3331From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 7 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The accounts of the last week from Lisbon, announcing an actual declaration of war by France against England and Holland, when applied to the preceding note of the British court ordering the French minister to leave London (which is generally considered as preliminary to a declaration of war) now render it extremely probable that those powers are at actual war, and necessary in my opinion that...
3332From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 4 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
There are in the hands of Colo. Taylor for the use of his regiment of guards about 500 stand of arms. The regiment having gone to Maryland with the Conventioners was ordered at first to be discharged at Winchester and afterwards to be brought back to Charlottesville to be discharged there. It is therefore uncertain at which place those arms will be deposited. Besides these there were lodged in...
3333From Thomas Jefferson to J. Louis Brethoux, 21 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the receipt of the letter you did me the honour to write me on the 21st. of January together with the book on the culture of the olive tree. This is a precious present to me, and I pray you to accept my thanks for it. I am just gratified by letters from South Carolina which inform me that in consequence of the information I had given them on the subject of the olive tree,...
3334From Thomas Jefferson to A. Van Stipriaan Lúïsçiús, 3 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved the treatise describing the very ingenious Bathometer for sounding the depths of the sea, which you were so kind as to send me, and with it a model of the instrument itself. I pray you, Sir, to accept my thanks for this mark of your attention. our Nation, as a publick body, being at present engaged in no pursuit where the use of this ingenious machine could be employed, I have...
3335From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 17 January 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
This serves to advise you that I have this day drawn on you for [150]. Doll. at three days sight in favor of Mr. Charles Johnston & Co. of Richmond, which please to honor. Several little disbursements which you have made for me, of unknown amount, render it desireable to recieve a continuation of your last account. Yesterday came to hand a box of Segars, which I presume is from you. I expected...
3336From Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan, 22 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
By my letter of Jan. 13. I took the liberty of praying you to send me Hayes’s newspapers to the care of N. Jamieson of New York, by post if free, or otherwise by other opportunities. I have not yet received any: but pre[suming] on past experiences of your goodness I suppose some may [be] on the way. In the mean time experience proves to me that the French postage is exorbitant beyond...
3337[From Thomas Jefferson to George Muter, 15 February 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 15 Feb. 1781. An entry in the War Office Journal (Vi) under this date reads as follows: “The Governor, with the advice of the members present of the Council, there not being a Board, directs me to write to Capt. Browne, that he agrees to his being appointed Commissary of Military Stores, but that no sallary can be fixed at present for the Office.” Not located. Muter’s letter to...
3338Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 25 October 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter will be presented you by mr George Ticknor , a gentleman from Massachusets whose father is of distinguished standing in that state. this gentleman has been 4. years travelling and and sojourning in the different countries of Europe for the purposes of instruction, and with the same views will pass the approaching winter in Edinburg , Oxford , Cambridge and London
3339Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 10 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
It would seem mighty idle for me to inform you formally of the merits of Col o Trumbull as a painter or as a man. yet he asks my notice of him to my friends , as if his talents had not already distinguished him in their notice. on the continent of Europe his genius was placed much above West ’s. Baron Grimm , the arbiter of taste at Paris in my day, expressed to me often his decided & high...
3340From Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas Gouin Dufief, 20 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am desirous to obtain two copies of the New testament in Greek or Greek & Latin, both of the same edition exactly; and two others in English, both also of the same edition; and all four of the same format, that they may admit being bound up together. the format to be either 8vo. or 12mo. but the latter of preference. will you be so good as to endeavor to procure these for me? Accept my...
3341From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 13 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from Mr. Barclay, and one from Mr. Carmichael, of which I send you extracts, are come to hand this morning, which is in time for them to go by the same gentleman who carries my letter of the 11th. I observe what Mr. Carmichael says on the subject of the Portuguese treaty, and am sorry it meets with difficulties. I doubt however whether he ascribes them to their true cause,...
3342III. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 28 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
According to the intimation the other day, and indeed according to my own wish in a question, if not difficult, yet very important, I have the honor to inclose you a written opinion on the question Whether the US. ought to declare their treaties with France void, or suspended? This contains my answer to the 2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. and 6th. of the written queries . The 1st. had been before answered...
3343Thomas Jefferson’s Specifications for the Rotunda Planetarium, 1824?, 31 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The concave ceiling of the Rotunda is proposed to be painted sky–blue and spangled with gilt stars in their position and magnitude copied exactly from any selected hemisphere of our latitude. A seat for the Operator movable and fixable at any point in the concave, will be necessary, and means of giving to every star it’s exact position. [GRAPHIC IN MANUSCRIPT] Machinery for moving the Operator....
3344From Thomas Jefferson to the Judges of the High Court of Chancery, 5 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Executive (on the publick account) are under a Difficulty which will be sufficiently explained by the within Paper. You will perceive by that that we propose to refer the Matter to Arbitration in another State: nevertheless we suppose the only question which occasions a Doubt (that is whether if Mr Nathan took up the Bills bona Fide as he alledges, he is entitled to a paiment in hard Money...
3345From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 20th. came to hand last night. I sincerely regret that mrs Madison is not likely to be able to come on so soon as had been hoped. the probability of an extensive war on the continent of Europe strengthening every day for some time past, is now almost certain. this gives us our great desideratum, time. in truth it places us quite at our ease. we are certain of one year of...
