501Thomas Jefferson to William Duncanson, 15 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved your favor of Aug. 5. on my return from a visit to the President , and regretted it had not come 3. or 4. days sooner, as I might have made it the subject of a conversation with him instead of a letter. I knew well the worth of the late W m M. Dunca n son your uncle, his loyal principles to our republican government, & his great merit towards the city of Washington , towards the...
502Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Darmsdatt, 22 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I will ask the favor of you to send me half a dozen barrels of herrings, and a barrel of shads to this place, and half a dozen barrels of herrings to Lynchburg . those for this place may come by mr Randolph’s boat, which is now down and will be coming up to Milton immediately on your receipt of this, which will be handed you by mr Randolph himself. those for Lynchburg I must request you to...
503Thomas Jefferson to John Wilson, 4 December 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The subject of your letter of Nov. is entirely unknown to me . I only know in general that the heads of departments had been authorised by law to apportion the sum allowed for salaries to their clerks at their discretion. no duty I presume could be more embarrassing to those gentlemen. but of the particular graduation of the salaries I never heard, nor enquired, the subject having been...
504Thomas Jefferson to Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 22 March 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I am indebted to you for the communication of the Prospectus of a work embracing the history of civilised man, political & moral, from the great change produced in his condition by the extension of the feudal system over Europe thro’ all the successive effects of the revival of letters, the invention of printing, that of the compass, the enlargement of science, & the revolutionary spirit,...
505Thomas Jefferson to Paul Hamilton, 27 September 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I am requested to introduce to you the bearer mr Henry L. Duffie of whom however I have no personal knolege, nor any information but thro’ the inclosed letter . the writer of it, mr Harrison of Lynchburg , is a merchant of that place, of reputation, and worthy of credit in whatever he states. knowing that certain elements of education are necessary to qualify a midshipman for his reception, I...
506Thomas Jefferson to John Clarke, 27 January 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 2. came to hand some time ago, and I percieve in it the proofs of a mind worthily occupied on the best interests of our common country. to carry on our war with success we want able officers, and a sufficient number of soldiers. the former, time and trial can alone give us; to procure the latter we need only the tender of sufficient inducements and the assiduous pressure of...
507Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 10 May 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Rosson is finishing a carriage for me and has not a pair of handles left. but he has the fellow to one which he lately put to your carriage. if you can accept of the one now sent and which he says is much superior to the one you have, and can let me have that, I shall then be able to get my carriage finished for which I am waiting to set out to Bedford . I shall be thankful to you for the...
508Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 March 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 6 th was duly recieved. the double treachery of Henry will do lasting good both here & in England . it prostrates the party here, and will prove to the people of England , beyond the power of palliation by the ministry, that the war is caused by the wrongs of their own nation. The case of the Batture not having been explained by a trial at bar as had been expected, I have...
509Thomas Jefferson to William Caruthers, 29 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 17 th is duly recieved. there was a short time, about that of my leaving Washington , when to square my accounts there, I would have been willing to have parted with the Natural bridge and some other unproductive property; and that merely for the value of the soil as land, without attention to it’s value either as a site for machinery, or as a curiosity, certainly the...
510Thomas Jefferson to Theodorus Bailey, 28 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to thank you for your two letters of the 18 th & the attention you have been so kind as to shew to mine addressed to mr Warden . one since recieved from him gives me the hope that that which I now inclose may still find him at N. York ; but lest he should be gone I am obliged again to take the benefit of your cover, and renew the request, if he should be gone, to return it again under...
511Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I had intended to have been with you before this, but my daughter , who wishes to pay her respects to mrs Madison & yourself at the same time, has been confined by the illness of her youngest child . he has been mending for some days, but slowly, & from the nature of his complaint (visceral) it will be some days yet before she can leave him. I think therefore, on the departure of our present...
512Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Robertson, 12 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you an order on Mess rs Gibs. & Jeff. for 112.65 to reimburse the 45. D. paid to mr Yancey 50. D. cash to Jer. A. Goodman 17. 65 to my
513Thomas Jefferson to Samuel H. Smith, 23 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Sam l H. Smith , & his thanks for the oration he has been so kind as to send him. he has read it with great pleasure, and sympathises in all it’s sentiments sincerely, one excepted, respecting the exhausting our resources on a navy. our strength is on the land, & weakness on the water. our enemies’ strength is on the water, at land nothing. and...
