51From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 12 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 1st. instant through the post. I write the present, incertain whether Mr. Nesbitt, the bearer of your last, will be the bearer of this, or whether it may not have to wait some other private occasion. They have reestablished their packet-boats here indeed; but they are to go from Bordeaux, which being between four and five hundred miles from hence, is...
52From Thomas Jefferson to James Lackington, 12 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I received last night your catalogue, and the post being to set out this morning I send you, on the next leaf , a list of those I wish to take. The warning being too short to procure a bill of exchange and send it by this post, it shall follow by the next which leaves this place four days hence. In the mean time be so good as to pack the books in a light box, and after four days from your...
53From Thomas Jefferson to Ladevese, 11 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
La lettre que vous avez bien voulu m’envoyer pour Monsieur Laurence lui a eté expedié de ma part dans le tems, et j’aurai l’honneur de lui faire tenir encore toutes celles que vous aurez occasion de lui addresser. Il y a un jeune Americain, Monsieur Rutledge, qui est de la Caroline meridionale, et qui doit passer par Avignon et Nismes dans le courant des mois de Mars et Avril. Il fera un...
54From Thomas Jefferson to Malesherbes, 11 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your zeal to promote the general good of mankind by an interchange of useful things, and particularly in the line of agriculture, and the weight which your rank and station would give to your interposition, induce me to ask it for the purpose of obtaining one of the species of rice which grows in Cochin-china on high lands, and which needs no other watering than the ordinary rains. The sun and...
55From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Nesbitt, 11 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not expect you so soon to-day, or I should have come in in time to have the pleasure of seeing you. The safe-conduct which I asked and obtained of Monsieur de Villedeuil was for you as a Courier, bringing dispatches to me from our Secretary for foreign affairs. The answers to these dispatches being now ready I cannot ask a continuance of that safe conduct. But so far as my consent to...
56From Thomas Jefferson to Parent, 11 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai reçu bien conditionnés les quatre paniers de vin de Meursault que vous avez eu la bonté de m’expedier, et je serai pret d’en payer le montant à votre ordre quand vous voulez bien la faire presenter. Je vous prie meme de le faire auplutot parce que je conte de partir le mois prochain pour l’Amerique, d’où je ne serai de retour que l’automne. À cet epoque là j’aurai besoin de m’adresser à...
57From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Lee Shippen, 11 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I had wished to acknolege the receipt of your favors of Jan. 19. and Feb. 3. by a private conveiance; but none such having occurred nor being likely to occur, I must write you such a letter as may go through the inspection of both post offices. The affairs of this country are still going on well. There are loud contestations indeed in one or two of the provinces, and in Britany these have come...
58From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Vaughan, 11 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing how ready you are to interest yourself in whatever may promote the happiness of mankind I take the liberty of addressing you on a subject very interesting to a part of the United states. You know that the several species of rice cultivated in Piedmont, Egypt and Carolina require to be laid under water during a certain season of the year, and therefore occasion pestilential fevers which...
59From Thomas Jefferson to Willink & Van Staphorst, 11 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
In your letter of the 2d. instant you refer me to a resolution of Congress which appropriates the loans of 1787. and 1788. to the paiment of interest to the year 1790 and the residue to the salaries of their ministers and the contingent expences which may arise in Europe, and you suppose that this manner of wording the resolution postpones the articles of salaries and contingencies to that of...
60From Thomas Jefferson to Madame d’Anterroches, 9 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous annoncer qu’on vient d’etablir des paquetbotes qui doivent partir de Bourdeaux pour la Nouvelle York tous les deux mois, c’est à dire le 15. de Janvier, Mars, Mai, Juillet, Septembre et Novembre, et que ces paquets-botes vous offriront toujours des occasions tres sures d’envoyer des lettres ou des effets à Elizabeth town qui est dans la voisinage de la Nouvelle York. Il...
61From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 8 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the receipt of your several favors of Jan. 14. Feb. 14. and 21. Immediately on the receipt of the first I lodged an order with Mr. Grand to pay the 340₶. 16 to Mr. Vernon, because I did not know where he was to be found, and I supposed Mr. Grand to know it. Vernon called on me however for the first time in his life, and then went and received his money at Mr. Grand’s....
62From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 8 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Dec. 11. Jan. 23. and Mar. 3. have been duly received. Your despatches for Mr. Jay always go by the first safe conveyance after they come. I have been long acknowleging the receipt of your former letters because during the winter a very sick family prevented my attending to any but the most indispensable business, and because I saw by your zealous and judicious publications in...
