2951Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin O. Tyler, 26 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 14 th is just now recieved, and I return you my thanks for the indulgence with which you are pleased to consider the part it has fallen to my lot to bear in the transactions of our country. the times in which I have happened to live placed the efforts of all under requisition, and mine have no claim but for a well intended zeal. the Engraving you propose to publish of the...
2952Thomas Jefferson to James Baker, 24 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respectful compliments to mr Baker , and asks the favor of him to send him a kental of good dumb fish and ½ doz. kegs of tongues and sounds, for which mr Gibson will be so kind as to make payment as before . the bearer mr Gilmore will bring them safely & immediately.
2953Thomas Jefferson to James Oldham, 24 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Cap t Oldham and asks the favor of him to select for him 4. good mortise doorlocks, of brass & plain for doors 1 ⅜ & 1 16 thick, that is to say 1 ½ I. wanting 1 16 mr Gibson will be so kind as usual to pay for them, and the bearer mr Gilmore
2954Thomas Jefferson to John Armstrong, 20 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
A M. Jullien , one of the literati of France proposes to write the history of Gen l Kosciuzko , and requests me to obtain for him the materials for that part of it which he passed in the service of the US. of this I know nothing myself, for I believe I hardly knew Kosciuzko personally during the revolutionary war. our intimacy began on his last visit to America . I imagine you knew more of him...
2955Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 20 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 16 th and am thankful for your attention to my wants. I saw William Johnson the evening before his boat started last. he told me that he should not go down himself, but that his brother would, and he would be answerable for every thing trusted to him as if to himself. I was on horseback and at the river side, so could not give him a written order, but...
2956Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 20 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
A few days before I recieved your favor of the 16 th I had recieved one from a friend in Massachusets , shewing their sensibility on the imputed claim of our having given the ‘first impulse to the ball of the revolution.’ I cannot better answer your letter than by sending you an extract from the answer I gave to that , which I now do. it does not however appear to me that this question is...
2957Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 15 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 11 th came to hand last night only, and we have no mail setting out for Richmond until the 17 th . I am sorry for this lapse, and had I known that unstamped paper (as that you inclose) would do, I would have prevented it. I now return you the two notes signed, and as I shall go to Bedford the 2 d week of April and not be back till the first week in May, I inclosed inclose a...
2958Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 15 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
If I could refuse you any thing, it would be the request in your’s of the 9 th to submit to the operation of having my bust taken. of all operations it is the most revolting, whether you stand, as was Ciracchi ’s method, or lie down and have your face plaistered over with gypsum , as was Houdon ’s or sit as with the painters. I have no doubt of mr Coffee ’s talents from what you say of him;...
2959Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 15 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
The injury which the grinding of plaister does to the mill, and the offence it gives to our bread customers hav e obliged me to make it a rule to grind plaister for nobody but myself. it shall be done for you however on this occasion. but my water wheel has given out, and we are now engaged in renewing it. this will not be compleated till about a week before which time I wish your plaister to...
2960Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Burwell, 14 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Feb. 17. found me suffering under an attack of rheumatism, which has but now left me at sufficient ease to attend to the letters I have recieved. A plan of female education has never been a subject of systematic contemplation with me. it has occupied my attention so far only as the education of my own daughters occasionally required. considering that they would be placed in a...
2961Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s List of Recommended Books for Female Education, [ca. 14 March 1818] (Jefferson Papers)
Les voyages d’ Anacharsis Gillies ’s history of Greece . 4. v. 8 v o Gillies ’s history of the world. 3. v. 8 v o Livy . Eng. Sallust . Eng. by Gordon . 12 m o
2962Thomas Jefferson to Joel Yancey, 14 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 5 th has been recieved. I prefer sending the flour to Richmond . it is more convenient to concentrate all my funds in one hand; and it also increases confidence in my correspondent , so that if at any time I have occasion to overdraw, he knows himself sure of recieving the funds. Lynchburg too is no wheat market. while they were offering 9/ there it was & is 13/6 and 14/ at...
2963Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 13 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s & Francis’s of Feb. 14. were recieved in due time. you have seen by the newspapers what our legislature has done on the subject of an University. the centrality & salubrity of Charlottesville excite strong expectations that the site of the Central College will be adopted for that. but this cannot be known until the next session of the legislature. in the mean while we shall go on with...
