51Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 6 November 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Oct. 29. finds me still here. tho’ the effects of my fall have not been quite removed, I shall set out for Bedford in 2. or 3. days. the doubt as to the security proposed for that portion of the debt for which mr Higginbotham & another were to give joint bonds, was not unexpected because it was reasonable. I had suggested it to him as possible & even probable, & he was therefore...
52Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 17 October 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have communicated to mr Higginbotham the substance of your letter of the 7 th and can now give you specific answers from him to your several queries. 1. the price 10. D. an acre paiable at Christmas of the years 1813. 14. 15. in equal instalments, with an understanding that if these paiments are delayed to & through April, paying interest on that delay, it shall not be deemed a breach of...
53Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 30 September 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have at length recieved an offer for your lands, which tho not coming entirely up to your terms, is so nearly so as to make it my duty to communicate it for your consideration. it is from mr Higginbotham , who had applied to yourself by letter with a very different proposition. he is a merchant of Milton , who in the course of many years of snug & safe business has made a handsome provision...
54Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 26 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 19 th was recieved yesterday. those of Feb. 20. & Mar. 5. had come to hand before, and were still in my Carton of ‘letters to be answered.’ the only circumstance in those which pressed for an answer had escaped my memory, until your last reminded me of it, that is to say, the visit proposed by General Moreau . and first I must set to rights the idea that a visit while at...
55Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 15 October 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Aug. 10. from Portland Portsmouth came duly to hand. according to promise I have made exact research into the situation of your land . I rode to Price’s and enquired of him with respect to the leases, to whom, on what conditions, and for what terms they were made? I found them to be as follows. Richard Shackleford 100. a s rent 50.D. } written leases for 3. years from the...
56Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 26 July 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
On the reciept of your letters of May 29 . & June 18 . I wrote to mr Bankhead , then with his family in Port-royal , offering your lands to him at 12.D. for altho I had seen no reason for a great sudden rise in the price of our lands, yet two sales had been made as I formerly wrote you, far above what had been deemed the neighborhood price. himself had been one of the purchasers. I therefore...
57Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 17 May 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of April 11 . was recieved in due time; but as you expressed a wish that your lands should be offered to mr Bankhead & he was gone on a visit to his father & family at Portroyal , I awaited his return. I knew indeed that he had just made a purchase for himself, of the land which was Col o N. Lewis’s , extending from Charlottesville to Monticello
58Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 8 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I now make frequent journies to Bedford , and make long stays there , having a good house and accomodations there. I am just returned thence, after an absence of five weeks, and find here your letter of Jan. 30 . I had left this on the 27 th . to this you must sometimes ascribe the not recieving timely answers from me, & sometimes to my the repugnance with which I go to my writing table. my...
59Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 21 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Aug. 30 . arrived while I was absent in Bedford , to which place I now go several times in the year & stay there from a fortnight to a month. I congratulate you on your safe arrival in the US. and should have done it with more pleasure in person had your perambulations for health led you this way. your former letter by mr Irving was immediately complied with, the business executed to...
60From James Madison to William Short, 3 December 1809 (Madison Papers)
I duly recd. your favor of Sepr. 15. to which was annexed the copy of Count Romanzoff’s letter to you. The latter has been communicated to Mr. Jefferson, and will be placed in the Archives of our Foreign Dept. It is a very pleasing proof of the good will of the Emperor of Russia towards this Country, as well as of the just sentiments he entertains of Mr. Jefferson, and you did very right, in...
61Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 8 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with much concern I inform you that the Senate has negatived your appointment. we thought it best to keep back the nomination to the close of the session, that the mission might remain secret as long as possible, which you know was our purpose from the beginning. it was then sent in with an explanation of it’s object & motives. we took for granted, if any hesitation should arise, that...
62From James Madison to William Short, 9 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have just closed for Mr. Graham the papers which will be forwarded to you in due form from the office of State; and reach you, I hope on the evening of the 14th. I have suggested to him the addition of such printed documents as occured to me, and desired him to add any others which may occur to him. It wd. have given me pleasure to have seen you before your departure, and particularly to...
