31From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 19 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a copy of the President’s speech. Before that was delivered the dispositions of all the members from every quarter seemed averse from war. But that disposition appears to be changing, and those are taking the hue of the speech who wish the Executive to be the sole power in the government. The Republican interest has lost by the changes in the last election , particularly by those...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Alexandre Giroud, 22 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved at this place from Mr. Bache the letter of the 20th. Germinal with the seeds of the Bread tree which you were so kind as to send me. I am happy that the casual circumstance respecting Oglethorpe’s affairs has led to this valuable present and I shall take immediate measures to improve the opportunity it gives us of introducing so precious a plant into our Southern states. The...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Allen Jones, 22 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately recieved from a Mr. Giroud of St. Domingue [a] few seeds of the Bread tree, from plants growing there. [Our inform?]ation that Capt. Cook found that tree bearing fully in [New Zealand] in a colder temperature than that of London, [leaves?] little doubt it may be raised in our Southern states. Having only seven seeds, and desirous of [t]aking all the […] possible for success, I...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Louis of Parma, 23 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved from your Royal highness the letter with which you were pleased to honor me through the channel of Mr. Pinckney then our envoy extraordinary at the court of Spain, in which you expressed your wish to establish a correspondence with some person in the US. of America who might be able to furnish subjects of Natural history from this country in exchange for those of Europe. I have...
35To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 24 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Senate of the United States request you to accept their acknowledgments for the comprehensive and interesting detail you have given, in your speech to both Houses of Congress, on the existing state of the Union. While we regret the necessity of the present meeting of the Legislature, we wish to express our entire approbation of your conduct in convening it on this momentous occasion. The...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Angelica Schuyler Church, 24 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I learn through the newspapers your arrival at New York and hasten to welcome you to the bosom of your friends and native country. I feel one anxiety the less for the fate of the rotten bark from which you have escaped, and sincerely congratulate you on that escape. I wish I could have welcomed you to a state of perfect calm: but you will find that the agitations of Europe have reached even...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 25 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I this moment recieve your [favor] of the 22d. Nine days before that, to wit, May 13. I had [written to you my last] letter acknoleging the [receipt of yours] of May [4.] […] that that of Apr. 4. with the [one for] Monroe […] hand. My letter was directed to yourself ‘to the care of Mr. Osgood New York.’ from which I hoped it would be stopped there as I did not superscribe the place of your...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson, 25 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to your sister the last week, since which I have been very slowly getting the better of my rheumatism, though very slowly indeed; being only able to walk a little stronger. I see by the newspapers that Mr. and Mrs. Church and their family are arrived at New York. I have not heard from them, and therefore am unable to say anything about your friend Kitty, or whether she be still Miss...
39From Thomas Jefferson to William Wardlaw, 25 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
[I have] your receipts for the [monies] […] cre[dited] […] to bring with me a memorandum of the […] destined for Dr. Jackson , and he had recieved no letter […]. But he conjectured the sum you wished paid to be 77.14.D. Should that added to 7.67 D. to Bache vary from what I recieved, it can enter into account between us, as I have not with me the book in which I noted what I recieved. We have...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 26 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Nothing new has occurred this week, except that prices get duller. Embargo is also now beginning to be talked of, and I begin to fear I shall not get the price for my tobacco which I have held it at. Ten dollars may perhaps be yet had, tho’ I have been afraid to ask the fact lest it should be thought a symptom of my falling. No judging yet when Congress will rise as the Representatives have...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Pinckney, 29 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved from you, before you left England, a letter inclosing one from the Prince of Parma . As I learnt soon after that you were shortly to return to America, I concluded to join my acknolegements of it with my congratulations on your arrival; and both have been delayed by a blameable spirit of procrastination for ever suggesting to our indolence that we need not do to-day what may be done...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Antonia Reynon Carmichael, 30 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to return you my thanks for the copy of the memoire you have been so good as to send me. It contains just and interesting observations on the importance of a navigation through the isthmus of Darien . The late Mr. Carmichael had hoped he could procure for us the copy of a survey of that isthmus said to exist in the archives of the Spanish government. But I imagine it is too carefully...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 30 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the pamphlet of Erskine inclosed in your favor of the 9th. inst. and still more for the evidence which your letter afforded me of the health of your mind and I hope of body also. Erskine has been reprinted here and has done good. It has refreshed the memory of those who had been willing to forget how the war between France and England has been produced; and who ape-ing St....
44From Thomas Jefferson to John Oliver, 30 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Tho strongly impressed myself against the possibility of forming a self moving machine, yet I do not place among impossibilities the invention of a machine whose moving power may be constantly renewed by some of the natural agents every where present, as air, gravity &c. If your son has invented any thing effectual in this way he will need no other patronage than the importance and value of...
45From Thomas Jefferson to John Gibson, 31 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
In my Notes on the state of Virginia I have given a translation of the celebrated speech of Logan to Ld. Dunmore with a statement of facts necessary to make it better understood. A Mr. Luther Martin of Maryland has lately come forward, denies the facts and also the authenticity of the speech. As far as my memory serves me we received the speech as a translation of yours, and tho’ I do not...