2964Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Milligan, 13 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Mine of Feb. 18. informed you I had desired mr Gibson to remit you 100.D. on account which he writes me he has done. the object of the present is to let you know I shall set out for Bedford the 10 th of April & be back by the 10 th of May which may govern you in sending the proof sheets of Tracy . I shall hope on my return to find my Tacitus here.
2965Thomas Jefferson to Peter Jefferson Archer, 10 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Feb. 8. was long on the road & found me suffering under an attack of Rheumatism, which has but now left me at sufficient ease to attend to letters which have been recieved. these occasional infirmities, with the lethargising advance of years, render me dayly daily less and less qualified to pursue any continued object; and I have no doubt therefore that you have younger friends,...
2966Thomas Jefferson to Edward Graham, 10 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I am indebted to you for your favor of Jan. 24. and the courses of my lands at the Natural bridge . I will certainly be there in autumn with a view to the running and settling my lines with my neighbors, and shall ask your assistance; but as there is no reason why you should lie till then out of the fee for your past service, I now inclose you a five dollar bill, which I trust will go safe by...
2967Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Henry (of Rockbridge County), 10 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved no answer from D r Thornton to my offers to let him off of the lease of the Bridge , I consider the lease as continuing. I pray you therefore to do nothing with any of his works in consequence of my conversations with you while I expected he would give up the lease and to consider those works as still at his sole command. I shall certainly be with you in autumn to get my lines...
2968Thomas Jefferson to Philip Thornton, 10 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
On a visit to the Natural bridge the last summer I learnt that you had, for some time, suspended the manufacture of shot at that place. supposing therefore you might wish to get rid of the lease, I wrote you from Poplar Forest on the 17 th of Aug. that, if you chose it to surrender it, it might be considered as having ended on whatever day you had shut up the manufacture. having recieved no...
2969Thomas Jefferson to John Martin Baker, 9 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 18. found me suffering under an attack of rheumatism which has but just now left me at sufficient ease to attend to letters recieved. this rendered it impossible to have made in time the application you requested to the President, even could it have been made properly. but after the considerations I had urged on him when here, and the dispositions he expressed I could not...
2970Thomas Jefferson to David Gelston, 9 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
In your letter of Feb. 6. you were so kind as to inform me that you had that day shipped my wines on board the schooner Brilliant , Cap t Black , belonging to Richmond . having heard nothing of her since, and that date having been followed by a month of dreadful weather , I am become quite uneasy lest some accident should have befallen her. it is to relieve this that I trouble you to say in a...
2971Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 9 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 6 th day of Feb. mr Gelston of N. York shipped for me at that place a supply of wines from Marseilles on board the schooner Brilliant , Cap t Black , belonging to Richmond , addressing them to mess rs Gibson & Jefferson
2972Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Austin, 3 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 19. is just now received covering a paper on the subject of crimes and punishments. this is certainly among the most difficult subjects for which government has to provide. capital punishments for every thing, as in England , is revolting to human nature, a violation of human rights, & ineffectual, as is there proved . labor, in their own society is pernicious, as you...
2973Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waterhouse, 3 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved your favor of Feb. 20. in which you observe that mr Wirt , in pa. 47. of his Life of Patrick Henry , quotes me as saying that ‘ mr Henry certainly gave the first impulse to the ball of revolution.’ I well recollect to have used some such expression in a letter to him; and am tolerably certain that, our own state being the subject under contemplation, I must have used it...
2974Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 1 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in due time your favor of Jan. 23. and the work of Asserius also by mail. Hutton & Guicciardini will doubtless arrive ere long. the amount of these is stated at 17.75 D and I now inclose you 25.D. in bank bills of the US. presuming to request you to pay to mr Dobson my subscription for the 2. volumes of the American register, which he, I believe has printed. I will thank you for a...
2975Thomas Jefferson to Charles Simms, 1 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 23. is just recieved, informing me of the arrival of 2. boxes of wine for me, and that the amount of duties and office fees is 22.D. which sum I therefore now inclose, and have to ask the favor of you to send them by the first safe vessel bound to Richmond to the address of Mess rs Gibson & Jefferson of that place who will pay freight & other costs and forward them to me. I...