63From James Madison to William Short, 8 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
The President having thought it expedient for the interest of the United States that a Minister Plenipoy. should be sent to the Emperor of Russia, he is desirous of availing them of your services on the occasion. You will accordingly herewith receive a Commission and a Letter of Credence to the Emperor. You will see in the latter, a copy of which is furnished, the general purpose of your...
64From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 6 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I avail myself of the last moment allowed by the departure of the post to acknolege the reciept of your letters of the 27th. & 31st. ult. and to say, in answer to the last, that any one of the three persons you there propose, would be approved as to their politics, for in appointments to office the government refuses to know any difference between descriptions of republicans, all of whom are...
65From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 29 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 7th. & 10th. inst. were acknoleged in mine of the 19th. Mr. Madison is now with me and is preparing instructions for you. we now very much wish we had asked you to take a trip here. it is impossible to give on paper so intimate an expression of our views as in conversation, and more difficult in this case than in others because in addition to the general objects of cultivating...
66From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 19 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of the 7th. & 10th. were recieved on the 15th., communicated to mr Madison & recieved back from him yesterday. we relinquish the idea of a direct passage to St. Petersburg, and adopt that of a general communication to the government of France through which you will pass. mr Madison will be here within a few days in order that we may arrange and finally expedite whatever is...
67From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 2 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
On the reciept of your letter of July 23. I wrote to mr Madison expressing my ideas on the several points it presented, and recieved his in return which I now inclose you as containing our joint opinions on them. that which respects the direct voyage will, I am afraid, not be so agreeable to yourself, yet I believe it is indispensible. secrecy is essential, that obstacles may not be prepared...
68From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 20 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have put off writing to you to the last moment, and must therefore be short as I am just setting out for Monticello. yours of the 15th. is recieved. we fix your departure by the next vessel we send which will be in about 6. weeks. it will not be necessary for you to visit this place as mr Madison leaves it on Saturday. we highly approve the idea of calling your secretary our messenger & your...
69From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 13 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night yours of the 10th. the idea of your going so early as by the vessel which sails on Sunday has been given up. consequently it will not be till the next which will go in 6. weeks, unless an earlier passage were to occur by some other vessel, which as it might excite less notice would be more desirable. we have ceased to annex Secretaries of legation to our foreign missions,...
70From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 6 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
What I now write you must be as secret as the grave. there is at length an unanimity of opinion as to a mission to Petersbg. but some difference as to the time, whether now or not till the meeting of the Senate. but the latter opinion will I think give way to the importance of the mission being so secret that it shall be suspected by no mortal until it is arrived in Petersburg. I write you...
71From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 5 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Apr. 28. came safe to hand with the watch chain and seal, which are entirely to my mind, and I now inclose you an order of the bank of the US. of this place on that at Philadelphia for 20. D. the amount of the two articles. I am now in all the hurry & bustle of preparation for departure this evening if I can be ready, or tomorrow morning at farthest, and having not a word of news...
72From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 31 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 27th. was recieved last night. those of Nov. 25. & Dec. 29. had been recieved in due time. the pressure of business had prevented my acknoleging them. I shall be happy to see you here, and repeat my hope of your taking your daily soup with us when not otherwise engaged. I have just recieved information that Russia has interdicted to her subjects all intercourse with England,...
73From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 15 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 6th. has been duly recieved. on the subject of your location for the winter, it is impossible, in my view of it, to doubt on the preference which should be given to this place. under any circumstances it could not be but satisfactory to you to acquire an intimate knolege of our political machine, not merely of it’s organisation, but the individuals & characters composing it,...
74From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 14 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 11th. was recieved last night. in the mean time mine of the 12th. had crossed it on the road, and I hope conveyed safely to your hands the order for 750. D. by the statement inclosed in yours the balance of the 22d. of May was 1537.D78 to which adding 6.15 for interest to the 15th. (by which day the order will be in your hands) and deducting the 750. D. amount of the order,...
75From 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...
