3331From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 28 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned hither the day before yesterday & found your two letters of the 15th. I am much pleased with the expectation of mr Thompson’s continuance in office in the Orleans land office. the appointment of Robert Sargent as 2d. mate to the revenue cutter of Delaware is approved. on the subject of the negociation for the Floridas not one word further than is known to you has been recieved. you...
3332From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 23 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved with great pleasure your favor on the subject of the Steam engine . tho’ deterred by the complexity of that hitherto known from making myself minutely acquainted with it, yet I am sufficiently acquainted with it to be sensible of the superior simplicity of yours, and it’s superior economy. I particularly thank you for the permission to communicate it to the Philosophical...
3333Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 8 July 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
It is now five and forty years since I have withdrawn from the practice of the law: I have but occasionally, within that period, read any thing on it’s subjects, have rarely reflected on them with any attention, or permitted myself to form opinions with any degree of confidence, still less to oppose these opinions to those of gentlemen now of that faculty, and in dayly familiarity with the...
3334From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Huntington, 14 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
According to Genl. Gates’s request I transmit to your Excellency the inclosed copy of a letter I received from him this morning. That the enemy should meditate taking possession of Portsmouth in the manner they give out does not seem probable, as Sr. Henry Clinton under the present appearances would scarcely consent to spare men from New York; and that they should think of taking possession of...
3335Thomas Jefferson to William Lambert, 10 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of June 13. & July 23. have both been duly recieved, & I am happy to find that you have been so well & successfully occupied in fixing a first meridian for our country. you will be requited by merited fame, even should no emolument more solid result from it. I have attended with interest to the methods you have adopted for obtaining correctness in the result; & concieving them to...
3336Notes on the Legitimacy of the French Government, with Addendum, [18–19] November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Nov. [18–19] 92. Hamilton called on me to speak about our furnis[hing] supplies to the French colony of St. Domingo. He expressed his opinion that we ought to be cautious and not go too far in our application of money to their use, lest it should not be recognised by the mother country. He did not even think that some kinds of government they might establish could give a sufficient sanction. I...
3337Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Wheaton, 26 January 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the information respecting the impressment of mr Johnson by Childers . Johnson is a tenant of mine, a very honest man, and usually employed by me in carrying my produce to market. this operation has been delayed by his detention, but whether to my injury or not, I do not yet know. it was certainly highly wrong in mr Childers to assume the public name and authority in committing...
3338From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 13 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to procure for me from the clerk of the high court of Chancery a copy of the decree of Jefferson v. Henderson which was given by mr Wythe three or four years ago, and inclose it to me? as I have occasion immediately for an authentic copy . I am in hopes your business will permit you to come and pass some time with us at Monticello in August or September, where we shall...
3339From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Clarke, 22 October 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Having occasion to make a considerable paiment immediately I send the bearer Jupiter, a trusty servant, to recieve whatever money may be lying for me in Staunton. any sum which you can furnish will be acceptable, and will be safely brought by him. be so good as to let it be in cash, & not in paper which nobody here recieves. I am with esteem Dear Sir Your most obedt. servt PrC ( MHi ); at foot...
3340From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 10 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I really think Cross ought to be immediately removed: the clearance in our possession is evidence enough of the fact. but are we provided with a successor. Hook & Reed should I think be called on to shew cause why they should not be removed. can there not be appeals from the decision of that judge? I propose to appoint Benjamin Harrison Comr. of loans for Virginia if you approve of it, &...
3341Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 23 May 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Our river has been up so that I could not ford it to visit the Shadwell mills till yesterday. I found that there was not a single boat up, but that some are expected to-day and the miller promised he would send off 2. boatloads of flour tomorrow, and that the rest should follow within a few days. there are between 250. & 300 Barrels still to go. as soon as I know that the 2. boat loads are...
3342From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 9 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night the inclosed petition from the Walleboght company to build a bridge across the pond of our navy yard at New York, to which they ask a prompt answer. will you be so good as to state to me your opinion to enable me to answer them. in general I think it just and useful for the General government to give all possible facilities to state accomodation. I would consider too the...
3343From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 18 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Often sollicited by persons on this side the water to enquire for their friends in America about whose fate they are incertain, I can only hand on their requests to my friends in America. The inclosed letter from the Chevalier de Sigougne desires some enquiry after his brother whom he supposes to have settled at Todd’s bridge. As this is within your reach, I must refer the request to your...
