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...
3381To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 February 1783 (second) (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). At the bottom of the first of four pages Jefferson wrote “Honble James Madison.” Docketed by JM, “Ths. Jefferson. 14 Feb. 1783.” Also on the docket appears, in an unknown hand, “See passage relating to Mr. Adams.” The words italicized are those written by Jefferson in the cipher described in Jefferson to JM, 31 Jan. 1783 , ed. n. Unless otherwise noted, the decoding...
3382Thomas Jefferson to Bernard McMahon, 23 July 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
With the return of peace, my old friend Thouin returns to a recollection of me in his annual presents of seeds. a box of them is just arrived at Baltimore to the care of mr P. A Guestier merchant of that place . I have desired him to forward it to you, and if possible by some stage passenger who will take charge of it to Philadelphia . I have taken on myself all charges to Baltimore . Accept...
3383From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 4 August 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of June the 15th . with which your Excellency was pleased to honor me came unfortunately when I was absent on a journey to the county of Bedford an hundred miles Southward of this. I there received it on the 9th. of July, and a return to this place was necessary to furnish me certain informations on which depended materially my powers to obey the wishes of Congress. This return was...
3384[From Thomas Jefferson to the Agents for the United States in France, 31 December 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 31 Dec. 1787 . An entry in SJL under this date reads: “Agents circular.” No copy of such a letter has been found but it evidently was a brief letter enclosing the printed copies of Lambert to TJ, 29 Dec. 1787 , and the annexed arrêt, being no doubt similar to the circulars of 31 May and 29 Oct. 1786, qq.v. Although the letters may have actually been written on this day, they were...
3385VII. Draft of a Resolution concerning Money Bills, [before 13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
That bills relating solely to the raising or disposing of public money in any way whatever are not amendable by the Senate. That in other bills if some clauses or sentences relate to the raising or disposing of public money, and others relate to other subjects, the said clauses or sentences so relating to the raising or disposing of public money are not amendable by the Senate; but such other...
3386From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 27 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate for the information of Congress the Report of the Director of the mint of the operations of that establishment during the last year. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
3387From Thomas Jefferson to John Polson, 29 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after your application to me I wrote to Genl. Stephens, near Winchester, and also to Mr. Joseph Jones in King George county, on the subject of your lands , but have received no answer from either, and therefore can give you no information whether they are confiscated or not. I should think it adviseable for you to write to both those gentlemen for information, referring them to the...
3388Instructions to Inspector of Stores and Provisions, 25 January 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The Board of War have appointed you to act a[s] inspector of all the military Stores and provisions in the several Magazines of this State. You will make the inspection every three months and make report the[re]of to this board. All commissaries of provisions and milita[ry] Stores and all the Superintendants of the public magaz[ines] are under your directions and controul. To them you will...
3389From Thomas Jefferson to James T. Leonard, 15 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Lieutt. Leonard, and his thanks for the care he took in the delivery of his letters at Paris, to several of which he has recieved answers, as well as that of the packages he brought for him. that from mr Volney will come well as he has proposed. he salutes him respectfully. PrC ( MoSHi : Jefferson Papers); endorsed by TJ in ink on verso. care he took :...
3390Statement for the Aurora, 25 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
subjoin to the letter ‘It will be observed that the preceding letter is dated at Paris in 1787. mr Jones , to whom it is addressed, awaited mr Jefferson’s return to America, & authorised his agent to settle it with him there. immediately on his arrival in Virginia in Dec. 1789 he procured a meeting with the agent & the other gentlemen interested, and an amicable settlement was made in writing,...
3391From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 3 June 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I received last night your favor of May 12 . noting the sale of the stock last sent, and that a balance of 267.D. 43c. will remain on hand after deducting the draughts already paid or accepted. I now inclose another Certificate to be disposed of for Mr. Short, being 7504 Doll. 42. cents of deferred debt with a power of attorney to transfer the same, and also to receive the interest due on his...
3392From Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 8 September 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
at the end of the 2 d paragraph, after the words, ‘the other half at their delivery of ship board’ interline ‘but if on their arrival at Leghorn, there be no ship in port bound as aforesd, the last half is to be paid on their delivery to the sd T. Appleton, deducting the transportation on ship board’. or to Tho s Appleton if on their arrival at Leghorn there be no ship in port bound as...
3393From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 8 August 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
The object of my letter of January 16. was the preservation of the laws of this state still in existence; and it is one which I have had much at heart from an early period of my life. Of this, the industry I have used in making the collection is sufficient evidence. I consent therefore chearfully to your making any use of that letter which may promote it’s object. I will take upon me any labor...
3394To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 31 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I return you the petition of Samuel Miller with the pardon signed. Mr. Kelty had spoke to me on this subject and told me that he and mr. Craunch should join in a recommendation. I wish mr. Wagner would obtain this before he delivers the pardon. I return also mr. King’s letter which has really important matter, especially what respects the Mare clausum, the abandonment of the colonial system, &...
3395From Thomas Jefferson to George Weedon, 4 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letters of the 1st. 2d. and 3d. instant came to hand this morning. It is not in our power to send any additional arms to you at this time. I must therefore on this subject refer you to a Letter of mine which you had not then received, desiring that such men from the Counties destined for the present tour, as you have more than you can arm, may be sent over to General Muhlenberg, who I...
