101Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 15 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters, dear Madam, are always welcome, and your requests are commands to me. I only regret that I can do so little towards obeying them. but eight and twenty years since I left France would, in the ordinary course of mortality, have swept off seven eighths of my acquaintances, and when to this lapse of time are added the knife of the Guillotine & scythe of constant and sanguinary wars,...
102Thomas Jefferson to Destutt de Tracy, 15 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your two letters of Feb. 4. & Dec. 24. 16. and, with the last, your Principes logiques, and a 2 d copy of your 4 th vol. of which I had before recieved a printed one as well as the MS. the Analysis of Dupuy and the luminous tract on public instruction I had possessed some time before, and had availed myself of some of the leading ideas of the latter in the...
103Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 17 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 12 th is received a nd I am happy to find that the General ’s distresses have been so happily relieved. I am in hopes the regular course of commerce now will enable us to prevent any such recurrence of want to him. I am equally gratified by the prospect of seeing you here once more: and as I pass much of the temperate seasons at Poplar Forest , to prevent the danger of my losing...
104Thomas Jefferson to Isaac Briggs, 18 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9th never came to hand till the last night, viz. two days after the meeting of the board at New York who were to decide on the persons to be employed in the direction of their grand canal: and as the arrangements of our mail render it impossible to get a letter to N. York before the last of the month, the certainty that the decision will be over, prevents my doing more than...
105Thomas Jefferson to Louis A. Leschot, 18 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Girardin , a French literary gentleman, & friend of mine, living near Staunton , called on me on his way to Richmond . having a repeating watch which he valued much, but which had been mu ch injured by ignorant workmen, he left her with me, on my advice; to get the favor of you to repair her, for which purpose I send her by the bearer . he will call on you about Saturday or Sunday next, in...
106Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 23 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Peyton to come and take a pea-dinner with him the day after tomorrow (Sunday) RC (Mrs. Charles W. Biggs, Lewisburg, W.Va., 1950; photocopy in MsSM ); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “ M r Peyton Monteagle .” Not recorded in SJL .
107Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 24 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I return by our first mail the note for renewal inclosed in your’s of the 20 th inst. and I am very thankful for the accomodation obtained, and payment remitted to Leroy and Bayard . if the Virginia bank cannot consistently with their rules renew it, I am in hopes that of the US. may come to my aid, as I understand it begins business this week. I observe a stamp on the paper you inclosed me;...
108Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 25 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not till I had sealed the inclosed that I turned to the settlement of my debt to the Van Staphorsts , which my memory had supposed a little under 2000. D each instalment, whereas I find it was a little over that sum, to wit 2083.20 D with interest @ 6. p.c. from Jan. 1. 1816 . there is still therefore a balance of 83.20 principal due to them with interest on the whole from Jan. 1. 1816...
109Thomas Jefferson to LeRoy, Bayard & Company, 25 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
A lapse of memory, never discovered till this moment calls for immediate apology and correction. my memory had represented to me the annual instalments of my debt to the mess rs Van Staphorsts as something under 2000.D. and I had therefore desired mr Gibson to remit that round sum. on just now recieving his information that he had done so, I turned to your letter of Aug. 7. 16. and find it was...
110Thomas Jefferson to David Higginbotham, 26 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 20 th is recieved. I had never thought of selling my lots in Beverly town , but to pay a debt, I will do it, on terms rigorously just, that is to say, for first cost and compound interest on it to this day; rating interest at 5. p.c. till 1797. when it was raised by law, and at 6. p.c. for the then amount to the present day. mine are the lots N o 57. 107. 108. and 151. they are...
111Thomas Jefferson to Fitzwhylsonn & Potter, 28 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
The books which you bound for me are safely recieved and I this day send another parcel by Col o Randolph , who will have delivered them to you probably before your receipt of this. the bindings already recieved are good, and particularly in the article I value of their solid pressure. varieties in the bindings is are also useful as well as pleasing to distinguish them on the shelf, and...
112Thomas Jefferson to Lancelot Minor, 3 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I am 2. or 3. days later than my promise in sending you the inclosed order on Mess rs Gibson & Jefferson for 160. D 08 c for Col o Callis ’s estate to discharge to refund what Hastings Marks had recieved for the 150. acres of land in Fluvanna sold to
113Thomas Jefferson to John M. Perry, 3 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
In the purchase of the site of the College from you, there are two questions entirely distinct; 1. as to the title, which must be clearly so it is our duty to have conveyed to the institution clear, & unembarrassed by any conditions other than the usual one of the payment of the price stipulated . the 2 d who shall do all the various works which the prosecution of the object may require? these...
114Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, [before 6 June 1817] (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of Feb. 1. 16. since which I have recieved your several favors of Feb. 15. Mar. 19. June 1. 4. 19. & July 12. & the several parcels of wine & Maccaroni, came safe to hand. all of them were good; but those particularly esteemed for daily use are the Nice, Ledanon & Roussillon. the Nice de Bellet is superlatively fine, for which I am particularly obliged to
115Enclosure: List of Wine and Food Ordered from Stephen Cathalan by Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Jefferson Randolph, [ca. 6 … (Jefferson Papers)
Vin de Perpignan de M. Durand . 100. gallons, en double futaille . Vin de Ledanon . 100. bottles. say, one hundred. Vin de Nice de Bellet. 200. bottles. say, two hundred. best Olive oil. 5. gallons in bottles. Maccaroni 100. ℔. Raisins. 50. ℔. those of Smyrna, sans pepins , would be preferred. Anchovies. 1. doz. bottles. the above are for
116Thomas Jefferson to de Bure Frères, 6 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I addressed, the last year, a catalogue of some books I wanted, to mr Ticknor , an American gentleman, and the best bibliograph of my ac quaintance, whom I expected the letter would have found in Paris . but not being there, he was so good as to forward it to the friendly care of mr Warden , to whom I am indebted for the delivery of it to you. the books all arrived safely, and I take this...
117Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 6 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter from mr Wood recieved a few days ago, I learned with great regret that he was obliged to suspend his school for four months (till the last of September) in order to compleat the public survey he had undertaken. regret being unavailing, the question is how Francis may best employ those 4. months. I observe he has made no progress in Arithmetic, and think therefore he could not do...
118Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, [before 6 June 1817] (Jefferson Papers)
The importance that the inclosed letters should safely reach their destination impels me to avail my self of the protection of your cover. this is an inconvenience to which your situation exposes you, while it adds to the opportunities of exercising yourself in works of charity. According to the opinion I hazarded to you , a little before your departure, we have had almost an entire change in...
119Thomas Jefferson to William Lee, 6 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
The National Intelligencer informs us there is a numerous party of Swiss stocking weavers arrived at Washington , and mr Barnes of Georgetown , no w here, tells me he thinks they are under your patronage. believing it for their interest to distribute themselves to good posts in the country, I take the liberty of stating that I think there is no better stand for one or two of them than the town...
120Thomas Jefferson to George Ticknor, [before 6 June 1817] (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of Feb. 8. 16. since which I have recieved yours of Mar. 15. Apr. 23. & July 10. 16. in this last you mentioned that you should be in Paris this spring, till which time therefore I have deferred acknoleging them; and also because winter passages for letters to Europe are rare, slow, and uncertain. The German editions of Homer, Virgil, Juvenal, Aeschylus and Tacitus, which...
121Thomas Jefferson to David Bailie Warden, 6 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your several favors of July 12. 14. & Aug. 9. with the invoices of the books, in the purchase and dispatch of which you were so kind as to take a part, and the books themselves have been all safely recieved. I am under great obligations to you for your aid in this supply to the amusements of my old age; and for the satisfactory manner in which the Mess rs Debures freres have executed my...
122Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Girard, 7 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I was much gratified on a former occasion by having the security of your bill that in the books and wines I ordered from France I should not be disappointed. there is probably some balance still due to you on that score; as, after placing 200. of the 550.D. in Marseilles , there remained for Paris 350.D. of the employment of this last sum I have no other account from my correspondent than that...
123Thomas Jefferson to Elisha Ticknor, 7 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Expecting that mr George Tickner , your son, would be at Paris about this time, I have deferred till now the acknolegement of his favors: and believing the inclosed will reach him more safely and speedily thro’ the favor of your transmission, I take the liberty, according to his request, and your permission of putting it under cover to you. it is fortunate for him that the quiet of Europe...
124Thomas Jefferson to John Vaughan, 7 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
The season for my annual call for books and wines from France now recurring, I had desired my correspondent mr Gibson of Richmond to remit you a sum of 400.D. which he writes me he has done. this I must request you, according to your usual goodness, to dispose of for me by investing it in a safe bill on Paris , where I wish 135.D of it made payable to Mess rs Debures, freres , libraires de...
125Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Brent, 8 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Long indulgence by your predecessors in the direction of the department of State in the privilege of getting my letters to Europe put under the same cover with their the official dispatches of the department has encoraged me to ask the same favor of you. my increasing aversion to writing will be a security against any abuse of this favor. on this ground I take the liberty of inclosing a letter...
