351From Thomas Jefferson to Lefévre, Roussac & Cie., 8 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 1st. and 11th. of July came safely to hand. The wine you sent to the care of Messrs. Achards is arrived at Rouen. Your bill was presented to me three days ago, was accepted and shall be duly paid. When Mr. Pecquet was here I asked him if he would send me some very good Malvoisie de Madeire. He told me that by attending the sales of wine, after decease, he could purchase what...
352From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, with Enclosure, 23 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
When I wrote my letter of the 4th. inst. I had no reason to doubt that a packet would have sailed on the 10th. according to the established order. The passengers had all, except one, gone to Havre in this expectation. None however is sailed, and perhaps none will sail, as I think the suppression of the packets is one of the oeconomies in contemplation. An American merchant concerned in the...
353From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 11 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctr. Franklin sets out this morning for Havre from whence he is to cross over to Cowes there to be taken on board Capt. Truxen’s ship bound from London to Philadelphia. The Doctor’s baggage will be contained in 150. or 200 boxes &c. We doubt that the laws of England will not permit these things to be removed from one vessel into another; and it must be attended with great difficulty, delay...
354From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Dupont, 15 February [1788] (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged to you, Sir, for the communication of the draught of the Arret. I am sure there never would have come a single cod-fish to the entrepots: therefore I am curious to know what were the real motives which produced this opposition. I shall so represent the matter in my letters as that nothing shall be thought of it. I have the honour to be with great thankfulness for your favors,...
355From Thomas Jefferson to H. Fizeaux & Cie., 23 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter which you mention, of January 1, came duly to my hands, and I forwarded it by the first conveiance to the Commissioners of the Treasury of the U.S. at New York. I could do nothing else with it, being a matter entirely out of the functions of my office, and on which I was not authorized to give any answer. It is all I can now do with the letter of the 16th. inst. with which you have...
356From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 23 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The Notables met yesterday. The king opened the assembly with a short speech, wherein he expressed his inclination to consult with them on the affairs of his kingdom, to receive their opinions on the plans he had digested, and to endeavor to imitate the head of his family Henry IV. whose name is so dear to the nation. The speech was affectionate. The Guarde des sceaux spoke about 20 minutes,...
357To John Jay from Thomas Jefferson, 4 May 1788 (Jay Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you in two letters of the 13 th . & 16 th . of March from Amsterdam, and have since received mr Remsen’s of Feb. 20. I staid at Amsterdam about 10. or 12 days after the departure of mr Adams in hopes of seeing the million of the last year filled up. this however could not be accomplished on the spot. but the prospect was so good as to have dissipated all fears;...
358From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had received your favor of the 23d. of September two days ago. That of the 28th. and 29th. was put into my hands this morning. I immediately waited on the Ambassadors , ordinary and extraordinary of the United Netherlands, and also on the Envoy of Prussia, and asked their good offices to have an efficacious protection extended to your person, your family, and your effects, observing that the...
359[From Thomas Jefferson to James McClurg, 24 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 24 Apr. 1784. Entry in SJL reads: “McLurg. Ballons—28. [ i.e., postscript of 28 Apr. ] adjournment of Congr.—Eng. news to Mar. 25 ut infra.” Not found, but the phrase “ut infra” in the entry in SJL for the present letter which occurs above that for the letter to Randolph of 28 Apr. 1784, q.v., and the corresponding phrase “ut supra” in the entry for the letter to Turpin of the...
360From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 20 August 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
A few days after my arrival here Colo. Le Maire writer of the inclosed letter called on me and asked me to forward it to you with such explanations as I could give. As to his commission , having lost the original as he therein mentions, he asks an authenticated copy of it which he thinks will enforce some applications he is making to this government. As to the lands, I remember the gift of...
361Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 9 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
It is an age since I have had the honor of a letter from you, and an age and a half since I presumed to address one to you. I think my last was dated in the reign of king Amri, but under which of his successors you wrote, I cannot recollect. Ochosias, Joachaz, Manahem or some such hard name. At length it is resumed: I am honoured with your favor of July 23. and I am at this moment writing an...
362[From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 4 December 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 4 Dec. 1783 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mr. E. State of Congr.—Rise of tobo. in Engld.—Martin.” Not found.]
363To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 5 December 1788 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 2 d. of Aug. and of adding a P.S. of Aug. 6. you will have known since that that the interposition of Denmark, as auxiliary to Russia against Sweden, has been suppressed magisterially by England and Prussia. this seemed to prove that these two powers did not mean to enter into the war; that on the contrary they wished seriously to quiet things on the...