3396From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 15 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose for the President’s perusal a letter from Mr. Gouverneur Morris on the subject of our affairs in Amsterdam; the observations are worthy being known to the President. Mr. Howell of Rhode island has imposed on him the duty also of putting into his hands the letter and papers from him. The printed papers are merely to prove his dispositions enounced in the...
3397From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Newton, 25 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I pray that the subject of this Letter may be entirely confidential between you and myself. the office of Collector for Norfolk will very shortly be vacant. if you would accept of it, your long & faithful services to the public would place you beyond all competitors, & justify me in duty as well as feeling in appointing you. altho the emoluments would be no object to you, and the duties what...
3398Thomas Jefferson to David Gelston, 16 October 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sep. 26. was recieved a few days ago, and I have this day written to my correspondents in Richmond , mess rs Gibson & Jefferson to desire them to remit you the amount of the account you inclosed me , to wit 89.11 D which I trust they will do without delay. I am very thankful to you for your kind offices on this & similar occasions which I could with much difficulty arrange...
3399From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 29 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed papers came in the letter from Capt Lewis which I sent you: but not having been able to read this till last night they are now sent, and are interesting.—I cannot make out whether the party of Osages who were killed were some of those deputed to us. if they were not, it would carry us farther into Indian concerns, than we would wish to go, to take serious notice of it. if the...
3400From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Everett, 21 July 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the copies of your two public addresses inclosed in your favor of the 6 th inst. that of Concord, as a morsel of exact history, and of a most interesting event was peculiarly acceptable. I am sorry it is not in my power to give you any information on the subject of the Louisiana treaty. my memory is gone, and I have no papers on the subject. but surely the ‘Conjectural note’...
3401II. Jefferson’s Notes on Coxe’s Commercial System for the United States, [ca. 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
Federal farmer MS ( DLC : TJ Papers, 36: 6230); in TJ’s hand; at head of text: “Tench Cox’s enquiry into the principles of American commerce” undated, but presumably drawn up about the time TJ received a copy of Coxe’s pamphlet in July 1787. The federal farmer was Richard Henry Lee, whose letters in opposition to the Constitution, Observations leading to a fair examination of the system of...
3402From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 5 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Having to pay James Oldham 179.80 D I have thought it safer to put under cover to you 180. D. and to ask the favor of you to make him the paiment on his application. I set out for Monticello tomorrow. accept affectionate salutns. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
3403From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 19 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson will be obliged to mr Barnes for 20. Dollars in five dollar bills. Oct. 19. 1802. RC ( ViU : Edgehill-Randolph Papers); addressed: “Mr Barnes”; endorsed by Barnes; endorsed by TJ: “Barnes John.” According to TJ’s financial memoranda, on 19 Oct. Barnes sent $15 to the president, who also gave $10 in charity on the same day. The following day, TJ made two additional charitable gifts...
3404From Thomas Jefferson to Philip Mazzei, 31 January 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
It is very long since I heard from you unless it be an exception that I received within these two or three days for the first time your letters of May 23. 1792. and Feb. 11. 1793. the contents of which shall be attended to. Nor have I for a long time heard from Messrs. Van Staphorsts & Hubbard. My letters to you of May and Sep. last will have informed you that at the same dates I remitted to...
3405From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 15th. since that yours of the 12th. is recieved. since that too a great change has taken place in the appearance of our political atmosphere. the merchants, as before, continue, a respectable part of them, to wish to avoid arming. the French decree operated on them as a sedative, producing more alarm than resentment. on the Representatives differently. it excited...
3406From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 25 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Short’s return the night before last availed me of your favour of Aug. 12. I immediately ordered the shoes you desired which will be ready tomorrow. I am not certain whether this will be in time for the departure of Mr. Barclay or of Colo. Franks, for it is not yet decided which of them goes to London. I have also procured for you three plateaux de dessert with a silvered ballustrade round...
3407From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Remsen, 19 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letters from the President of the US. were addressed by him, under cover to Gov r Randolph while supposed to be at New-york. they reached that place after he had left it, were from thence addressed back to him, supposed to be here, hence they went to him being at Richmond on the legislature now setting, and are returned hither with a request that I would inclose them to you, to be...
3408From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 15 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received information from Genl. Greene that Ld. Cornwallis, maddened by his losses at the Cowpens and George town has burnt his own waggons to enable himself to move with facility and has pressed forward as far as the Moravian towns, Genl. Greene being obliged to retire before him with an inferior force. We are endeavouring to gather a force around him from which I hope he will not...
3409Memorandum for Henry Dearborn, 22 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Observations on mr Hawkins’s letter of Dec. 22. 1802. Our proceedings on the subject of the deed by the Speaker of the Creeks to mrs Darant should be decisive, prompt and exemplary. if she be an Indian (which I should not expect as she is the sister of Mc.Gillivray) we cannot punish her. if she be an American citizen, the Attorney of the US. in the Missisipi territory might be instructed to...
3410From Thomas Jefferson to Alexandre Giroud, 22 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved at this place from Mr. Bache the letter of the 20th. Germinal with the seeds of the Bread tree which you were so kind as to send me. I am happy that the casual circumstance respecting Oglethorpe’s affairs has led to this valuable present and I shall take immediate measures to improve the opportunity it gives us of introducing so precious a plant into our Southern states. The...