51To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1800 (Madison Papers)
I now send by Bp. Madison the balance which should have gone from our last court by mr. Barber: but not seeing him the first day of the court, & that breaking up on the first day contrary to usage & universal expectation, mr. Barber was gone before I knew that fact. Is it not strange the public should have no information of the proceedings & prospects of our envoys in a case so vitally...
52To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 November 1800 (Madison Papers)
This will be handed you by mr. Erwin, a gentleman of Boston, with whom I became acquainted last winter on a letter of introduction from old Saml. Adams. He is sensible, well informed & strongly republican, wealthy & well allied in his own state & in England. He calls to pay his respects to you. I inclose you two letters which the Govr. sent me by him for perusal. It is a pity that a part of...
53To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1800 (Madison Papers)
Mrs. Brown’s departure for Virginia enables me to write confidentially what I could not have ventured by the post at this prying season. The election of S. Carolina has in some measure decided the great contest. Tho’ as yet we do not know the actual votes of Tenissee, Kentucky & Vermont yet we believe the votes to be on the whole J. 73. B. 73. A. 65. P. 64. Rhode isld. withdrew one from P....
54To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 December 1800 (Madison Papers)
All the votes are now come in except Vermont & Kentuckey, and there is no doubt that the result is a perfect parity between the two republican characters. The Feds appear determined to prevent an election, & to pass a bill giving the government to mr. Jay, appointed Chief justice, or to Marshall as Secy. of state. Yet I am rather of opinion that Maryland & Jersey will join the 7. republican...
55To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 February 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have not written to you since the letter by mrs. B. Your’s of Jan. 10. is recieved, and your own wishes are entirely acquiesced in as to time. Clermont has refused. I think to adopt your idea at Baltimore. I dare not through the channel of the post hazard a word to you on the subject of the election. Indeed the interception & publication of my letters exposes the republican cause as well as...
56To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 12 February 1801 (Madison Papers)
The H. of R. has been in conclave ever since 2. oclock yesterday. At 10. P.M. 17 ballots had been tried, & were invariably 8. 6. & 2 divided. I have not heard from the Capitol this morning. I can venture nothing more by the post but my affectionate salutations, to yourself & mrs. Madison. P. S. 1. P.M. The H. of R. suspended the balloting from 7. to 12. this morning, & after trying a few more...
57To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 February 1801 (Madison Papers)
Notwithstanding the suspected infidelity of the post, I must hazard this communication. The Minority in the H. of R. after seeing the impossibility of electing B. the certainty that a legislative usurpation would be resisted by arms, and a recourse to a Convention to reorganise & amend the government, held a consultation on this dilemma, Whether it would be better for them to come over in a...
58From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I was informed on my arrival here that Genl. Pinckney’s dispatches had on their first receipt excited in the administration a great deal of passion: that councils were held from day to day, and their ill temper fixed at length in war; that under this impression Congress was called: that the tone of the party in general became high, and so continued till the news of the failure of the bank of...
59From 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...
60From 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...
61From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was of the 8th. inst. I had inclosed you separately a paper giving an account of Buonaparte’s last great victory . Since that we recieve information that the preliminaries of peace were signed between France and Austria. Mr. Hammond will have arrived at Vienna too late to influence the terms. The victories lately obtained by the French on the Rhine were as splendid as Buonaparte’s. The...
62From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
The Senate have this day rejected their own bill for raising a provisional army of 15,000. men. I think they will reject that for permitting private vessels to arm. The Representatives have thrown out the bill of the Senate for raising artillery. They yesterday put off one forbidding our citizens to serve in foreign vessels of war, till Nov. by a vote of 52. to 44. This day they came to a...
63From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
The day of adjournment walks before us like our shadow. We shall rise on the 3d. or 4th. of July. Consequently I shall be with you about the 8th. or 9th. The two houses have jointly given up the 9. small vessels. The Senate have rejected at the 3d reading their own bill authorizing the President to lay embargoes . They will probably reject a very unequal tax passed by the Repr. on the venders...
