3051From Thomas Jefferson to the Abbé d’Arnal, 9 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of informing you when at Nismes that we had adopted in America a method of hanging the upper stone of a grist mill which had been found so much more convenient than the antient as to have brought it into general use. Whether we derive the invention from Europe, or have made it ourselves, I am unable to say. The difference consists only in the Spindle and horns. On the former...
3052From Thomas Jefferson to Jan Ingenhousz, 9 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
An absence of three or four months on a journey through the Southern parts of France and Northern of Italy, has prevented my acknowleging earlier the receipt of your favor of Dec. 28. together with the pamphlet received through Barrois, for which I beg the author to accept my sincere thanks. Any letters or parcels from yourself to Doctr. Franklin, if you will do me the honor of addressing them...
3053From Thomas Jefferson to Lanchon Frères & Cie., 9 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 4th. instant came to hand yesterday together with the letter which it covered. Accept my thanks for your kind attention on this occasion and friendly offers in future. I learn with much regret that Mr. Harrison was in Lorient while I was there without my knowing it; and the more so as he would probably have furnished me occasion of procuring the honor of your acquaintance. My...
3054Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 10 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
This being the day on which, according to my calculation, my daughter would be crossing the channel, I had calculated the course from Dover to Calais and was watching the wind when your favour of the 6 th. was put into my hands. that of June 27. had been received four days ago. I perceived that that had happened which I had apprehended, that your goodness had so attached her to you that her...
3055From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 10 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
This being the day on which, according to my calculation, my daughter would be crossing the channel, I had calculated the course from Dover to Calais and was watching the wind when your favour of the 6th. was put into my hands. That of June 27. had been received four days ago. I perceived that that had happened which I had apprehended, that your goodness had so attached her to you that her...
3056From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Rutledge, 14 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 14th. of October in the moment I was setting out on a tour of the seaport towns of this country, from which I have been not long returned. I received it too with that kind of heart felt pleasure which always attends the recollection of antient affections. I was glad to find that the adaption of your rice to this market was considered worth attention as I had...
3057From Thomas Jefferson to Wilt, Delmestre & Cie., 14 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your letter of the 9th. instant, announcing your draught for 138₶ 19s which shall be paid on sight. It has not yet been presented. I thank you for your attention to the Paccan nuts, and will pray you to have a top nailed on the box and to forward it by the Diligence. I am always apprehensive of things being stopped on the road in shifting from one carriage to another, or at...
3058Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 16 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
I had the happiness of receiving yesterday my daughter in perfect health. among the first things she informed me of was her promise to you, that after she should have been here a little while she would go back to pay you a visit of four or five days. she had taken nothing into her calculation but the feelings of her own heart which beat warmly with gratitude to you. she had fared very well on...
3059From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 16 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the happiness of receiving yesterday my daughter in perfect health. Among the first things she informed me of was her promise to you, that after she should have been here a little while she would go back to pay you a visit of four or five days. She had taken nothing into her calculation but the feelings of her own heart which beat warmly with gratitude to you. She had fared very well on...
3060From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 16 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favoured with your letter of the 10th. and happened just then to have received one from Mrs. Trist. She informs me that she has received a very friendly letter from Mrs. Champernoone who seems disposed to give her full information. She would not wish a further application to Mr. Trist of London, nor that the family should know she has been enquiring into their affairs. Notwithstanding...
3061To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your’s of the 10 th. inst. and am happy to hear of the success of your journey to Amsterdam. there can be no doubt of it’s ratification by Congress. would to heaven they would authorize you to take measures for transferring the debt of this country to Holland before you leave Europe. most especially is it necessary to get rid of the debt to the officers. their...
3062From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 17 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your’s of the 10th. inst. and am happy to hear of the success of your journey to Amsterdam. There can be no doubt of it’s ratification by Congress. Would to heaven they would authorize you to take measures for transferring the debt of this country to Holland before you leave Europe. Most especially is it necessary to get rid of the debt to the officers. Their...
3063From Thomas Jefferson to La Boullaye, 17 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour of now inclosing to you a letter from the American merchant who claims the reimbursement of duties on whale oil which he has been obliged to pay, contrary to the tenor of the letter of M. de Calonne. This merchant established himself here for the particular purpose of carrying into execution the orders relative to the 800,000 ₶. weight of oil mentioned in that letter....
