801From Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Ellicott, 25 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not seen the publication by the National institute of the documents proving the falling of stones from the Atmosphere; but I have read Izam’s lithologie Atmospherique, an 8vo. vol. which is an industrious collection of all preceding facts of the same nature, and, of all the testimony in favor of the recent fact, & I doubt not it contained the documents you allude to, tho not having the...
802Notes of a Conversation with George Mason, 30 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Gunston Hall. Sep. 30. 92. ex relatione G. Mason The constitution as agreed to till fortnight before the convention rose was such a one as he could have set his hand and heart to. 1. The president was to be elected for 7. years, then ineligible for 7. more. 2. Rotation in the senate. 3. A vote of ⅔ in the legislature on particular subjects and expressly on that of navigation . The 3. new...
803From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 4 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 25th. of December. Tho’ the establishment of packet boats with you, and suppression of them with us, puts it in your power perhaps to give me better details of American affairs than I can you, I shall nevertheless continue to communicate to you what I know, persuaded it is better you should hear a thing twice than not hear it at all. I mentioned to you in my last that...
804From Thomas Jefferson to Steuben, 2 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment received a confirmation of the arrival of a hostile fleet consisting of 19 ships, 2 brigs, and 10 sloops and schooners. The advance of the fleet were yesterday morning in Warrasqueak bay, and just getting into motion up the river with a favorable wind and tide. Their destination from the intelligence of deserters and some captured mariners whom they put on shore is some...
805From Thomas Jefferson to David Leonard Barnes, 24 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the trouble you have been so good as to take in Ingraham’s case. it has given more than I had meant, as I should have been perfectly satisfied with your opinion alone. I now return the letter which you desired to have again. I have ordered a pardon as to whatsoever appurtains to the US. leaving the interests of the prosecutor untouched. accept my respectful salutations and...
806Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 1 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
For want of time to consult you on it, I have taken a measure of great responsibility on my self as to Francis , for your pardon for which I must rely on the motives, and what I hope will be the effect of it. French is become the most indispensable part of modern education. it is the only language in which a man of any country can be understood out of his own; and is now the preeminent...
807From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 8 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 25th. Apr. came to hand only yesterday. I am contented with the sale of my tobacco at 41/. but am uneasy at the account given me of it’s quality by mr Craven. if you think it’s quality was such as ought not to have commanded the price, I authorise you to make whatever abatement you think just to the purchaser. you are to place 19,000. ℔ of the tobacco made here by Craven at...
808From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Coolidge, 12 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
The arrival of our Professors from abroad has at length enabled us to get our University into operation. their failure to arrive by the day we had announced for it’s commencementt lost us for a while many students, who supposing, with most of us, from the length of time they had been out, that they must have perished, engaged themselves elsewhere. we began on the 7 th of March with between 30....
809Notes of Cabinet Meetings on Edmond Charles Genet and the President’s Address to Congress, [18 November 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Nov. 8. 93. At a Conference at the President’s where I read several letters of Mr. Genet, on finishing one of them, I asked what should be the answer? The Presidt. thereupon took occasion to observe that Mr. Genet’s conduct continued to be of so extraordinary a nature that he meant to propose to our serious consideration Whether he should not have his functions discontinued and be ordered away...
810From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 21 February 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved with great pleasure your favor of Jan. 8 . informing me of your return to America, and of the measures you have taken for adding useful arts and inhabitants to our country. The machines which perform the labours of man are peculiarly valuable in a country where there is more to do than men to do it. Perhaps we may not be entirely mature for all the articles of your catalogue,...
811From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 9 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of submitting to your consideration sundry letters which have passed between Governor Martin, Governor Blount and myself relative to intrusions on the lands of the U.S. in the South-Western territory, and of asking your advice Whether any and what proceedings should be instituted for asserting the rights of the U.S. against the intruders? I have the honor to be with great...
812From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, enclosing Clark’s Commission, 22 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the pleasure of inclosing you a Brigadier General’s commission. The laws having given us power to appoint a General officer only for special purposes, and not a perpetual one, has obliged us to express the particular occasion of this appointment . Besides this I thought it necessary to give you an exemplification of your former commission which was perpetual. I wish you in every...