64From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 July 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
In hopes that Mrs. Madison and yourself and Miss Madison will favor us with a visit when Colo. Monroe calls on you, I write this to inform you that I have had the Shadwell and Secretary’s ford both well cleaned. If you come the lower road, the Shadwell ford is the proper one. It is a little deepened, but clear of stone and perfectly safe. If you come the upper road you will cross at the...
65From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 August 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I scribbled you a line on the 24th. Ult. It missed of the post and so went by a private hand. I perceive from yours by Mr. Bringhurst that you had not recieved it. In fact it was only an earnest exhortation to come here with Munroe, which I still hope you will do. In the mean time I inclose you a letter from him, and wish your opinion on it’s principal subject. The variety of other topics, the...
66From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Dec. 25. came to hand yesterday. I shall observe your directions with respect to the post day. I have spoken with the Depy. Post. M. Genl. on the subject of our Fredericksburg post. he never knew before that the Fredsbg printer had taken the contract of the rider. he will be glad if either in your neighborhood or ours some good person will undertake to ride from April next. the price...
67From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 2d. inst. on which day I recieved yours of Dec. 25. I have not resumed my pen because there has really been nothing worth writing about but what you would see in the newspapers. there is as yet no certainty what will be the aspect of our affairs with France. either the Envoys have not written to the government, or their communications are hushed up. this last is...
68From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 February 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 25th. Ult. since which yours of the 21st. has been recieved. Bache had put 500. copies of Monroe’s book on board a vessel, which was stopped by the early & unexpected freezing of the river. he then tried in vain to get them sent on by fifties at a time by the stage. the river is now open here, the vessels have fallen down and if they can get through the ice below, the...
69From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 February 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 8th. we have still not a word from our envoys. this long silence (if they have been silent) proves things are not going on very roughly. if they have not been silent, it proves their information if made public would check the disposition to arm. I had flattered myself, from the progress of the public sentiment against arming, that the same progress had taken place in...
70From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 February [1798] (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 12th. is recieved. I wrote you last on the 15th. but the letter getting misplaced, will only go by this post. we still hear nothing from our Envoys. whether the Executive hear we know not. but if war were to be apprehended, it is impossible our envoys should not find means of putting us on our guard, or that the Executive should hold back their information. no news therefore is...
71From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 22d. since which I have received yours without date, but probably of about the 18th. or 19th. an arrival to the Eastward brings us some news which you will see detailed in the papers. the new partition of Europe is sketched, but how far authentic we know not. it has some probability in it’s form. the French appear busy in their preparations for the invasion of England:...
72From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 2d. inst. your’s of the 4th. is now at hand. the public papers will give you the news of Europe. the French decree making the vessel friendly or enemy according to the hands by which the cargo was manufactured has produced a great sensation among the merchants here. it’s operation is not yet perhaps well understood; but probably it will put our shipping out of...
73From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 15th. since that yours of the 12th. is recieved. since that too a great change has taken place in the appearance of our political atmosphere. the merchants, as before, continue, a respectable part of them, to wish to avoid arming. the French decree operated on them as a sedative, producing more alarm than resentment. on the Representatives differently. it excited...
74From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 21st. your’s of the 12th. therein acknoleged is the last recd. the measure I suggested in mine of adjourning for consultation with their constituents was not brought forward; but on Tuesday 3. resolutions were moved which you will see in the public papers . they were offered in committee to prevent their being suppressed by the previous question, & in the commee on the...
75From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 29th. ult. since which I have no letter from you. these acknolegements regularly made and attended to will shew whether any of my letters are intercepted, and the impression of my seal on wax (which shall be constant hereafter) will discover whether they are opened by the way. the nature of some of my communications furnishes ground of inquietude for their safe...
76From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
So much of the communications from our envoys has got abroad, & so partially that there can now be no ground for reconsideration with the Senate. I may therefore consistently with duty do what every member of the body is doing. still I would rather you would use the communication with reserve till you see the whole papers. the first impressions from them are very disagreeable & confused....
