8951From Thomas Jefferson to John Breckinridge, 17 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I think the inclosed may properly furnish grounds for an amendment to the judiciary law, whenever it is before Congress; to be proposed by a member. Judge Innis inclosed it to me with an idea that the proposition might go from me to Congress: but this is hardly within the regular compass of message. I therefore turn it over to you. RC ( DLC : Breckinridge Family Papers); addressed: “The honble...
8952From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 8 October 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
We have heard much here of an improvement made in the Scotch threshing machine by Mr. Martin, and that you have seen and approved it. Being myself well acquainted with the original geered machine, and Booker’s substitution of whirls and bands (as I have one of each kind) it will perhaps give you but a little trouble to give me so much of an explanation as will be necessary to make me...
8953To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 8 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
One of the Assistants of the Quartermaster general is going over to the Eastern Shore. It appears to me an opportunity, which ought not to be neglected, of disposing and securing the public stores of every kind that are there. A great deal has been lost, a great deal more is in danger, and I submit it to the decision of your Excellency whether it will not be proper to sell what cannot be...
8954To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1824 (Madison Papers)
I send you the sequel of Gilmer’s letters recd. since my last to you. Torrey you will see does not accept. I had before recd. from the Secy. at War the inclosed letter to him from mr. Emmet the father recommending his son Doctr. John Patton Emmet, for Professor of Chemistry. Considering that branch as expected by Doctr. Dunglison I had given an answer that the place was filled. But learning...
8955To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 October 1811 (Madison Papers)
Mrs. Lewis, the widow of Colo. Nich Lewis, has requested me to mention to yourself the name of a mr. Wood, an applicant for a commission in the army. On recieving the request I rode to her house to ask something about him, observing to her that something more than his name would be necessary. She candidly told me at once that he was a very capable young man, connected with her only as being a...
8956Thomas Jefferson to Christopher Greenup, 4 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Oct. 9. arrived here during a two months absence from home, to which I returned a little before Christmas only. I have thought it best to detain the answer thro’ the month of January to lessen the risks of bad weather. indeed we have never known a month of more snow and constant bad weather. I now inclose 8. Dollars, the amount of mr Stevens ’s bill in notes of the Virginia bank...
8957From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Diot & Cie., 24 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Octob. 26 . came safely to hand and should sooner have been acknowleged, but that I have wished at the same time to convey through your hands whatever indulgence the government would be pleased to grant to the American prisoners to whom you have been so kind as to extend your attention. Having as yet however been unable to procure any order in their favor I cannot longer delay...
8958To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 September 1825 (Madison Papers)
Circular The state of my health renders it perfectly certain that I shall not be able to attend the next meeting of visitors (Oct. 3) at the University. Yet I think there is no one but myself to whom the matters to be acted on are sufficiently known for communication to them. This adds a reason the more for inducing the members to meet at Monticello the day before, which has been heretofore...
8959From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 4 April 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged by the receipt of your favor of to-day and thankful for the honor Congress do me in expressing so kindly their satisfaction with what was no more than duty in me. I beg leave also to acknowlege your goodness in the trouble you have taken with my account. It is perfectly agreeable, settled as you mention it, and I would wish nothing further to be proposed for any time I may...
8960From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 23 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The act of the Virginia legislature which is the foundation of the inclosed will become null by it’s own provision that it should be so if not assented to by Congress before Mar. 3. it is too late for Congress to take it up, but as it possibly may be brought forward at the next session it will be well in the mean time to procure necessary information. RC ( LNT : George H. and Katherine M....
8961Thomas Jefferson to the Albemarle Buckmountain Baptist Church, 13 April 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, my friends & neighbors, for your kind congratulations on my return to my native home, & on the opportunities it will give me of enjoying, amidst your affections the comforts of retirement & rest. your approbation of my conduct is the more valued as you have best known me, & is an ample reward for any services I may have rendered. we have acted together from the origin to the end...
8962To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
We are still without any occurrence foreign or domestic worth mentioning to you. it is somtime since any news has been recieved from Europe of the political kind, and I have been longer than common without any letters from mister Short. Colo. Hamilton has taken a trip to Bethlehem. I think to avail myself also of the present interval of quiet to get rid of a headach which is very troublesome,...
8963Thomas Jefferson to John Clarke, 8 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I du ly recieved your favor of the 9 th ult. on the interesting subject of ou r trade, and the importance of defending it; a trade certainly of th t value to us. a country of such extent as ours, of all the varying pro ductions of the earth, capable of yielding in some of it’s parts what ever may want, will, at no distant period, under our rapid popula tion internal commerce sufficient for the...