63From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 8 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknowlege the receipt of your favors of Dec.—Jan. 18. and Feb. 28. On the subject of the latter I have to inform you that I am an utter stranger to Mr. Silas Talbot father of the two young Americans at Brest, and never heard even his name till a few days before your letter came to hand. I received one from him, dated John’stown N. York Nov. 20. 1788. wherein he informs me he has...
64From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 4 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 25th. of December. Tho’ the establishment of packet boats with you, and suppression of them with us, puts it in your power perhaps to give me better details of American affairs than I can you, I shall nevertheless continue to communicate to you what I know, persuaded it is better you should hear a thing twice than not hear it at all. I mentioned to you in my last that...
65From Thomas Jefferson to Quesnay de Beaurepaire, 4 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Where an enterprize, to ensure it’s effect, requires a given Capital in money, and in order to raise that capital it is divided into actions, it is not understood that the enterprize is to be commenced till all the actions are disposed of. To begin with a little sum what requires a great one, is to throw that little sum away. Again when the actions are all disposed of and a partial sum is...
66From Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas van Staphorst, 3 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
When I had the pleasure of seeing you at Amsterdam, you informed me that Admiral Paul-Jones had drawn on you for a sum of money (I think it was about one hundred guineas) to enable him to proceed in the business confided to him at Copenhagen, which I advised you to accept, and undertook, if he should not replace it, to have it credited to you in your accounts with the United states. I must now...
67From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 2 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received a letter of Jan. 31. from Admiral Paul Jones at Petersburgh, which charging me with the execution of some commissions, and these requiring money, he tells me you will answer my draughts to the amount of 4. or 5000 livres on his account. Be so good as to inform me whether you will pay such draughts. A Monsr. Foulloy, who has been connected with Deane, lately offered me for...
68From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 1 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 20. came to hand by the last post and I have this day had a consultation with Mr. Paradise on the articles which concern him. With respect to the naming three trustees, all among his friends, and also the omitting to convey the money in the funds to the trustees, we both agree in sentiment with you, if the creditors will consent to it. It was the fear of their dissent which...
69From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 1 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters have been of the 11th. 14th. and 21st. of January. The present conveyance being thro’ the post to Havre from whence a vessel is to sail for New York, I avail myself of it principally to send you the newspapers. That of Leyden of the 24th. contains a note of the Chargé des affaires of France at Warsaw which is interesting. It shews a concert between France and Russia; it is a...
70From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 1 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am able at length to snatch a moment to answer your favor of the 1st. ult. I am in hopes of being able to sail from Havre about the latter part of April. This however depends on the arrival of my congé which I have not yet received. I am very anxious to get out so early as to enable me to return between the autumnal equinox and commencement of cold weather. I shall hope to have the pleasure...
71II. Memoranda Concerning Distribution, Cost, and Makers of Medals, [ca. February 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
S. C. S. C. S C 1 1. Denmark. 1 Spire 1. Norway 1 Hungary. 1. 1. Sweden. 1 1
72III. Jefferson’s Description of the Medals, [ca. February 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
Type. His head. Legend. Georgio Washington, supremo duci exercituum, adsertori libertatis, Comitia Americana . Reverse. The evacuation of Boston. The American army advancing in order towards the city seen at a distance. The enemy retires with precipitation to their vessels. On the foreground General Washington appears on horseback, in a groupe of officers, to whom he remarks the retreat of the...
73From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 28 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of putting under cover to you the inclosed letter to Mr. Russell-Graves, hoping that if he should be gone from Marseilles you may know how to address it so as that he may receive it. With compliments to your father and the ladies I have the honor to be with great esteem & attachment Dr. Sir your most obedt. & most humble servt., PrC ( MHi ). Enclosure: TJ to Thomas...
74From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Russell-Greaves, 28 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honour to inclose you two introductory letters from the Chargé des affaires of Naples at this court (Mr. Pio) to his friends at Naples.—We have news from America as late as the middle of January. The elections for the new Congress were going on well and were generally in favor of federalists. Genl. Washington will unquestionably be president, and it is thought Mr. John Adams...
75From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 28 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 9th. instant. Yours of the 11th. came to hand yesterday evening. Some of it’s enquiries will have been already answered to you. We have now information from America down to the middle of January. Things were going on so well that our letters afford nothing interesting scarcely. The opposition to the new constitution grows feebler. Every where the elections are federal....
76From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Treasury, 27 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour to forward to you a letter from your bankers in Amsterdam sent open to me for my perusal, and also a copy of my answer to one of a similar tenor. I have at length found myself obliged to insist with those gentlemen on the article of money destined for our captives. Themselves as well as the brokers, being holders of a considerable portion of our bonds, have an advantage in...