3344From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Burke, 15 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. covering a draught of Mr. Clay’s for 106,775 D. came safely to hand last night. I am sorry that Mr. Clay adopts this method of negotiating money claims on our treasury which is not and I fear will not again be in a condition to answer his draughts with any kind of punctuality which might justify his drawing and negotiating in the mercantile way. In my letter to you of...
3345From Thomas Jefferson to John Armstrong of New York, 26 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
We find it of advantage to the public to ask of those to whom appointments are proposed, if they are not accepted, to say nothing of the offer, at least for a convenient time. the refusal cheapens the estimation of the public appointments and renders them less acceptable to those to whom they are secondarily proposed. the occasion of this remark will be found in a letter you will recieve from...
3346From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Newton, 23 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved your favor of the 12th. inst. and thank you for the information respecting the receipt of a consignment of old Madeira wines. I will gladly take a pipe of the Brazil quality which you mention to be the best: and should hope a means of conveying it hither would occur. the price I presume I shall be able to remit by a bill on the Collector of your port. We [hear] nothing very...
3347Notes concerning the Bill for the Removal of the Seat of Government of Virginia, [11 November 1776?] (Jefferson Papers)
N ( DLC ). These memoranda are written on the last page of the draft Bill for the Removal of the Seat of Government, introduced 11 Nov. 1776, q.v. It is not possible to say whether these notes, which obviously pertain to the Removal Bill, were made in 1776 or 1779; the cost figures would indicate the latter, but in that year the arguments in favor of removal (as indicated by the speedy...
3348From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 6 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In order to give to Congress the details necessary for their full information of the state of things between Spain & the US. I send them the communication & documents now inclosed. although stated to be confidential, that term is not meant to be extended to all the documents; the greater part of which are proper for the public eye. it is applied only to the message itself, & to the letters...
3349Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 17 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your fav or of the 7 th and in it the following certificates of stock in the name of Gen l Kosciuzko , to wit, D C US. Certificate N o 90. for 11,363. 63 six per cents of loan
3350From Thomas Jefferson to Robley Dunglison, 31 March 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing who is the Chairman of the Faculty for the present year, I must return the inclosed catalogue to yourself from whom I recieved it, as it needs explanations to enable the board of Visitors to act on it. for example. Not one of us knowing the German Alphabet, we must ask those titles to be written in English characters to enable us to read & act on them. where titles are written in...
3351To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 7th. since which yours of the 3d. is recieved. Your next (which I shall still be here to recieve) will probably acknolege mine of May 31. and will perhaps be your last as you would see by mine of the 7th. that I should leave this on the 20th. which I still purpose. The new citizen or naturalization bill is past the Senate also. It requires 14. years residence to make a...
3352From Thomas Jefferson to John Tyler, 28 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
your favor of the 10th. inst. has been duly recieved. amidst the direct falsehoods, the misrepresentations of truth, the calumnies & the insults resorted to by a faction to mislead the public mind, & to overwhelm those intrusted with its interests, our support is to be found in the approving voice of our conscience and country, in the testimony of our fellow citizens that their confidence is...
3353From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 20 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not know till this moment that the manifests for my tobo. [passed] at Milton the last winter had not been sent to you. I am now sending off a messenger to Milton for them. if they arrive before the departure of this letter they shall be inclosed. if not, some other private conveyance from our [court] shall be sought, so at farthest they shall go by the next post. I hope it will be no...
3354From Thomas Jefferson to John Vaughan, 4 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Being near my departure for Monticello I leave here with orders to forward them to you by the first vessel, a box containing the minerals from Capt. Lewis which were the subject of a former letter, & another containing an instrument called a Bathometer sent to me by it’s inventor. believing it cannot be otherwise so well disposed of, I beg leave to deposit it with the Philosophical society...
3355To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 29 June 1792 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 21st. The present will cover Fenno of the 23d. & 27th. In the last you will discover Hamilton’s pen in defence of the bank, and daring to call the republican party a faction . I learn that he has expressed the strongest desire that Marshall should come into Congress from Richmond, declaring there is no man in Virginia whom he wishes so much to see there, and I am told...
