2701Thomas Jefferson to Hugh Holmes, 21 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you the letter to mr Cathalan of Marseilles which you request in yours of the 6 th . let me advise you by all means, besides the wine of Nice , to desire from him some of Bergasse’s claret. be assured you will find it a fine wine, superior to most of what can be bought in America , and it will cost you there 24. francs, say a guinea the box of 24. bottles. A fter the pleasure of...
2702Thomas Jefferson to Frederick A. Mayo, 21 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Doubting whether my box of books may have yet got to your hands, on account of the low state of our river and having since recieved sundry pamphlets which I wish to have bound up with those sent, I now send them in a s eparate package by mail. each contains a direction into what volume it is to be inserted. I salute you respectfully PoC ( MHi ); on verso of portion of a reused address cover...
2703Thomas Jefferson to Francis Preston, 21 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I send with pleasure an introductory letter for your son to mr Stewart . with mr Leslie I have not a personal acquaintance, and must have expressed myself carelessly if you to have been otherwise understood. me otherwise indirect circumstances would give me a right to apply to him with confidence on behalf of our College , but no claim on his personal attentions.
2704Thomas Jefferson to David M. Randolph (1798–1825), 21 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments & thanks to mr Randolph for the information in his letter of the 14 th instant respecting the bricklayer. should the legislature adopt the Central College for the site of their University advertisements will be immediately put into the public papers for undertakers of the brickwork and Carpentry & house joinery, from which every one will learn in what way...
2705Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 21 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The messenger who carried yesterday to the Post-office a copy of our University Report which I put under cover to you, brought in return your favor of the 12 th and it’s kind enquiries after my health. a single Bulletin now suffices on that subject, as I find my health and strength quite restored; for altho some effects of the waters are still sensible, they are wearing off so steadily that I...
2706Thomas Jefferson to Dugald Stewart, 21 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of this letter is mr Preston , son of the present Governor of Virginia . he is not known to me personally; but my assurances are from such a source as secure me in taking on myself to vouch for his worth and correctness of conduct and character. he proposes to pass the present winter in Edinburgh and wishes of course to be known to those whose characters have given them eminence...
2707Thomas Jefferson’s Bill to Establish a University, [between 19 November and 14 December 1818] (Jefferson Papers)
A Bill for the establishment of an University. Be it declared by the General assembly of Virginia that the conveyance of the lands and other property appur t aining to the Central college in the county of Albemarle which has been executed by the Proctor thereof under authority of the subscribers and founders , to the President and Directors of the literary fund , is hereby accepted, for...
2708Thomas Jefferson to Jean Guillaume Hyde de Neuville, 13 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank your Excellency for the notice, with which your letter favors me, of the liberation of France from the occupation of the allied powers. to no one, not a native, will it give more pleasure. in the desolation of Europe to gratify the atrocious caprices of Bonaparte , France sinned much: but she has suffered more than retaliation. once relieved from the Incubus of her late oppression, she...
2709Thomas Jefferson to Alfred H. Dashiell, 11 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 1. has been duly recieved. altho’ age & declining health and strength would render me much averse from placin g myself before the public on any occasion; yet the duty of bearin g testimony to the truth of any fact within my knolege , would over r ule t hat reluctance: to go beyond my knolege , would be more than error on the other side. on one of my visits to Bedford I...
2710Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Knox, 11 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 30. was recieved on the 9 th inst. the institution to which your letter relates, was proposed at first to be established, on private subscriptions, under the name of the Central College . these subscriptions amounting to not more than 50,000.D we expected to employ not more than 2. or 3. professors. on petitioning the legislature for some constitutional regulations for it,...
2711Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 9 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The first mail after the reciept of your favor of the 3 d instant , carries the present with the blank notes for renewal. M r Yancey assured me he would have my Bedford flour down in all November ; which I hope he has effected. I drew on you on the 7 th inst. in favor of Th: J.
2712Thomas Jefferson to Lewis D. Belair, 9 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Nov. 26. is recieved and enables me to ascertain the amount of the cost of the books I have rec d and those I wish now to be forwarded, and I accordingly inclose you 90. Dollars in bills of the bank of the US. in Philadelphia . I shall subjoin the list of the books, and the prices as I read them in your several letters. you will observe that I desire a 2 d copy of Planche ’s...
