1Sylvanus Bourne to Thomas Jefferson, 20 November 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
As you are acquainted with the embarrassing situation in which I have laboured for some years & which has now reached a point bordering on distress , I take the liberty most respectfully to mention to you that I have made an application to the President of the U States to be named to fill the Consular vacancy in London when the State of our relations with that Country may render this...
2Sylvanus Bourne to Thomas Jefferson, 12 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 2 d May covering one for the Secretary of the 1 t Class of the Royal Institute of Arts & Sciences here was duly recd this day (p r the Hornet Brig of war arrived in France —) & the Inclosure
3To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I lately had the honor to address you on the Subject of My present painful position being deprived of any income whatever for my support by the peculiar State of the Affairs of Europe claiming the fasn. of your attention herein. Since the date of the letter alluded to, I have the one from our Minister at Paris in reply to what I had wrote him on this Subject in which he expresses himself as...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I humbly beg leave to present to a view of the Supreme Executive of the U States my truly unpleasant situation here at this time where a variety of circumstances interesting to the U States & the Citizens thereof oblige me to remain at my Post while by the present position of European Affairs I am deprived of an income whatever I indulge the confidence that the Government of our Country may be...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have observed by a late American Gasette that in your reply to the General Assembly of Pensylvania you had absolutely declined to be considered as a Candidate for the Office of President of the U States at the ensuing Election having resolved to retire of all future Public Employ. On this occasion I beg leave to tender you the hommage of my highest respect & to convey to you my sincere...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 27 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you herewith a letter just recd from the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Hague accompanied by a copy of its contents to my address. With sentiments of highest respect I am yr ob Sevt. Amsterdam Octr 28h 1806. Sir . The preceeding letter is the copy of one I had the honor to address you yesterday ⅌ the Magnet Cap. Bowles for Boston by whom I sent the letter...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 23 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you herewith a work published by Mr Stipriaan Luscius Professor of Chemistry at Delft on the subject of a new invented Bathometre—or Sonde de mer —with a modell thereof, both of which he sent to me a few days past to be forwarded on to you—On the other page you will find a copy of my reply to him herein. It appears that an Armistice has lately been agreed on...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 31 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to send you inclosed a letter just recd from Mr Christopher Winckelbech of Basle—I presume it refers to the desire which many of his Countrymen possess of emigrating to the U States & on which subject I have lately made several communications to the Secretary of State—Should our Govt be disposed to make any arrangements for facilitating said emigrations I think that I might be...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Thirteen years residence abroad in foreign Countries having in no degree diminished the affection I bear my own, nor impaired the obligations I owe to its Govt, it is with heartfelt Satisfaction that I have heard of the late acquisition of Louisiana by the U: States, through means equally temperate as they are honorable to the Agents of this important negotiation. It affords indeed a source of...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 5 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith transmit you these successive numbers to this date of the Leyden Gazette: It is difficult at this moment to add much to the contents of the public papers relative to the position of Europe which will ere long receive a more correct & decided modification by the Congress destined to meet at Amiens: we can only Collect from the tenor of many Official documents which have lately...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 7 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
As the preliminaries of a peace between Great Britain & France were signed at London on the night of the 2d Instant, we now approach that period when with the war will cease the necessity which that occasioned of having many Certificates of divers kinds from the Consular office & will of course reduce the income of this one to a mere trifle—In this position of the case may I be permitted...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 8 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
By Mr. Polanen who returns to his residence as Minister from this Country to ours, I take the liberty to convey to you my regret in finding that the Memorial I caused to be presented to Congress in course of last Session had not met with the desired Success, which (from the expressions made use of in the report of the Committee on that Subject) I am induced to think was rejected from a...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 September 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to acquaint you that Mr Lusac printer of the french Gazette at Leyden lately presented me an Account for his Papers, sent you in the years 93 & 94 while you filled the Office of Secretary of State requesting its transmission for payt. but presuming you received them in your official Capacity I veiwed it as a just debt from the U States & having explained myself accordingly to our...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 17 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia ], 17 June 1793, “Mrs Dunns No 153 markett street .” Having made a contract with Mr. Morris that will enable him to return to Cape François, he urges TJ to consult with the President about resuming his old consular commission or his reappointment to the place, a necessary condition of his present plan; as his former commission bears the endorsement on his reception, perhaps it...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
At the time I had the honour of addressing you last, I was in expectation of forming such a mercantile connection, as would have induced me to return to the west Indies; but the late repeated bad news from that quarter, has discouraged the Person who contemplated this connection with me from any further pursuit of it. I now therefore beg leave (agreably to your advice as to the mode of...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 10 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The aggregate result of that investigation, which I have made of the sentiments of the members of Congress relating to the Consular System, of this Country, tends to weaken my expectations of ever returning again to the West Indies, and the more especially as the present state of Hispaniola renders still more precarious than before, every pursuit of a mercantile nature:—but faint as my...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 8 September 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly received the letter you did me the honour to write me of Augt. 14th. covering a duplicate of yours of May 13th. which I acknowledged the receipt of, in a letter dated July 5th that must probably have reached you before this. Prior to the receipt of your last I had concluded upon embarking for America soon as every prospect of obtaining a reception here had ceased. Particulars, I shall...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Cape François, 30 June 1791 . He has not been favored by any communication from TJ since his of 27 Apr. After more than three months he has not been officially received, despite his “arguments … drawn from the tenor of explicit compact, and conveyed in firm but cool language.” They reply that they have never been officially notified of the Consular Convention, it cannot be registered, and of...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 29 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Cape François, 29 Apr. 1791 . Arrived and presented credentials on 16 Mch. Still awaits recognition “but cannot obtain any decision of the business: being constantly put off by the most equivocal and evasive Conduct on their part. One Day am informed that the Convention does not extend to the Colonies—the next that as my Commission is unacompanied by a letter from the Secy. of State, they...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 30 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour some time since to acquaint you of my intentions of embarking for Cape Francois by the middle of this month, but the want of an opportunity has hitherto prevented me and I wait yet some days for a Vessell bound to that Port. You was pleased to suggest in your last the peculiar necessity of my departure as it related to the public and I doubt not under these circumstances your...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 21 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Being absent from this place on a journey I was not honoured by the receipt of your last favor till yesterday.—I perfectly acquiesce in your relation of the circumstances attending my acceptance of the Consulate of Hispaniola while I recollect that at the time you observed it was very uncertain what arrangements Government might think fit to make relating to our Consuls abroad you gave it as...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 19 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
New York, 19 Apr. 1790. Requests TJ to deliver officially to the President the enclosed memorial and to acquaint him with Bourne’s qualifications for a diplomatic or consular appointment. His concern for the public good forbids him to solicit a particular post, but if he is appointed he will endeavor to merit the public’s confidence. RC ( DLC : Washington Papers, Applications for Office); 1...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Sylvanus Bourne, 2[4?] March 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
New York, 25 [i.e. 24?] Mch. 1790 . Having had the honor of an introduction to TJ he feels he may disclose his wish for public employment and refers to “the Vice President and Chief Justice of the United States, the Secretarys of the Treasury and War Departments” for information, but is conscious that capacity to serve the public is “the only proper ground of my expectations, as the only one...