3064From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 17 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not know till last night that my bookseller had sent off the three boxes of books which I had mentioned in a former letter that I should take the liberty of addressing to your care. I will beg the favor of you to send them all by the next packet to New-York, ordering them all to be delivered to Mr. Madison, whose address is on the box marked I.M. No. 4. and who will take charge of the...
3065From Thomas Jefferson to John Stockdale, 17 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
According to the desire expressed in your last letter I send you a book which has just appeared, of the instructive kind and fit for children. It is entitled ‘a complete course of instructions and anecdotes by Father Berenger,’ 2.v. 12 mo. Having little time to read I have been able to peruse only about 30. or 40. pages, and so far it appears to me to be one of the best things I have ever seen...
3066From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 17 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter of yesterday I threatened you with a commission on the subject of a harpsichord. This has been made for me by Kirkman and paid for by Colo. Smith. It was then carried to the shop of Mr. Walker to have the Celestini stop put to it, which is done and the instrument there now ready to be delivered. I wish it therefore to be well packed and forwarded by water to Rouen to the care of...
3067From Thomas Jefferson to Adam Walker, 17 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A servant of mine who was lately in London, informing me that he had seen my Harpsichord in your shop, finished, and ready to be delivered on my sending an order for it, I write the present to desire you to deliver it to Mr. John Trumbull or order. I do not know what arrangements Colo. Smith took for the having it packed. He is now absent. Probably it should be packed by Mr. Kirkman the maker....
3068From Thomas Jefferson to La Boullaye, 18 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honour of inclosing you a translation of my letter to the Count de Vergennes on the subject of tobacco. I took the materials for my calculation from the new Encyclopedie. I was informed that article was written by the Abbé Baudeau, and that he was well acquainted with the subject. However you will be able to set them right. It was objected that the expence of manufacturing was...
3069From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 21 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of May 9. just as I was stepping into the barge on my departure from Cette: which prevented my answering it from that place. On my arrival here, I thought I would avail myself of the opportunity of paying your balance to make a little acquaintance with Sr. John Lambert. One or two unsuccessful attempts to find him at home, with the intermediate procrastinations well known...
3070From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Fenwick, 21 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this moment honoured with your letter of the 16th. and wish it was in my power to give you the information desired [on the] subject of tobacco. The complaint has been universal that the Farmers general have not complied with the order of government. I have therefore desired that they may be called on to report precisely what tobaccos they have purchased on the terms prescribed by the...
3071From Thomas Jefferson to William Macarty, 21 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favored with your letter of the 8th. instant. I had applied to the Marquis de la Fayette to sollicit the Sauf conduit for you. A desire of avoiding every possible occasion myself of asking what may be refused, or of giving ground to make a reciprocal demand on any occasion, induced me to do this; and the Marquis’s zeal in every business respecting us, his weight and his access to every...
3072From Thomas Jefferson to Parent, 21 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Les six paniers de vin rouge et blanc sont arrivés Monsieur bien conditionnés. Nous en avons gouté et nous les trouvons bons. C’est probable qu’en automne j’aurai besoin encore de vin blanc de la meme espece, parce que c’est du blanc dont nous faisons notre principale consommation. Je conterai toujours qu’en m’adressant à vous vous pourrez m’en trouver de la meilleure qualité. Ayez la bonté de...
3073From Thomas Jefferson to Ferdinand Grand, 22 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your letter of yesterday on the subject of the accounts of the United states and of Virginia. My only object in allotting to each the articles which had been paid for them respectively was to enable you to send to the commissioners of the treasury an exact state of the advances which have been made for them: otherwise those advances will appear less than they really are....
3074From Thomas Jefferson to the Rhode Island Delegates in Congress, 22 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I was honoured, in the month of January last, with a letter from the honorable the delegates of Rhodeisland in Congress, inclosing a letter from the Corporation of Rhodeisland college to his most Christian majesty, and some other papers. I was then in the hurry of preparation for a journey into the South of France, and therefore unable at that moment to make the enquiries which the object of...
3075To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 23 July 1787 (Adams Papers)
Frouillé, the bookseller here who is engaged in having your book translated and printed, understanding that you were about publishing a sequel to it, has engaged me to be the channel of his prayers to you to favor his operation by transmitting hither the sheets of the sequel as they shall be printed; & he will have them translated by the same hand, which is a good one. It is necessary for me...