2713Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 9 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have long ceased to read newspapers, except a single one of my own state, and that chiefly for the advertisements. perfectly resigned as a passenger to those who are navigating the vessel of state, and with entire confidence in them, I scarcely enquire, or wish to know what is passing. age has relieved me from these cares, and now calls for tranquility & rest. under these circumstances it is...
2714Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Milligan, 9 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent yesterday to Milton a box of books to be forwarded to you by mr Gray . it contains 32. volumes to be bound. there is in each a note how it is to be lettered, and some of these notes express that the book is to have a neat plain binding. all the rest are to be bound in your best manner. I wish you could see the books I recieve from Paris . they are equal to the best English work in...
2715Thomas Jefferson to Hezekiah Niles, 9 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson incloses to mr Niles a five Dollar bill of the bank of Virginia which he believes pays for the Weekly Register till Sep. 18. of the ensuing year , and salutes him with esteem & respect . PoC ( DLC ); on verso of a reused address cover from James Monroe to TJ; dateline at foot of text; endorsed by TJ as a letter to “Niles Henry” and so recorded (with additional bracketed notation...
2716Thomas Jefferson to John Wood (of New York), 9 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
It is so very troublesome and difficult to make small and fractional remittances into other states. a proof of this is my present remittance of a 5. Dollar note of the Bank of Virginia , because one of the US. bank cannot be had in this interior part of the country. this I believe pays my subscription to the New York sales report to the end of the present year, after which, for the reason...
2717Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 7 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 31 (for Dec. 1. I suppose) came to hand last night, and your communication of my letter to mr Adams is entirely approved, as our friendly sentiments are fully reciprocal. no one can sympathise with him on his late loss more sincerely than I do. I am withdrawing from newspapers, and therefore write the inclosed for the editors of the National Intelligencer, which I leave open...
2718Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Fillebrown, 7 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns to mr Fillebrown the pamphlet he has been so kind as to send him with thanks for it’s communication. he trusts that the drastic medecines which have been administered to the unfortunate subjects of this work will have cured them of their past complaints and prevent a return of them. he considers the whole effect of the Hartford Convention as having been very salutary. he...
2719Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Gales (1786–1860), 7 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have long ceased to read newspapers, except a single one of my own state , & that chiefly for the advertisements. perfectly resigned as a passenger to the steerage of those who are navigating the vessel of State, & with entire confidence in them, I scarcely enquire or wish to know what is passing. age has relieved me from these cares, and now calls for tranquility and rest. under these...
2720Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 7 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
It is long since I have ceased to read any newspaper but yours , and I shall continue to read no other. withdrawing therefore from all others I pray you to have me discontinued as a subscriber to the Compiler. should the legislature have the report of the University Commissioners printed in a pamphlet be so good as to send me half a dozen copies. mr Gibson as usual will pay you for these as...
2721Thomas Jefferson to John Vaughan, 7 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday from mr Appleton of Leghorn a letter of Aug. 26. in which he says ‘ your letter of Apr. 4. was accompanied by one from mr John Vaughan , mentioning that he then inclosed a bill of exchange by S. Girard on Lafitte & co. Paris for francs 2415. ₶ but no such bill was found therein by me.’ he has probably written the same to you, and I have no doubt the inadvertence has been...
2722Thomas Jefferson’s Anecdotes of Benjamin Franklin, [ca. 4 December 1818] (Jefferson Papers)
Our revolutionary process, as is well known, commenced by petitions, memorials, remonstrances E t c from the old Congress . these were followed by a non-importation agreement, as a pacific instrument of coercion. while that was before us, and sundry exceptions, as of arms, ammunition E t c were moved from different quarters of the house, I was sitting by D r Franklin and observed to him that I...
2723Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 4 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the Nov. 8. has been some time recieved; but it it is in my power to give little satisfaction as to it’s enquiries. D r Franklin had many political enemies, as every character must which, with decision enough to have opinions, has energy & talent to give them effect on the feelings of the adversary opinion. these enmities were chiefly in Pensylvania & Massachusets . in the former they...
2724Thomas Jefferson to Frederick A. Mayo, 30 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just made up two boxes of pamphlets which I send to Milton to be forwarded to you by the boats of that place so soon as the state of the river will permit. these contain 39 volumes of which 38. are to be half bound only, moderately gilt on the backs, lettered according to the papers stuck in them respectively, corresponding with the list on the next page, th and their leaves to be...
2725Thomas Jefferson to Burgess Allison, 29 November [1818] (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, Sir , for the pamphlet you have been so kind as to send me on Naval architecture. retired from the business of the world, enfeebled in body by age & relaxed in mind I cease to interest pay attention wherever I can be excused from it. the improvement appears probable and beautiful, and I wish well to every thing which may better the condition of man, and to nothing more than what...
