401From Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan and William Hay, 26 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you on the receipt of your orders to procure draughts for the public buildings, and again on the 13th. of August. In the execution of those orders two methods of proceeding presented themselves to my mind. The one was to leave to some architect to draw an external according to his fancy, in which way experience shews that about once in a thousand times a pleasing...
402From Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan and William Hay, 13 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of March 20. came to hand the 14th. of June, and the next day I wrote to you acknowleging the receipt, and apprising you that between that date and the 1st. of August it would be impossible to procure and get to your hands the draughts you desired. I did hope indeed to have had them prepared before this, but it will yet be some time before they will be in readiness. I flatter myself...
403[From Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan and William Hay, 15 June 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 15 June 1785 . Recorded in SJL with notation “see copy.” Not found. A notation in SJL opposite entries for letters of 17 June reads: “letters of 14. 16. 17. and 19. went by Mr. Otto”; since, however, TJ records under 14 June 1785 only letters received, “14.” must apply to those listed as written 15 June. On the matter dealt with in the present letter, see TJ to Buchanan and Hay, 13...
404[From Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan, 13 January 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 13 Jan. 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “Jas. Buchanan. To send me Hayes’s papers from Nov. 1. by post if frank to care of N. J[amieson] New Y. or by other conveiances if not franked—demand the money of Key or I will remit.—war doubtful—Blanchd. and Jefferies.—pray him to try to save my lot bought of Turpin, to settle price with him and draw on me for the money at 2. months sight.” Not...
405From Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan and William Hay, 26 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with no small degree of surprize and vexation that I have this moment received from M. Limozin of Havre, the inclosed bill of lading for the Model of the Capitol, by which it appears that it has been shipped a few days ago. This model went out of my hands about the last of May or first of June, and would get to Havre in about 10. days, where I suppose it has lain neglected in a warehouse...
406From Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan and William Hay, 13 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The model of the Capitol being at length finished I have sent it down the Seine to Havre, it being necessary that it should go by water. I have not yet collected the accounts, but shall soon do it, and forward them to you. They will be less than I had expected. I shall pray you to account for their amount to the Governour and council, as I have with them an account into which it will be easier...
407From Thomas Jefferson to Buffon, 1 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of informing you some time ago that I had written to some of my friends in America, desiring they would send me such of the spoils of the Moose, Caribou, Elk and deer as might throw light on that class of animals; but more particularly to send me the complete skeleton, skin, and horns of the Moose, in such condition as that the skin might be sowed up and stuffed on it’s...
408[From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Burd, 12 May 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 12 May 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “Edwd. Burd prothonotary supreme court Pennsylva. Inclosing commission and depositions in Guillebaut et al. v. Wharton.” Opposite the entry is the notation: “by Mr. Adams.” Not found. The enclosures were doubtless the same (with the addition of the certification by Siot de St. Pol of 26 Mch.) as those enclosed in TJ to Holker, 24 Mch. 1785. See also...
409From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Burney, 10 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I took the liberty, through Mr. Paradise, of asking your advice in the purchase of a harpsichord. He has transmitted me a letter you were pleased to write him on that subject. The readiness with which you have been so good as to act in this matter excites my warmest gratitude, and I beg you to accept of my thanks for it. The objection made by Kirkman to the resin of Walker’s bowstring has some...
410From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Burney, 12 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of the 20th. of January, and am now to return you my sincere thanks for your very kind attention to the instrument I had desired. Your goodness has induced you to give yourself a great deal more trouble about it than I would have presumed to propose to you. I only meant to intrude on your time so far as to give a general instruction to the workmen. Besides...
411From Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Burwell, 6 September 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The perfect confidence reposed in you by Mr. and Mrs. Paradise has induced them to ask your friendly aid in the following case. When making the arrangements in their affairs which have been communicated to you, they had occasion to shew me the original of their marriage settlement. I observed on it no proofs that it had been recorded in our courts, nor did they suppose it had. They have...
412From Thomas Jefferson to Cabanis, 28 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Lambert de Frontignan, par une lettre en datte le 22me. Fevrier m’avoit pride vous payer la somme de 129.₶ pour cent bouteilles de vin qu’il avoit envoyà Monsr. le Comte de Moustier en Amerique par mon ordre. Malheureusement sa lettre n’etoit pas encore arrivée la 3me. Mars quand je suis parti de Paris pour les Païs bas et l’Allemagne. Je la trouve ici à mon retour qui n’est que de 4....