514Thomas Jefferson to Obadiah Rich, 23 July 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the botanical synopsis you have been so kind as to send me . it is a science to which I was formerly much attached; but long abstraction from it by other duties have has lessened my familiarity with it. it is too a science peculiarly addressed to the memory, a faculty among the first which suffers decay from years. I still however recieve the synopsis thankfully as a mark of...
515Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah A. Goodman, 17 June 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
The unexpected difficulty of getting water to my saw mill and threshing machine has made it impossible for me to leave those works a day; and the harvest is now so near as not to leave me time for a visit to Poplar forest . I must therefore put it off till the harvest is over. as soon after that as I shall suppose you may have brushed over your tobacco, I will go; because I imagine you will be...
516Thomas Jefferson to David Hosack, 19 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, Sir, for the books you have been so kind as to send me. they will afford me amusement as well as instruction. from a general view I have taken of Thomas’s work , it appears, with your aid, to be valuable for family use. without science in Medecine, I am yet fond of it’s philosophical speculations. with these I observe your Medical Register mingles disquisitions in all it’s kindred...
517Thomas Jefferson to Henry Skipwith, 17 April 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Overhauling my seeds reminded me that I was to send you some Millet seed. it is now inclosed. put it into drills 3. or 4.f. apart so that you may conveniently plough it, and the stalks at 6.I. distance in the drill. it is planted immediately after cornplanting, say in May. it is to be used for the table as homony, boiled or fried, needs neither husking nor beating, & boils in about two hours....
518Thomas Jefferson to Henry A. S. Dearborn, 17 October 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments and his thanks to m r Dearborne for the copy he has been so kind as to send him of his translation of De Lasteyrie ’s learned & valuable work on the Pastel or Woad. he hopes the translation will encorage and promote the culture of that useful plant in the US. a long absence from home must apologise for this late acknolegement of the receipt of the work....
519Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah A. Goodman, 14 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot to take a note of the debt due for corn about Christmas; also the debts for the two horses . be so good as to let me know by mail, how much they are, to whom due, & when to be paid. I forgot also to desire a clover lot to be made at Bear creek where we proposed.— with respect to the Asparagus bed, of which I spoke to mrs Goodman , make them mow off the stalks and lay them one side,...
520Thomas Jefferson to James Hamilton, 26 August 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
M r M c lure is just setting out for N. Carolina to attend the trial of some lawsuit in which he is engaged. altho’ he is very confident of success, yet law is so much of a lottery as to render the contrary possible. in that case he might be stopped for the costs of suit which he might not be able to pay down. were this to happen I would ask it as a personal favor to myself to pass your word...
521Thomas Jefferson to George Hay, 3 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I left this place on the 27 th of January for Bedford from whence I did not get back till yesterday. I found here your letter of Jan. 25. and regret much that this circumstance had rendered the return of the papers now inclosed impossible at the day prescribed, Feb. 22. but I hope you will have filed the pleas without waiting for my judgment. indeed that was not worth consulting; because of...
522Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, 6 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much gratified by the opportunity of recalling myself to your recollection by this letter which will be handed you by my friend Doctor Barton . he is one of the Vice presidents of the American Philosophical society , and of the Professors of the University of Philadelphia , distinguished by his writings in the Physical sciences. he tries a sea-voyage and the air of Europe for the benefit...
523Thomas Jefferson to Edward Coles, 13 October 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I let lent to mr Barlow a great collection of newspapers pamphlets E t c in several large boxes, which on his departure he informed me he had deposited in the President’s house . I have therefore to request the favor of you to assist me in getting them back again. vessels are so constantly passing from Washington to Richmond that I presume there can be no difficulty in finding one which will...
524Thomas Jefferson to Lancelot Minor, 5 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor covering the commissions for acknolegements of the title of the two tracts of land now is just now recieved. it finds me on my departure to Bedford from whence I shall not return under a fortnight. I have time to write therefore only on that single subject. the opportunity of forwarding the commissions and deeds to Kentucky by your neighbor is so much better than any chance I have...
525Thomas Jefferson to William W. Hening, 28 August 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter just recieved from mr George Jefferson I learn that I had deposited with him my volume of ‘Fugitive sheets’ or Session acts from 1734. to 1772. with an injunction not to deliver it out of his own possession, while the volumes of newspapers were delivered to mr Burke , & are consequently lost I fear. knowing your care of such things you are freely welcome to recieve from mr...