2726Thomas Jefferson to Cérès de Montcarel, 29 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mad e Montcarel , and on the subject of the University proposed to be established near Charlottesville he must refer her to a report of Commissioners to the legislature which will probably be published on their meeting. by that she will percieve that the institution not being yet definitively decided on, the persons of course, are not yet appointed to...
2727Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Milligan, 29 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 20 th is just now recieved. the book of gardening had come to hand in due time, and I observe in it some useful additions; particularly that on the vine. the 2. copies of Tracy were also recieved, and one of them immediately put un d er cover for M r Tracy . for these books accept my thanks. the 10. copies shall be distributed to such gentlemen as I think most likely to recommend...
2728Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 28 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter of Oct. 6. I requested the favor of you to send me Griesbach ’s Greek testament, the 8 vo & full edition, and The New testament in an improved version on the basis of Newcome ’s translation which, altho’ published in Boston , I supposed could be had in Philadelphia . hearing nothing of them I conjecture they are either forgotten or not to be had in Philadelphia . I would rather...
2729Thomas Jefferson to James H. McCulloch, 28 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Beasley our Consul at Havre in a letter of Sep. 28. informs me that the ship Dumfries , by which he sends that letter, bound for Baltimore , brings a box of books for me. I have no letter or invoice from my bookseller , but shall doubtless soon recieve one. if it is permitted by the rules of the office to reship them before a settlement of the duties, I will pray you to forward them to Richm d
2730Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Brent, 27 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I trouble you now, as heretofore with my letters to Europe . the bulk is rendered larger than heretofore by the addition of a book. but the trouble will be less repeated my present letters amounting in fact to letters of leave to my European correspondence. the advance of years & decline of health oblige me to withdraw from all unnecessary correspondence, and none being is less necessary or...
2731Thomas Jefferson to James Brownlee, 27 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 9 th never reached me until the 23 d . it was impossible, my good Sir, that you could have applied to a person less capable of serving you. long retired from the world and it’s business, paying no attention to new regulation, going no where, seeing no body but those who accidentally come here, I am totally ignorant of the steps to be taken to obtain your right, nor have I...
2732Thomas Jefferson to John C. Calhoun, 27 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with great reluctance trespasses on the labors of the Secretary at war, merely to remind him of the case of M. Poirey , aid de camp and Secretary to Gen l la Fayette ; lest in the overwhelming mass of his duties it might escape his notice. he salutes him with assurance of his great personal esteem and high respect. PoC ( DLC ); on verso of reused address cover of otherwise...
2733Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 27 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very sensible of the kind indulgence expressed in your letter of yesterday which lays me under an obligation the more to prevent your suffering by it if in my power, & will still if possible raise the money by a sale of property. my grandson had mentioned to me that a woman of mine who has 5. children and no husband had expressed a wish to be sold . I had a meeting with him yesterday, and...
2734Thomas Jefferson to Henry E. Watkins, 27 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your fav r of the 6 th did not get to hand till the 23 d and I now with pleasure send you as much of the Succory seed as can well go under the volume of a letter. as I mentioned to our Colleagues at the Gap , I had forgotten which of them expressed a willingness to try this plant; and therefore I have waited for their application having taken care to have a plenty of seed saved. Sow the seed...
2735Thomas Jefferson to Peter Poinsot, 25 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of May 18. and it’s duplicate were recieved in Aug. and September . in proposing me to you as an agent to look after yo ur lands on the Kanhaway , my deceased friend General Kosciusko must have considered me as continuing stationary at what I was when he last saw me. I then retained health and vigor enough of body & mind to be useful to others. but 20. additional years have made...
2736Thomas Jefferson to Destutt de Tracy, 24 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I am at length enabled to write to you with some degree of courage, because I can accompany my letter with a copy of the translation of your valuable book on Political economy, which at length we have got thro’ the press. the horrible delay has proceeded from the unfaithful conduct of the 1 st and 2 d undertakers of the work , and my great distance from them. this put it out of my power to...
2737Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 24 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of July 22 . was most acceptable to me, by the distinctness of the view it presented of the state of France . I rejoice in the prospect that that country will so soon recover from the effects of the depression under which it has been laboring; and especially I rejoice in the hope of it’s enjoying a government as free as perhaps the state of things will yet bear. it appears to me...