76From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 19 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned to this place three days ago, which being later than I had expected, has retarded my sending the inclosed order of the bank of the US. here on that at Philadelphia for 500. D. my crop of tobo. falls considerably short of it’s usual amount, so that altho’ I have not lost hope entirely that it may enable me to pay the whole of my balance the next month, yet I doubt it. in any event I...
77From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 6 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you a draught of the US. bank here on that of Philadelphia for 500. D. and early in the ensuing month shall make a similar remittance. I had before observed that in the months of April & May, when my tobacco of the last year would be coming to market, the balance remaining due to you would be within the reach of that, after taking from it 1000. D. particularly engaged, and I had...
78From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 7 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you a draught of the bank of the US. of this place on that of Philadelphia for five hundred dollars. I am extremely uneasy at the unfortunate fate of my envois of seeds to Madame de Tessé. I fear she will think me a very inattentive friend. fall was twelvemonth, I prepared, as you know, a box of seeds, well assorted, well packed, sound & fresh, and sent it by a ship from...
79From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 5 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In my note of Oct. 13. I inclosed you a draught of the United States bank here on that at Philadelphia for 1000. Dollars. I have been a little anxious to know that it got safely to hand; altho the safety of that kind of remittance is such as to leave one in little concern but for considerable sums. instead of remitting a similar sum at this time, I am obliged to avail myself of the...
80From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 12 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival here I found your letter of Sep. 27. with an accumulation of business which has prevented my answering till now. the paper it inclosed I have destroyed as you desired. it’s contents shall now be answered with that frankness which has always existed between us, and an entire confidence that the whole subject will remain confined to ourselves alone. the two facts on which the paper...
81From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 30 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 23d. was recieved by the last post, and I sincerely regret that we are not likely to have the pleasure of seeing you here: and still more the cause. yet I am inclined to believe that the cause ought to have brought instead of detaining you. the only remedy I believe which can be relied on for relieving an obstinate diarrhea, or weak bowels, is long journies on a hard trotting...
82From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 8 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you an order of the bank of the US. at this place on that at Philadelphia for five hundred Dollars on the usual account. I shall leave this place about the latter part of the month for Monticello & after a few days rest there proceed to Bedford from which place however I shall be returned to Monticello by the middle of August. this will be before the time by which you expected to...
83From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 13 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter, written the day before yours of the 10th. will in some degree have anticipated your enquiries in that, but to be more particular, I shall leave this about the 21st. of July for Monticello, shall proceed about the 1st. of Aug. to Bedford, & after a few days there return to Monticello for the residue of that and the month of September. here, there & every where I shall be always glad...
84From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 9 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I observed to you in a former letter that I had found from experience that I could not pay you more than 1000. D. a quarter without recurring to extraordinary measures which your indulgence had dispensed with. this has been done by remittances of 500. D. two months in the quarter, or of 1000. D. in one month. according to this I should now have sent 1000. D. and have intermitted the next...
85From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 7 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 26. has been duly recieved. I think I mentioned in a former letter that experience had shewn me that I could not pay more than 1000. D. a quarter without sensible distress. sometimes & indeed generally, I find it most convenient to pay it in moieties; sometimes the whole sum at once. the latter has been the case for the present quarter. I now accordingly inclose you a...
86From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 27 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 28th. was recieved on the 24th. although mr Skipwith’s error in fact (that the Comptroller’s place was vacant) might supercede the necessity of saying any thing on the subject, yet a desire that he may not refuse what has been offered him, under delusive expectations, induces me to go into explanations with you, in hopes you may find opportunities of rectifying his ideas,...
87From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 12 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 2d. inst. has been duly recieved; but I have not had it in my power to make you the inclosed remittance of 500. Dollars till this day. it can only reach you on the evening of the 14th. which I hope may be in time to answer your purpose. Mr. Eppes happened fortunately to have left here the two books he had purchased from mr Barnes. he has returned to him the Atlas to Reynal’s work,...