8964From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 21 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very happy you have been able to find an Agent for the Chickasaws on such good recommendation and so promising an appearance as mr Wright, and entirely approve of his appointment. Majr. Fortier has not appeared here. Our post is not well organised. tho’ two mails a week on Mondays & Wednesdays leave Washington for Milton, yet both leave Milton on the same day, Saturday. so that tho’ you...
8965From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Williams, 22 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Appleton our Consul at Leghorn being engaged in the execution of certain commissions for the University of Virginia had desired me to address our remittances & communications to him through yourself which I have accdly heretofore done . Col o Peyton therefore our correspdt in Richm d is now enabled and instructed to procure a bill of excha. on London for 4000. D. payable to you and to be...
8966To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the papers reserved from the last post. Our regular answer to Mr. Livingston may well be that the Attorney General having given an official opinion that the right to the batture is in the US. and the matter being now referred to Congress, it is our duty to keep the grounds clear of any adversary possession until the legislature shall decide on it. I have carefully read Mr....
8967Thomas Jefferson to Honoré Julien, 6 October 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, my good friend, for the favors of the cheese & seeds mentioned in your letter of Sep. 11. to have been forwarded to me. if by water, they will probably still come safely to hand: but if by the stage, they h a ve probably stopped at Fredericksburg or at some other stage house by the way. uncertain by what route they have been forwarded, I have been unable to enquire for them. but...
8968Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 25 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just on the wing to Bedford to which place my affairs call me suddenly. I have therefore only time to acknolege the reciept of your favor of the 21 st and to congratulate you on your election to the chair of the state by so honorable a vote. I rejoice too that you have accepted it; for altho’ it is not a field on which much genius can be displayed, yet it is a prominent one. but the great...
8969To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 2 March 1788 (Adams Papers)
I received this day a letter from mr̃s Adams of the 26 th. ult. informing me you would set out on the 29 th. for the Hague. our affairs at Amsterdam press on my mind like a mountain. I have no information to go on but that of the Willincks & VanStaphorsts, & according to that something seems necessary to be done. I am so anxious to confer with you on this, & to see you & them together, & get...
8970From Thomas Jefferson to William Cabell Rives, 13 January 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I am rejoiced to see you have taken up the subject of Primary schools. I consider them equally interesting, perhaps more so than the University. it is impossible the legislature can consent longer to throw away the public money on so desperate a plan as the present. I recieved yesterday from Kentucky the most able report on that subject which we have ever seen. I inclose it to you in the hope...
8971Enclosure: John Barnes: Account with Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 11 July 1817] (Jefferson Papers)
John Barnes , In ℀ with Thomas Jefferson Esqr — 1814 Sep r 2 d Of Gibson & Jefferson Rich d recd
8972Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter recieved last night from mr Cabell containing inter e sting information as to our University as well as something further with respect to D r Cooper . be so good as to return it with those formerly sent you. I recieved by the same mai l a commis s
8973Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 9 February 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the copy of the Olive branch you have been so kind as to send me. many extracts from it which I had seen in the newspapers had excited a wish to procure it, but the effecting this had been prevented by the difficulty of making small or fractional remittances to Philadelphia and especially since the bank bills of the different states have ceased to be recievable in all others. a...
8974From Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 18 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The wines for which I asked you to make a remittance to N.Y. were but a part of what I had written for. there were yet 5. cases and a cask of red wine to come which have since arrived at Boston consigned to Henry A. S. Dearborne the Collector, who has pd freight and duties for me 31. D 30 which I must request you to remit him, and to mr E. Copeland j r of Boston the further sum of 52. D 10 the...
8975Thomas Jefferson to Randolph Harrison, 28 September 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
During a long visit to this place I have had leisure to think of your house. you seemed to require 6. rooms, neither more nor less, and a good entrance or passage of communication. the inclosed is drawn on that plan. the ground plat is in detail, and exact; the elevation is merely a sketch to give a general idea. the workman, if he is any thing of an Architect will be able to draw the...
8976Thomas Jefferson to Matthew Pate, 23 November 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to ask the favor of you to locate the inclosed warrant N o 4915 . for 100 acres of land , on the vacant land between my own lines of the Poplar forest , those of the late William Cobbs and the adjacent landholders, with whose lines I am not yet acquainted. I shall endeavor to obtain a [...] knolege of them, and as soon as I can, I will ask the favor of you to make the survey. Accept the...
