1To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 29 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have conferr’d with Mr. Franklin respecting the Encyclopedia, and we find, that in order to settle that account between us it will be necessary to know what the whole Cost will be from No. 1 to the last Liveraison. As I suppose you have a complete Set of your own, you can inform us of the Amount, which will make the matter easy between Mr. Franklin and me. He expects to be in New York in...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 10 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I am anxious to write a few Lines to you; but my late Mallady has had so strange an Effect that, for some Months I could not write at all, and yet express myself imperfectly and with great Difficulty. What I now say must be only in few Words. I wish to repay the Monies you have advanced for me, but know not the Amount. The principal Articles are the Encyclode. the Physic. Bibli. Œconom. a sett...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 2 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Convenient Opportunities of writing to you seem less frequent than formerly, and those of hearing from you, still more scarce. My last was dated the 1. Decr. by Mr. Govr. Morris by whom also I sent a Packet of News Papers for yourself and a small Book of Songs for Miss Jefferson. I hope they have long since reach’d your hands. I have at last received the Case of Vinegar (Via Baltimore) for...
4To George Washington from Francis Hopkinson, 3 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
I could, if the Subject was worth so much Attention, justify my Musick against your Complaints —for I insist that it is as good melting Musick as could be expected at that severe Season of the Year, and would have found its way to you by water if you had but allowed a reasonable Time. A Lover who is all over Flames will require two & sometimes three years to melt the frozen heart of his...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 9 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I made up a small Package for you the other Day which Mr. Morris has in Charge. The enclosed came out since. If you have any more of the Encyclopedia, to send to Dr. Franklin and me, the vessel that carrys this is to return, as I am informed, which will be a good Opportuntiy. Yours, RC ( MHi ); 2 p.; endorsed. Recorded in SJL as received 4 Feb. 1789. Enclosure not identified.
6To George Washington from Francis Hopkinson, 1 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
There is all the Difference in the World between a Thing done, & a Thing to be done. A Thing to be done is exposed, like our new Constitution, to all Manner of Criticisms, Objections, Oppositions, Reasonings true & false, with Arguments & Apprehensions founded on future Consequences, possible and impossible. On the Contrary, a Thing done, unless it is a very bad thing indeed, is not only...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 1 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you three or four weeks ago, and I now take the opportunity by Mr. Govr. Morris of sending you a small Package of News Papers, Pamphlets &c. amongst which is a work of my own just published. I beg Miss Jefferson’s Acceptance of a Copy, and wish it may be to her Taste. It is a Book of Songs , which I composed, occasionally, for my Daughters, who play and sing them very well. The last...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 23 October 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I received Mr. Pissott’s Proposals for printing English authors and agreeably to your desire immediately offer’d them to Dr. Franklin, a few Days ago. I call’d just now for his answer. He told me a Gentleman going to France would call upon him Tomorrow for Letters and that he should write to you on the Subject but he did not tell me whether he would engage for his Grandson or not. There is a...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 17 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The last Letter I received from you is dated Augt. 1st. 1787 and my last to you April 6th. 1788. I have a pretty large Collection of News Papers for you, waiting a convenient opportunity. Mr. Tillier, who takes this, goes from hence to New York to embark for France. I could not ask him to take Charge of the Papers as they are too bulky: but I have made up a Package of Publications, which I...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 6 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It is a very long Time indeed since I have had the Satisfaction of a Line from you. Mr. Rittenhouse had a Letter last Fall in which you mention some Books to have been forwarded for him in a Package address’d either to me or Dr. Franklin, but those Books have not come to hand. I have another Gathering of Magazines, Museums, and News Papers for you, waiting a suitable opportunity.—We are in a...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 14 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have only Time to scribble a Line or two. You have no Doubt received from some of your Friends the new System of Government for our Country. This has been the Subject of great Debate in our Convention for three weeks past and perhaps the true Principles of Government were never upon any Occasion more fully and ably develop’d. Mr. Wilson exerted himself to the astonishment of all Hearers. The...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 8 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the Opportunity of a Vessel going to Havre de Grace to send you a large Packet of News Papers, Magazines, Museums &c. to which I have added some Publications of our Literati and Politicians. To save any Postage from Havre to Paris I have address’d the Packet to Mr. Andrew Lamouzine, and requested him either to forward it to you, or keep it till sent for. I have got some Illinois Nuts...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 15 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Paine not setting off to Day, as I expected, gives me an Opportunity of sending another Phial of Essence L’Orient which has had the Advantage of standing all Night to depurate and is richer than that I gave Mr. Paine yesterday. Besides this, I put some Spirit of Wine in the Phial of yesterday, which I observe curdles and discolours the Essence. In this there is nothing but a little Volat....