813From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 26 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have heard nothing of you since mr Eppes’s letter dated the day sennight after I left home. the Milton mail will be here tomorrow morning when I shall hope to recieve something. in the mean time this letter must go hence this evening. I trust it will still find you at Monticello, and that possibly mr Eppes may have concluded to take a journey to Bedford & still farther prolonged your stay. I...
814From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Seymour, 11 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The mass of business which occurs during a session of the legislature, renders me necessarily unpunctual in acknoleging the reciept of letters and in answering those which will admit of delay. this must be my apology for being so late in noticing the reciept of the letter of Dec. 20. addressed to me by yourself, and several other republican characters of your state, of high respectability. I...
815From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 23 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Before your departure, it becomes necessary for me to sollicit your orders on the Treasury for the third year’s allowance under the act concerning intercourse with foreign nations . This act commenced July 1. 1790. Two years allowance have been furnished and a sum of 500. Dollars over. Nine months of the 3d. year are now nearly elapsed, and according to an estimate I had the honor of giving in...
816Notes on Travel Distances Between Monticello and Washington, 2 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Sep. 28—Oct. 2. 1808. Monticello Mill 2.62 * Beck’s fork 2.18 Gordon’s 14.43 * Montpelier road 4.99 Montpelier 3.78 28. public road 2.11 Orange C.H.
817From Thomas Jefferson to William Barton, 26 March 1793 [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Barton and informs him that the letter addressed to him was left at the house of Th:J. during his absence, he knows not by whom. a box was left at the same time for the Philosophical society, which he presented at the last meeting. it contained a paste-board almanac only, somewhat in the style of those mr Barton may have seen. the society, desired...
818From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 5 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to mr Rodney. he found on his arrival here yesterday his two letters of Sep. 21. & 24. and doubts not mr Rodney has recieved the pardon from the office of State. he returns him the 2. letters of judge Rodney as requested & thanks him for the communication of them. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
819Thomas Jefferson to John Redman Coxe, 2 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of May 6. covering the 1 st N o of the Emporium of arts and sciences, for which be pleased to accept my thanks. duly impressed with the value of such a work, under so able a direction, I had subscribed to it in April last, under cover to M r de la Plaine , who, I am in hopes will continue to send it to me. the course which you have prescribed yourself for the...
820From Thomas Jefferson to James Leitch, 18 June 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
9. yds ticklenburg a slip of thread for d o ViCMRL .
821From Thomas Jefferson to Amos Alexander, 13 June 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of May 26 . was recieved by our last post only, it having [unduly] loitered probably in some of the post offices. I am sorry that the subject of it’s enquiry happens to be less known to me than almost to any other. [a] consciousness of my own inequality to the difficulties of the station which a portion of our fellow citizens seem desirous of assigning to me has rendered it a...
822Thomas Jefferson to Samuel J. Harrison, 9 April 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Harrison and incloses him two bonds for the 2 d & 3 d paiments for the lands , filled up with the name of the security he proposed to him. he has ex p repared & executed a deed, which yet however wants more witnesses.
823Notes on Building the Jail, [June 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
Notes for building the jail Walls. to be built of granite 2. f. thick the mortar half of good lime in all the walls half of clean gritty sand in all the inner walls one fourth of clean gritty sand one fourth of fine sifted gravel from the beach of the Potomac } for the outer walls overcast on the outside with plaister of Paris plaistered & white washed within. Roof. to have rafters 9. I....
824Enclosure: Certificates Received for William Short, 31 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
No. kind principal date of intert. date of transfer signer office. 521. 6. pr. C . 2,800. Oct. 1. 1793. Nov. 18. 93 Jno Co[llins] New York } recd from Patrick Kennon 523. 3.
825From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 31 October 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Aug. 31. dated so soon after your departure gave me hopes that the sufferings at sea of mrs Dearborne and yourself, if any, had been short. I hope you will both find Lisbon a pleasant residence. I have heard so much of it’s climate that I suppose that alone will go far towards making it so; and should the want of the language of the country lessen the enjoyment of it’s society,...