526Thomas Jefferson to William Bentley, 16 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the sermon on the death of Gen l Fiske , which I have read with pleasure. he appears to have been truly an a model of merit. and the more deserving of praise inasmuch as his good works being performed in the still walks of private life, were not to be blazoned on the great theater of the world. what a contrast does a character of so much benevolence hold up to view with that of...
527Thomas Jefferson to John Waldo, 1 July 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
A long absence from home has prevented an earlier acknolegement of your favor of Apr. 25. and I learn from it with regret the circumstance of your habitual ill health. I did not mean by my answer to trouble you with any particular attention to it’s subject. it conveyed thoughts which had occurred to me sometimes in the course of a busy life, which had never allowed me time to examine them: and...
528Thomas Jefferson to Randolph Jefferson, 8 December 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I send by Squire the Gigg harness, and shall be very happy if after your return, instead of sending it you would avail yourself of it to pay us a visit here with my sister . she promised me a visit in the spring but the distance is too short to be require it to be put off to so remote a period. perhaps too you might find an absence from home during winter less inconvenient than after the...
529Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you two letters from mr Burrall , postmaster of Baltimore . you will percieve by them that the removal of mr Granger has spread some dismay in the ranks. I lodged in the same house with him (Francis’s) during the sessions of Congress of 97. 98. 99. we breakfasted, dined E t c at the same table. he classed himself with the federalists, but I did not know why, for he scarcely ever...
530Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 3 February 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
You are to consider me in this letter as a witness & not a sollicitor. it is written at the request of a mr James Dinsmore who lived in my family 10. years as a housejoiner, did all the housejoinery of my house, being one of the ablest of his calling, and one of the best men I have ever known. while I lived in Washington he applied to me for a Surveyor’s place for his brother John Dinsmore in...
531Thomas Jefferson to William Sampson, 30 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 30. came to hand some time ago, and I delayed answering that I might acknolege at the same time the receipt of mr Ensor s volumes which you had been so kind as to forward. that on National government with your letter of Nov. 26. were deli forwarded by mr Lovett an by
532Thomas Jefferson to James Gibbon, 8 October 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sep. 24. came duly to hand, and I return you my thanks for your attention to the sheep mr Jarvis has been so kind as to send me. I consider them as a most valuable acquisition, and should have sent for them sooner; ere now had the state of our river permitted it, that being the safest mode of bringing them. should that not give the opportunity within a few days, I shall send a...
533Thomas Jefferson to Philip I. Barziza, 1 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 14. is but just recieved, informing me of your petition to the legislature . I have outlived all my antient acquaintances in that body; but I have two or three young friend s there to whom I write by this mail , and ask their attention to your case. these are mr Thweatt of Chesterfield & Baker of Cumberland in the
534Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 24 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of May 7. & 10. are both recieved, and with them came the figs in perfect condition. on my proceeding to plant them in the same places where I had planted those you were so kind as to send me the last year, & reopening the holes, to my great astonishment I found a young bud putting out from the root of every one. they had been long on the road, were planted late, & this succeeded...
535Thomas Jefferson to Edward Coles, 16 February 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly respects to mr Coles and wishing the inclosed to get to the hands of mr Treat while in Washington , & not knowing where there to direct to him, he takes the liberty of putting it under cover to mr Coles , in the expectation that mr Treat being of the army, & lately from the Arkansa , may be known at the President’s , or certainly at the
536Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 3 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
My spinning machine is safely arrived, and also your letter of the 27 th covering the drawings now returned. they served to instruct us compleatly as to the spinning part of the machine, which is now at work; but not as to the Feeding frame, marked G. in the drawing. the written specification says ‘it recieves motion in the same manner and performs the same service as in the common roving...
537Thomas Jefferson to Lewis Brown, 11 March 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Feb. 25. never got to my hands till last night. the purchase of the horse from you by mr Darnell was on my account, and the debt as much acknoleged as if a bond had been given. I had desired my merchant in Richmond , as soon as he could sell my flour from the Poplar Forest (which got down but lately) to remit a sum of money to mr Goodman , sufficient to pay your’s and other...
538Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah A. Goodman, 18 October 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you on the 10 th by post, requesting that you would make the necessary preparation for mr Chisolm’s beginning to plaister by sending for a waggon load of lime, and having sand brought by the waggon returning from Lynchbg , or sending for it express. I presume the waggon load of plank has been brought from Rosser’s and that mr Perry has made a beginning of putting up the grounds for...