364From Thomas Jefferson to Christian Frederick Michaelis and Others, 4 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The American Philosophical Society having heretofore done themselves the honour of naming you one of their members, the President has been pleased to transmit to me the Diploma made out in the forms used by the society, and authenticated by their seal. I do myself the honour of forwarding it to you and at the same time of assuring you of the sentiments of esteem & respect with which I have the...
365From Thomas Jefferson to Anna Jefferson Marks, 12 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters from Virginia inform me of your marriage with Mr. Hastings Marks. I sincerely wish you joy and happiness in the new state into which you have entered. Tho Mr. Marks was long my neighbor, eternal occupations in business prevented my having a particular acquaintance with him as it prevented me from knowing more of my other neighbors as I would have wished to have done. I saw...
366From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Jones, 19 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of inclosing to you a state of the case of one Polson, and of begging your enquiries and information whether the lands therein mentioned have been escheated and sold, and if they have what would be the proper method of application to obtain a compensation for them. The negociations between Holland and the emperor are slow, but will probably end in peace. It is believed the...
367From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 5 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of Dec. 12. which Mr. Remsen did me the favor to write me during your indisposition has been duly received; and I shall be happy to hear that the cause is removed which deprived me at that moment of the pleasure of hearing from you. My last were of the 21st. and 31st. of December. I am afraid that my intelligence may have appeared sometimes to come late to hand. My letters by the...
368From Thomas Jefferson to Willink & Van Staphorst, 30 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Carmichael informs me that he has drawn on you for 4614₶–3–6 for salary due to him. I have only to observe on this occasion that in the Estimate which Mr. Adams and myself left with you, the article of 4000₶ monthly for the diplomatic establishment was meant to include the demands for salary and incidental expences of Mr. Carmichael, Mr. Dumas and myself, and that these demands, including...
369II. Notes on Cost of Shipping Rice, &c., 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Le Riz vaut dans ce moment £14. à £14.5s. de Nice Le cantare qui est composé de 150. lb soit de 6 Rubs de 25. ℔ chaque. Le Rapport du poidt de Nice à celui de Marc doit etre calculé sur le pied de 25.℔ de Nice pour 16 ℔. de Marc de manière que le cantare soit quintal de Nice de 150 ℔. est equivalent à 96 ℔. de Marc. Le louis d’or de france de £24. vaut £25 de Nice en marchandise. Estimate of...
370To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 14 January 1789 (Adams Papers)
I now do myself the pleasure to inclose to you a copy of the Arret explanatory of that of Sep. 28. on the subject of our whale oils. mr̃ Necker in a letter to me has renewed the promise of taking off the 10. sous per livre at the end of the next year. but at the same time he observes that whenever the national fishery shall be able to supply their demand for whale oil we must expect a repeal...
371III. Some Thoughts on a Coinage, [ca. March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
Some Thoughts on a Coinage, and the Money Unit for the U.S. Transition from money to weights. Transition from weights to measures. Transition from measures to time. I find new dollars of 1774,80,81 (qu. Mexico Pillar) weigh 18 dwt. 9 grs.=441 grs. If of this there be but 365 grs. pure silver, the alloy would be of 2.1 oz. in the ℔. instead of 19 dwt. the common Spanish alloy, which is 1 dwt....
372From Thomas Jefferson to Quesnay de Beaurepaire, 6 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have never expressed an objection to the part of your plan relative to the theatre. The utility of this in America is a great question on which I may be allowed to have an opinion, but it is not for me to decide on it, nor to object to the proposal of establishing one at Richmond. The only objection to your plan which I have ever made, is that contained in my letter to you. I feared it was...
373Notes of a Tour through Holland and the Rhine Valley, 3 March–23 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Memorandums on a tour from Paris to Amsterdam, Strasburg and back to Paris. 1788. March. 3. Post Face of country Soil Produce Animals Inclosures Wood Bourget Louvres Chapelle } broad low hills reddish loam, some sand corn none none none Senlis
374From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, Sr., 13 November 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been daily expecting to communicate to you a regulation on the subject of tobacco, and an arrêt concerning all other articles of our commerce. Still however they are unfinished, tho’ I think they cannot be so many days. In the mean time I am favored with your letter of the 4th. inst. and congratulate you on your happy meeting with the ladies of your family and your safe arrival at...