826From Thomas Jefferson to Indian Nations, 31 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have considered the speech you have delivered me, and I will now give you an answer to it. You have told us on former occasions of certain promises made to you at the treaty of Grenville by Genl. Wayne, respecting certain lands whereon you & your friends live. But when we looked into the treaty of Grenville, we found no such promises there; and as it is our custom to put all our agreements...
827From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 1 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I nominate Robert Williams of North Carolina to be Governor of the Missisipi territory. Daniel T. Tomkins of New York to be judge of the court of the District of New York. RC ( DNA : RG 46, EPEN , 8th Cong., 2d sess.); endorsed by a Senate clerk. PoC ( DLC ); TJ added a check mark at each entry. Notation in SJL : “Nomns. Williams. Tompkins.” On this day, Isaac A. Coles delivered the message to...
828Thomas Jefferson to Joel Yancey, 2 January 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved duly your favor of Dec. 22. and felt sincere satisfaction at the assurances it expressed of your continued friendship. of this indeed I never entertained a doubt, nor that this was the governing principle of your endeavors to promote my interests. these I saw plainly were faithful & zealous always and gave me therefore unbounded confidence in your care of my affairs. these were...
829Thomas Jefferson’s Instructions for Poplar Forest Management, 11 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
1814. Nov. 11. Poplar Forest . The crop here for 1815. is to be as follows Corn in Early ’s field. 80: acres . Wheat in M c Daniel ’s, in the corn field & the oldest tobacco ground South of South Tomahawk
830From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Munroe, 26 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
As the work you mention will cost as is supposed not more than 50. D. & is so necessary for the preservation of the wall, I think it may be so far considered as appurtenant to the wall & necessary to it’s duration, that it may be placed to that account. DLC : District of Columbia Papers.
831From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 12 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
It would be well to recieve from you as early as possible the report you propose to make for Congress as to the progress, state and further cost of the public buildings. I am apprehensive of a more serious opposition to another appropriation than has ever been made. perhaps after you shall have sent me the report, & it is referred to a committee it may be expedient you should come up yourself...
832From Thomas Jefferson to William Temple Franklin, 6 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honor to present his compliments to Mr. Franklin. He is here without furniture, without housekeeper and faisant très mauvaise chere. If Mr. Franklin is disengaged to-day, and will do him the favor to partake of his little meal without ceremony, it will be so much the more obliging. He dines at half past three pretty exactly. RC ( PPAmP ). Not recorded in SJL .
833From Thomas Jefferson to William H. Cabell, 13 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 10th. there can certainly be no present objection to the forwarding the letters therein mentioned, according to their address. We have nothing new of importance, except that at the last reading of an Amendatory bill a few days ago, the H. of R. were surprised into the insertion of an insidious clause permitting any merchant having property abroad, on...
834From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Lee Shippen, 5 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 28. is now before me, and I thank you for your attention to my letters. My last news from Messrs. Short and Rutledge was of the 5th. of Dec. They were then well, at Venice, and within a day or two of their departure for Rome. Mr. and Mrs. Paradise are arrived here. I have no news from America since October. The great news of this country is the late decision of the court...
835From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 24 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday evening a Letter from General Nelson dated Rich neck november 22nd at half after five P.M. inclosing a note by which we learn that the vessels of the enemy were all under way except one which was getting under way, and the whole standing out for the Capes. This event tho’ relieving us in a certain degree by opening again the door of our commerce and also by putting it in...
836To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 8th. We have still not a word from our envoys. This long silence (if they have been silent) proves things are not going on very roughly. If they have not been silent, it proves their information if made public would check the disposition to arm. I had flattered myself, from the progress of the public sentiment against arming, that the same progress had taken place in...
837From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 13 January 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to send to the President a sketch which he has submitted to a gentleman or two in the legislature on the subject of Indian purchases. He sends him also two letters received last night from Mr. Gouverneur Morris. The correspondence referred to in one of them, is in French, and being improper to go into the hands of a clerk, Th:J. is translating it himself for the use...
838From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 9 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 27th. has been duly received, and in answer to the information relative to D. I can only beg the favor of you to avail yourself of any moment which may occur wherein principles either of fidelity or venality might induce him to give up the books, for the U.S. I will answer the price as far as 12. or 15. guineas for that containing his correspondence from Aug. 1777. to Mar....