2976Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 26 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of the 20. & 22. came to hand last night. I congratulate you sincerely on having something begun on the subject of education. whatever be it’s faults, they will lead to correction. you seem to doubt whether mr Madison would serve if named a Commissioner for the location E t c of the University? but there can be no doubt that he would, & it is most important that he should. as...
2977Thomas Jefferson to Victor Adolphus Sasserno, 22 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
In April 1787. I passed some days at Nice where I had the pleasure of becoming personally acquainted with your father , an opportunity of estimating the worth of his character, and the benefit of recieving many civilities from him. he has now left us, and it is therefore too late for his gratification, but not so for mine, to prove my sense of his kindnesses by rendering a service to his son....
2978Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 21 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I am the more indebted for your friendly letter of Feb. 13. mentioning the charges against Cathalan , because a long, an intimate and personal acquaintance with him interest my wishes for his welfare, so far as justice permits; while I certainly should not be his advocate if guilty of serious delinquencies of office. but I observe that all these complaints have originated since mr Fitch began...
2979Thomas Jefferson to Peter S. Du Ponceau, 19 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
your favor of Jan. 24. was duly recieved, and I now inclose you the supplements for the three hiatuses in your MS. all your references were found satisfactorily except that of March 9 th to the words ‘bush, which is a beautiful evergreen, & may be cut into any shape.’ I found no such words under that date in the folio MS. and therefore had the whole of that day copied. it is the only instance...
2980Thomas Jefferson to Everard Hall, 19 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Jan. 19. came to hand on the 15 th inst. only. the experience of two wars has proved that the making of salt within ourselves is as important as the manufacture of gunpowder and arms; and I sincerely wish well to your undertaking. but I have so long withdrawn from all attention to things of that kind, and have particularly been so little acquainted with the construction of salt...
2981Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Thweatt, 19 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 11 th is just recieved. mr Wayles was certainly interested in Byrd ’s lottery, but chiefly I believe in partnership with others. you remember to have seen in Skelton ’s account a charge for tickets in partnership with him. but I never heard him or any other speak of having any prizes. had any been drawn by him & B. Skelton , it would surely have been ferreted out by...
2982Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 19 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 27. was duly recieved, and I now inclose you Tracy ’s tract on the certainty of the operations of the human understanding. he rests them on our sensations, of which we are very certain, and on this basis erects demonstrations irresistably cogent, I think, against Scepticism, a disease of the mind so uncomfortable that it is charity to exhibit it’s cure, if there exists one....
2983Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ewell, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to D r Ewell and his thanks for the elegant copy of Hume ’s essays which he has been so kind as to send him thro’ mr Millegan . he is happy to believe that the American taste is likely to do justice to the publication of these able essays, and considers D r Ewell as meriting their gratitude by furnishing them with so useful a publication. PoC ( DLC ); on...
2984Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Our late cold and snowy weather has prevented me for some days from riding as far as my mills, but I take for granted Johnson has now on board his boats, which are on their way down, about 100 Bar. of flour, which with a remnant of 20. or 30. Barrels still to go makes up the last years crop of this place of about 320. Barrels. from Bedford there will not be more than 30. Barrels, the fly...
2985Thomas Jefferson to William F. Gray, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kind intervention in the passage of books between mr Millegan and myself is too great a convenience to me not to entitle you to my best thanks which I give you with a just sense of the favor. I lately recieved thro’ you a box in good order, and this day send another for him addressed to your care. his bindings are so much superior to any thing which can be done in America , even by the...
2986Thomas Jefferson to David Hosack, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved some time ago from M. Thouin , Director of the Botanical or King’s garden at Paris , a box containing an assortment of seeds, Non-American, and therefore presumably acceptable to the American botanist. finding it more and more necessary to abridge the catalogue of my cares, this is among that which I have struck from it. I have therefore this day sent t he box to Richmond to the...
2987Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Milligan, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved the box of books lately sent me, in good condition and well bound, and I this day send you another of 10. or 12. vols, which I will pray you to bind and return with all the dispatch the solidity of the work will admit , . the Tacitus I particularly want. I rec d also the vols of Grimm from mr Walsh , the 2. vols of Cook for mr Carr which are delivered to him, & the
2988Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 15. is recieved, and I am indebted to you for others; but the torpitude of increasing years, added to a stiffening wrist making writing a slow & painful operation, makes me also a slow correspondent. I promised you a plough so long ago that I dare say you have forgot it: but I have this day sent it to Richmond to be forwarded to you. I claim nothing in it but the mould board...