539Thomas Jefferson to Bernard McMahon, 13 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 24. did not get to hand till the 3 d inst. and I return you my thanks for the garden seeds which came safely. I am curious to select only one or two of the best species of or variety of every garden vegetable, and to reject all others from the garden to avoid the dangers of mixture & degeneracy. some plants of your gooseberry, of the Hudson & Chili strawberries, & some bulbs...
540Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 16 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of yesterday by mr Johnson , I mentioned that I would write to you more specially on the subject of the remittance to Philadelphia ; I find that my different accounts there for books and newspapers amount nearly to 150.D. which sum I will therefore ask the favor of you to remit to mr Nicholas G. Dufief bookseller Philadelphia , on my account. I write to him now as to the disposal...
541Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith (of Pennsylvania), 9 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved, a few days since your favor of June 28 . covering a letter from Morrow & Andrew Lowry requesting information whether the pardon to them was not a remission of the costs of prosecution also. as it is official, & not personal opinion which can alone answer their purposes, I now, to save time, transmit their & your letter to the Secretary of state , whose opinion, or that of the...
542Thomas Jefferson to Isaac Doolittle, 18 September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your care of the two letters from France which you have been so kind as to forward me. the Elogique Eloge historique de François Peron from mr Barnet came safely to hand, and I am only waiting a safe conveyance for the return of my thanks to him, as also for transmission of a book which M. Dupont desires me to send him. with my thanks be pleased to accept the assurance of my...
543Thomas Jefferson to Horatio G. Spafford, 26 April 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 7 th inst. is just recieved and finds me within a few days of my departure for a distant possession which I visit 3. or 4. times a year & am absent a month at a time. the suspension of these visits during winter renders indispensable as early a one as practicable in spring, and I expect to be absent all May. I hasten therefore to mention this, lest we should both be...
544Thomas Jefferson to William A. Burwell, 6 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 22. came to hand last night, with the papers of mr Graham inclosed. of all mechanical machines existing, the steam engine is that which I have the least studied. the principle we all understand; and the structure of the original one I understood when at College. but have never since paid the least attention to the multiplied improvements which have changed nearly every thing...
545To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 February 1817 (Madison Papers)
In a late letter from mr. Spafford of Albany I received the inclosed with a request that after perusal I would forward it to you, adding a desire that, when read, you would address it under cover to him, as he sets some value on the possession of it. His object in making the communication to either of us is not explained, but perhaps it may be understood by you. Your frank on a blank cover...
546Thomas Jefferson to James Ronaldson, 3 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the paper you were so kind as to inclose to me. the hint to the two belligerents of disarming each other of their auxiliaries, by opening asylums to them and giving them passages to this country, is certainly a good one. Bonaparte has mind enough to adopt it, but not the means. England again has the means but not mind enough. she would prefer losing an advantage over her enemy...
547Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 30 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 23 d is recieved, in which you enquire whether there is an approved portrait of myself, by whom painted, & in whose possession? mr Stuart has drawn two portraits of me, at different sittings, of which he prefers the last. both are in his possession. he also drew a third in water colours, a profile in the medallion stile , which is in my possession. mr Rembrandt Peale also...
548Thomas Jefferson to Samuel H. Smith, 21 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am imposing a task on your friendship which needs much apology, and will be explained in the letter accompanying this. it is to offer my library to the library committee of Congress . I would not have trespassed on your time so much, but that I hope it will give you little trouble. the delivery of the accompanying letter (which is written separately with that view) and the Catalogue will...
549Thomas Jefferson to Charles Clay, 18 November 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I was five days absent in my trip to the peaks of Otter , and have been five days engaged in calculating the observations made. this brings me down to yesterday evening when I finished them. I am going to-day to see mr Clarke at his new habitation, and tomorrow, weather permitting, will pay you a morning visit. in the mean time I send you a note of the result of my ten days labor and some...
550Thomas Jefferson to William Champe Carter, 19 January 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter will sufficiently explain it’s object. the messenger whom I sent with it to your house was sent back with it from Culpeper C.H. with in by Capt n Shackelford with information that you were in Richmond . I therefore commit it to the post with a request to you, if you should be in Richmond on Monday sennight Feb. 1.