5391From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 9 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been so closely engaged since I came here that I have not had time to write any letter which could be postponed. this place is unusually healthy. some persons from Alexandria have been taken with the fever here & died, without communicating it: so that we consider our rural situation as perfectly exempt from the danger. it seems to get worse in Alexandria, Philadelphia & New York, & so...
5392Notes on the Southern Piazza at Monticello, 30 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Southern Piazza The 5. arches of this piazza are to be closed by 2 square sashes, both hoisting up, & 1 semicircular sash, fixed. these sashes have been made by mr Oldham, & I presume are here The necessity that both the square sashes should be hoisted up, requires a singular finishing, that is to say there must be an architrave (like a door architrave) from the floor of the Piazza, to the...
5393To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 27 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you Story’s oration that you may be enabled to take his measure. Be so good as to return it. I retain the letter of E. Livingston urging the validity of Baron Bastrop’s monopoly of the Indian commerce for 10. years, because I presume it may be proper to lay it before Congress. The postmaster at Washington ⟨wr⟩ites me that during our recess the post will come 3. times a week, the 3d....
5394From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 27 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I lay before you the accounts of our Indian trading houses , as rendered up to the 1st. day of January 1801. with a report of the Secretary at War thereon, explaining the effects and the situation of that commerce, and the reasons in favor of it’s further extension. but it is believed that the act authorising this trade expired so long ago as the 3d of March 1799. it’s revival therefore as...
5395From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 31 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 21st. is duly recieved. Chisolm is now engaged in running up for me 20. brick pilasters to my offices, which take about 4000. bricks, and I remember it was very doubtful whether we had that number. but if there be as many over it as you need, they are at your service, and I will give orders accordingly by the next post. I expect to be there myself within 10. days after the rising...
5396From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Lawson, 22 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 11th. came to hand only [two days ago]. I happened in the moment of recieving it to be writing to Richmond on some money [matters] and authorised my correspondent to have 50. Dollars placed in the hands of Majr. William Duval for your use. I am sorry to learn that your health is so indifferent as to call for a residence at the springs; tho the [season] is approaching when...
5397From Thomas Jefferson to James Pemberton, 7 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter covering the 2d. Report to the African institution in London came safely to hand, as has that also of Nov. 22. accompanying Clarkson’s history, for which I return you my thanks, as being both of them interesting in a high degree. my grandson, Thomas J. Randolph will call on you with this letter, as well to reimburse the price of Clarkson as to have the satisfaction of recollecting...
5398From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 11 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The cession of the Spanish province of Louisiana to France, and perhaps of the Floridas, and the late suspension of our right of deposit at New Orleans, are events of primary interest to the United States. on both occasions, such measures were promptly taken as were thought most likely amicably to remove the present, & to prevent future causes of inquietude. the objects of these measures were...
5399From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 6 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 1st. came to hand yesterday evening, and I this day inclose it to Garbut. I now inclose to you a letter from Thomas Paine with a model for using two guns in the head of a Gunboat instead of one. mr & mrs Madison are with me and well. I salute you affectionately DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
5400From Thomas Jefferson to Abraham Baldwin, 1 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
A mr Putnam of Georgia was lately appointed to the command of a revenue cutter on the recommendation of yourself, Genl. Jackson & mr Milledge; and I trust on good grounds. the Washington Federalist however of Apr. 30. charges him with having been tried and convicted of having stolen a gold watch. a charge so specific brought forward in the public papers, I have always supposed sufficient to...
5401From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 15 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed were sent to me by mr Bacon with permission to keep them. they may therefore be filed in the War office. as we percieve that a light French breeze has already reached most of the Indians, it will be well for us to keep our eye on all their movements. I have therefore asked the favor of mr Bacon to continue to send me this correspondence. as I have no doubt the arrival of the...
5402From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Alston, 23 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved a few days ago, your favor of Dec. 26. covering the very flattering resolutions of the legislature of South Carolina, and I beg leave, through the same channel, to return the answer. it is highly consolatory to those charged with the care of the National affairs to be approved by their constituents, and to recieve assurances of their cooperation & support in whatsoever measures the...
5403From Thomas Jefferson to James Bowdoin, 10 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I believe that when you left America the invention of the Polygraph had not yet reached Boston. it is for copying with one pen while you write with the other & without the least additional embarrasment or exertion to the writer. I think it the finest invention of the present age, and so much superior to the copying machine that the latter will never be continued a day by any one who tries the...