8977Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Romaine, 11 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of June 23. was duly recieved, & in that the Oration you were so kind as to forward me. the sentiments it expresses are worthy of a souldier of 1776. and of a society uniformly distinguished by it’s zeal for the republican principles of our constitution. so long as sentiments like these prevail, we need not fear the opposition either of the old, or the new school of tories, who...
8978From Thomas Jefferson to Zachariah Loreilhe, 27 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your letter of the 14th. instant on the subject of Mr. Barclay. I have received one from him of the 16th. of July. He expected to sign our treaty with Marocco in a few days. The interest which M. de Thevenard takes in whatever relates to us is a proof of his goodness; and I consider it as fortunate that the port, to which so great a proportion of the American commerce comes,...
8979From Thomas Jefferson to George Pryce, 16 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. John Speer of Charlottesville has desired me to remit you by the first mail 100. D. in consequence of orders on me from persons in my employ. their draughts are by arrangement with them to be always at 30. days sight, because once a month I take up & settle all my affairs of that nature this probably was unknown to mr Speer, & I should not have stood on it had it been convenient to have...
8980Thomas Jefferson to Frederick A. Mayo, 21 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Doubting whether my box of books may have yet got to your hands, on account of the low state of our river and having since recieved sundry pamphlets which I wish to have bound up with those sent, I now send them in a s eparate package by mail. each contains a direction into what volume it is to be inserted. I salute you respectfully PoC ( MHi ); on verso of portion of a reused address cover...
8981Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 15 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the note signed, and filled up with the former sum supposing it not best not to change it till the next renewal, by which time mr Harrison’s note for the tob o will be in hand and due. Griffin wrote me on the 5 th that he had then delivered 24. hhds to mr Harrison , and that 6. more were ready & would be opened in a few days, when
8982From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 1 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 26. came to hand yesterday. The balance shall be immediately remitted. Perhaps it may be disagreeable to Mr. Grand to give a bill of exchange for so small a sum, in which case I will send the cash itself by Mr. Paradise adding to it the price of Sterne’s sentimental journey, printed in London by Wenman No. 144. Fleet street in 16s. or in 24s, which I will beg the favor of you...
8983From Thomas Jefferson to John Harvie, 10 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
No body, not a member of your family, has felt with more sensibility than myself the losses lately sustained by it. my intimacy with your father began almost in the cradle, and through a life of length was never clouded by a moment’s abatement. with the circumstances which produced a warm attachment to your brother, and very much endeared him to me, you are acquainted. I should not at this...
8984Thomas Jefferson to John Steele, 18 May 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter just recieved from mr Cathalan of Marseilles informs me he has sent me a case of Hermitage wine and a box of Maccaroni by the Pilot , Cap t Dixon , and I learn by the public papers that that vessel is arrived at Philadelphia . I inclose you the bill of lading, and have copied on the back of it from mr Cathalan ’s invoice the quantity & cost of the articles. I have to ask the favor of...
8985From Thomas Jefferson to Tadeusz Kosciuszko, 14 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from mr Barnes on the subject of your affairs here. a loan at an interest of 8. per cent having been proposed by our government, I thought it better to convert a part of your bank stock into that, which was done to advantage. all the details are in the hands of mr Barnes, who is worthy of all confidence. This will be handed you by our friend mr Dawson. I can now hail you...
8986From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 29 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
A delay of the post office put it out of my power to answer your’s of the 20th. by the first post. I now inclose you a letter of credit on Mr. Teissier for eighty pounds sterling. This will cover the cost of the Tea vase after paying for the carriage if it be not sold before your receipt of this. If it be, you may hereafter at your leisure perhaps find another. You judged rightly in supposing...
8987From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 22 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved your favor of the 8th. instant announcing the misfortune of the vessel having my nail rod on board. my situation rendering it impossible to take the proper steps, I must beg the favor of you to act for me in the business, and to get the nailrod brought to Richmond & forwarded up. in the mean time, as I know my nailery will be out of rod, I will send on some from hence the moment the...
8988From Thomas Jefferson to James Lyle, 24 December 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
A second debtor, Robert Hawkins, called on me yesterday and paid me his second bond £41–15. Having no immediate conveyance to Richmond for this money, I send to Mr. Randolph, who is on his way there, an order to recieve a like sum lying ready for me in Richmond and to pay it to you together with Milliner’s £72-8-8 delivered him for you as mentioned in my former letter of which he is the...