2989Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have taken the liberty of addressing to your care by mr Carr ’s boats a plough to be forwarded to mr Peale in Philadelphia , and a box of seeds to be forwarded by water to D r Hosack of N. York , for the botanical garden there, being the articles I formerly mentioned to you that I should be likely to trouble you with. I am glad of every occasion of assuring you of my friendship & respect....
2990Thomas Jefferson to John Vaughan, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of your favors of Jan. 22. & Feb. 12. with expressions of my deep felt grief at the deplorable loss of D r Wistar . altho Philadelphia possesses a large stock of worth and science, yet such a loss would make a sensible void in any city whatever. the continuation of his weekly assemblages of the science of the place is well worthy of your attention. after a dilig...
2991Thomas Jefferson to Joel Yancey, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
It being now high time to try the experiment of burning our stubble fields as a means of destroying the brood of the fly deposited in them, and ready the first warm spell to come out and lay their eggs in the new wheat, I take up my pen to state to you the method as going into practice here. you take a still day, and burn a margin all round the field sufficient to secure the fences. then the...
2992Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 16 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
A resolution which I saw in the papers for the adjournment of the legislature the day before yesterday prevented my writing to you in the belief it could would not find you in Richmond . M r Summers now tells me he thinks you will set into the next week. the obj after acknoleging the reciept, since
2993Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of putting under the protection of your cover a letter to Cardinal Dugnani at Rome , in the hope that thro’ the Nuncio resident at Paris it may find a sure conveyance to him. in return for this trouble I wish I could give you any news which would interest you. but, withdrawn entirely from all attention to public affairs I neither know nor enquire what Congress are doing. you...
2994Thomas Jefferson to Ambrose Maréchal, 15 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I am indebted to you for your letter of Jan. 28. and the information you are so kind as to give me from his Eminence the Cardinal Dugnani . my residence at Paris while he was there as Nuncio from the Pope, procured me the benefit of his acquaintance, and taught me to value his pure and sincere heart, his correct & dignified deportment and a most amiable modesty, rare endowments in his high...
2995Thomas Jefferson to Robert M. Patterson, 15 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Jan. 23. informing me that the Am. Philosophical society have done me the honor of naming me one of the Counsellors of that institution. if, at this distance, I can be useful to the society in any form, I ask nothing but the occasion of proving to them my readiness and zeal: and I beg the favor of you, Sir, to be the channel of conveying to them...
2996Thomas Jefferson to Antonio Dugnani, 14 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
In March 1815. I took the liberty of addressing a letter to you by Doctor Barton , a member of our Philosophical society , distinguished for his science, who visited Europe for his health, and expected to go as far as Rome . I was happy in the opportunity he furnished me of presenting myself to your recollection and of renewing to you the assurances of the sentiments of friendship and respect...
2997Thomas Jefferson to Elisha Ticknor, 14 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter recieved from the Cardinal Dugnani at Rome giving me occasion to write to him, I have thought it possible my letter might be got there before mr Tickner , your son, will have left that place, and that it might be useful to him to deliver it. it will ensure him every friendly office the Cardinal can render him, and may place under his observation a circle of society which perhaps he...
2998Thomas Jefferson to Levi Hollingsworth, 12 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Jan. 31. did not come to hand till yesterday evening. I think it was in 1799. or 1800. that the government ordered enquiries after the Copper mines of Lake Superior , with a view to the working them themselves, and particularly for guns for the Navy . I came to the administration the year following, and the order not having been proceeded on I suppressed it , from a confidence...
2999Thomas Jefferson to James Leitch, 12 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Some plane irons Sand-paper isinglass. glue brush to be chosen by the bearer John Hemings . RC ( TxDaHCL ); written on a small scrap; dateline beneath signature; at foot of text: “M r James Leitch .” Not recorded in SJL . plane irons are the cutting blades of planes ( OED
3000Thomas Jefferson to Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 9 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 7. has been some time at hand. age, which lethargises all our movements, makes me a slow correspondent also, and revolts me strongly from the labors of the writing table. reading when I can be indulged in it, is the elysium of my present life. You suppose I may possess essays and scraps, on various subjects, committed to paper, and lying buried in my desk. No, Sir; I have...