5404From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 23 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Aug. 13. and 15. were recieved yesterday. the appointment of a successor to Samuel Bishop must await our re-assembling at Washington. I inclose you the late letters of Livingston & Monroe, for consideration, & to be returned to me when perused. you will find that the French government, dissatisfied perhaps with their late bargain with us, will be glad of a pretext to declare...
5405From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Leiper, 21 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 15th. was duly recieved, and before that Tower’s book, which you had been so kind as to send me, had come to hand, for which I pray you to recieve my thanks. you judge rightly that here , I have no time to read. a cursory view of the book shews me that the author is a man of much learning in his line. I have heard of some other late writer (the name I forget) who has...
5406From Thomas Jefferson to George Hay, 16 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I think it was mr Wythe’s practice to assign in the body of his decrees the reasons on which they were founded. if this was done in the case of Henderson & Peyton, you will oblige me by obtaining a copy of the decree (to be charged by the clerk to mr Peyton) and inclosing it to me. some property is offered of the value of which I can better judge when I see the reasons of the decree & can...
5407From Thomas Jefferson to Peter Lenox, 3 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Finding my work here not as far advanced as I expected I think it best not to send on a painter till I return to Washington. I mention this to you to prevent engaging one if not already done. accept my salutations & best wishes PrC ( MHi ); at foot of text: “Mr. Lenox”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.
5408From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 16 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Complaints multiply upon us of evasions of the embargo laws by fraud & force. these come from Newport, Portland, Machias, Nantucket, Martha’s vineyard Etc Etc as I do consider the severe enforcement of the embargo to be of an importance, not to be measured by money, for our future government as well as present objects, I think it will be adviseable that during this summer all the gunboats...
5409From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 14 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of the 2d. & 15th. of Feb. arrive just in the moment I am setting out on a short visit to Monticello. it will be necessary for us now to set on foot immediately the Arcansa & Red river expedition., Congress having given an additional appropriation of 5000. D. for these objects generally. I think you were not able to get any person in your quarter the last autumn fitted for the...
5410From Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas Gouin Dufief, 1 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Since writing my letter of the 23d. I observe in your catalogue Oeuvres de Seneque translation de la Grange 6. vol. 8vo. which I shall be glad to recieve with the books before written for. Accept my best wishes. PrC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “M. Dufief.”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso. OEUVRES DE SENEQUE : TJ already owned a Latin edition of the works of the philosopher Seneca. A French...
5411From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 10 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I reached this place on the 4th. having passed an evening with mr Madison who is in as good health as for some time past, but that is very indifferent. he will set out for the seat of government about the time I shall. I did not percieve till I got here, that I had brought away the inclosed commissions before they were sealed. I therefore return them. if sealed and returned to me in Thursday...
5412From Thomas Jefferson to Anne Cary Randolph Bankhead, 8 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Nov. 26. came safely to hand, and in it the delicious flower of the Acacia, or rather the Mimosa Nilotica from mr Lomax. the mother tree of full growth which I had when I gave him the small one, perished from neglect the first winter I was from home. does his produce seed? if it does I will thank him for some, and you to take care of them: altho’ he will think it a vain thing at...
5413I. Preliminary Draft: Naturalization, [before 12 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
recommend a revisal of the law respecting citizens. every man has a right to live somewhere on the earth. and if somewhere, no one society has a greater right than another to exclude him. becoming indeed a member of any society, he is bound to conform to the rules formed by the majority. but has the majority a right to subject him to unequal rules, to rules from which they exempt themselves. I...
5414From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel D. Tompkins, 15 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this day recieved your Excellency’s favor of the 9th. instant, and I now return you the papers it inclosed. the case of opposition to the embargo laws on the Canada line, I take to be that of distinct combinations of a number of individuals to oppose by force & arms the execution of those laws, for which purpose they go armed, fire upon the public guards, in one instance at least have...
5415From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I confess that the inclosed letter from General Turreau excites in me both jealousy & offence, in undertaking, & without apology, to say in what manner we are to recieve & treat Moreau within our own country. had Turreau been here longer he would have known that the National authority pays honors to no foreigner. that the state authorities, municipalities & individuals, are free to render...
5416From Thomas Jefferson to James Jackson, 1 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
You will probably have seen in the Washington federalist of April 30. mr Mitchell appointed Atty of Georgia on your recommendation , denoted a man of most infamous character. this is merely calling of hard names which I never notice. but the editors pretend that they are possessed of a fact which is too bad for publication . whether the fact be of such a nature as to make it the duty of the...