8989From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 19 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I am in hopes, my dear Martha, that I shall hear by the arrival of tomorrow morning’s post, that you are all well. in the mean while the arrangement is such that my letter must go hence this evening. my last letter was from mr Eppes of Oct. 3. when all were well. I inclose a Crazy Jane for Anne, and a sweetheart for Ellen. the latter instead of the many coloured stories which she cannot yet...
8990From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton, 18 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The contingent account of the Department of State down to the 9th. instant, having been delivered to, and passed by the Auditor, and being at present in want of a further sum to satisfy demands against my Office, I must request the favor of you to order a warrant to issue payable to George Taylor Junior for Twelve hundred Dollars, and am, with respect Sir, Your most obedt. servt. PrC ( DLC );...
8991Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 19 August 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
since my last I have drawn on you in favor of Dabney Carr for 68. D 10 L. H. Girardin 25.D. Joseph Milligan 92.D. and this day in favor of Th: J. Randolph for 275.D. I set out tomorrow for Bedford , and shall probably be there to the last of the next month. Not knowing the day when my note of 1000.D. in bank will need renewal, I must ask the favor of you to notify me
8992Thomas Jefferson to John F. Oliveira Fernandes, 18 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved the last night your favor of the 10 th and I hasten to express the pleasure I shall have in recieving you here, and the wish that this may meet with no delay. you propose to us the hope that you will be here towards the end of this month, or the commencement of the next; and the object of this is to express my anxiety that it may be within the present month, because arrangements are...
8993From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Adams, 29 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I addressed a letter to you, my very dear & antient friend, on the 4th. of March: not indeed to you by name, but through the medium of some of my fellow citizens, whom occasion called on me to address. in meditating the matter of that address, I often asked myself, is this exactly in the spirit of the patriarch of liberty, Samuel Adams? is it as he would express it? will he approve of it? I...
8994From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, Jr., 16 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been favoured with yours of the 1st. inst. which relieved me from a great deal of anxiety, your former letter having mentioned that you found yourself worse at Lyons, and being quite uninformed afterwards. I suppose you to be now at Avignon, by the post mark, for you omitted to date the place from whence you wrote. Be so good as to favor me with your address that I may know how to...
8995From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton, 24 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Nearly the whole of the last draft of contingent money for the Department of State being expended, I must request the favor of you to cause a warrant to issue payable to Geo. Taylor Junr. for the sum of six hundred, fifty one Dollars, sixty seven Cents, the Balance of the appropriation for my office, to be applied to defray it’s contingent expenses; and am with respect Sir, Your most obedient...
8996From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 21 November 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Tho’ a committee of American captains at Cowes had determined we must expect a nine weeks passage, the winds and weather have so befriended us that we are come to an anchor here 29. days after weighing anchor at Yarmouth, having been only 26. days from and to land. After getting clear of the eternal fogs of Europe, which required 5. or 6. days sailing, the sun broke out upon us, and gave us...
8997From Thomas Jefferson to Roger Chew Weightman, 24 June 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
The kind invitation I recieve from you on the part of the citizens of the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration of the 50 th anniversary of American independance; as one of the surviving signers of an instrument, pregnant with our own, and the fate of the world, is most flattering to myself, and heightened by the honorable accompaniment proposal for the comfort of...
8998From Thomas Jefferson to John Murchie, 30 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your favor of the 20th. inst. and the account of Mc.gehee’s debt therein inclosed, and as I was by contract with Mc.gehee to pay £15. towards the discharge of his mortgage, the small sum by which that is exceeded leaves me no difficulty in accepting the proposition in your letter, that is to say I assume to pay on account of that mortgage £15.14.1 Virginia currency, with...
8999From Thomas Jefferson to William Hilliard, 7 August 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 26. is recieved with the catalogue it covered I am glad to recieve the catalogue of this partial purchase, because it gives me an opportunity of making observations on some articles which vary from the catalogue delivered you, and will be some guide to you in future cases on the subject of differences of edition E t c. on this our instructions gave you a certain latitude of...
9000From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Pinckney, 4 November 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of Oct. 22. and we are so near seeing one another at Washington that I should not have troubled you with an answer (which indeed I have little hope of your recieving at Charleston) but that you mention having written to me frequently, & forwarded all the numbers of the [Republican & ] other papers, your speeches &c. I assure you that the letter recieved last...