2738Thomas Jefferson to David Bailie Warden, 24 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Age and declining health have very much disabled me from the duties of correspondence, or your several kind favors should not have been unacknoleged. I am just now recovering from an illness of 3. months, and have hardly yet taken my place at the writing table. so uneasy indeed have the labors of that become from these causes that I have been obliged to retire from all general correspondence....
2739Thomas Jefferson to Lewis D. Belair, 23 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved from M r Redory the information asked as to the rest of the books named in my letters of Oct. 27. & 31. and I request you to lay by for me the Pliny Fr. & Lat. the Dictionnaire Bibliographe, and Denis d’Halicarnasse . I presume I may expect in a very few days answers to the enquiries of my letter of Nov. 16.
2740Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 23 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The hand of age, my dear friend, has been pressing heavily on me for the few last years, and has rendered me unequal to the punctualities of correspondence. my health too is lately very much broke n down by an illness of three months from which I am but now on the recovery. if therefore I am slack in acknoleging the reciept of your much valued letters, your goodness will ascribe it to it’s...
2741Thomas Jefferson to John Stevens, 23 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Age, and it’s conseq uent infirmities of body & relaxation of mind, have obliged me to retire from all general correspondence. I am no longer equal to the labors of the writing table. there is moreover a natural term when age sho uld know itself, withdraw from observation, and leave to the new gene ration the management of it’s own concerns. with m y best wishes in favor of every improvement...
2742Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 22 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The reverend mr Weems called on me a few days ago on the subject of your letter of Oct. 6. and recieved the same answer which I had given to yourself in mine of the 25 th in the course of our conversation however I mentioned to him that there was indeed a history of England which, could we get it reprinted, I would risk the presumption of inviting the attention of readers to it, meaning...
2743Thomas Jefferson to Linn Banks and Edward Watts, 20 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The Commissioners appointed under the act of the last General assembly for appropriating a part of the revenue of the literary fund, and for other purposes, met according to law, at the Rockfish gap , on the 1 st day of August last , and having continued their session by adjournments until the 4 th day of that month , agreed to a Report , which being signed in Duplicates, individually and...
2744Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 20 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I very much lament the cause which has deprived us of the pleasure of seeing mrs Cabell and yourself at Monticello on your way to Richmond . I now commit to your care a letter to be delivered to the Speaker of the Senate , which contains the Report of the Commissioners who met at Rockfish gap . having been written in great haste, and by several hands, dividing the work in order to expedite...
2745Thomas Jefferson to Lewis D. Belair, 16 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have safely recieved Planche ’s Dict y Cortès & the Log. of la Land , and your letter of the 6 th inst. is this moment recieved. I decide at once to take Ducange , Cabanis , Saluste
2746To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 13 November 1818 (Adams Papers)
The public papers, my dear friend, announce the fatal event of which your letter of Oct. 20. had given me ominous foreboding. tried myself, in the school of affliction, by the loss of every form of connection which can rive the human heart, I know well, and feel what you have lost, what you have suffered, are suffering, and have yet to endure. the same trials have taught me that, for ills so...
2747Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 13 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The public papers, my dear friend, announce the fatal event of which your letter of Oct. 20. had given me ominous foreboding. tried myself, in the school of affliction, by the loss of every form of connection which can rive the human heart, I know well, and feel what you have lost, what you have suffered, are suffering, and have yet to endure. the same trials have taught me that, for ills so...
2748Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 11 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I take up my pen merely to answer the kind anxiety you are so good as to express in yours of the 17 th Oct. respecting my health. I am recovering steadily but have not yet got out of doors; but I think within a very few days I shall be able to get on my horse, to me the most sovereign of all Doctors. Affectionately Adieu. PoC ( MHi ); on verso of reused address cover of John H. Hall to TJ, 15...
2749Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Kean, 11 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ strangers personally, we are not so in character, and on this ground I take the liberty of addressing you on a subject interesting to both. with great confidence in the aids of medecine as far as experience has approved it’s processes, I have in absolute abhorrence the fanciful and ephemeral theories under which dashing practitioners are so wantonly sporting with human life. our country...
2750Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 11 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Oct. 23. is recieved, and I trust you have silenced the Critic on your Decln of Indepdce, as I am sure you must have satisfied every sound judge. painters as well as poets have their licence. without this the talent of imagination would be banished from the art, taste and judgment in composition would be of no value, and the mechanical copyist of matter of fact would be on a footing...