3301[From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 5 March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 5 Mch. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “[Mar.] 5. E. Rand. Hancock’s case—journal of 82. I will send but 83. not printed—information by Barney from Dr. F. Dec. 25. that Ad[ams] was gone to Hague, Jay to Bath, Laur. setting out for Amer.—Engld. not reconciled—Marq. Fayette’s letter of Dec. 26. Fox and N. out by maneuvre of king—Pitt and Temple to come in—parliament to be called—Marq....
3302From Thomas Jefferson to John Todd, 19 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter from the falls of Ohio of Dec. 22. came safely to hand. You mention therein that you have not in a twelvemonth received any letters from hence. I know not what were written before the 1st. of June last, but since that time I have written several to you. The expences attending the support of our troops in the Illinois have obliged us to call them all to the South side of the Ohio,...
3303From Thomas Jefferson to Anna Young, 4 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Immediately on reciept of your letter of Jan. 21. I referred it to the Secretary at war, who was best acquainted with the subject of it, desiring him to investigate the nature of your claim, to see whether it could be effected, and to point out the course to be pursued. he accordingly has made a thorough enquiry into it, and assures me that yours is one of a class of cases which have been...
3304From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 26 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers in the case of the Spanish ship which having put in in distress is condemned as un-seaworthy. I think it clear that the Xth. article of the Spanish treaty intended to provide for relading indifferently in any vessel, otherwise the case of wreck for which it was intended to provide would be left unprovided. but the legislative provision having been deemed more narrow, I...
3305From Thomas Jefferson to Morgan Lewis, 2 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 9. came to hand in due time, but it was not in my power to answer your enquiries as to the defence contemplated for the city of New York, until Congress should come to a decision on that subject, nor was that done till the close of the session. the means placed within our power by the laws are of 3. kinds 1. landbatteries 2. moveable artillery. 3. gunboats. As to the first...
3306Thomas Jefferson to David Howell, 15 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Our last post brought me your friendly letter of Nov. 27. I learn with pleasure that republican principles are predominant in your state , because I conscientiously believe that governments founded in them are most friendly to the happiness of the people at large; and especially of a people so capable of self government as ours. I have been ever opposed to the party, so falsely called...
3307Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 21 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 8 th is recieved with my acc t from July 10. to that day. these accounts alone enable me to settle my flour rents with those who owe them, and to know if they have delivered all which should be delivered. in proceeding to this examination for the last year, I am stopped short by a chasm in the acc ts which I possess from the 13 th of April to the 10 th of July. for this...
3308[From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 1? July 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 1? July 1780 . JHD Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia (cited by session and date of publication) , May 1780, 1827 edn., p. 71 (1 July): “The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor, enclosing several others from the President of Congress, General Washington, and the committee of co-operation, together with several resolutions of...
3309To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to your Excellency on the subject of the expedition against Detroit, the want of men, want of money & difficulty of procuring provisions, with some other reasons more cogent if possible & which cannot be confided to a letter, have obliged us to decline that object. I thought it therefore necessary to notify this to your Excellency that no expectations of our undertaking it may...
3310Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Authorization to Sell Ivy Creek Lands, 17 November 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I hereby authorise James Martin who lives adjacent to my lands on Ivy creek , to wit the 374. acres formerly Tullos’s & 100. acres formerly Stith’s , on the terms explained in conversation together, to make sale of the same which being done agreeable to the said terms, I bind myself to convey & warrant a good title in fee simple to the purchaser, witness my hand this 17 th of November 1809 SC...
3311From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, [19 April 1798] (Jefferson Papers)
the inclosed was sealed before I recollected that I have mentioned a petition instead of an address to the President, which is to be corrected. a nomination of Govr. Secretary & three judges to the Missisipi territory is sent in to the Senate , four of whom are agents, or interested in the land speculations of that country, two of them bankrupt speculators, & the 5th. unknown. the Senate...
3312From Thomas Jefferson to David Ramsay, 12 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The Mr. Fitzhughs the bearers of this letter being on the point of setting out, I have only time to inform you that after trying many booksellers and receiving a variety of propositions the best offer is of 900 livres for your book, paiable 12 months after the printing of it here shall be completed. The M. de Chastellux thinks it best to accept of this, I shall therefore do it this day. I...
3313From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Austin, Jr., 18 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
This serves to acknolege the reciept of your favor of the 7th. inst. and the pleasure I derive from the expressions of approbation which it contains. we have lately recieved the treaty and conventions for the cession of Louisiana. 11¼ millions of Dollars to the government of France, the discharge of their debts to our citizens under the Convention of 1800. not to exceed 20. Millions of francs,...
3314From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 19 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last which was of the 14th. a Monsr. Leblanc, agent from Desfourneaux has come to town. he came in the Retaliation, and a letter from Desfourneaux, of which he was the bearer, now inclosed, will correct some circumstances in my statement relative to that vessel which were not very material. it shews at the same time that she was liberated without condition. still it is said , but I...
3315Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Leake, 9 March 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of Feb. 26. and am sorry it is not in my power to give you the least information on the subject of it’s enquiry. you have justly imagined that a lapse of half a century, filled up with business of various kinds would probably have erased the recollection of the circumstances you mention. they have so compleatly done it as not to have left a single trace of them...
