1Isaac Briggs’s Account of a Meeting with Madison [1 November 1820] (Madison Papers)
“11 mo. 1—Fourth day of the week. This morning, I went 5 miles to Montpelier, the se⟨at⟩ of James Madison, and arrived there before either James or his wife had proceeded from their lodging-room; Of course, I was there long before breakfast was ready. I remained here the whole of this day, and both James Madison and Dorothy entertained me with much friendly conversation, as well as with the...
2To James Madison from Isaac Briggs, 8 March 1823 (Madison Papers)
On the 30th. of January last the Board of Public Works of Virginia elected, for their principal engineer, Col. William McRee. This gentleman, who is beyond question a very accomplished military engineer, has declined the acceptance of that office on the ground that “its duties embrace the business of civil engineering in general, and its particular application to such objects of internal...
3Isaac Briggs to Thomas Jefferson, 9 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel myself treading on sacred ground when I approach the scenes illuminated and made glorious by the mild lights of a long life uniformly dedicated to usefulness and to virtue. With veneration I approach the Wisdom of age—with love I approach my friend—yet with these delightful feelings is mixed some reluctance, when, for an object quite selfish, I invade the tranquility of thy retirement...
4Isaac Briggs to Thomas Jefferson, 15 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here the day before yesterday—and I have this day received the appointment of surveyor for the contemplated grand Canal. My friend Thomas Eddy of this City, who has generally been in the first rank amongst his fellow citizens as an active and efficient promoter of useful and benevolent works, who has long been one of the commissioners for this particular object, and who , though he...
5Isaac Briggs to Thomas Jefferson, 21 May 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 15 or 16 instant I wrote to thee from New York , informing thee that I had received an appointment from the Canal commissioners for employment in the mathematical department for making the grand Canal between the Western and Northern Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean . In that letter I expressed my decided opinion that if the Commissioners could avail the public of the talents and services,...
6Isaac Briggs to Thomas Jefferson, 17 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to accept the enclosed little pamphlet as a small testimony of that esteem and love for thee which will, I hope, never end. I am employed as Engineer of on the Grand Canal from Lake Erie to New York . Its progress is auspicious. Some miles of it are already finished. RC ( MHi ); at foot of text: “ Thomas Jefferson ”; endorsed by TJ as received 23 Dec. 1817 and so recorded in SJL ....
7Isaac Briggs’s Account of a Visit to Monticello, 2–4 November 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last letter to you, dated on the 7, I brought down to my arrival at Monticello the narative of the incidents of my journey. I will now continue the subject. 11 mo. 2—fifth day of the week , I reached Monticello about 4 o’clock afternoon. On entering the great hall I saw sitting just within the door a stranger; supposing him to be a member of the family, I asked him, “Is Thomas Jefferson...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Isaac Briggs, 24 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to introduce to thee my young friend Herman Boye. He is by birth a Dane, very modest and unassuming, yet possessing a handsome stock of science. He has been appointed to complete the map of Virginia left unfinished by Wood, and I think the appointment a good one. I need not say more, as he will present himself to thy observation. I will speak now of myself. The Board of Public Works...