77From Thomas Jefferson to Guichard de Mareil, 24 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to the letter of the 18th. instant which you have done me the honor to address me, I take the liberty of informing you that the laws of England form the basis of those of the United states; but that these several states having ever been independant of each other, and under separate government, have made different alterations in those laws, to adapt them to their different local...
78From Thomas Jefferson to Augustin Dupré, 23 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Jefferson va faire imprimer des explications de toutes les médailles, pour les envoyer avec les médailles aux souverains de l’Europe; il lui manque celle de M. Franklin, faite par M. Dupré; il le prie de lui en prêter une exemplaire, et de lui en communiquer l’explication aussi, s’il y en a été une de faite comme il y en avait sans doute. MS missing; text from Loubat, Medallic History...
79From Thomas Jefferson to Willink & Van Staphorst, 22 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received your joint letter of the 16th. inst. to me, and have perused that of the same date to the Board of Treasury which you were so kind as to inclose for my perusal. I shall immediately forward it to them. You therein state the balance in your hands to be 123,674 florins, to which will be added the nett produce of 103. bonds engaged tho’ not yet delivered, and you say there...
80From Thomas Jefferson to Geismar, 20 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
You have had great reason, my dear Sir, to wonder that you have been so long receiving an answer to your request relative to the drawings of a Cabriolet and Phaeton. Your object was to have such drawings as that a workman could work by them. A painter’s eye draught would not have answered this purpose; and indeed to be sure of having them done with the accuracy necessary to guide a workman I...
81From Thomas Jefferson to Villedeuil, 17 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter which I did myself the honour of addressing your Excellency on the 7th. instant I had that of informing you that a Mr. Jonathan Nesbitt was arrived at Paris as a courier with dispatches from our Secretary for foreign affairs to me, and that he was waiting to take back my answers unless he could in the mean time receive a safeconduct from your Excellency which might enable him to...
82From Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Bréhan, 15 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
It is an office of great pleasure to me, my dear Madam, to bring good people together. I therefore present to you Mrs. Church, who makes a short visit to her native country. I will not tell you her amiable qualities, but leave you the pleasure of seeing them yourself. You will see many au premier abord : and you would see more every day of your lives, were every day of your lives to bring you...
83From Thomas Jefferson to Burrill Carnes, 15 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the receipt of your favors of Jan. 23. Feb. 9. and 10. Your departure for America so soon, puzzles me as to the finishing the affair of Schweighauser and Dobrée in which I could have reposed myself on you. It remains that I ask you to recommend some person who may be perfectly relied on in that business. In fact it is probably the only one I shall have occasion to trouble...
84From Thomas Jefferson to Angelica Schuyler Church, 15 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you, my dear Madam, the letter to the lady you desired, and leave you at liberty to use it or not, as you find most agreeable when you shall be at New York. You are not a stranger to the distance which has been established between her and the societies of that place. The cause of this was communicated to me from thence for the first time. I was tolerably intimate with her here, saw...
85From Thomas Jefferson to Augustin Dupré, 15 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Jefferson a l’honneur d’observer à Monsieur Dupré qu’il ne donne pas pour les medailles de 24 lignes ni à Monsieur Duvivier ni à Monsieur Gatteaux que 2400₶. que c’est la ce qu’il a payé á Monsieur Dupré aussi pour celle du General Greene, et que Monsieur Dupré n’a demandé que ça dernierement pour celle du General Morgan. Monsieur Jefferson ne peut pas consentir donc de donner plus. A...
86From Thomas Jefferson to J. F. Frin & Cie., 15 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
La lettre que vous me faites l’honneur de m’écrire est la premiere et la seule information que j’ai jamais reçu au sujet de la demande de 4000₶. de la part de Monsieur Dechesaut de Norvege. Sans doute que ce Monsieur est fondé d’en faire la demande quelque part: mais pour que ce soit à moi, il faudroit que je sache pour quelle service, et par quelle ordre. Je n’en ai jamais donné aucune, et je...
87From Thomas Jefferson to De Langeac, 15 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Bientot après avoir pris bail de votre maison on m’a fait sentir que je la payois moitié trop chere, et je m’en suis bien apperçu après. J’attendois donc toujours une occasion ou je pourrois m’en defaire sans inconvenient. La voiage que je vais faire en Amerique m’en a presenté une en vous annonçant la cessation du bail. J’eus l’honneur de vous dire pour raison que le loyer etoit beaucoup...