5417To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 December 1805 (Madison Papers)
The Tunisian Ambassador put into my hands the packet now sent, & at his request I promised it should be safely returned to him before he went away, as it contains the originals of letters—it presents a chronological view of the Bey’s correspondence with our officers, with explanatory statements of facts connecting them. I found the whole worth reading, tho’ I had read the letters hastily...
5418From Thomas Jefferson to Christian VII, 16 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received the letter in which your Majesty informs me, that the bad state of health, under which Mr Peter Blicher Olsen, heretofore your Majesty’s Minister Resident and Consul General to the United States, has labored, has induced you to yield to his prayers by recalling him from that appointment As during his residence with us he has merited our esteem, I cannot omit to do him justice...
5419Notes on Briggs’ Opinion on Jacobins in Mississippi Territory, 18 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Briggs Isaac considers the following persons in the Misipi territory as the Jacobins, enragés, of the place Cato West Thomas M. Green, brother in law of Cato West. judge Kerr Doctr. Shaw, postmaster, suspected of opening and detaining letters. Turner, the register. son in law of Cato West. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
5420From Thomas Jefferson to James Lindsay, 25 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I must apologise for an error of mine in weighing some money delivered me by mr Lilly as recieved from you; and which I made to weigh less than you had done. you were right and I was wrong. I inattentively weighed it as Spanish gold, and it was not, till going to weigh some of it out again to another person, I adverted to it’s being all in Portuguese half joes & Moedas : and calculating anew,...
5421To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
I confess that the inclosed letter from General Turreau excites in me both jealousy & offence, in undertaking, & without apology, to say in what manner we are to recieve & treat Moreau within our own country. Had Turreau been here longer he would have known that the National authority pays honors to no foreigner, that the state authorities, municipalities & individuals, are free to render...
5422From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 19 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 13. & 15th. are recieved. if I rightly understand them, you have in hand one Polygraph 17⅝ I. by 11⅝ I. and another of 16. by 11. both of which will write to the bottom of a 4to. sheet. the larger one is that which will suit best as a present for my friend, and therefore I will ask you to send on that. The smaller one of 16. by 11. I observe is only 1⅜ longer than my 8vo....
5423From Thomas Jefferson to Jones & Howell, 20 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall very shortly have occasion for a considerable quantity of sheet copper, proper for covering cornices & making gutturs, which I presume should be of the thinnest kind to be had. I think that what I purchased for those uses antiently did not weigh more than half a pound or thereabouts to the square foot. as the price of sheet copper to the square foot will determine me as to the quantity...
5424From Thomas Jefferson to John McAllister, 5 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Mc.Alister to send him by mr Briggs a pair of spectacles of the small light kind which mr Mc.Alister has heretofore made on the particular model which was furnished him. and to send with them spare sets of glasses from the youngest to the oldest magnifiers. mr Barnes informs Th:J. that he has arranged with mr Mc.Alister not only the paiment for these, but to...
5425From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 28 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you the day before yesterday, since that I have taken a more correct view of my [probable] receipts & expenditures and find that I may venture to take Haxall’s horse immediately at 500. doll. paiable at 90. days. it would be a great inconvenience to have to send from Washington for directions; & on the [other hand] a convenience to have […] brought to Monticello by the messenger who...
5426From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 14 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
During the blockade of Tripoli by the squadron of the US. a small cruiser, under the flag of Tunis, with two prizes, (all of trifling value) attempted to enter Tripoli, was turned back, warned, & attempting again to enter, was taken & detained as prize by the squadron. her restitution was claimed by the Bey of Tunis, with a threat of war in terms so serious, that, on withdrawing from the...
5427V. Key to the Arrangement of Interim Nominations, [before 6 January 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
the first 17. (ending with Alger) are on resignation, declining or death. Lewis. marsh. of Del. vice Hamilton who had accepted a state office & it was understood did not wish to be continued Claiborne. Gov. Missipi. v. Sarjeant. time expired. not renewed because of his unpopularity, & malpractice the next 21. from Graham to Jacob Lewis inclusive, were vacancies unfilled, or newly occurring....
5428From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 17 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The object of the present is merely to acknolege the reciept of yours of the 14th. and to mention that I have recieved a letter from mr Gallatin disapproving of the first order for the sailing of the John Adams, on general grounds & also on the special ground that the appropriations for that object were exhausted: further that mr Madison will be with me tomorrow, and that I will then take the...
