3151From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 13 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barclay having been detained longer than was expected, you will receive this, as well as my Letter of May 13th. from him. Since the date of that I have received your No. 15 March 31, No. 16 April 8, No. 17 April 30, No. 18 May 3, and No. 20. May 21. You are not unacquainted with the situation of our Captives at Algiers. Measures were taken, and were long depending, for their redemption....
3152To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 July 1791 (Madison Papers)
Your favors of July 10. & 13. have been duly recieved and I now return the pamphlet inclosed in the latter, with thanks for the perusal. The author has the appearance of knowing better what has past in England than in America. As to the latter to be sure he has been ignorant enough. I am sincerely sorry that Freneau has declined coming here. Tho’ the printing business be sufficiently full...
3153From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 11 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors dated Aranjuez, Apr. 2. (Private) have been duly received. Your letter of Dec. 18. inclosing one open to Mr. Brown had been before received, and his forwarded, but no answer come to hand when I heard of the failure of Donald & Burton. I was told it in the street, and went instantly to the Treasury office and entered a caveat against the transfer of your property by the best...
3154From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 18 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall not repeat in this private dispatch any thing said in the public ones sent herewith. I have avoided saying in them what you are to do, when the business you go on shall be finished or become desperate, because I hope to hear what you wish. It is decided that Carmichael will be permitted to come away at that precise epoch, so you need have no delicacy on that subject if you chuse to...
3155From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Harison, 12 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
As it was apprehended by the President of the US. that attempts might be made by persons within the US. to arm and equip vessels for the purpose of cruising against some of the powers at this time engaged in war, whereby the peace of the US. might be committed, the Governors of the several states were desired to be on the watch against such enterprizes, and to seize such vessels found within...
3156From Thomas Jefferson to Certain Foreign Ministers in the United States, 8 November 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States thinking that before it shall be finally decided to what distance from our sea shores the territorial protection of the United States shall be exercised, it will be proper to enter into friendly conferences and explanations with the powers chiefly interested in the navigation of the seas on our coasts, and relying that convenient occasions may be taken for...
3157To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 May 1793 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 13th. Since that I have received yours of the 8th. I have scribbled on a separate paper some general notes on the plan of a house you inclosed. I have done more. I have endeavored to throw the same area, the same extent of walls, the same number of rooms, & of the same sizes, into another form so as to offer a choice to the builder. Indeed I varied my plan by shewing...
3158From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 26 May 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your favor of Sep. 7. from Paris, which gave us the only news we have had from you since your arrival there. On my part it would be difficult to say why this is the first time I have written to you. Revising the case myself, I am sensible it has proceeded from that sort of procrastination which so often takes place when no circumstance fixes a business to a particular time. I...
3159From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 16 January 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter which accompanied the box containing my collection of Printed laws, I promised to send you by post a statement of the contents of the box. On taking up the subject I found it better to take a more general review of the whole of the laws I possess, as well Manuscript as Printed, as also of those which I do not possess, and suppose to be no longer extant. This general view you will...
3160From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 24th. Ult. which I presume you will have recieved at Cambden. The present is ordered to go from Petersburg to Taylor’s ferry. I think it better my letters should be even some days ahead of you, knowing that if they ever get into your rear they will never overtake you.—I write to day indeed merely as the watchman cries, to prove himself awake, and that...
3161From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 23 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
My last private letter to you was of Jan. 3. Your private letters of Sep. 15. Oct. 22. Nov. 2. Nov. 20. Nov. 30. and Dec. 18. have been received and shall be attended. Particular answers cannot be hazarded by this conveyance. But on one circumstance it is so necessary to put you on your guard that I must take and give you the trouble of applying to our cypher Be cautious in your letters to the...
3162From Thomas Jefferson to Edmond Charles Genet, 17 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall now have the honor of answering your letter of the 8th instant, and so much of that of the 14th. (both of which have been laid before the President) as relates to a vessel armed in the port of new York and about to depart from thence, but stopped by order of the Government; and here I beg leave to premise, that, the case supposed in your letter, of a vessel arming merely for her own...
3163From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 27 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
A periodical headach has put it out of my power for near a month to attend to any business, or correspondence public or private, and such is my present situation that, favorable as the opportunity is by Mr. Crevecoeur, I had not meant to venture to write to you. But the receipt of yours of Mar. 25. has decided me to try it. On my arrival in Virginia, as there was a vessel just sailing for...
3164From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 28 December 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
I have kept Mr. Joy’s letter a post or two, with an intention of considering attentively the observations it contains: but I have really now so little stomach for any thing of that kind that I have not resolution enough even to endeavor to understand the observations. I therefore return the letter, not to delay your answer to it, and beg you in answering for yourself, to assure him of my...
3165From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 27 August 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your favor of June 19. informing me that permission is given me to make a short visit to my native country, for which indulgence I beg leave to return my thanks to the President, and to yourself, Sir, for the expedition with which you were so good as to forward it after it was obtained. Being advised that October is the best month of the autumn for a passage to America, I...