375From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 July 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
After visiting the principal towns through Connecticut, Rhode-island, this state and N. Hampshire in order to acquire what knowlege I could of their commerce and other circumstances I am returned to this place and shall sail the day after tomorrow in the Ceres bound for London: but my purpose is to get on shore in some boat on the coast of France and proceed directly to Paris. My servant being...
376To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 20 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am now to acknoledge the receipt of your favor of Jan. 25. Col o. Franks sailed in the packet of this month from Havre for New York. this arrangement of the packets opens a direct communication between Paris & America, and if we succeed as I expect we shall in getting Honfleur made a freeport, I hope to see that place become the deposit for our Whale oil, rice, tobacco & furs, & that from...
377To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 2 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your favours of May 23. and the two of May 27. came safely to hand, the first being open. that of the 22 d. from Montreuil sur mer had been received and answered on the 25 th. The day before the receipt of the letters of the 27 th. we had had your cases brought to the barrier of Paris in order to get the proper officer to go that far to plumb them. From there they were put on board the boat...
378[From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 20 May 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 20 May 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “Jno. Bonfield. Receipt of his of Apr. 19. and 25. and of wine in good order. Will answer his bill. Wine good.” TJ must have erred either in the present entry or in that of 5 May in which he recorded the receipt of “Bondfeild’s Bordeaux Apr. 28. 1785,” for if there had been two letters he doubtless would have acknowledged them in the present; at any...
379From Thomas Jefferson to Chastellux, 4 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I must return you many thanks, my dear friend, for your kind attention in procuring me the acquaintance of Monsr. Bergasse , from whom I have received many civilities, and, what is more precious, abundance of information. To you and to him also I am indebted for an introduction to Monsr. Audibert, in whom I saw enough to make me regret that I could not see more of him. My journey from Paris to...
380From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Russell-Greaves, [18 January 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
[I am this moment favored with] yours of the 4th. instant. I had before received those of Sep. 17. and Dec. 11. The severity of the winter has been beyond all example in every part of France, even Marseilles. At Nice however it has been fine, and we do not learn that the cold has been remarkeable in any part of Italy. As health is your object, I should suppose there could be no question but...
381From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 1 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Just returned from a journey of 3. or 4. months I have been immersed in such a mass of writing that it has been impossible for me sooner to acknolege your favors of June 9. 13. and 21. With respect to the quality of lands in general in the counties of Monongalia and Harrison, it is impossible for me to give any opinion, because I never was in that part of the country at all, nor nearer it than...
382From Thomas Jefferson to Barré, 13 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of receiving your favor of the 13th. of December, and having never been able to obtain an answer from the painter in America on the subject of Genl. Washington’s picture, I have determined to permit it to be copied. I have therefore made the first offer to M. de Thevenard by a letter to him which accompanies this. I have written it in English, because you will be so good as to...
383From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson, 15 January 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter by the post is not yet come to hand, that by Mr. Beresford I received this morning. Your long silence had induced me almost to suspect you had forgotten me and the more so as I had desired you to write to me every week. I am anxious to know what books you read, what tunes you can play, and to receive specimens of your drawing. With respect to your meeting Mr. Simitiere at Mr....
384From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 16 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you by yesterday’s post. The present is merely to avail myself of a private conveiance which occurs to London to send you my American dispatches and pray you to forward them by the first safe conveiance to New York preferably to any other port. Vessels going to Philadelphia have to go up the river, a navigation of many days. Those going to Boston expose us to as long an intermediate...
385From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 18 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Often sollicited by persons on this side the water to enquire for their friends in America about whose fate they are incertain, I can only hand on their requests to my friends in America. The inclosed letter from the Chevalier de Sigougne desires some enquiry after his brother whom he supposes to have settled at Todd’s bridge. As this is within your reach, I must refer the request to your...
386[From Thomas Jefferson to Frichet, 13 January 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 13 Jan. 1786 . Entry in SJL reads: “le Curé de Gelannes. Acknoleging receipt of his of Xbre. 31.” Not found.]
387From Thomas Jefferson to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, [11 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having thought proper to require my services in the negotiation of their Foreign treaties, my seat as one of your delegates in Congress is become vacant. I feel myself on this occasion bound to express my gratitude for the confidence which the General assembly were pleased to repose in me by this appointment and to assure them that during my continuance therein I have made the just...
