41To 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...
42To 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....
43To 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...
44Jefferson’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...
45To 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...
46To 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...
47To 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...
48To 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....
49To 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...
50To 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...