126Thomas Jefferson’s Observations on George Divers’s Answer to Interrogatories in Jefferson v. Rivanna Company, [before 9 … (Jefferson Papers)
Observations on the answer of mr Divers . This def. having given his answer individually, and declined joining in the corporate body answer , I place the facts he has stated as of his own knolege , on the same footing as if given on oath: but his hearsays and opinions remain open to observation, in this case, as they would be on a regular answer on oath. Quere 10. Answer.
127Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 10 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
This is written a few minutes after your departure from this place; for on returning into my room, and recollecting your question of yesterday, whether I had no remittance to make to your quarter, it occurred that I was indebted for the National Intelligencer for some years back; for indeed on examination I do not find that I have paid it later than to Oct. 31. 13. as it will give you less...
128Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 10 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I am detaining from the Philosophical society their copy of Col o Byrd ’s journal, until I can learn whether I may be permitted to send with it also the supplementary one of which I obtained the loan thro’ your favor. will you be so good as to favor me with the name of the person to whom it belongs, that I may sollicit the permission without troubling you? Does your new bank propose to do any...
129Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 10 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 20. has been recieved, and with it the specimen of the letters of Doct r Franklin which we are likely to have published. I wish we may have all ; but I am not yet relieved from the fear of suppressions. the anecdotes of his life would also be pleasing and instructive, and would place him in still another, and more amiable attitude before us. I shall be glad indeed if you...
130Thomas Jefferson to William Caruthers, 11 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 2 d inst. and I readily consent that Patrick Henry , the freeman of colour whom you recommend, should live on my land at the Natural bridge , and cultivate the cultivable lands on it, on the sole conditions of paying the taxes annually as they arise, and of preventing trespasses. I some time since saw the tract advertized for sale by the US. Collector,...
131Thomas Jefferson to Luis de Onís, 11 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, Sir, for the Eulogy on D r Valli which you have been so kind as to send me . his devotion to the good of his fellow-men merited all which the Orator has said of him, and entitles him to a distinguished niche in our Martyrology. how far his experiments may contribute to the preservation of human life I am not qualified to judge; but it is much to be regretted that his last one was...
132Thomas Jefferson to George Washington Jeffreys, 12 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege your two letters of Apr. 8. & May 11. on the subject of the broad-tailed sheep. it is to be observed that there are different races of them, very distinct, & very different in merit, three of these have fallen under my observation. 1. those from the Cape of good hope with broad tails turned up like that of a nicked horse, long legs, light bodies & slight fleeces. 2. those...
133Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 12 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter is that of a friendly beggar. I will explain to you the case & then it’s object. we are commencing here the establishment of a College , and instead of building a magnificent house which would exhaust all our funds, we propose to lay of f a square of or rather 3. sides of a square about 7. or 800.f. wide, leaving it open at one end to be extended indefinitely. on the closed end,...
134Thomas Jefferson to John Manners, 12 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 20. has been recieved some time since: but the increasing inertness of age renders me slow in obeying the calls of the writing table, and less equal than I have been to it’s labors. My opinion on the right of Expatriation has been so long ago as the year 1776. consigned to record in the Act of the Virginia code, drawn by myself recognising the right expressly, & prescribing...
135Thomas Jefferson to Alexander von Humboldt, 13 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
The reciept of your Distributio geographica plantarum, with the duty of thanking you for a work which sheds so much new and valuable light on botanical science, excites the desire also of presenting myself to your recollection, and of expressing to you those sentiments of high admiration and esteem, which, altho’ long silent, have never slept. the physical information you have given us of a...
136Thomas Jefferson to Louis Pio, 13 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved, my dear Sir, your letter of Aug. 29. with great sensibility. it recalls to my memory scenes in earlier life which were very interesting, and many of them past with you. I have not forgotten either them or you, altho’ so much of time and space has intervened, and events of so great and different characters have occupied our attention. you have seen the horrors of Robespierre ,...
137Thomas Jefferson to Barbé Marbois, 14 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, dear Sir, for the copy of the interesting narrative of the Complot d’Arnold which you have been so kind as to send me. it throws lights on that incident of history which we did not possess before an incident which merits to be known, as a lesson to mankind, in all it’s details. this mark of your attention recalls to my mind the earlier period of life at which I had the pleasure of...
138Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 14 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
A young negro man, named Thruston , brother to Edy , who while I was in Washington , was in the kitchen under the instruction of M r Julien , has escaped from my grandson to whom I had given him . he is supposed to have gone to Washington and to be there lurking under the connivance of some of his sister’s old friends. the bearer, mr Wheat , my grandson
139Thomas Jefferson to José Corrêa da Serra, 14 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
No one could recieve greater pleasure than I did at the proof that your sovereign set a due value on your merit, as manifested by the honorable duties assigned to you with us. but into this sentiment a little spice of egoism also thrust itself. as the appointment was to fix your residence almost in our vicinity, it gave me the hope of more frequently seeing you here. I trust that this hope...
140Thomas Jefferson to George Divers, 14 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
In the present state of your health, I am very unwilling that any trouble which can be avoided should be thrown on you on my part; and to lessen this as much as possible is the object of the present letter. my bill in Chancery on the subject of the Canal would regularly require your answer in due form, on oath E t c. which would oblige you to call on a lawyer to draw it, a justice of the peace...
141Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Lescallier, 14 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, Sir, for the Persian tale of the Enchanted throne which you have been so kind as to send me . I have read it with satisfaction and with the more as a piece of natural history, presenting to us, as in a map, the mind of the man of Persia, and the means of measuring it. it shews us too the value of our art of printing, and the facility it affords us of cultivating a good taste, and...
142Thomas Jefferson to Robert Simington, 14 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Cap t Simington and his thanks for the two books he has been so kind as to send him through mr Dinsmore , which he has safely recieved. they are rare, and of merit in themselves; and derive additional value as evidences of good will on the part of Cap t Simington , of which Th:J. is duly sensible. he salutes him with the same sentiments of good will...
143Thomas Jefferson to Tadeusz Kosciuszko, 15 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been much distressed, my dear friend & General at the embarrasments you have experienced from the want of punctuality in your remittances; but with equal satisfaction I have learnt from your letter to mr Barnes that they were at length recieved. my inland situation, withdrawn far from all the commercial cities, has obliged me to leave to mr Barnes altogether the reciept and remittance...
144Thomas Jefferson to Louis H. Girardin, 17 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of May 30. and June 5. are recieved with the article respecting J. Q. Adams which I am glad to possess. of the works you think of translating, Botta would sell best; next to this Dumeril . Bezout altho of very high value would probably find purchasers only in the higher schools, and would be slow in extending even to them. but it is very desirable it should be introduced there....
145Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Account with Stephen Girard, 21 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Thomas Jefferson Esq re To Stephen Girard For Premium on the cost of $550, in Specie which were paid on his account in Paris by Mess rs Perregeaux Lafitte & C o as p r their Letter dated 14 th May 1816 in virtue of my Letters of Credit to the following Persons. Stephen Chatalon
146Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 19 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his compliments to Gen l Duane incloses him 5 Dollars to be placed to his Aurora account, which he believ es has been heretofore paid up to May 1. 1817 . he salutes him with continued esteem and respect. PoC ( DLC ); on verso of reused address cover of John Vaughan to TJ, 2 June 1817 ; dateline at foot of text; with one word faint and one number rewritten by TJ for clarity;...
147Thomas Jefferson to Fernagus De Gelone, 19 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to m r Fernagus de Gelone and incloses 15. Dollars in discharge of his account under date of May 31. 1817 . the Aristophane is expected; all the other books have come safely to hand. he regrets that the Vitruve had been disposed of, as being a small & probably cheap edition of that author. PoC ( MHi ); on verso of reused address cover of Fernagus De...
148Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Gales (1761–1841), 19 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 23 . came to hand a few days ago, with a statement of my account for your paper from Jan. 1809. to Jan. 1817. a term of 8. years. I now inclose you 24.D. the amount: but some apology is due for the prodigious delay, for justification there could be none had I considered myself a subscriber. but the truth is that on winding up my affairs in Washington in the beginning of 1809....
149Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 19 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Higginbotham having mortgaged to you the lands he purchased as a security for the paiments stipulated, & those payments being made, he thinks there should be a release of the mortgage on your part, for which purpose I inclose you an instrument with a note of the manner of acknolegement. My letters from France inform me of the death of the Abbé Rochon , and that of his daughter a few hours...
150Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Eston Randolph, 21 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
On casting my eye over your account I observed that I should have to ask the favor of you to have me furnished with the details of the flour delivered, to wit, a statement of the dates, quantities & persons to whom delivered, without which I cannot settle either with the boat men, or mr Gibson . I imagine you take the boatmen’s receipts by which th ey stand charged to their employer. a...