1From Richard Claiborne to John Adams, 26 February 1795 (Adams Papers)
The Memorial of Rd. Claiborne Respectfully sheweth That your Memorialist—conceiving that very great honour and utility will result to these States from facilitating the introduction of Machines and Manufactories from abroad—begs leave to pray of your honorable House to pass a Law authorising the Importation of Inventions—and allowing to Original Importers a certain privilege in proportion to...
2From Richard Claiborne to John Adams, 29 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
The Memorial of Richard Claiborne Respectfully Sheweth That Your memorialist conceiving that very great benefit will result to the United States by encouraging the introduction of the useful arts from abroad—and perceiving, that, according to the present patent Law, inventions or discoveries, are confined to Citizens of the United States only—Your memorialist respectfully prays that Congress...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, with Enclosure, 9 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to trouble your Excellency on a subject which is of material consequence to me. Colonel Blackden, no doubt, informed you of my being the proprietor of Lands in the western country of Virginia; of which he had some for sale while he was in France, tho they turned out short of my expectations. I have therefore applied my thoughts to another system, which there is a greater certainty...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, enclosing an Extract of a Letter from William Claiborne, 3 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 3 May 1781 . Encloses an extract of a letter from William Claiborne, “one of the Gentlemen employed to purchase horses for the use of the Continent, by order of the Marquis”; and inquiring how and when the money will be advanced. Extract of a letter from Mr. William Claiborne dated 3d. May 1781 “In the Marquis’s letter to you I observe he says that the Governor has given his promise...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your Excellencys directions about returning the horses and boats which have been impressed for the expedition against Portsmouth. It gives me concern to say that the thing is very impracticable. In the first place there is nothing obligatory upon the impressors to return the horses or Boats and money will not induce them to undertake the business. In the next place, the...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, enclosing a Letter from Steuben, 11 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose to your Excellency a copy of a letter which I have Just received from Baron Steuben. I beg for an answer as Speedily as the importance of the matter requires; immediately upon the receipt of which, I shall Issue my orders in consequence, and repair to Williamsburg without a moments loss of time. Your Excellency cannot be a stranger to the dispatch, which is...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 24 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The order from your Excellency dated in Council this day, respecting the impressed horses, shall meet with my immediate attention. Copies of the letter, with forms and instructions agreable shall be transmitted to Majr. Day at Williamsburg, and Mr. George Elliott at Petersburg, to whom the horses were sent. I beg leave to mention to your Excellency, that owing to some deficiency, either with...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 19 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Major General Baron de Steuben has made a requisition for twelve Wagons, with teams, harness, and drivers complete, to attend his detachment to the Southern Army. As it is totally out of my power to procure them to go further than the verge of the State, I beg leave to ask your Excellency for advice and authority in the case. The only step which I could take of myself in the matter would be to...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 2 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 2 Oct. 1787 . Thanks TJ for his letter of 8 Aug. and the “paper which was inclosed, specifying the substance of Colo. Blackden’s transaction with Mr. De L’Ormiere”; has not heard from Blackden for two months and does not know the addresses of Appleton and Barrett, to whom TJ referred him; encloses a letter for Blackden and has sent a duplicate to Amsterdam. Has acquired a property in...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 21 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter from Mr. Elliott at Petersburg, I am informed that there is in the possession of Mr. McNeal, Assistant to Mr. Ross at that place, a considerable quantity of Duck proper for Tents. The difficulty of procuring this article, for want of Money, obliges me to beg of your Excellency that a part of it may be delivered to Mr. Elliott, as he can have it made up immediately. There are Twenty...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 2 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have looked over my estimates, which I transmitted some time since to the Assistant Quarter Master General, and find that they Amount to Two hundred and thirty eight thousand, one hundred and twenty eight Pounds, five Shillings, Specie or other money equivalent; This is for Supplies required for the Southern Army, The Pay of Persons employed, Waggon hire and contingent expenses in this State...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 27 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
In the absence of Governor Claiborne, I forward to you a copy of the Laws of the 1st. Session of the Legislature of the Territory of Orleans. I have the honor to be, Sir, your mo. hble Servt DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
13To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 13 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I went this morning to a Book-binder to purchase the notes of Your Excellency on the State of Virginia, but was informed by the Gentleman, that the Book was not published, as it was waiting for a map which was to be prefixed to it, and I am to call in the course of a fortnight or 3 weeks. I have taken the liberty to avail myself of the early part of this interval to mention a circumstance...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 11 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As I am altogether unacquainted whether your Excellency does business on the Sabbath or not, I hope I shall be excused for addressing you this Morning, because it is respecting a matter in which I am particularly interested for the whole Department, and for the Southern army. Your Excellency and Council were pleased to inform me by letter of the 7th. that it would be chimerical for you to...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 4 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 4 July 1788 . Introducing a Mr. Cole, to whom he has mentioned his lands in Virginia and his aim as to sales or settlements, “and as he is a residenter, of large property in Germany, from which Country it was the advice of Your Excellency to me to procure Settlers,” Claiborne would be glad to have TJ give Cole his “general sentiments” on such property—his lands are in “Monongalia,...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 6 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 6 Mch. 1781 . Has made repeated endeavors to correct abuses among the express riders and in every other branch of his department, but “many evils have taken such deep root that it is tedious destroying them.” Thanks TJ for the information respecting Boswell and has directed Mr. Elliott to exclude him from public employment. Has not made this an individual matter but has long since...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 22 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The success of my experiments has been such as to induce me to publish my invention , as you will see in the newspapers. I conceive that I have made a considerable improvement as to the Flaps in simplifying them, and in increasing their effect by accelerating the power applied. I have besides, invented a method of working the setting poles, to be operated in conjunction with the paddles, or...