3356From Thomas Jefferson to William Nelson, Jr., 29 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favours of Nov. 22. and that of Feb. 4. came to hand during the session of Congress, and making part only of a very extensive subject, I was obliged to postpone it till Congress had risen. The laws also which you were so kind as to send have been received. Our collection stands thus at present. Laws of 1775. Dec. 1783. Oct. 1776. May and Oct. 1784. May and Oct. 1777. May. 5. 1785.Oct...
3357[From Thomas Jefferson to Frichet, 13 January 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 13 Jan. 1786 . Entry in SJL reads: “le Curé de Gelannes. Acknoleging receipt of his of Xbre. 31.” Not found.]
3358[From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Carr, 18 January 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 18 Jan. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mrs. Carr. Not send P. C. [Peter Carr] to Maury. Where is A. S. J. [Anna Scott Jefferson]. My health better.” Not found.]
3359Thomas Jefferson to David Bailie Warden, 10 July 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to mr Warden and having recieved a single copy of the Review of Montesquieu he is anxious to have the benefit of the safe conveyance by mr Warden & the Essex to get it to France . he again therefore takes the chance of a letter still finding him at Washington & of asking his care of it with a repetition of his wishes for a happy voiage. RC ( ViU...
3360From Thomas Jefferson to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, [11 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having thought proper to require my services in the negotiation of their Foreign treaties, my seat as one of your delegates in Congress is become vacant. I feel myself on this occasion bound to express my gratitude for the confidence which the General assembly were pleased to repose in me by this appointment and to assure them that during my continuance therein I have made the just...
3361To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
I do not know whether you were acquainted with the late Major Duncanson of Washington, uncle of the writer of the inclosed letter. He was one of the earliest adventurers to the city of Washington. He had made a princely fortune in the E. Indies, the whole of which he employed in the establishments of that city and finally sunk. His political merits were a most persevering republicanism in the...
3362Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Smith, 5 September 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved your favor of Aug. 14 and can assure you, Sir, that I have never been unmindful of the debt to you which ought so long ago to have been paid, but the Catastrophe of the last year took no one by surprise more than myself. my expences of the preceding year had been on the usual scale, & such as the usual prices of produce would have fully met. I got but half price, say 3 ⅛ D....
3363From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 19 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I am persuaded I shall be pleased with mr Hawkins’s portable Polygraph, because of it’s small size, & it’s simplification by omitting one of the horizontal parallelograms, the stays or suspenders, & probably the vertical parallelograms & gallows, for I see no use for the two last if the suspender be omitted. the pencases I shall be able to have arranged to my mind by an excellent workman here....
3364From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 14 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favours of Mar. 8. 28. and May 1. have come to hand since the date of my last which was of May 9. That of Mar. 8. begins with these words. ‘I cannot at present lay my hands upon your last but recollect it was of an old date.’This seems to imply a charge of my being behind-hand in the epistolary account. Turning to my epistolary ledger I find our account since my arrival in Europe to stand...
3365From Thomas Jefferson to Tadeusz Kosciuszko, 25 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Since writing my letter of the 21st. mr Niemcewicz has put into my hands the inclosed memorandum, reminding you of a sum of 400. Dollars in the hands of Wannerquist banker of Stockholm, intended for your aid de camp Fischer, but never delivered him, & therefore subject to your order. it also mentions a turning machine in the hands of mr Munford at New York partner of Gahn, worth as he supposes...
3366Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Tessé, 8 December 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
While at war, my dear madam and friend, with the Leviathan of the ocean , there is little hope of a letter’s escaping his thousand ships; yet I cannot permit myself longer to withold the acknolegement of your letter of June 28. of the last year , with which came the Memoirs of the Margrave of Bareuth . I am much indebted to you for this singular morsel of history which has given us a curtain...
3367Thomas 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...
3368Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Tessé, 27 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had last the pleasure of writing to you, I have to acknolege the reciept of your favors of 1809. June 12. & Oct. 9. & 1810. March 24. with the first came the seeds of the Paullinia or Koelreuteria, one of which has germinated, and is now growing. I cherish it with particular attentions, as it daily reminds me of the friendship with which you have honored me. yours of Octob. 9. mentions...