77From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you two letters on the 5th. inst. since which I have recd yours of the 2d. I send you, in a separate package, the instructions to our envoys & their communications. you will find that my representation of their contents, from memory, was substantially just. the public mind appears still in a state of astonishment. there never was a moment in which the aid of an able pen was so...
78From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 12th. & then acknoleged your last at hand of the 2d inst. the sensations first occasioned by the late publications have been kept up and increased at this place. a petition from the merchants & traders & others was so industriously pushed as to have obtained a very extensive signature. the same measure is pursuing in New York. as the election of their governor comes on...
79From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, [19 April 1798] (Jefferson Papers)
the inclosed was sealed before I recollected that I have mentioned a petition instead of an address to the President, which is to be corrected. a nomination of Govr. Secretary & three judges to the Missisipi territory is sent in to the Senate , four of whom are agents, or interested in the land speculations of that country, two of them bankrupt speculators, & the 5th. unknown. the Senate...
80From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 19th. since which your’s of the 15th. is recieved. I well remember the recieving that which inclosed a letter to Muhlenberg, but do not exactly recollect how I sent it. yet I have no doubt I sent it by my servant, that being my constant practice. your note from Baily I shewed to Genl. Van Cortlandt who was going to N. York. on his return he told me he would pay the note...
81From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 26th. since which yours of the 22d. of April is recieved acknowleging mine of the 12th. so that all appear to have been recieved to that date. the spirit kindled up in the towns is wonderful. these and N. Jersey are pouring in their addresses offering life & fortune . even these addresses are not the worst things. for indiscreet declarations and expressions of passion...
82From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 10 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 3d. inst. since which yours of Apr. 29. is recieved. a day or two after I arrived here J. Bringhurst called on me. since that moment I have never seen him nor heard of him. he cannot therefore be here. but I have put your letter & draught into the hands of mr Barnes, & desired him to get Bohemian glass from Donath. I will myself look to the locks & hinges. but both...
83From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 10th. since that I have recieved yours of the 5 th. I immediately sent a note to Carey to forward his paper to your brother as you desired. the first vote of any importance on the alien bill was taken yesterday. it was on agreeing to the 1st. section, which was carried by 12. to 7. if all the Senators in town had been present it would have been 17. to 7. the...
84From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was of the 17th. since which yours of the 13th. is recieved. the Alien bill of the Senate still hangs before them. some of it’s features have been moderated, which has so much disgusted it’s warmest friends that some of them have declared they will vote against it, so that I think it possible they may reject it. they appear to be waiting for one from the house of repr. worse I think...
85From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 31 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 24th. since which yours of the 20th. is recieved. I must begin by correcting two errors in my last. it was false arithmetic to say that two measures therein mentioned to be carried by majorities of 11. would have failed if the 14. absentees (wherein a majority of 6. was ours) had been present. 6 coming over from the other side would have turned the scale, and this was...
86From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 31st. since which yours of the 27th. of May is received. The alien bill, when we had nearly got through it, on the 2d. reading, (on a report from the commee of the whole) was referred to a special committee, by a vote of it’s friends (12) against 11. who thought it could be rejected on the question for the 3d. reading. it is reported again, very much softened, and if...
87From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 14 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 7th. since which yours of the 3d. is recieved. your next (which I shall still be here to recieve on the 19th) will probably acknolege mine of May 31. and will perhaps be your last as you would see by mine of the 7th. that I should leave this on the 20th. which I still purpose. the new citizen or naturalization bill is past the Senate also. it requires 14. years...
88From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 10th. inst. is recieved. I expected mine of the 14th. would have been my last from hence, as I had proposed to have set out on the 20th. but in the morning of the 19th. we heard of the arrival of Marshall at New York, and I concluded to stay & see whether that circumstance would produce any new projects. no doubt he there recieved more than hints from Hamilton as to the tone...