88From Thomas Jefferson to De Langeac, 15 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Je n’ai aucune difficulté, Monsieur le comte, à vous confier la copie de la sentence qui m’a eté remise parce que c’est une acte publique. Je doute seulement si je dois faire de la lettre du Commissaire une usage que peutetre il n’a pas attendu. Je vous la remets donc pour en prendre copie si vous voulez, en vous priant de n’en faire rien qui pourroit me compromettre avec Monsieur Coulon. Vous...
89From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 15 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 5th. inst. with respect to the busts and pictures. I will put off till my return from America all of them except Bacon, Locke and Newton, whose pictures I will trouble you to have copied for me: and as I consider them as the three greatest men that have ever lived, without any exception, and as having laid the foundation of those superstructures which...
90From Thomas Jefferson to Augustin Dupré, 13 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Jefferson a l’honneur d’envoyer à Monsieur Dupré les devises des médailles pour le général Morgan et le contre-amiral Paul Jones qu’il vient de recevoir de l’Académie des Belles-Lettres, et dont il propose à Monsieur Dupré l’entreprise, en répondant du succès des coins jusqu’à frapper trois cents cinquante de chaque médaille en or, argent ou bronze, et d’en fournir les épreuves en...
91From Thomas Jefferson to James I. Brossier, 11 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I this moment receive your favor of yesterday. There has been no Consul general appointed by the United States for France since Mr. Barclay’s departure. Nor is there any consul or vice consul, because there is as yet no convention formally ratified between the two nations for ascertaining the Consular functions. Our business has been hitherto done by Agents. Mr. Limozin was appointed Agent for...
92Jefferson’s Notes on Macaroni, [after 11 February 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
The best Maccaroni in Italy is made with a particular sort of flour called Semola, in Naples: but in almost every shop a different sort of flour is commonly used; for, provided the flour be of a good quality, and not ground extremely fine, it will always do very well. A paste is made with flour, water and less yeast than is used for making bread. This paste is then put, by little at a time,...
93From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 10 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this moment informed that Mr. Hall, an American of my acquaintance now at Marseilles will sail from that port for Baltimore more about the 20th. of this month. If you have no direct conveiance to Charleston it would be best to put the olive plants into the care of Mr. Hall who would be so good as to attend to them during their passage to Baltimore and to find a speedy and safe conveiance...
94From Thomas Jefferson to James Fanning, 10 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you two letters just come to hand on the subject of your lands. You will observe thereby that the gentlemen applied to are very willing to serve you when the occasion shall be ripe. You will be so good as to continue to command my services whenever they can be useful to you, only recollecting that I shall be absent from Paris from April to December next. I have the...
95From Thomas Jefferson to Villedeuil, 10 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of troubling your Excellency with the following case, which I understand to be within your department. Mr. Jay, Secretary for foreign affairs to the United states of America, having occasion to send me dispatches of great importance, and by a courier express, confided them to a Mr. Nesbit who offered himself in that character. He has delivered them safely: but, in the moment...
96From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 9 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 22d. of Jan. on which day I received yours of Dec. 31. and since that the other of Jan. 14. We have now received news from America down to the middle of December. They had then had no cold weather. All things relative to our new constitution were going on well. Federal Senators are N. Hampshire Presidt. Langdon and Bartlett, Massach. Strong and Dalton, Connect. Dr....
97From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Nesbitt, 7 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
On further enquiry, I find it will be agreeable to custom for you to state your case to Monsieur de Villedeuil in a Memoire and if you will be so good as to send me this memoire I will inclose it to M. de Villedeuil in a letter on the same subject. I have already sketched my letter in substance as follows; ‘that Mr. Jay having occasion for a messenger to send special dispatches to me, a Mr....
98From Thomas Jefferson to Meunier, 5 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Je n’ai pas manque d’ecrire en Amerique au sujet des livres de Monsieur Foulloy dont vous etes le depositaire: et je viens de recevoir, non pas une reponse, mais l’assurance de l’impossibilité d’en avoir dans ce moment. On a arreté l’année derniere des changemens considerables dans la forme de notre gouvernement. Ces changemens s’operent actuellement et mettront le gouvernement dans une...
99From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 5 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favors of Jan. 18. and 29. and the carriage is arrived without the least accident. I find it perfectly well made and to my mind, and have nothing to regret relative to it but the trouble it has given you. I will now answer, in order the several parts of your letter of the 29th. My younger daughter has at length recovered, and is I hope out of all danger of further...
100To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 4 February 1789 (Jay Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 25. by Gouverneur Morris is duly recieved. [I must beg you to take the trouble of decyphering yourself what follows, and to communicate it to no body but the President at least for the present. ] We had before understood thro different channels that the conduct of the Count de Moustier was politically and morally offensive. it was delicate for me to speak on the subject to...