1From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 24 June 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Though I have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with you, yet the liberty I take of introducing myself to you will I hope find it’s excuse in the motives leading to it. much enquiry you know was excited on the discovery of America as to the origin of it’s inhabitants found here at the time of that discovery. many hypotheses have been hazarded but none of them satisfactory. I have...
2From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 16 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Oct. 6. has been duly recieved & I am much flattered with the prospect of your communications . the vocabularies of the Western Indians are much desired; and your meteorological observations will also be very acceptable; as they will furnish materials for a comparative view of climates. your letter gives me the first information I have ever had of the language by signs used among...
3From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 12 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 14. with the papers accompanying it came safely to hand about the last of October. that containing remarks on the line of demarcation I perused according to your permission, and with great satisfaction, and then inclosed to a friend in Philadelphia to be forwarded to it’s address. the papers addressed to me, I took the liberty of communicating to the Philosophical society....
4From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 3 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. of Jan. has been duly recieved, and I have to return you thanks for the two vocabularies. the memoir of mr Durald has been forwarded to the Philosophical society . we shall be happy to see your history of the Missisipi compleated, as it is becoming one of the most interesting parts of our country, the only one where some of the Tropical productions can be numbered among...
5From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 17 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Before you recieve this you will have heard thro’ the channel of the public papers, of the cession of Louisiana by France to the US. the terms as stated in the National Intelligencer are accurate. that the treaty may be ratified in time I have found it necessary to convene Congress on the 17th. of October: and it is very important for the happiness of the country that they should possess all...
6From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 21 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor in answer to my queries came to hand a few days ago, and I thank you for the matter it contains & the promptness with which it has been furnished. just on my departure from this place, where I habitually pass the sickly months of Aug. & Sep. I have time only to ask information on a particular point. it has been affirmed by respectable authority, that Spain on recieving the East &...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 13 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 28. has been duly recieved, and I have read with great satisfaction your ingenious paper on the subject of the Missisipi, which I shall immediately forward to the Philosophical society, where it will be duly prized. to prove the value I set on it, & my wish that it may go to the public without any imperfection about it, I will take the liberty of submitting to your...
8From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last letter I informed you that I expected Congress would authorise me to take measures for exploring the principal Western waters of the Missisipi & Missouri. this measure was however neglected till near the close of the session, and then very inadequately provided for in a bill on it’s passage, from a want of previous enquiry & consideration of the sum necessary. 3000. D. only were...
9From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 17 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of June 1. to myself as well as that to the Secretary at War was recieved here the 12th. inst. in addition to the information contained in this last on the subject of our mission for exploring the Red & Arkansa rivers, is some of importance collected here. Capt. Choteau and 12 chiefs of the Osage nation are here at this time. among these is the Great chief of the whole nation. Capt...
10From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 14 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of the 2d. & 15th. of Feb. arrive just in the moment I am setting out on a short visit to Monticello. it will be necessary for us now to set on foot immediately the Arcansa & Red river expedition., Congress having given an additional appropriation of 5000. D. for these objects generally. I think you were not able to get any person in your quarter the last autumn fitted for the...
11From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 25 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your several letters, with the portions of your journals furnished at different times have been duly recieved; and I am now putting the journals into the hands of a person properly qualified, to extract the results of your observations, and the various interesting information contained among them, and bring them into such a compas as may be communicated to the legislature. not knowing whether...
12From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 12 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your unacknoleged letters of July 9. Oct. 8. & Nov. 10. prove I have been long in arrears with you. you have probably known before this that the Colo. Freeman thought of for the Red river expedition was a different person from the military officer. the one proposed for this expedition is now here, and will be the bearer of this letter. he is well qualified for the geographical part of the...
13From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 28 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Dec. 17. did not get to my hands till Feb. 11. I did not answer it immediately, because I was about communicating to Congress the information we had collected as to Louisiana which I thought would be immediately printed, & I wished at the same time to send you a copy of it. the printer however has taken till this time to do his duty. I send you a copy, & with the more justice as...