3316Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 21 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 12 th is recieved and also the Nautical Almanacs for 1811. 12. for which accept my thanks as well as for the artificial horizon proposed to be forwarded. as it would be liable to be broken, it would come best by some of the vessels sailing daily from Philadelphia to Richmond addressed to me to the care of Mess rs Gibson & Jefferson merchants at Richmond , adding ‘ to be...
3317To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 April 1826 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Wirt declined the offices proposed to him. Mr. Lomax has accepted the Professorship of Law, and will open his school on the 1st. day of July. He has paid us a visit, and his appointment appears to have given the highest degree of satisfaction to every body, Professors Students, Neighbors, and to none more than to myself. We have now 166. students, and on the opening of the Law school, we...
3318Thomas Jefferson to William Caruthers, 7 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in due time your favor of July 21 . informing me you had in your hands a sum of about 90.D. recieved for me as rent for the salt-petre cave at the Natural bridge , and asking it as a donation for the female academy of that neighborhood. I have ever believed that the duty of contribution to charitable institutions would produce the greatest sum of good by every one’s devoting what...
3319From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 8 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege your friendly letter of Feb. 9. as well as a former one . before that came to hand an arrangement had been settled; and in our country you know, talents alone are not to be the determining circumstance, but a geographical equilibrium is to a certain degree expected. the different parts in the union expect to share the public appointments. the character you pointed out was...
3320From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Castaing, 1 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with real pain that I am informed of the difficulties of your present situation, and the more so as it is utterly out of my power to relieve them. There is neither authority nor money in the hands of any person here to discharge the arrearages of interest, nor do I know any person who is in the habit of purchasing those claims; nor am I able to suggest to Mr. Grand any other arrangement...
3321From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In conversation with mr Gallatin yesterday as to what might be deemed the result of our Tuesday’s conferences, he seemed to have understood the former opinion as not changed, to wit that for the Floridas East of Perdido might be given not only the 2. millions of dollars and a margin to remain unsettled, but an absolute relinquishment from the North river to the bay of St. Bernard and Colorado...
3322From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Carter, 31 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
On the reciept of your favour of the 17th. I applied to Mr. Willing, President of the bank, to answer your enquiry as to loans of money on a deposit of lands. He assured me it was inadmissible by the laws of their institution.—From subsequent enquiries and information here I am the more confirmed in my opinion of the superior advantages of Edinburgh for the study of physic, and also in point...
3323Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Biddle, 20 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter from mr Paul Allen of Philadelphia , I was informed that other business had obliged you to turn over to him the publication of Gov r Lewis’s journal of his Western expedition; and he requested me to furnish him with any materials I could for writing a sketch of his life. I now inclose him such as I have been able to procure, to be used with any other information he may have...
3324From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 November 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I omitted in my letter of the 23d to say any thing on the subject of mr Wirt; which however was necessary only for form’s sake, because I had promised it. you know he is a candidate for the clerkship of your house, you know his talents, his worth, & his republicanism; & therefore need not my testimony, which could otherwise be given for him in the strongest form on every point. the desirable...
3325From Thomas Jefferson to John Woodard, 1 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of Nov. 24. and am sorry that I am not able to serve your wishes: but there neither is, nor has been a single vacancy in the clerkships in my office since I came to it. I found them all filled, and continued the same gentlemen as was just, so that I have not had a single appointment to make. I am Sir Your very humble servt., PrC ( DLC ). Woodard’s letter, dated...
3326Thomas Jefferson to Lewis D. Belair, 31 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieve with due sensibility the mark of attention which the benevolent institution , in whose name your letter of the 21 st is written, has been pleased to manifest, by proposing me as an honorary member of their institution. aged, & distant as I am little benefit to the society can result from my services: but such as they may be will be at their command. of this Sir, be pleased to assure...
3327From Thomas Jefferson to Dabney Carr, 26 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your letter, covering an order of J. Perry for £108.15. to be paid in May, and I hold it subject to your direction without acceptance, but on such modifications as you & mr Perry shall agree on. by my agreement with him I am to remit him, or pay to his order 100. D. a month. I have paid an order of his of 50. D. for this month & hold the other 50. at his order. you must...
3328Thomas Jefferson to Isaac A. Coles, 18 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
At our last court it was settled with the county surveyor that he should attend to make the survey in the case of Col o Monroe & mr Short on Wednesday next the 21 st inst. he will come here the overnight, so as to be ready to begin it early the next day, that he may finish it in the day. I must ask the favor of you to come and let us make a close of this business. I wish you could come the...
3329From Thomas Jefferson to John Brown Cutting, 28 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
When I had the honour of writing you on the 24th. inst. the transactions on the Black sea were but vaguely known. I am now able to give them to you on better foundation. The Captain Pacha was proceeding with succours to Oczakoff as is said by some (for this fact does not come on the same authority with the others), the authentic account placing the two fleets in the neighborhood of each other...
3330From Thomas Jefferson to John Thomson Mason, 12 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this day recieved your letter of resignation , with regret altho’ not unexpectedly; and have in consequence written to propose the office to mr Jones. as his acceptance is uncertain, and we have no time to lose in making the appointment, will you be so good in the meantime as to give me your opinion between mr Sprigg recommended by you, and John Bowie Ducket who has been recommended by...