1From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 12 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by my grandson Th: Jefferson Randolph who goes on to take the benefit of your lectures in Natural history in the first instance, & of those of Anatomy & Surgery. it is proposed that the two former shall occupy his attention almost exclusively, his attendance on the lectures in Surgery being merely with a view to the situation of the head of a family in the country where...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 18 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night a Diploma from the Linnaean society of Philadelphia, doing me the honor of associating me to their body. I pray you to do me the favor of assuring the society of my sensibility for this mark of their notice and of my thanks. sincerely associated with the friends of science in spirit and inclination, I regret the constant occupations of a different kind which put out of my...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 24 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much indebted to you for your kind favor of April 24. and have delayed acknoleging it until I could communicate it to mr Randolph & decide on the disposal of his son. it was much the wish of us both that he should have gone this autumn to Philadelphia, and it had been decided on. but mr Ogilvie his present tutor has been so earnest in his desires to keep him another year, that it has been...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 22 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have a grandson, the son of your old acquaintance mr Randolph, now about 15. years of age, in whose education I take a lively interest. his time has not hitherto been employed to the best advantage, a frequent change of tutors having prevented the steady pursuit of any one plan. whether he possesses that lively imagination, usually called genius, I have not had opportunities of knowing; but...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 21 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The period preceding & during the session of Congress is so occupied by an accumulation of business that it has not been in my power to acknolege earlier the reciept of some sheets of your publication on the authenticity of Logan’s speech. I certainly do not know myself that it is authentic; that is, I did not hear Logan deliver it, but I had it from him who recieved it from Logan & translated...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 11 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your letter of Dec. 27. I snatch a moment from incessant business & interruption to inform you that the Missouri & Missisipi chiefs will set out in a few days to go as far as New York & perhaps Boston, and consequently will give you an opportunity at Philadelphia of making all the enquiries you desire, & more satisfactorily by yourself than by another. There are 4. Little Osages,...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 22 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Under another cover I send you drawings & specimens of the seed, cotton, & leaf of the Cotton tree of the Western country, recieved from Genl. Wilkinson at St. Louis. to these I must add that it appears from the journals of Lewis & Clarke that the boughs of this tree are the sole food of the horses up the Missouri during winter. their horses having on a particular occasion gone through...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 21 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved from you a letter dated June 12. in which you were so kind as to give me the information I had asked respecting mr Dunbar’s specimens of plants, & you mentioned your preparing your Indian geography for the press, but there is no mention in that or any other letter recieved from you of any paper on the subject of manure, nor have I the slightest recollection of such an one. I have...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 13 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved information early last winter of mr Boudinot’s intention to retire from the Direction of the mint, and, as was then supposed, immediately, it became a matter of consideration with the administration who should be appointed to succeed him. it was thought that the duties of that office call for the best Mathematical talents which could be procured, as well on account of...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 21 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Doctr. Barton: when sending him the dried specimens of plants from mr Dunbar he omitted to send some moss which he had taken out of the hotsprings of the Washeta, in a temperature of 150.° in which he says are some of the animalculae, inhabitants of the moss. Th: J. having no microscope here has been unable to see them: but he commits them now...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 2 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Dunbar, during his excursion up the Washita, the last fall and winter, collected some dried specimens of plants which he has sent me in order to have them ascertained. I know I cannot dispose of them better than by transmitting them to you, with a request of the result of your investigation. he went as far as the hotsprings on that river, 500. miles up it. he found their temperature...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 14 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 1st. inst. has been longer unanswered than I could have wished. the correspondence between Dr. Priestly and myself was unfrequent & short. his fear of encroaching on my public duties deprived me of communications from him which would have been always welcome. I have examined all his letters to me since Mar. 1801. (those preceding being at Monticello) & find they do not...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 20 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Dr. Barton & has this day put on board Capt Ellwood’s schooner bound for Philadelphia a small paper packet addressed to him, containing a copy of mr Volney’s Tableau des E.U. for Dr. Barton, & 2. others for Mr. John Mifflin and the late mr Bordley . Th:J. asks the favor of Dr. Barton to have these last delivered. they were recieved, with many...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 27 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Some propositions having been made to the public on the subject of a natural bed of Sulphur in Genesee, we wished to obtain information respecting it. Capt Williamson tells me you passed some time in examining it, and I am sure therefore you can give me better information respecting it than any other person, & on which I shall more rely. I pray you therefore to do it without delay, as we are...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 27 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a copy of two discourses sent you by mr La Cepede through the hands of mr Paine, who delivered them with some sent me. what follows in this letter is strictly confidential. you know we have been many years wishing to have the Missouri explored, & whatever river, heading with that, runs into the Western ocean. Congress, in some secret proceedings, have yielded to a proposition I...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 29 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13th. came to hand on the 20th. instant only. I now inclose you, from the Secretary at war, a letter to Colo. Meigs our agent with the Cherokees, and one to yourself which may answer with those of any other nation you may chuse to visit. should you visit the Creeks, you will find them assembled in May and June and with them General Wilkinson, General Pickens and mr Hawkins...