18Edward Carrington and Richard Claiborne: Plan for the Quartermaster’s Department in Virginia, 1 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas the irregular manner in which the Quarter Masters Department for the State of Virginia has hitherto been conducted, has been attended with many delays and inconveniencies both to the people and to the public service; and it being expedient that a new disposition should be made to remove those difficulties agreable to the late System for the Quarter Masters department, established by...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 16 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 16 Dec. 1788. Asks for information about Col. Samuel Blackden; has not heard from Blackden since 15 Oct. although he has written him repeatedly and pressingly. Blackden is entrusted with the sale of some of Claiborne’s lands; he himself has to return to Virginia and asks TJ to inform him, before his departure, of “anything of Colonel Blackden and his transactions since the sale he made...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 13 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Brown informed Mr. Parks, that Mr. Hay of this town, sent down to Captain Charles Thomas at Warwick four hundred Gallons of Oil; As the Continental Commissary of Hides has not any, will your Excellency be pleased to direct Capt. Thomas to lend us a little for a Short time; as Mr. Marks is gone to Philadelphia respecting his department, and will furnish himself so as to be able to return...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 17 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received a letter from Mr. L’Ormerie, respecting the Tract or parcel of Land, sold to him by Colonel Saml. Blackden, on which subject, he informed me he had spoken to you, and I have answered him this day, which reply he will no doubt show you. I have to express to your Excellency that I will chearfully subscribe to any thing that may do justice, and give satisfaction to Mr. L’Ormerie,...
22Richard Claiborne to Thomas Jefferson, 29 [August] 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Within 2 or 3 days of each other, I received your friendly favor of the 10 th of May last , and one from the Marquis De Lafayette . Such a working of feelings as took place within my breast, at the occurrence, you may very well imagine. Reflecting too that we were among the few remaining characters of old revolutionary times, I was filled with a serious degree of melancholy. But providence...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 21 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to Give your Excellency trouble, which I have done in one or two late instances, and particularly so now, as it is on an occasion of a peculiar nature. I write in a confidential manner, meaning nothing further for the present than a private communication; as it relates to a subject in which my interest is materially involved, and yet I mean no further promulgation of the matter than...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 17 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received Your Excellency’s Warrant of Yesterday for impressing the Boats on James and Appomattox Rivers, to be sent to Sandy Point. I should chearfully proceed in the business this Morning but Your Excellency well knows the difficulty of executing such a matter without a considerable party of Armed Men. Experience has taught me that it is impracticable, unless the things are taken and...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 25 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 25 Feb. 1781 . Writes “respecting the duty of Feild Quarter Master within this State.” Has observed for a long time that there “is very little regularity or system in that Line … nor is there a principal in Commission to call the Subordinate officers to account for their Receipts and Issues. … While Troops are kept in such small and scatered Bodies, as they must be from the situation...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 7 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel so much concern about the horses that are to be impressed for the expedition against Portsmouth, that I beg leave to propose to your Excellency a method which may very possibly answer our wishes as the manner which has been practiced for two days past has proved ineffectual. Impresses cannot be made in a Country which has for a long time, in repeated instances, suffered from the conduct...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 21 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 21 Mch. 1781 . Acknowledges TJ’s “ favor of this day respecting the bad conduct of the Express rider at Burk’s bridge”; has dismissed him and will treat other offenders similarly; has given directions to the line of expresses “towards General Greene.” RC ( Vi ); 2 p.; addressed and endorsed. TJ’s Favor of this day has not been located. Claiborne’s handling of the line of expresses...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 16 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Prompted by considerations as are thought to be of importance, and encouraged by the situation of the public business, in which they are concerned—Commissioner Williams , and surveyor General Briggs , go to make some communications to Government, which it is believed will be useful. From the more deliberate and confidential conversation of these Gentlemen, than by writing,—you will be better...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 14 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As the intelligence which I conveyed to your Excellency last evening respecting the arrival of the Marquis and his Troops was not delivered to me officially, I hope it will apologize for my not being more particular. The Baron has now returned from York town and informs that a party of thirty men arrived at that place who left the Marquis and his troops a little below the mouth of Patuxen the...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 12 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
In justice to the favor you rendered me towards prosecuting my invention for propelling boats, I take occasion to inform you, that, after deliberate and correct experiments—(done however with imperfect works, and yet intended to be improved, and altered, even as to mode ) I find the effect by hand, with the single stroke only, to justify the expected utility of the highest power that can be...