1To John Adams from William John Coffee, 16 October 1818 (Adams Papers)
The Subject of which I write I believ you are Acquainted with by the Honorabl Thos Jefferson & lines he wrote to me relates to my being Employed—to take a Small Bust of you Head—I have being Employed by Mr J. Madison & his Excellence Mr Munro & many others of celebrity—in June last at Monticelo Mr Jefferson Inform’d me he had wrote to you on the Subject and of you willingness to admit me to...
2To John Adams from William John Coffee, 10 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
I Som three weeks ago took the liberty of writing to you in Concequen ce of the Advice of Mr Jefferson’s but he I fear will no longer have Permission to give Advice he being given Over by his Physicians, but that Sad news you no doubt—Sir are too well aquainted with now Sir as I must Shortly go to Washington and the Cold wether would hinder my proceeding in The Modeling Sir will your goodness...
3To John Adams from William John Coffee, 26 December 1818 (Adams Papers)
I cant help Expressing my great disapointment at not being favored with an answer to my Solicitaions so Long Past, I know that I am to you a Stranger and on that accnt feel sorry to trouble or Intrude on your time or retirement, but at the same time having executed busts of all the other Presidents its proper to have yours I have also a considerable wish to Employ my talents on your bust to...
4William J. Coffee to Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I Am Sorry to Intrude on y retirement tharfor I hope you kind ness to me will Excuse my present Application for you Asistanes Acording to your former promies that of Sending of Imeaditly those boxes Containg my Laboure s I fear much they will be Spoilt and tharfor let me prevail on you Indulgence I hav wrote so mainy time to mr Randolph and not having recevd the favor of Any kind of Answer am...
5William J. Coffee to Thomas Jefferson, 7 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
As I promised you at when at monticello , so had I previous to the reciept of your Verey pleaseing and welcom Commission made moste of the necessary Inquires with relation to your Cisterrns, to day I have as fare as I can completed my Inquires on that Subject. A Part of duty I owe to you past Kindness. [Duch Terras] thar is no Such thing in this City thare was som yeares Ago Imported Such A...
6Enclosure: William J. Coffee’s Memorandum to Thomas Jefferson on Roman Cement, [ca. 7 November 1818] (Jefferson Papers)
notes on the Roman Cement This Cement is not A Composition It is A natural production of A Very Extraodinary Kind I think it is Very Common in this Country, and Som future time I shall troubl you to Asist me in finding it out as I well understand the maner of manufatre and Application, and tharefor my Observation s to you as to the maner of usesing it may be depended on All the new and...
7William J. Coffee to Thomas Jefferson, 5 January 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
After having promised to see you in person and to undertake the management of one of your Cisterns in N ov last , I Can Scarcely tell what to Say in extenuation unless it is to beg parton pardon if I have given any disappointment; the fact is, time has so Slipped thro’ my fingers in a manner I cannot well account for, and untill the prese n t moment, I have not had the Satisfaction of...
8William J. Coffee’s Estimate for Varnishing Thomas Jefferson’s Paintings, 16 March 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
On looking over M r Jefferson Paintings I find som of them will want much doing to and som not so much except that all must be well Varnished, I think they will take in time fifty days I Value My time when I am employed at five Dollars pr day, but in the case of M r Jeffersons Pictures I Shall Say three Dollars pr day. There are I think fifty Paintings and therefore the expencs can easily be...
9Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 17 March 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by mr Coffee , an English gentleman of eminence in the arts of sculpture and painting. he has been for some time an inmate with us at Monticello , having been engaged in making the busts in plaister of myself and all the grown members of our family. he has done the same at mr Madison ’s and some other families of my neighborhood, and much in Richmond and to very general...
10William J. Coffee to Thomas Jefferson, [1 September?] 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived in New York on the 18 of July much fatigued with a Journey of 1203 miles by Land, that is from Monticello to Canada & from Canada to N. York Via— Albany , and as Soon as I was recoverd from a slight Indisposition owing to the Heat of the season,