleans for the accomodation of the public functionaries. the Government house should doubtless be ascribed the Executive. there are then the Legislature of the territory, the courts of justice, the custom house, the military corps. the military & marine hospitals...
2879From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 23 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved the memorial and petition of the House of Representatives of the Missisipi territory, praying that measures may be adopted for procuring to the citizens of the US. settled on the navigable rivers running into the bay of Mexico the free navigation of those rivers to & from the ocean. early in the last year, having recieved an application from the inhabitants themselves,...
2880Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 2 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The honble mr Dawson , a member of Congress , proposes to become an inhabitant of the state of Louisiana . I think he must formerly have been personally known to you: but lest I should be mistaken in this, I take the liberty of making him the subject of this letter. he is a gentleman of liberal education, regularly brought up to the law, was very early in life placed in the council of state of...
2881From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
After writing my letter of the 9th. I recieved one from mr Pitot in the name of the N. Orleans Canal company, which ought to have come with the printed report, stating more fully their views, and more explicitly the way in which we can aid them. they ask specifically that we should lend them 50,000 D. or take the remaining fourth of their shares now on hand. this last measure is too much out...
2882Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 10 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 17. came to hand the last day of June. it covered a Tragedy in Manuscript from Col o Siblong commemorative of a scene which had past on the Missisipi within the memory of persons still living. I am too old to catch the enthusiasm of poetry, and therefore unqualified to judge of it’s merits other than that of the sentiment. in this respect the piece in question merits much...
2883From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 7 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter of the 17th. of April which I wrote you from Monticello, I observed to you that as the legislative council for the territory of Orleans was to be appointed by me, and our distance was great an early communication on the subject was necessary: that it ought to be composed of men of integrity, of understanding, of clear property & influence among the people, well acquainted with the...
2884Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 11 June 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I had heard of your arrival in the Atlantic states some time since, and yesterday recieved your favor from N. Orleans of May 4. announcing your intended voyage, and that I should have the pleasure of seeing you at Monticello . this would at all times be highly welcome to me, but during this season will be peculiarly so, on account of the proceedings which are the subject of your letter. I have...
2885From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 29 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I send the inclosed letter under the benefit of your cover, & open, because I wish you to know it’s contents. I thought the person to whom it is addressed a very good man when here. he is certainly a very learned & able one. I thought him peculiarly qualified to be useful with you, but in the present state of my information I can say no more than I have to him. when you shall have read the...
2886From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 13 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
You will recieve from the Secretary of state a commission as Governor of the Mississipi territory, an office which I consider as of primary importance, inasmuch as that country is the principal point of contact between Spain & us, and also as it is the embryo of a very great state. independant of the official communications which the Secretary of state will make to you from time to time, I...
2887From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 7 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of Dec. 2. since which I have recieved yours of Octr 27. Nov. 1. 4. 10. 19. & 25. in mine went two blank commissions for the legislative council, and the Secretary of state will by this mail send you two others. you will fill them up at your discretion as nearly as you can on the principles before explained. this of course includes my approbation of the appointments...
2888From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 7 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I ask the favor of you to deliver the inclosed letters to the President of the Council & Speaker of the H. of Representatives of the Missisipi territory. they contain answers to the resolutions they were pleased to forward to me. I am gratified by their testimony to the world that I have done right in refusing to continue Governor Sargeant. as to his statement of the conversation between him...
2889From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Before you recieve this you will have heard thro’ the channel of the public papers of the cession of Louisiana by France to the US. the terms & extent of that cession, as stated in the National Intelligencer , are accurate. in order to obtain a ratification in time I have found it necessary to convene Congress on the 17th. of October. before that time it will be necessary for me to procure for...
2890Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 20 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
You will probably some time ago have seen in the newspapers that the suit of Edward Livingston against me for maintaining the public possession of the Batture of New Orleans has been dismissed by the District court of the US. at Richmond for want of jurisdiction. my wish was that it should have been tried on it’s merits, that the public might have seen thro’ that medium that the transaction...