14To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 14 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favour of the 23d. Dec. came to Hand yesterday. I have but just Time to notice the several Articles you mention in the order they stand. The first respects Madame Champes. I have suffered much uneasiness about the first Packet to her, which I delivered to a Gentleman of Bucks County, her near Neighbour, upon his Promise to procure me her Receipt for the Packet. This however hath never...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 14 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed Phial contains some of my Essence L’Orient but very imperfectly prepared. I heard only this Morning that Mr. Paine would set off Tomorrow. I had to buy the Fish and prepare the Essence. It should be three or four Days in settling and the water then poured off but I have had only as many Hours for the Purpose, so that great allowances must be made. I have put some volat Spt. Sal...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 9 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of the 14h. Augt. did not get to Hand till the 29th. of Novr. so that I fear my Endeavours to comply with your Request will be too late to answer your Purpose. However, I will take the Chance and accordingly I enclose satisfactory Answers to your Queries, hoping, rather than expecting, that they may reach you in Time. I have not Time to examine your Epistolary Account but am sure...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 8 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know how long it is since I wrote to you, but am sure it is much longer since I heard from you. I am in daily expectations of a Letter in answer to some of mine. I send you another Packet of News Papers and enclose the Leg of a strange Bird which has nothing curious in it but a fine small toothed Comb annexed to one of its Toes, and three very beautiful Feathers (of which I send two)...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 28 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I would fain deserve the good Character you were pleased to give me in one of your late Letters—that of a punctual Correspondent. Our Volume of Philosophical Transactions made it’s first Appearance in public yesterday and to Day I shall put one on the way at last to your Hand. I have lately been in New Jersey and saw a Bird which a Country man had shot, and is I think a Curiosity. This Bird is...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 1 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Within these few Days I received yours of the 26th Januy. last, together with Dr. Franklin’s and my Encyclopedié, a Set of Crayons &c. &c. for all which I remain your Thankful Debtor. I am glad you did not send more than one Set of the Crayons. They are neither so good nor so cheap as those I formerly had from the Shop I mentioned to you. I took the Address from a printed Direction pasted on...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 28 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
According to your Directions I sent the other Day a Package of News Papers to Mr. Jay to be forwarded to you. I wrote also by the same Conveyance. As I am frequently trying Projects of one kind or another, I sometimes blunder upon what I, for a while at least, suppose to be a Discovery. I wish to communicate to you one of these Projects. The manufacture of Perles fausses and patenotres is a...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 8 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I can not at present lay my hands upon your last but recollect it was of an old Date. I daily expect the Pleasure of hearing from you in Return to several Letters I have written to you since the Fall. Your last directed me to forward the News Papers to Mr. Jay who is to send them to you in way of Merchandize to avoid the monstrous Expence of Postage. I presume you have written to him on the...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 31 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith forward another Portion of our News Papers. You will observe that I have dropt the Freeman’s Journal, and substituted the Evening Herald in its place. The former grew intolerably stupid and uninteresting. The latter gives the Debates in our Assembly, which I doubt not will afford you amusement and knowledge of our affairs. The Arrival of Dr. Franklin has given a Spur to our...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 25 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
It is not long since I wrote to you and forwarded another Package (I think the third) of our news Papers, and at the same time sent you a Model of my last Improvement in the Harpsichord. The effect produced by furnishing an Instrument in that way is truly astonishing. I have discovered the Reason. It causes the Instrument to sound the Octave below the Tones produced by the Quill. The full Tone...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 28 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favour of the 6th. July was handed to me by our mutual friend Dr. Franklin, as also were four Volumes of the Bibliothèque Œconomique, and your Notes on Virginia for which I heartily thank you. I shall be careful to observe your Instruction in the blank Leaf of your Notes. I hope you will continue to send me the Bibliothèque Œconomique, as I have found much valuable Entertainment in them....