388From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 14 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favours of Mar. 8. 28. and May 1. have come to hand since the date of my last which was of May 9. That of Mar. 8. begins with these words. ‘I cannot at present lay my hands upon your last but recollect it was of an old date.’This seems to imply a charge of my being behind-hand in the epistolary account. Turning to my epistolary ledger I find our account since my arrival in Europe to stand...
389[From Thomas Jefferson to the Agents for the United States in France, 31 December 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 31 Dec. 1787 . An entry in SJL under this date reads: “Agents circular.” No copy of such a letter has been found but it evidently was a brief letter enclosing the printed copies of Lambert to TJ, 29 Dec. 1787 , and the annexed arrêt, being no doubt similar to the circulars of 31 May and 29 Oct. 1786, qq.v. Although the letters may have actually been written on this day, they were...
390From Thomas Jefferson to John Polson, 29 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after your application to me I wrote to Genl. Stephens, near Winchester, and also to Mr. Joseph Jones in King George county, on the subject of your lands , but have received no answer from either, and therefore can give you no information whether they are confiscated or not. I should think it adviseable for you to write to both those gentlemen for information, referring them to the...
391II. Jefferson’s Notes on Coxe’s Commercial System for the United States, [ca. 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
Federal farmer MS ( DLC : TJ Papers, 36: 6230); in TJ’s hand; at head of text: “Tench Cox’s enquiry into the principles of American commerce” undated, but presumably drawn up about the time TJ received a copy of Coxe’s pamphlet in July 1787. The federal farmer was Richard Henry Lee, whose letters in opposition to the Constitution, Observations leading to a fair examination of the system of...
392From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 25 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Short’s return the night before last availed me of your favour of Aug. 12. I immediately ordered the shoes you desired which will be ready tomorrow. I am not certain whether this will be in time for the departure of Mr. Barclay or of Colo. Franks, for it is not yet decided which of them goes to London. I have also procured for you three plateaux de dessert with a silvered ballustrade round...
393From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 31 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the receipt of the letter of Monsieur de Calonne of Octob. 22. 1786. I have several times had the honour of mentioning to you that I was endeavouring to get the substance of that letter reduced into an arrêt, which, instead of being revocable by a simple letter of a comptroller general, would require an arrêt to repeal or alter it, and of course must be discussed in full council and so...
394From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 27 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor now to inclose to your Excellency a copy of the letter from Congress to the king which I delivered yesterday. This copy was sent to me by Mr. Jay the Secretary of Congress for Foreign affairs. I also accompany it with a copy of the letter of Credence which I had the honour of delivering to the King, not having furnished you with a copy on that occasion. I am with sentiments of...
395From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Barclay, 26 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Franks has occasion for money to carry him to London. As we propose that all the money for this business shall be procured by draughts on Mr. Adams, will it not be better for you to draw on him at present for enough to cover the last journey of Colo. Franks, to defray the present one, to pay for the articles to be purchased here, the expences of the future journey Southwardly &c.? All...
396From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 12 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Having asked permission of Congress to go to America this spring and return again in the ensuing fall, and being in expectation daily of receiving that permission, I have so arranged my business as to be able to depart within a week after the Congé shall come to hand. It is necessary for me in the mean time to know the vessels in the different ports which may be bound to the United states,...
397From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 14 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Having got back to Paris three days ago, I resume immediately the correspondence with which you have been pleased to honour me. I wish I could have begun it with more agreeable information than that furnished me by Mr. Grand, that the funds of the United states here are exhausted and himself considerably in advance, and by the Board of treasury at New York that they have no immediate prospect...
398To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1786 (Adams Papers)
My last letter to you was dated the 27 th. of August, since which I have recieved yours of Sep. 11 th. — The letter to m r. Lamb therein inclosed I immediately signed & forwarded. In mine wherein I had the honor of proposing to you the mission of m r. Barclay to Algiers, I mentioned that my expectations from it were of a subordinate nature only. I very readily therefore recede from it in...
399From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 7 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter of this morning the post has arrived and brought us a letter from Dr. Franklin of Mar. 9. He had received a letter from Congress informing him of the reasons of delaying our ratification. He apprehends no difficulty from this circumstance, and the rather as he had received a letter from Mr. Hartley dated Mar. 2. (the day before the exchange should have taken place) desiring he...
400From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 30 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 11th. instant I had the honour of inclosing you copies of letters relative to the Barbary affairs. Others came to hand three days ago, of some of which I now send you copies, and of the others the originals. By these you will perceive that Mr. Randall and Mr. Lamb were at Madrid, that the latter means to return to Alicant and send on a courier to us. Mr. Randall does not...