413[From Thomas Jefferson to George Cabot, 24 July 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[On board the Ceres, off Scilly Isles, 24 July 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Do. [24. Ceres. off Scilly] Cabot. Have delivered his Don Quixote to Mr. Tracy.” Not found, and Cabot has not been identified. In Nov. 1804 John Quincy Adams had dinner with TJ and afterward made the following entry in his diary: “As to Spanish, it was so easy that he had learned it, with the help of a Don Quixote lent...
414From Thomas Jefferson to —— Cabot, 24 July 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I deliver to Mr. Tracy to be returned to you the copy of Don Quixot which you were so obliging as to lend me: for which I return you many thanks. The winds have been so propitious as to let me get through one volume only: yet this has so far done away the difficulties of the language as that I shall be able to pursue it on shore with pleasure. I have found it a very advantageous disposal of...
415From Thomas Jefferson to Calonne, 7 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour on the 2d. of November last to acknowlege the receipt of your Excellency’s letter of October the 22d. wherein you were so good as to communicate to me the arrangements which the king had been pleased to make for the encouragement of the commerce of the United states of America with his subjects. I immediately made known the same to the Agents of the United States in the...
416From Thomas Jefferson to Calonne, 2 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s letter of October the 22d. wherein you communicate to me the regulations which His Majesty the King has been pleased lately to establish in favor of the commerce between his subjects and the Citizens of the United States. I availed myself of the first occasion of conveying this information to Congress, who will recieve with singular satisfaction this...
417From Thomas Jefferson to Cambray, 13 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I received this day your favor of the 10th. instant. Dr. Franklin did not leave with me any Certificates old or new either for yourself or any other person, neither is it in my power to give you any information on that subject. I think it would be adviseable for you to write to M. Otto, Chargé des affaires of France at New York, who can make the necessary enquiries for you, of Dr. Franklin,...
418From Thomas Jefferson to Cambray, 7 October 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 29th. September is duly received. Monsieur Aleaume had sent me, in the month of August, the letters of procuration to be legalised and sent to America. The expression in his letter was ‘que M. le comte de Cambrai espere que vous voulez bien legaliser et faire passer en Amerique. ’ An opportunity occurring just at that time of sending them to Charlestown, I availed myself of...
419From Thomas Jefferson to Cambray, 20 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure two days ago of receiving from the Register of the Treasury of the United States, a certificate for 3227 83/90 Dollars equal to: 17,430₶-15–7 due to you and bearing an interest of 6. percent from the 1st. day of Jan. 1784. to be paid annually at the house of Mr. Grand banker in Paris. The interest of certificates similar to this was paid the last year by Mr. Grand; but he...
420From Thomas Jefferson to Cambray, 29 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The laws of the United states give no credit to the legalisation of an instrument of writing by their foreign ministers. They require that they should be legalised by affixing to them the seal of the city where the instrument is executed or acknoleged. On receiving your letter therefore, I sent the instrument it contained to your house with directions to the person having charge of your...
421From Thomas Jefferson to Cambray, 19 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The assembly of Carolina requiring that you should renew on oath an account of the paiments you have received, the oath is necessary. There is in this country some officer of justice in every town authorized to administer an oath and make out a proces verbal of [fact]. I know because I once had occasion to take depositions here, and an officer (whose appellation I forgot) administered the...
422From Thomas Jefferson to Capellen, 8 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not in my power to write the letter for Mr. Van der Kemp the evening before I left Paris; and it is not till I arrive here that I have found one moment of leisure. Not knowing in what state of our Union he may chuse to settle I am not able to know to what persons he may be usefully and directly addressed. I give him therefore a letter to Mr. Madison, my most particular friend, now a...
423From Thomas Jefferson to Michel Capitaine, 25 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Je viens de recevoir, Monsieur, de Monsieur Peters une lettre de change sur votre compte pour 4755₶-14s, qu’il me prie de vous remet[tre]. Je partirai pour la Provence dans deux jours, et je laisserai la lettre de change dans les mains de Monsieur Short , mon Secretaire, qui aura l’honneur de la livrer à vos mains si vous aurez la bonté de la lui demander. J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec bien de...
424From Thomas Jefferson to Carmarthen, [ca. 26 April 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honor of presenting his respects to the right honourable the Marquis of Carmarthen: he had that of calling at his house to take leave on his departure for Paris; from which place the arrangements he had taken do not permit his longer absence. He shall be happy if he can be useful to his Lordship in being the bearer of his commands for that Capital. Dft ( DLC ); without...