25To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 23 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In Obedience to your Request I some Time since forwarded a Packet of our News papers to Mr. Jameison at New York to be transmitted to you. You will herewith receive a second Exportation. You will see by them that the present object of popular attention is the investing Congress with more executive Power, and giving a Check to the Importation of British Manufactures. We are daily looking for...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 20 April 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favour of the 13. Jany. last did not get to hand before the 16. Instt. I am much obliged to you for the philosophical Intelligence you gave me which I have communicated to Mr. Rittenhouse. He is determined to watch carefully the appearances of the Star Eta of Antinous. I have written two or three Letters to you which I hope will get to hand. In one of them I enclosed a model of my further...
27To George Washington from Francis Hopkinson, 19 April 1785 (Washington Papers)
Encouraged by the friendly Notice with which you have upon every Occasion been pleased to honour me, I take the Liberty of recommending to your kind Attention my Friend Mr Pine, an Artist of acknowledged Eminence, & who has given the World many pleasing & forcible Specimens of Genius. Zeal for the American Cause has brought him over from England, to secure, whilst it is yet possible, faithful...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, with Enclosure, 20 March 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Favour of the 11th Novr. came to Hand not long since, for which I thank you. I had, much about the same Time, written to you giving an Account of my further Improvement in the Method of Quilling a Harpsichord and enclosed a Model in my Letter. My Harpsichord quilled in this Way has been freely used by myself and Daughters since its Arrival last fall and not one Quill has failed, the Touch...
29Jefferson’s Advertisement of Hopkinson’s Invention, [ca. February? 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
An improvement in the manner of preparing musical instruments which are keyed and quilled. The present mode of quilling a harpsichord is subject to this great inconvenience that some of the quills will after a little use, crack and lose their elastic spring, whilst others retain their full vigour, thereby rendering the touch unequal and some tones full and loud whilst others are so faint and...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 18 November 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I heard with real Satisfaction of your safe arrival in Europe after a voyage remarkably short, and I hope as remarkably pleasant. I long to hear from you, and flatter myself there may be a Letter for me on the Way. I have received my Harpsichord from London and a very excellent one it is, with Shudi and Broadwood’s Patent Swell, and quilled according to my Method, for which Invention they have...
31To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 30 May [1784] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Wright has made a most excellent Copy of the Generals Head; he is much pleased with it himself, and I think it rather more like than the Original. In Order to admit of it’s being pack’d up at all he has been oblig’d to expose it all this Day in the Sun. The Consequence is that the Colours will sink in, as the Painters call it, that is, it will look dead and without Brilliancy or Gloss....
32To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, with Enclosure, 25 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Enclosed you have my Proposals respecting the improved Method of Quilling a Harpsichord; these may be shewn to any Instrument Maker, and in Case he will engage to allow a reasonable Recompense for the Invention, if the Engagements therein made shall be fully answered. The Paper containing the Description (or a Copy of it) together with one of the Models in the little Box herewith delivered may...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, 24 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot suffer so good an Opportunity to pass without renewing my Assurances of the Love & Respect I have for you— mine & my Father’s steady Friend. It is indeed long since I have written to you, & much longer since I have received a Letter from you— Your more serious & important Avocations are doubtless the Occasion of both— I am unwilling to intrude upon...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 12 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I wish for the future you would readily command any Services that I can perform without taking the Trouble to catechise yourself on the Subject. As soon as I received yours of the 3d. Inst. I set about the Business you required; I presented the Bill on Mr. Willcocks who accepted it. I then took both the Drafts and your Letter to Mr. Morris who has settled the whole by giving me the enclosed...
35[From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 20 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 20 Apr. 1784. Entry in SJL reads: “F. Hopkinson. Merlin stop—Congress meet in Trenton or Phila. in Nov.—Morris & Holker—compl[iments to?] Mr. Rittenh[ouse].” Not found.]
36[To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 16 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia, 16 Apr. 1784. Noted in SJL as received 20 Apr. 1784, “inclosing spectacles.” Not found.]
37[To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 13 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia, 13 Apr. 1784. Noted in SJL as received 16 Apr. 1784. Not found.]
38To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 31 March 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you about a week ago requesting you to procure for me from the proper office in Annapolis certified Copies of certain Papers, which are wanted in a Law Suit. Am in daily Expectation of the Answer which hath not yet got to hand. A gentleman in Town is making an Air Balloon of 6 feet Diameter; it is now almost completed. What the Success will be Time must shew. Mr. Morris’s...
