1To Thomas Jefferson from Gideon Fitz, 24 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing where to direct to Mr. Briggs, I take the liberty of transmitting the enclosed letter to you:—it is chiefly relative to the surveying business in the Territory of Orleans, and in case Mr. Briggs is not in Washington City on the arrival of this, be so good as to open it.—I send it unsealed. We have not received any inteligence from Mr. Briggs since he left this. I am Sir, With due...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Gideon Fitz, 17 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
After my most humble acknowledgments & respects—I have to inform you that from the repeated accounts of the disagreeableness which attended travellers though the wilderness road: we at length thought it mought be most prudent to go on to the falls of the Ohio and come down by water we arrived there the 5th Novm. where we had no opportunity of leaving untill the 23d Decem. and on the 30th Jan....
3To Thomas Jefferson from Gideon Fitz, 24 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 10 instant in a letter to you I enclosed one to Isaac Briggs Esqr;—I am fearful it may be delayed in its passage; which induces me to write again. Mr. Briggs left this about the 18 of November, and we have had no certain accounts of him since: it is believed he left this with important dispatches from Genl. Wilkinson to the seat of Government, and that his route was through the State of...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Gideon Fitz, 10 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
If Isaac Briggs Esqr. is not in the City of Washington or near to it when this comes to hand, the President of U.S. is hereby authorised, and solicited to open the enclosed letter which is to the address of Mr. Briggs. Mr. Briggs left this about 18th. November, it is believed, with dispatches from General Wilkinson, to the President of the U.S.—We have not heard of him since, and are...
5Gideon Fitz to Thomas Jefferson, 20 June 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
About ten days since, I wrote you on the subject of a Wind mill of my own invention, soliciting your opinion of its usefulness, and that it might be patented in case you should think it deserving that attention. In little time after writing I discovered a material error which had happened from overlooking a small circumstance in estimating its power of raising weight. Although the Wheel runs...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Gideon Fitz, 16 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
P.S. The irregularity and apparent uncertainty in the mails urges me to send this as a duplicate of the foregoing letter, and by a different route; The original was sent by the way of Nashville; this through the State of Georgia. We have not received any information from Mr Briggs, the last mail from Nashville has just arrived, with a few packets only, and not a single one for this place. I...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Gideon Fitz, 19 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have receiv’d your letter of the 17th. Sept., and will immediately proceed to make the best enquires for the “mammoth bones”—but it is doubtful whether as many of them can be procured now, as was recoverable in the early part of the summer:—it is said that some of them have been worked-up, and were very beautiful ivory. Mr. Brown (from Kentucky,) who will leave here in a few days, has been...
8Gideon Fitz’s Drawing of his Windmill, [ca. 10 June 1810] (Jefferson Papers)
Signification of the letters in the drawing, A Axletree, say 15 inches diameter. B. Arm, say 9 feet long. C Large sail, say 6 feet by 4. D Paddle, or small sail E Pivot shaped like those of steelyards. F Cap roof fast to the axle to prevent rain passing down. G Roof. H Joist, or plate.
9Gideon Fitz to Thomas Jefferson, 20 March 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to lay before you a copy of my letter lately transmitted to the President of the United States, with a copy of its enclosure, on a subject which has greatly interested my feelings, and which I fear may have injured my reputation. I hope it may not be thought amiss that I should feel desirous of affording you, to whose kindness I am indebted for my present promotion in life, a brief...
10Gideon Fitz to Thomas Jefferson, 10 June 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my arrival in this country I have heard it generally remarked, that windmills would be exceedingly useful here.—They are in use on the mississippi , but not constructed on any plan, that I know of, which I think to be so managable & useful as the plan I now present to you.— It is of my own invention, never having seen or heard of any thing of its construction. I forward it to you for the...
11Gideon Fitz to Thomas Jefferson, 1 November 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
My personal acquaintance with you and the kind attention you have been pleased to bestow on me in my outsetting in life is my apology for the freedom I take in offering you the following remarks. This is the third letter I have ventured to trouble you with relative to the adjustment of the land claims in this country.—It is with diffidence I write it, though I have long been convinced, that it...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Gideon Fitz, 31 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope you will not think it strange that I have taken this way of communicating to you my situation, idieas & wishes at this time; when you come to know and consider the true cause why I have taken such measures or method it has been a thing impres’d on my mind for some considerable time and I still found it to increase. nature has bless’d me with so small a share of eloqunce or gift of...