46To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 June 1797 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you on the 18th. of May. The address of the Senate was soon after that. The first draught was responsive to the speech & higher toned. Mr. Henry arrived the day it was reported. The addressers had not as yet their strength around them. They listened therefore to his objections, recommitted the paper added him & Tazewell to the committee, and it was reported with considerable...
47From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 June [1797] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 18th. of May. The address of the Senate was soon after that. The first draught was responsive to the speech and higher toned. Mr. Henry arrived the day it was reported. The addressers had not as yet their strength around them. They listened therefore to his objections, recommitted the paper added him and Tazewell to the committee, and it was reported with considerable...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 1 June [1797] (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of May 24. is recieved, and I have directed the springs to be made according to your desire. Your other commissions shall also be executed with pleasure, and shall go with some things of mine in the course of this month. Your tobacco is not yet arrived. Mr. Johnston’s express directions to ensure has induced us to do it: otherwise, considering the safety of the season I should have...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Dugald Stewart, [2 June 1797] (Jefferson Papers)
It is as much as six years ago that I proposed to our Philosophical society to add the respect of your name to the list of their members, which was done at the first [ensuing] election. The diploma was to have been delivered to me to be transmitted you: but having soon after had occasion to be long absent from this place I desired it to be forwarded, as soon as made out, by the Secretaries. A...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Peregrine Fitzhugh, 4 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favored with yours of May 19. and thank you for your intentions as to the corn and the large white clover, which if forwarded to Mr. Archibald Stuart at Staunton will find daily means of conveyance from thence to me. That indeed is the nearest post road between you and myself by 60. or 70. miles, the one by George town being very circuitous. The representatives have at length got through...
51From Thomas Jefferson to Wakelin Welch, 4 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 22. never came to my hands till about a fortnight ago. In the meantime, that is to say about January or February last the subject of it had been included and settled in a general settlement of the debt of the late Mr. Wayles to Cary & Co. between Mr. Wickam acting for them and Mr. Wayles’s executors, of which I have no doubt you recieved information in due time. Your letter...
52To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 June 1797 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 1st. inst. You will have seen by the public papers that the amendment for putting France on an equal footing with other nations was clogged with another requiring compensation for spoliations. The objection to this was not that it ought not to be demanded, but that it ought not to be a sine qua non, and it was feared from the dispositions of the Executive that they...
53From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 1st. inst. You will have seen by the public papers that the amendment for putting France on an equal footing with other nations was clogged with another requiring compensation for spoliations. The objection to this was not that it ought not to be demanded, but that it ought not to be a sine qua non, and it was feared from the dispositions of the Executive that they...
54From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 8 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of May 20 came to hand the 1st. inst. I imagine you recieved mine of May 18. about six days after the date of yours. It was written the first post-day after my arrival here. The commission you inclosed for Maria is executed, and the things are in the care of Mr. Boyce of Richmond, who is returning from hence with some goods of his own, and will deliver them to Mr. Johnston.—I recieve...
55From Thomas Jefferson to French Strother, 8 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with the desire you expressed in the few short moments I had the pleasure of being with you at Fredericksburg, I shall give you some account of what is passing here. The President’s speech you will have seen; and how far it’s aspect was turned towards war. An opinion here is that the Executive had that in contemplation, and were not without expectation that the legislature might...
56From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 9 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have scarcely a moment left to write to you, having waited till the morning of the departure of the post to see Barnes in expectation I could inform you of the sale of our tobacco . Your’s arrived yesterday. I had found it safest to sell for 10. Dol. as no more than 9 1/2 D. has been given for new tobacco and Lieper would not take it, as he formerly did, at the old tobacco price, giving a...
57From Thomas Jefferson to John Moody, 13 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I might sooner have acknoleged the receipt of your favor of May 15. but I could not sooner have done it with any thing satisfactory on the subject it concerned. The first [offering?] of the session of Congress was rather [inau]spicious to those who consider war as among the greatest calamities to our country. Private conversation, public discussion, and thorough calculation, aided by the...
58From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson, [14 June 1797] (Jefferson Papers)
I learn, my dear M. with inexpressible pleasure that an union of sentiment is likely to bring on an union of destiny between yourself and a person for whom I have the highest esteem. A long acquaintance with him has made his virtues familiar to me and convinced me that he possesses every quality necessary to make you happy and to make us all happy. This event in compleating the circle of our...
59From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Stevens, 14 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved duly through your kindness the survey from Mr. Strode of the road from Georgetown to Stevensburg. I propose on my passage through George town to confer with the Bridge company and get them to undertake having the road conducted from their bridge to the Culpeper line, after which I presume every county will go on with it till it gets into the direct and proper road at Prince Edward...
60From Thomas Jefferson to John Strode, 14 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of your favor of May 7. together with the survey of the road from Georgetown to Stevensburgh. As I believe there will be no difficulty in getting the road established from it’s entry into Culpeper till it gets into the established and direct road in Prince Edward, I propose to confer at Georgetown with some members of the Bridge company and get them to undertake...