3076From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 23 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Frouillé, the bookseller here who is engaged in having your book translated and printed, understanding that you were about publishing a sequel to it, has engaged me to be the channel of his prayers to you to favor his operation by transmitting hither the sheets of the sequel as they shall be printed; and he will have them translated by the same hand, which is a good one. It is necessary for me...
3077From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Bolling, 23 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with great pleasure your letter of May 3. informing me of your health and of that of your family. Be assured that it is and ever has been among the most interesting things to me. Letters of business claiming their rights before those of affection, we often write seldomest to those whom we love most. The distance to which I am removed has given a new value to all I valued before in...
3078From 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...
3079From Thomas Jefferson to Ladevese, 23 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Je viens de recevoir, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire, et celle pour Monsieur et Mademoiselle Laurens. Je me charge tres volontier de la faire passer en Amerique ou est Monsieur Laurens actuellement, et de vous faire parvenir la reponse s’il me fera l’honneur de me la remettre. J’ai celui de vous assurer des sentiments tres respectueux avec lesquels je suis...
3080From Thomas Jefferson to Montmorin, 23 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor a few days ago of putting into the hands of Your Excellency some observations on the other articles of American produce brought into the ports of this country. That of our tobaccoes, from the particular form of their administration here and their importance to the king’s revenues, has been placed on a separate line, and considered separately. I will now ask permission to bring...
3081From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams Smith, 23 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 11th. inst. covering a draught from General Sullivan, and a letter from him. I will take care to remit a bill for paiment before it becomes due, which I observe will be on the 10th. of the next month. I should be very happy to find occasion of forwarding this by Colo. Smith in person, because that circumstance would relieve the disagreeableness of this new...
3082From Thomas Jefferson to Moustier, 24 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I must beg your pardon for having forgotten one of the two articles I was to write to London for for you. One I know was the American Atlas; but what was the other? The bearer brings you a bottle of the Frontignan wine of which I spoke to you. It has the etiquette of Monsieur Lambert the person who makes it, with whom I made acquaintance and passed some hours in his house. He is a good and...
3083From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Carr, 25 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of May 5. 1786. came to my hands January 24. 1787. My memory tells me that I have answered the article in it relative to Mr. Bernard Moore’s purchase of books of Mr. Carr’s estate; yet as I find neither a copy nor note of my letter to you on that occasion, I will repeat what I therein assured you, that I am almost perfectly certain that Mr. Moore never accounted to me for the...
3084From Thomas Jefferson to John Stockdale, 25 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Not hearing any thing yet of the books which should have come from Lackington’s and from yourself I suspect they may be lying in the warehouse of the Diligence in London, perhaps forgotten, and will beg the favor of you therefore to send there for enquiry. Send me if you please a copy of the American Atlas, latest edition and one of Mr. Adams’s books on the American constitutions. Note the...
3085From Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Barrett, 26 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Monsr. Chantrot brings your watch. I had bespoke it expressly at the price and of the quality of mine: that is to say as good as it could be made and at 576. livres. He has however so far misunderstood this as to make it cost 620 livres which is two Louis more than had been agreed on. He sais that it has been occasioned by making the gold case thicker. I have told him that I did not...
3086From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 28 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of troubling you with the inclosed bill of exchange for £46–17–10 sterling, rather than engage Mrs. Smith in so disagreeable a business. It will arrive in time I hope to cover the one drawn by General Sullivan on Colo. Smith, who certainly ought not to have been involved in the business. The parliament are obstinately decided against the stamp tax. Their last remonstrance is...
3087From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 28 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with infinite satisfaction your letter of the 1st. of March. It was the first information I had of your being in America. There is no person whom I shall see again with more cordial joy whenever it shall be my lot to return to my native country; nor any one whose prosperity in the mean time will be more interesting to me. I find as I grow older that I set a higher value on the...
3088From Thomas Jefferson to Elizabeth Wayles Eppes, 28 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of March 31. and May 7. have been duly received. The last by Polly, whose arrival has given us great joy. Her disposition to attach herself to those who are kind to her had occasioned successive distresses on parting with Capt. Ramsay first, and afterwards with Mrs. Adams. She had a very fine passage, without a storm, and was perfectly taken care of by Capt. Ramsay. He offered to...