425From Thomas Jefferson to James Carmichael, 21 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I think myself very unfortunate in having been absent when you did me the honor of calling on me in Paris. Particular occupation prevented my waiting on you immediately but I sent to your lodgings a note to ask yourself and Mr. Collow to do me the honor of dining with me; the messenger was informed however that you had just left Paris. I was the more mortified at this, as, besides the many...
426From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 4 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of writing you on the 18th. of October and again on the 25th. of the same month. Both letters, being to pass through the post offices, were confined to particular subjects. The first of them acknoleged the receipt of yours of Sep. 29. At length a confidential opportunity arrives for conveying to you a cypher ; it will be handed you by the bearer Mr. Lambe. Copies of it are in...
427VIII. American Commissioners to William Carmichael, 12 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barclay will deliver you this letter in his way to Morocco. We have appointed him to this negotiation in hopes of obtaining the friendship of that State to our country, and of opening by that means the commerce of the Mediterranean, an object of sufficient importance to induce him to accept of the trust. We recommend him and Colo. Franks who goes with him to your attention and assistance,...
428IV. The American Commissioners to William Carmichael, 12 September 1785 – 11 October 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r. Barclay will deliver you this letter in his way to Morocco. We have appointed him to this negotiation in hopes of obtaining the friendship of that State to our country, & of opening by that means the commerce of the Mediterranean, an object of sufficient importance to induce him to accept of the trust We recommend him & Col o. Franks who goes with him to your attention & assistance, and...
429From 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...
430From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 18 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of June 22. with a P. S. of July 14. Yours of June 27. came to hand the 23d. of July and that of July 28. came to hand the 10th. inst. The papers enclosed in the last shall be communicated to Mr. Adams. I see with extreme satisfaction and gratitude the friendly interposition of the court of Spain with the emperor of Marocco on the subject of the brig Betsey, and I am...
431From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 26 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Being thus far on my tour through the seaports, I find here a letter from Colo. Smith, informing me of his having passed this place on his way to Madrid. As I believe you are not acquainted with each other, give me leave to recommend him to your attentions, not as a matter of formality but with all the warmth which his uncommon merit deserves. His good sense you will immediately perceive, but...
432From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 22 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson’s Compliments to Mr. Carmichael and begs the favor of him to convey the inclosed letters. He has recieved his letter of the 4th. of Septr. and is in hopes that one which he had written to Mr. Carmichael on the 22d. of August will have answered some of his enquiries. An indisposition likely to continue some time will necessarily retard his answer to the rest. He begs Mr....
433From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 14 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Having got back to Paris three days ago, I resume immediately the correspondence with which you have been pleased to honour me. I wish I could have begun it with more agreeable information than that furnished me by Mr. Grand, that the funds of the United states here are exhausted and himself considerably in advance, and by the Board of treasury at New York that they have no immediate prospect...
434From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 5 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
A visit of two months to England has been the cause of your not hearing from me during that period. Your letters of Feb. 3. to Mr. Adams and myself, and Feb. 4. to me had come to hand before my departure. While I was in London Mr. Adams received the letters giving information of Mr. Lamb’s arrival at Algiers. At London we had conferences with a Tripoline ambassador now at that court, named...
435From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The copy of your letter of July 9. and that of Aug. 22. came to hand together. The original of the former I never received. My last to you was dated June 14. I heard indirectly that Mr. Grand had refused to pay a bill of yours , but he never said a word to me on the subject, nor mentioned any letter of yours in consequence of it. I have stated the matter to the board of treasury . I also wrote...
436From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 20 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 5th. of May by Baron Waltersdorff. Since that I have been honoured with yours of Apr. 13. May 16. and 18. The present covers letters to Mr. Lamb and Mr. Randall informing them that the demands of Algiers for the ransom of our prisoners and also for peace is so infinitely beyond our instructions that we must refer the matter back to Congress, and therefore praying them...
437[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 3 May 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 3 May 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “Wm. Carmichael. Receipt his of Apr. 19. Rh. isld. passed impost imperfectly.-N.Y. double duties on British bottoms-not passed impost. Georga. brought in bill for impost-Moultrie Govr. S.C. Reed of Pensva. dead-Indian purchase said to be to meridian of falls of Ohio but I doubt it. Mr. A. minister at Lond. Smith Secretary of legation-Dr. F. leave to...