839From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, [26? February 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
The matter referred to us in your letter of the 25th. Inst. we conceive to be improper for us to meddle in, I mean as to the necessity, and duties of a Field Quarter Master. The expences of defence in cases of actual invasion being altogether Continental, I mentioned early in the present invasion to Baron Steuben the propriety of directing every expenditure to be through the hands of...
840Thomas Jefferson to Tadeusz Kosciuszko, 1 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
We at length it seems have peace; but of what duration is uncertain, because, no arrangement being made against the impressment of American citizens, the first act of that character will be a declaration of war. the mean time should therefore be considered merely as an armistice, and employed on our part in fortifying our seaports, providing military stores, classing & disciplining the...
841From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Rutledge, 9 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be delivered you by Mr. Cutting, with whom I had a small acquaintance in America, and who brought me letters of good recommendation from Mr. Adams and Colo. Smith in London. On these foundations I am authorized to recommend him to you as a gentleman of merit, worthy of your acquaintance. He comes to sollicit a settlement of the affairs of the Indian frigate and provision for a...
842From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 3 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I received from Mr. Gore by yesterday’s post the evidence on the aggression committed by Mr. Duplaine Vice Consul of France at Boston, and it appears fully to establish the fact against him. I have therefore prepared and countersigned a Revocation of his Exequatur, with letters on the subject to him, to Mr. Genet, and Mr. Morris; as also instructions to Mr. Bankson in what way to make up their...
843From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 24 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I think there should certainly be an enquiry into the conduct of Taylor of Ocracock, the charges being specified, of the most serious nature & offencé to be proved. We might take a conveyance of the lands at Tarpaulin cove of an estate to continue so long as a light house should be kept up on it & used as a light house . it would not be a fee-simple, but what the lawyers call a base fee . but...
844From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 3 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Not being learned in the laws of Pennsylvania I am incertain what will be the event if a prosecution of Scandalum magnatum should be instituted against Claypole for publishing in his gazette of Apr. 27. as an act of Congress a paper which certainly was no act of theirs, and which contained a principle or two not quite within the level of their politics. I mean a pretended act for dividing the...
845From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 11 March 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
The small pox at Richmond has cut off the communication by post to or through that place. I should have thought it Davies’s duty to have removed his office a little way out of town, that the communication might not have been interrupted. Instead of that it is said the inhabitants of the country are to be prosecuted because they thought it better to refuse a passage to his post riders than take...
846From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 October 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I called at Gunston hall. The proprietor just recovering from a dreadful attack of the cholic. He was perfectly communicative, but I could not in discretion let him talk as much as he was disposed. I proceeded to M. Vernon and had a full, free, and confidential conversation with the President. The particulars shall be communicated when I see you. He declares himself quite undecided about...
847From Thomas Jefferson to George Hay, 7 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved late last night your favor of the day before & now re-inclose you the Subpoena. as I do not believe that the district courts have a power of commanding the Executive government to abandon superior duties & attend on them, at whatever distance, I am unwilling by any notice of the Subpoena to set a precedent which might sanction a proceeding so preposterous. I inclose you therefore a...
848Thomas Jefferson to Mary Daingerfield, 30 November 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
As the year is now drawing to a close & it will not be convenient for me to continue to hire all the negroes which I have heretofore hired from yourself & miss Dangerfield , I think it my duty to inform you of it. I should be willing to hire Tom & Edmund again. the rest, or the whole, if it is your pleasure, shall be delivered to your order at the end of their term; shall be discharged with...
849From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 24 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of the 17th. and 18th. inst. gave you the progress of the 17th States general to the 17th. when the Tiers had declared the illegality 18th of all the existing taxes, and their discontinuance from the end of their present session. The next day being a jour de fete could furnish no indication of the impression that vote was likely to 19th make on the government. On the 19th. a council...
850From Thomas Jefferson to Hugh Henry Brackenridge, 29 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
My business not permitting me to be a very punctual correspondent, I did not, at the time, acknolege the receipt of your favors of Jan. 30. & Feb. 17. I am just now on my departure for Monticello where I propose to pass the months of Aug. & Sep. rather than on the tidewaters. we are still uninformed of the fate of Egypt. indeed the only thing new of any importance is the communication from his...