1To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Bellini, [ca. August 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ ca. Aug. 1785 .] Persuaded that whatever office TJ should hold, he would wish to be no “other than Thomas Jefferson,” Bellini does not use an honorific in addressing him, for “to pay compliments to a philosopher of your dignity, would be equal to blasphemy.” Acknowledges TJ’s letter from Annapolis of 8 May 1784 , which he found so comforting and encouraging at the time of his wife’s illness:...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Bellini, 29 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Williamsburg, 29 May 1786 . Although he acknowledges as true that every man must be the anvil or the hammer, does not object to being the anvil provided the hammer strokes hit the center of the anvil and not the edges in order that it may not be damaged and may do better work. Asks pardon for communicating some of the observations in TJ’s letter of 30 Sep. 1785 to the students, especially...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Bellini, 1 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Williamsburg, 1 Mch. 1788 . Received TJ’s letter of 29 May 1786 by Paradise, who is a valuable acquisition as a friend to every person of intelligence; regrets that his adverse circumstances and the constant infirmities of his wife prevented him from showing Paradise the civilities he deserved. Mr. Wythe communicated a letter he had received from TJ which mentioned a lens that TJ was sending...