5429From Thomas Jefferson to the House of Representatives, 23 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In further compliance with the desire of the House of Representatives, expressed in their resolution of Dec. 31. I now transmit the Report and map of Isaac Briggs, referred to in my message of the 1st. instant, and recieved by the last post from New Orleans. RC ( DNA : RG 233, PM , 8th Cong., 2d sess.); date altered from 22 Feb.; endorsed by a House clerk. PoC ( DLC ); dated 22 Feb. Recorded...
5430From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 22 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Having returned a few days since, I called on mr Ludlow to have the offices for this house now begun. he told me he awaited your instructions, papers etc and would write to you immediately. having three months now before our Autumnal recess I should be glad this work could be pushed on such a scale as to compleat one end at least while I am here. having given you the only sketches I had of the...
5431From Thomas Jefferson to Peter Kuhn, Jr., 30 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved, in April last, a letter from mr Thos. H. Storm written in your absence, & informing me he had sent on for me 50. bottles of Nebioule wine. these arrived safe, with the loss of only 10. of them, and were of very fine quality, answering fully to what I recollected of that wine when at Turin. Since that I have recieved your favors of Mar. 25. Apr. 25. & May 28. informing me that you...
5432From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Worthington, 24 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to Colo. Worthington & sends him an order on John Barnes in Georgetown, the real agent for Genl. Kozciusko, & holder of his funds. is any thing due on account of taxes on these lands to Colo. Worthington himself? if there is, Th:J. will put it into the order on recieving it back. PrC ( MHi ). Enclosure: Order on John Barnes for payment of $12.62½ to...
5433From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Auguste Adet, 29 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two letters of Mar. 3. & 6. have been duly recieved, and with them the copy of your elementary lessons in chemistry, for which I pray you to accept my thanks. my occupations not permitting me to read any thing but the papers of the day, I reserve it among the treasures to be carried into that retirement to which I shall withdraw at the close of my present period. I hope that in the mean...
5434Notes on Architectural Ornaments, 16 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
frize board of Chamber Chimney Cap length 4. f 11½ I breath 7½ I. the ornaments to be the Same as in the frize of The Entablature, viz. for an Inside dentile Cornice bespoke of capt Andrews Oct. 16. 05. Plinths for Parlour fire place } bespoke of mr Blagden. Oct. 16. 05 length 8½ I. breadth 9⅛ I.
5435From Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 10 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you 150. D. in Richmond bank bills to cover a draught I have this day made on you at sight in favor of Nathaniel Gordon of Orange or order for 133D. 25 I send from hence by a vessel bound for Richmond which sails tomorrow 10. casks, & 17. boxes, besides 3 or 4 boxes of which I do not know the marks & numbers. the captain’s reciept will be inclosed. I have written to mr...
5436From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Preble, 18 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of Capt Preble to take a family dinner with him tomorrow at half after three Thursday Nov. 18. 1802 Tr (TJ Editorial Files); 1961 typescript of RC in possession of Dundas Preble Tucker, La Jolla, California; addressed: “Capt Preble.” Edward preble , a moderate Federalist from Maine who had served with a Massachusetts sloop during the American Revolution, received...
5437Notes on a Cabinet Meeting, 8 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
1805. July 8. Present the 4. Secretaries. privateers are now blockading Charleston, the capes of Chesapeake & Dealaware and capturing vessels without the smallest pretext, merely because they are rich. it is determd by unanimous consent (except mr Gallatin, who dessents) that the vessels being some without commns, some with insfft commns & some doing what their commns do not warrt all of which...
5438From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 12 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson not having compleated the sale of my tobacco, I am enabled to send you on 750. D. only which I now do in a bill of the bank of the US. here on that at Philadelphia. it will therefore be another month before the balance can be liquidated. I am in hopes that that will be in time for your departure; but should it not, you may direct the disposal of it with the same certainty as if...
5439From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 14 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I yesterday recieved by post from Doctr. Currie the award of the arbitrators to pay to mr Ross of the tobacco of the upper James river or Appomatox inspections 12,485. ℔. with interest at 5. per cent from Oct. 15. 1790. I must in the first place ask the favor of you to put 50. D. into the hands of Doctr. Currie for the arbitrators, and then to enlarge the purchase of tobo. for one of the...
5440From Thomas Jefferson to John Breckinridge, 15 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favour of mr Breckenridge to dine with him tomorrow (Wednesday) at half after three. The favour of an answer is asked. DLC : Breckinridge Family Papers.