3089From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 28 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter which you were so kind as to write to me the 22d. of May 1786. was not delivered to me till the 3d. of May 1787. when it found me in the neighborhood of Marseilles. Before that time you must have taken your degree as mentioned in your letter. Those public testimonies which are earned by merit and not by sollicitation may always be accepted without the imputation of vanity. Of this...
3090From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Skipwith, 28 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A long journey has prevented me from writing to any of my friends for some time past. This was undertaken with a view to benefit a dislocated and ill-set wrist by the mineral waters of Aix in Provence. Finding this hope vain, I was led from other views to cross the Alps as far as Turin, Milan, Genoa, to follow the Mediterranean as far as Cette, the canal of Languedoc, the Garonne &c. to Paris....
3091From Thomas Jefferson to La Boullaye, 29 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
In the observations which I submitted to the consideration of his Excellency the Count de Montmorin some time ago, a copy of which I had the honor of transmitting to Monsieur le Comtroleur general, nothing was said on the subject of tobacco, that article being placed on a very different footing from all others. I have since brought this subject also under the view of his majesty’s ministers in...
3092From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 29 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Dec. 19. 1786. I informed you that, as you had supposed in your’s of March 14. that the balance of bonds and profits of the estate to that time would pay all the debts then known to you except my sister Nancy’s, I was desirous of laying our shoulder seriously to the paiment of Farrell & Jones’s, and McCaul’s debts; that I should make propositions to them on that subject: I did...
3093From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 29 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favored with your letter of the 20th. inst. and will pay your draught for the sum due you at sight. I wish the three boxes of books may have arrived so as that the expences of them may be added to your bill, that I may be enabled to put them into the accounts I shall send by the packet which sails next. The vessel in which my seeds should have come, belonged to Shore, McConnico & Ritson,...
3094From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 30 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Having observed that the consumption of rice in this country, and particularly in this Capital was very great, I thought it my duty to inform myself from what markets they draw their supplies, in what proportion from ours, and whether it might not be practicable to increase that proportion. This city being little concerned in foreign commerce, it is difficult to obtain information on...
3095From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 30 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 23. 1786. was not received till May 3. 1787. Those of 1786. Oct. 23, 1787. Mar. 30. Apr. 14. and May 2. have duly come to hand. I wrote you on the 14th. of Dec. 1786. and again the 26. of May 1787. The latter was merely to announce a batch of wine sent you by Capt. Gregory from Bordeaux while I was there. It is now so long since I have had occasion to think on subjects of law...
3096From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, with Enclosure, 1 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A journey into the Southern parts of France and Northern of Italy must apologize to you for the length of time elapsed since my last, and for the delay of acknowleging the receipt of your favors of Nov. 8. and Dec. 9. 1786. and Apr. 14. 1787. Your two phials of essence de Lorient arrived during that interval and got separated from the letters which accompanied them, so that I could not be sure...
3097From Thomas Jefferson to Ralph Izard, 1 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to thank you for the laws and newspapers sent me by M. de Chateaufort. Your favor of April 4. has also been duly received. I am happy to find that the idea of diverting the rice trade from England to France is thought to be not impracticable. A journey which I made from Marseilles lately into Lombardy in order to acquire information relative to their rice has corrected some misinformation...
3098To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 2 August 1787 (Madison Papers)
My last was of June 20. Your’s received since that date are May 15. and June 6. In mine I acknoleged the receipt of the Paccan nuts which came sealed up. I have reason to believe those in the box are arrived at Lorient. By the Mary capt Howland lately sailed from Havre to N. York I shipped three boxes of books one marked I.M. for yourself, one marked B.F. for Doctr. Franklin, & one marked W.H....
3099From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, with Enclosure, 2 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was of June 20. Your’s received since that date are May 15. and June 6. In mine I acknoleged the receipt of the Paccan nuts which came sealed up. I have reason to believe those in the box are arrived at Lorient. By the Mary Capt. Howland lately sailed from Havre to N. York I shipped three boxes of books one marked I.M. for yourself, one marked B.F. for Doctr. Franklin, and one marked...
3100From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Barclay, with Enclosure, 3 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the receipt of your several favors of June 29. and July 6. on French’s affair, July 8. on the accounts of Virginia, July 12. with Ast’s bill , July 13. your account in the Marocco business, July 16. on La Vayse and Puchelberg’s affair and Geraud and Roland’s, July 27. and another without date on my private account . That of July 27. contained also an article of 3. muskets...