3369I. Resolutions on the Secretary of the Treasury, [before 27 February 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Ford, Paul Leicester Ford, ed., The Writings of Thomas Jefferson , Letterpress Edition, New York, 1892–99, 10 vols. vi , 168–71, where it is described as “From the original courteously loaned me by Miss S. N. Randolph,” captioned by the editor as “Jefferson’s Draft,” and assigned the conjectural date of “[February? 1793].” Elsewhere Ford described this text more...
3370Thomas Jefferson to Charles Clay, 12 July 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
This is the only fair day since you were here, & being to depart tomorrow, I must employ it otherwise than in paying the visit I had intended you. I shall be back however within 3. weeks and have time then to render the double. In the mean while as your Paul is desirous of laying up useful things in the storehouse of his mind, I send him a little bundle of canons of conduct which may merit a...
3371From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 9 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Feb. 20. and to thank you for your congratulations on the event of the election. had it terminated in the elevation of mr Burr, every republican would I am sure have acquiesced in a moment; because, however it might have been variant from the intentions of the voters, yet it would have been agreeable to the constitution. no man would more...
3372Notice of University of Virginia’s opening, 25 May 1824, 25 May 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The University of Virginia. The period for opening this institution being ultimately fixed to the 1 st day of Feb. next, some previous information respecting it may be acceptable to the public, and useful to individuals who may have views of availing themselves of it’s benefits. and our press being on the spot, as it were, it seems incumbent on us particularly to give that information, which...
3373Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been prevented setting out to Bedford as early as I had counted. I depart tomorrow. in the mean time I have consulted with as many as I could of the leading men of our county on the subject of the Principal assessor, as I proposed to yourself in my letter of the 15 th . of those consulted who are known to yourself were mr Divers , the mr Carrs , mr Randolph , Bankhead E t c. one...
3374From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 4 December 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this day drawn on you in favor of Dabney Carr for [fifty] dollars. tho’ as far as I am possessed of our account there would [be funds?] in your hands sufficient to cover this, [but?] there are some articles of [expences &c] paid by you for me which probably [may make] this an over draught. [if therefore] you will be so good as to make a statement of our accounts and [paiments] so as to...
3375Thomas Jefferson to John F. Oliveira Fernandes, 28 May 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 19 th is this moment recieved, and I hasten by it’s acknolegement, to anticipate your departure. I learn with great pleasure that justice is at length done you in your native co un try by the restoration of your property. you will arrive there in an interesting time, and will no doubt benefit it by the obs erva tions you have been able to make on the organisation, the...
3376To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 September 1824 (Madison Papers)
I have got thro’ my catalogue except the Alphabet and send you the result. The inclosed table shews the number, size, and cost of the whole and it’s parts. 6860. vols will cost 24.076 D. or 3½ D. a vol. on an average of all sizes. If we get our 50. M D and also if 10.000 would do for apparatus, there would remain 16.000. to invest in stock. This would give us 1000 D. a year for ever which...
3377From Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 13 June 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I requested you in a former letter to assure mr James Rawlings that as soon as I could get my tob o to market I would draw on you in his favor for a balance due the mutual assurance co. I have accdly drawn on you this day for a sum of about 89 or 90.D. I had formerly desired mr Ritchie to apply to you annually for my subscription to the Enquirer, and supposing it regularly paid, I had not even...
3378Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 22 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Mar. 1. has been duly recieved, and requires my thanks for the kind offer of your services in London . books are indeed with me a necessary of life; and since I ceded my library to Congress I have been annually importing from Paris . not but that I need some from London also, but that they have risen there to such enormous prices as cannot be looked at. England must lose her...
3379To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Jefferson, [10 April 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Th. Jefferson has the honor to send to the Secretary of the Treasury a note just received from Mr. Otto with copies of a correspondence between certain bankers desirous of lending 40 millions of livres to the U.S. the French ministers & mr Short. He will ask the Secretary of the Treasury’s consideration of these papers, & that he will be so good as to return them to him with the substance of...
3380From Thomas Jefferson to George Weedon, 21 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As I am certainly informed by Commodore Barron that the fleet arrived is British, I become anxious lest the expected French fleet not knowing of this incident may come into the Bay. Should the Marquis Fayette be returned to the North side of the River, I make no doubt but he will have taken what cautionary measures are in his power and necessary. Should he not be returned I must beg the favour...