89From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 October 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
The day after you left us , I sat down and wrote the petition I mentioned to you. it is not yet correct enough, & I inclose you a copy to which I pray your corrections, and to return it by the next post, that it may be set in motion. on turning to the judiciary law of the US. I find they established the designation of jurors by lot or otherwise as now practiced in the several states; should...
90From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 November 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Oct. 31. has been duly recieved and the corrections suggested are thankfully adopted. the petition will be offered for signature at our court the day after tomorrow. Richardson has been in a great measure prevented doing any thing this week by the weather, which has been too cold for laying mortar. he has still 2. or 3. days work of that kind to do, which is indispensable, and about...
91From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 November [1798] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Richardson has been detained by several jobs indispensable to the progress of the carpenters, & to the securing what is done against the winter. when will Whitton be done with you? or could you by any means dispense with his services till I set out for Philadelphia? my floors can only be laid while I am at home, and I cannot get a workman here. perhaps you have some other with you or near...
92From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I have suffered the post hour to come so nearly over on me that I must huddle over what I have more than appears in the public papers. I arrived here on Christmas day, not a single bill or other article of business having yet been brought into Senate. the P’s speech, so unlike himself in point of moderation, is supposed to have been written by the military conclave , & particularly Hamilton....
93From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
The forgery lately attempted to be plaid off by mr H. on the house of representatives, of a pretended memorial presented by Logan to the French government, has been so palpably exposed as to have thrown ridicule on the whole of the clamours they endeavored to raise as to that transaction. still however their majority will pass the bill. the real views in the importance they have given to...
94From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 16th. since which yours of the 12th. is recieved and it’s contents disposed of properly. these met such approbation as to have occasioned an extraordinary impression of that day’s paper. Logan’s bill is passed. the lower house, by a majority of 20. passed yesterday a bill continuing the suspension of intercourse with France, with a new clause enabling the President to...
95From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 30th. Jan. since which yours of the 25th. is recieved. at the date of my letter I had only heard the bill for the eventual army read once. I concieved it additional to the Provisional army &c. I must correct the error. the bill for the Provisional army (about 10,000. men) expires this session without having been carried into execution. the eventual army (about 30,000)...
96From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 5th. which acknoleged yours of Jan. 25. the last at hand. yesterday the bill for 6. 74s. & 6. 18s. passed the H. of R. by 54. against 42. and the bill for a new organisation of the army (into regiments of about 1000.) passed the Senate. the bill continuing the suspension of intercourse with France and her dependancies has passed both houses. but the Senate struck out...
97From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 11th. yesterday the bill for the eventual army of 30. regiments (30,000) & 75,000. volunteers passed the Senate. by an amendment, the P. was authorised to use the volunteers for every purpose for which he can use militia, so that the militia are rendered compleatly useless. the friends of the bill acknoleged that the volunteers are a militia , & agreed that they might...
98Enclosure: Extracts on Relations Between United States and France, 28 September 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Extract of a letter from Taleyrand to Pichon, chargé d’affaires of France at the Hague, dated [Paris] Sep. 28. 98. ‘I am thoroughly convinced that should explanations take place with confidence between the two cabinets, irritation would cease, a crowd of misunderstandings would disappear & the ties of friendship would be more strongly united as each party would discover the hand which sought...
99From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 19th. it acknoleged yours of the 8th. in mine I informed you of the nomination of Murray. there is evidence that the letter of Taleyrand was known to one of the Secretaries, therefore probably to all: the nomination however is declared by one of them to have been kept secret from them all. he added that he was glad of it, as, had they been consulted, the advice would...
100From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 August 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
With this you will recieve the IVd. nails desired in your memorandum , that is to say 25. ℔ weighing about 2½ ℔ to the M . probably they yield something more than a thousand to that weight, not being so uniform as they ought to be. we are now working up some remnants of hoops of different breadths till the arrival of a supply of proper size from Philadelphia. they are ⅓ pr. ℔. consequently...