39[To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 14 March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia , 14 Mch. 1784. Noted in SJL as received 25 Mch. 1784. Not found. This is probably the letter mentioned in the first paragraph of Hopkinson’s letter to TJ of 31 Mch. , q.v. It contained a request for certain papers needed in a lawsuit. On 27 Mch. TJ made the following entry in his Account Book: “pd Register of land office for Fras. Hopkinson Philada 22/6”; and on 30 Mch.: “pd...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 12 March 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope you have, e’er this, recovered from your Indisposition. For my Part I have been afflicted with a very severe Cold for these three Weeks past nor have I yet got rid of this troublesome Companion. This Complaint is very general here. I have amused myself during my Confinement in various Ways. I have read Burney on Music which is really a very learned Work, but as I cannot subscribe to all...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 23 February 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just now received your favour pr. Mr. Marbois, have not Time to answer in kind, am sorry for your Illness. If your Fever was of the infectious kind you have performed Quarantine. I hope to see you in the Spring. I should not have wrote in such a Hurry, but to inform you that our Philosl. Society is in a promising Way. The Case of Mr. Maddison was this—the Candidates for Election were...
42To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, with “A Literary Christmas Gambol”, 4 January 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I heartily thank you for your favour of the 23d. Decr. last and for the Pains you have taken to abridge Monsr. Buffon’s System of Astronomy. However you may think your Time lost in reading his two whimsical volumes, the little Time you took to give me a summary of his Scheme was certainly not spent in vain. Your Letter found me very un-well and in a great deal of Pain; it drew my attention so,...
43Francis Hopkinson to Robert Bremner, 28 November 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 28 Nov. 1783 . “Mr. Jefferson of Virginia” having consulted Hopkinson “respecting the Importation of a Harpsichord for his Daughter,” the matter is referred to Bremner’s judgment and care. “He wishes to have an Instrument of the very best kind—a double Harpsichord with Merlin’s forte-piano Stop and such other modern Improvements as you may think advantageous … also all necessary...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, [27 March 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society To be noticed by the Great is an Honour but to enjoy the Friendship of the Good is more than Honour—it is Happiness. I was much gratified by your kind Letter per Capt. Barney, & thank you for the Premiere Livraison of the Encyclopédie . But you have not informed me in what Manner I shall make Payment for them. The Sum total is larger than I could have...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, 18 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library It is very long since I have had the Satisfaction of a Line from you. This I attribute to the great Uncertainty of Opportunities. The last Letter I received from you mentioned an Electrical Battery, which you said was in the Hands of Mr. Coombe. I have at last got the Battery you mention, & found five of the Bottles broke. The Rest are in good Order. All your...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, 29 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am told there is a most valuable Work in the Press at Paris, entitled Encyclopœdia Methodique , to be published in yearly Volumes, & that the Subscription will in the whole amount to about 100 Dollars. I am very desirous of having this Compendium of human Knowledge, & request the favour of you to enter me as a Subscriber. If you will be so good as to...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson: Two Letters, 30 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society Happening to be in your Parlour & finding Pen Ink Paper ready; that is to say, a bad Pen, a little Ink to be squees’d out of an almost dry Piece of Cotton & this same Quarter of a Sheet of Paper which is all the house affords, I set down to brighten the Chain between us.— I wrote to you by Mr. Barclay who is I hope long since safe in Paris.— I...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, 3 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Unwilling to engage too much of your Attention I write but seldom, & yet have been unlucky in the few Instances wherein I have endeavour’d to amuse you & gratify myself. My Letters have for the most part miscarried. I wrote pretty fully by Mr. President Lawrence, who you know was taken with his Papers— My Bagatelles were no Doubt paraded in great Form on...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, 17 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I have wrote you many Letters, but fear very few ever reached your Hand. In particular I wrote fully by the unfortunate President Laurens enclosing some of my Labours in the Cause (such as they were). They fell into the Hands of the British & were probably handed up to Court with great Solemnity, along with Papers of more Consequence—they are heartily...
50Francis Hopkinson to the American Commissioner or Commissioners, [on or after 8 December 1780] (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society In pursuance of the Resolve of Congress hereunto annexed I have signed fifth sixth seventh and eighth Sets of Loan Office Bills of Exchange of the Numbers and Denominations following Viz. No. 265. 1 Set for 60 Doll. in favor of Sarah Cheeseman dated Octr. 31. 1779 309. 1 120 do. do. 919. 1 120 do. Sepr. 21. 1779 767. 1 12 do. do. 796. 1 24 do. John Woodhull...