3166From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Your No. 1. came to hand two days ago. When I inclosed you the papers of the last week I was too much hurried to write. I now therefore write earlier, and inclose only one of Fenno’s papers. The residue of the New York election was as follows Clinton Jay Albany 444. 1 178 The Otsego votes were rejected, about 1000. in number, of which Jay had about 850. say a majority of 700. so that he was...
3167From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 16 October 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Your private letters unacknoleged have been of Jan. 24. Feb. 29. May 15. July 26 and 27. Mine to you have been of Mar. 18. and Apr. 24. and as there is a probability you have not received them, I have extracted the passages now seeming of any consequence, only adding that the occasion of the caveat against the transfer of your stocks being past, I have withdrawn the caveat. My situation after...
3168From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 3d. inst. Your’s of July 30. came to hand yesterday. Besides the present which goes by post, I write you another to-day to go by Mr. D. Randolph who sets out the day after tomorrow for Monticello, but whether by the direct route or viâ Richmond is not yet decided. I shall desire that letter to be sent to you by express from Monticello. I have not been able to lay my...
3169From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 2 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President has the honor to send him the letters and orders referred to in Mr. Morris’s letter, except that of the 8th. of April, which must be a mistake for some other date, as the records of the office perfectly establish that no letters were written to him in the months of March and April but those of Mar. 12. and 15. and Apr. 20. and 26. now inclosed....
3170Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Report on Morocco and Algiers, 14 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State having duly examined into the Papers and documents of his Office relative to the negotiations proposed to be undertaken with the Governments of Morocco and Algiers, makes thereupon to the President of the United States, the following Report. The Reports which he made on the 28th of Decemr 1790, on the trade of the United States in the Mediterranean to the House of...
3171From Thomas Jefferson to George Hammond, 29 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of March 5. has been longer unanswered than consisted with my wishes to forward as much as possible explanations of the several matters it contained. But these matters were very various and the evidence of them not easily to be obtained, even where it could be obtained at all. It has been a work of time and trouble to collect from the different States, all the acts themselves, of...
3172IV. Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 16 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of June 13th. I enclosed to you the copies of several letters, which had passed between Mr. Ternant, Mr. Genet, and myself, on the occurrences to which the present war had given rise within our ports. The object of this communication was to enable you to explain the principles on which our government was conducting itself towards the belligerent parties; principles which might not...
3173From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael and William Short, 30 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received from Messrs. Viar and Jaudenes the representatives of Spain at this place, a letter, which, whether considered in itself, or as the sequel of several others, conveys to us very disagreeable prospects of the temper and views of their court towards us. If this letter is a faithful expression of that temper, we presume it to be the effect of egregious misrepresentations by their...
3174VIII. Secretary of State to the President, 18 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson is sorry to present a long letter to the President to be read at so busy a moment: but the view which it presents of our commercial matters in France is too interesting to be unknown to the President.—The circumstances presented to view in the 2d. page of the letter induce Th: J. to think it may be well to commit to Mr. Short and the M. de la Fayette to press our settlement with...
3175Memorandum to George Washington, 22 September 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Taking them up in their order, they appear susceptible of answer in the following way. The 1st. and 2d. by a concurrence of sentiment for the maintenance of the constitution, and preservation of peace, and the pleasure with which the President recieves their assurances of support in these objects. 3. Notice of the expressions of their personal respect . 4. Approbation of their expressions of...
3176II. Jefferson’s Notes on the Hessian Fly, [24 May–18 June 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Conrad Lasher. 16. miles above Poughkeepsie. The Hessian fly remains on the ground among the stubble of the old wheat. At ploughing time for sowing the new crop they rise in swarms before the plough horses. Soon after the wheat comes up they lay the egg in it, of the size of a nit, and will crack like it. He supposes the old fly dies in the winter. In the spring they begin to grow. [I saw them...
3177Report on Negotiations with Spain, 18 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The appointment of Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Short as Commissioners to negociate with the court of Spain a treaty or convention relative to the navigation of the Missisipi, and which perhaps may be extended to other interests, rendering it necessary that the subjects to be treated of should be developed, and the conditions of arrangement explained, the Secretary of state Reports to the President...
3178Cabinet Opinions on the Republican and the Catharine, 12 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
June 12. 1793. The President having required the opinions of the heads of the three departments on a letter from Governor Clinton of the 9th. inst. stating that he had taken possession of the sloop Polly, now called the Republican, which was arming, equipping and manning by French and other citizens to cruize against some of the belligerent powers, and desiring to know what further was to be...
3179Cabinet Meeting. Opinion Respecting the French Consul at Boston, [31 August 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
At a meeting of the Heads of departments & Attorney General at the President’s on the 31st. day of Aug. 1793. A letter from mr Gore to mr Lear, dated Boston Aug. 24. was read, stating that the Roland, a privateer fitted out at Boston & furnished with a commission under the government of France, had sent a prize into that port, which being arrested by the Marshal of the district by process from...
3180George Washington to the Commissioners of Accounts for the States, [22 June 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Having considered the two questions referred to me in your letters of yesterday, I am of opinion that the Report of your proceedings may be made to the President of the US. and that your books and papers will be most properly deposited in the Treasury department. You will therefore be pleased to deliver them to the order of the Secretary of the Treasury. Dft ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); in TJ’s hand,...