3346From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 27 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Resuming the subject of the resolutions of the House of Delegates of Dec. 31. 1800. Jan. 16 1802. and Feb. 3. 1804. I have it not in my power to say that any change of circumstances has taken place which enables me yet to propose any specific asylum for the persons who are the subjects of our correspondence . the island of St. Domingo, our nearest and most convenient recourse, is too unsettled...
3347From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Pigott, [3 June 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Montgomery and his mother seem uneasy that such a sum in cash as 8000£ should be tied up in his hands by the marriage settlement. I apprehend this uneasiness may be removed and your daughter provided for more surely by settling lands of the value of 8000£on her for life (if she survives her husband) and after both their deaths, on the children of their joint bed in such proportions as the...
3348Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Provenchere, 8 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respectful salutations to Mons r Provenchere , and with pleasure complies with the request of M. Silvestre , with whom he has the advantage of a correspondence by sending him the inclosed letter , lately recieved under cover from M. Silvestre . PoC ( MHi
3349From Thomas Jefferson to Jones & Howell, 2 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of May 27. is recieved and I now supply the omission of my former letter by stating that it is double rolled sheet iron which I have occasion for. I have this moment recieved a letter from my workman at Monticello stating his want of the iron below described. as this want is immediate, I should be glad you could put the iron on board the first vessel going to Richmond. it will be...
3350From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe Reibelt, 31 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The books mentioned in your letter of Jan. 25. are safely recieved. in your Catalogue No. 3. pa. 25. I observe the following which be pleased to send. ✓ Arabia seu &c } edit. Elzevir in 32mo. ✓ Descriptio Africae ✓ Bohemiae ✓ Galliae ✓ Germaniae ✓ Hungariae ✓ Leudiens
3351From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 25 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 16th. was recieved on the 20th. the post having departed the day before as usual. you ask what shall be done with Shadwell? there was a wish in mr Tom Esting Randolph to have rented it. mr T M Randolph can tell whether he now wishes it. if not, let it to some one tenant, if you please, subject to my approbation which can be asked in a fortnight always. I say to some one...
3352From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 26 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved from Genl. Wilkinson, on the 23d. inst. his affidavit charging Samuel Swartwout, Peter V. Ogden, and James Alexander with the crimes described in the affidavit, a copy of which is now communicated to both houses of Congress. It was announced to me at the same time that Swartwout & Bollman, two of the persons apprehended by him, were arrived in this city, in custody each of a...
3353Thomas Jefferson to William J. Stone, 30 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 4 th and am sorry that I am totally unable to answer the questions you propose. after a lapse of between 30. and 40. years, during which I have been engaged in such a succession of scenes as occupied my mind for the time exclusively, leaving neither leisure nor occasion to look back and refresh my memory as to what had gone by, I retain not a trace of the...
3354From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 18 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to mr Jefferson, on my arrival here, to forward 1000 ℔ of lead to Monticello, and yesterday I recieved a letter from him informing me he could find but 50. ℔ of lead in all Richmond, & for that they asked 1/. the ℔ considering the price & difficulty of the article, I refer it to your consideration whether it will not be better to have the weights cast here of iron, where they will be...
3355Thomas Jefferson to Christopher Clark, 4 April 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
In the expectation of your being at Campbell superior court I sent a letter there for you, but understanding it is doubted whether you were there I write this by express to your house. the object is to engage your assistance in conjunction with mr M c lealand in obtaining attaining a writ of forcible entry & detainer against Samuel Scott , who has entered on a tract of my land adjoining him,...
3356From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 25 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Expecting to receive by tomorrow’s post a letter from Mr. Trumbull announcing an occasion of getting to America, and that I must leave this place in the same instant I have only time to acknolege the receipt of yours of Aug. 21. in due time after it’s date, to recommend to you the saving my credit as to the bill I drew on you, whenever Mr. Paradise’s remittances shall put it in your power and...
3357From Thomas Jefferson to William Barret, 30 October 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
At the date of my letter of the last month I thought I could not be surer of any thing than that I could within a few days remit you 750.D. I had the flour waiting in my mill for a shower only to enable boats to go down. yet so obstinate has been the drought that it was not till the day before yesterday that a fortunate rain enabled me to send off some boat loads, the sale of which will enable...
3358Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Jamieson, 7 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Goodman my manager here informs me you will furnish me 20. bushels of salt at 5.½ D. taking a draught on Mess rs Gibson and Jefferson , my correspondents at Richmond . I now inclose you a draught on them for 110. Dollars, which you can have remitted by mail before it will be convenient for me to send for the salt, the greater part of which I have to send for from Albemarle . Accept the...
3359Thomas Jefferson to William A. Burwell, 25 December 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
In the execution of a law for surveying our coast, a mr Hassler was employed, and procured from London in 1815 a set of the necessary mathematical and Astronomical instruments. the survey I am told has been lately relinquished, and possibly the government having no particular use for them, might be willing to accomodate our University with these instruments, at a price reasonable for them and...
3360From Thomas Jefferson to Turner Southall, Robert Goode, John Banister, William Call, and William Greene Munford, 15 … (Jefferson Papers)
For the future protection of the Stores and Country on James River it has been thought necessary to erect a defensive work at Hood’s. Among other requisites forty labouring Slaves are wanting for two months. After trying the exertions of the ordinary Officers to procure them we have been able to procure 13 only, who are to be at the place on Monday next. I must therefore resort to the aid of...