438From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 8 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a copy of a letter of mine to Mr. Grand which will explain to you a difficulty which arose as to a bill of exchange to which your name was subscribed. Considering myself as no ways authorized to direct the funds of the U.S. in France I had originally refused to intermeddle at all. But Mr. Grand would not pay at all then. I thereupon have undertaken to advise him till I can...
439From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Rutledge, the son of Governor Rutledge of South Carolina, will have the honour of delivering you this. I suppose you must have been personally acquainted with his father, but surely so by reputation. It would suffice therefore to announce his son to you, in order to obtain your attentions and friendly offices for him. It is to gratify myself then that I add my sollicitations to the same...
440From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 18 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was dated Dec. 26. since which I have been honoured with yours of Dec. 17. I now inclose you a duplicate of the vote for the recall of Mr. Lamb. I take the liberty also of putting under cover to you our confirmation of the Marocco treaty together with a joint letter to Fennish. The fear that Mr. Barclay might not be at Madrid has occasioned my giving you this trouble as well as...
441From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I did myself the honour of writing to you on the 18th. inst. Since that date it has become probable that Mr. Lamb and Mr. Randall will set out for Madrid before Mr. Barclay will be ready. You will probably see them between the middle and last of November. I took the liberty of solliciting Count d’Aranda for passports for these gentlemen, which might protect their baggage from being searched....
442[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 16 August 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 16 Aug. 1784 . An entry in SJL under this date has a line drawn through it followed by: “[recalled the letter.]” The canceled entry reads: “[Aug.] 16. Mr. Carmichael at Havre on the subject of Limosin. See copy.” It is possible that this letter dealt with TJ’s having been cheated by a porter at Havre (see TJ to William Temple Franklin, 18 Aug. 1784 , note.]
443From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 3 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Apr. 14. and 29. and May 8. have lately come to hand. That of Jan. 29. by M. de Molinedo had been left here during my absence on a journey to Amsterdam. That gentleman was gone, as I presume from my being unable to learn any thing of him. I had been led to Amsterdam in order to meet with Mr. Adams and to endeavor in conjunction with him to take arrangements for answering the...
444From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
A sick family has prevented me, for upwards of a month from putting pen to paper but in indispensable cases, and for some time before that I had been waiting to receive American news worth communicating to you. These causes have occasionned my silence since my last which was of the 12th. of August, and my leaving unacknoleged, till now, your several favors of July 24. Aug. 14. Sep. 9. and Nov....
445From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 13 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of receiving on the 1st. inst. your favor of Dec. 17. I had before that, in a letter of Dec. 8. explained to you the cause of the bill not being paid which appeared here in your name, so far as I had been obliged to meddle in it. My letter to Mr. Grand which I inclosed to you, will have shewn you that I advised him to follow what had been his practice as to your bills. I do...
446From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 22 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of June 16. July 15. 18. and 31. I have the honour now to acknowlege. I have been for a month past so closely employed that it has been out of my power to do myself the pleasure sooner of writing to you on the several subjects they contain.—I formerly wrote you the reason why Mr. Grand had not paid your bills, that is to say, the want of a letter of advice. As to the notary’s...
447From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 26 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
A note from me of the 22d. of Sep. apprised you it would be some time before I should be able to answer your letters. I did not then expect it would have been so long. A dislocation of my right wrist three or four days before that has disabled me from writing till lately, and I now write in great pain and only in cases of necessity. I am to acknolege the receipt of yours of Sep. 29. Oct. 3....
448[From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 15 December 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 15 Dec. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mr. Carmichael. à Havre to know if it is stopped at Havre.” Not found; “it” refers to a copying press mentioned in TJ’s entry for a letter to John Holker, this date, written just above the entry for the letter to Carmichael.]
449From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 18 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the 29. Sep. came safely to hand: the constant expectation of the departure of the persons whom I formerly gave you reason to expect has prevented my writing as it has done yours. They will probably leave this in a week, but their route will be circuitous and attended with delays. Between the middle and last of November they may be with you. By them you will receive a cypher by...
450From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 22 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of April 4. came to my hands on the 16th. of that month and was acknowleged by mine of May 3. That which you did me the honour to write me on the 5th. of April never came to hand till the 19th. of May, upwards of a month after the one of the day before. I have hopes of sending the present by a Mr. Jarvis who went from hence to Holland some time ago. About this date I suppose him to...