1From George Washington to Francis Hopkinson, 13 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your good humour of the 3rd, which made me laugh heartily, has fairly driven me out of the field, not, indeed, into the Potowmac, but into a resolution not to strain my wits in making one word of reply, except in sober earnest. This preliminary being settled—I will tell you all I have to say, in three words: though one might perhaps suffice, for you know they say “a word to the wise is...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 13 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last, which was of Dec. 21. yours of Dec. 9. and 21. are received. Accept my thanks for the papers and pamphlets which accompanied them, and mine and my daughter’s for the book of songs. I will not tell you how much they have pleased us nor how well the last of them merits praise for it’s pathos, but relate a fact only, which is that while my elder daughter was playing it on the...
3From George Washington to Francis Hopkinson, 5 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
We are told of the amazing powers of musick in ancient times; but the stories of its effects are so surprising that we are not obliged to believe them, unless they had been founded upon better authority than Poetic assertion—for the Poets of old (whatever they may do in these days) were strangely addicted to the marvellous; and if I before doubted the truth of their relations with respect to...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 21 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you were of May 8. and July 6. That of the latter date was only to inclose a bookseller’s proposals for sending some books to America. The one of May 8. acknoleged the receipt of yours of Dec. 14. since which those of Apr. 6. and July 17. are come to hand. I informed you also in the letter of May 8. that the Vinegar was at length lodged for you in the hands of M. Limozin at Havre to...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 6 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
A printer here has begun to print the most remarkeable of the English authors, as that can be done here much cheaper than in England or even Ireland. He supposes America could take off a considerable number of copies, and has therefore applied to me to find a sure correspondent for him. Being unacquainted with the printers of Philadelphia and the booksellers, yet satisfied that that would be...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 8 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Dec. 14. and to apologize for a delay that has happened in the sending the vinegar you desired. I gave a memorandum to one of my servants to enquire of the Chevalr. de la Luzerne’s maitre d’Hôtel what kind of vinegar it was. He was out of town, the thing was forgotten for some time, at length recollected and the enquiry made. It was what they...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 18 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, Mr. Burgoin, is recommended to me as a worthy and ingenious artist, skilled in drawing and engraving. Being desirous of establishing himself in America, and preferably in Philadelphia, I know I cannot do better for him than by recommending him to your patronage and counsels. One who loves the arts, must be well disposed to those who practice them. I am with great and sincere...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, with Enclosure, 1 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A journey into the Southern parts of France and Northern of Italy must apologize to you for the length of time elapsed since my last, and for the delay of acknowleging the receipt of your favors of Nov. 8. and Dec. 9. 1786. and Apr. 14. 1787. Your two phials of essence de Lorient arrived during that interval and got separated from the letters which accompanied them, so that I could not be sure...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 23 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter to you was dated Aug. 14. Yours of May 27 . and June 28. were not then received, but have been since. I take the liberty of putting under your cover another letter to Mrs. Champés as also an enquiry after a Dr. Griffiths. A letter to M. le Vieillard from the person he had consulted about the essence d’Orient will convey to you the result of my researches into that article. Your...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 14 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favours of Mar. 8. 28. and May 1. have come to hand since the date of my last which was of May 9. That of Mar. 8. begins with these words. ‘I cannot at present lay my hands upon your last but recollect it was of an old date.’This seems to imply a charge of my being behind-hand in the epistolary account. Turning to my epistolary ledger I find our account since my arrival in Europe to stand...