88From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 18 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In hopes of seeing you before this in Virginia I had [rese]rved the inclosed out of funds in Richmond, where I had supposed it might not be inconvenient for you to recieve it, and where it was more convenient to me, my funds in Washington being otherwise called for. hearing nothing of your being in motion this way, I now inclose it to the care of mr Taylor who I presume will know where you...
89From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 14 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 15. was recieved in due time. you will now recieve inclosed a draught of the US. bank here on that at Philadelphia for 500. D. if I rightly estimate the calls which will come on me the beginning of July I am afraid they will disable me from making the remittance for that month. an unexpected one from Albemarle has deranged the calculations I had made for that epoch. after...
90From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 4 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Apr. 24. came to hand some days since, and I now return you the calculation of interest & paiments therein inclosed. the principles of this are understood & approved, and altho my occupations have not permitted me to investigate the calculations in detail, yet I have no doubt of their correctness. I have therefore inclosed you an acknolegement of the balance due Feb. 12. with a...
91From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 11 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Feb. 14. & 26. are now before me, and answering first to the former, I inclose you a copy of the cypher as well as of the cyphered letter therein referred to. I have examined the two statements of our account. the first is perfectly intelligible, & right in principle. I have not attempted to examine the calculations, being on the point of departure for Monticello, & not doubting...
92From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 8 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now able to resume my paiments , which have been interrupted by the great expences of the season: and which indeed experience has proved to be unavoidable at times, by an accumulation of calls beyond ordinary expectation. I inclose you a draught of the bk US. here on that at Philadelphia for 500. D. we had been in hopes that the ceremony of the impeachment now going on at this place would...
93From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 10 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. has been duly recieved; & I am very thankful to you as well as to your good friend for the attention you have paid to the commission respecting the Cahusac: and if it’s quality is unchanged, it is a wine which will please here. it will come safely through our Consul at Bordeaux, & the more so as that harbour is not included in the English blockade. the party division...
94From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 20 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
According to the desire in your letter of July 19. & that to mr Price , I have settled the rents of Indian Camp to the end of 1783. either from a defect of my instructions to mr Lilly or his understanding them, he had proceeded in the collection of the rents for that year and made considerable progress before I knew & stopped him. I some time last autumn sent you a supplement to our accounts...
95From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 22 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just winding up for my departure and therefore have only time to inform you that I have left with mr Barnes the means and the instructions to make you the usual remittances in the forepart of the months of August & September, during which I shall be absent, and that we shall not be altogether without the hope of seeing you at Monticello. Accept my affectionate salutations and assurances...
96From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 9 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barnes & myself have been long sensible that the passing my pecuniary affairs through his hands gave him a great deal of trouble, and at the same time increased mine. it sometimes too occasioned delays, he being very far from the US. bank here, and I close by it. we have at length therefore ceased that circuity and I have opened a direct intercourse with the bank. I consequently this day...
97From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, [3 July 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
General Hamilton waited on Mr. Short to pay his respects & to request the pleasure of his Company at a Family Dinner in the Country on Saturday next three oClock. ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Short, who had been Thomas Jefferson’s secretary when Jefferson was Minister to France during the Confederation period, became chargé d’affaires at Paris in 1789. In 1792 he was...
98From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 23 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 17th. is duly recieved; and consoles me under the chagrin of the necessity which had come upon me, contrary to my calculation but it will not lessen the devotion of my efforts to the main object. I had just before the reciept of your letter fallen on a bundle of papers which I had brought with me from Monticello to put into your hands. but they escaped my recollection &...
99From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 12 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Lilly having lately sent me the materials for the account of your rents for the year 1802. recieved by him in 1803. I am now enabled to send you an exact account of them from 1796. to 1802. inclusive; those subsequent to 1802. will be recieved by mr Price. the inequalities in those rents are to be explained. when the lands were purchased the tenants were on a fixed annual rent, & could run...
100From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 6 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Oct. 25. from Prestwood came to my hands last night. it is the first knolege of your motions I have had since you set out for Kentucky: and having long expected you were on the road back, I knew not how to write to you. this has been the cause of my keeping a letter recieved for you from France a considerable time ago: & I do not send it now lest you should have left Richmond, where...