451From Thomas Jefferson to Moustier, 9 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honour of presenting his respects to Monsieur le conte de Moustier, and of taking leave of him by letter, which he is prevented doing in person by an unexpected visit to Versailles today. He will hope to have the pleasure of sometimes hearing from him, and will take the liberty occasionally of troubling him with a letter. He considers the count de Moutier as forming with...
452From Thomas Jefferson to Willink, Van Staphorst & Hubbard, 9 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 2d. instant, and a few hours before I had received one from the Treasury board settling for us the order in which the monies of the last loan shall be paid. This takes a middle ground, ordering, according to your wish, the paiment of the interest for the ensuing month of June in the first place, and then ensures to the particular purpose committed to me...
453From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 8 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Dec. 11. Jan. 23. and Mar. 3. have been duly received. Your despatches for Mr. Jay always go by the first safe conveyance after they come. I have been long acknowleging the receipt of your former letters because during the winter a very sick family prevented my attending to any but the most indispensable business, and because I saw by your zealous and judicious publications in...
454From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 27 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 12th. inst. which goes by the same packet, but was delivered to a private hand, I had the honour of inclosing to you letters from Mr. Carmichael, Mr. Barclay and Mr. Lambe on the Barbary affairs. Others came to hand last night which are now copying, and will be inclosed to you by the post of this day as far as they can be copied. The whole cannot possibly be in readiness...
455From Thomas Jefferson to De Puisaye, 11 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Les talents que vous possedez, Monsieur, doivent bien vous faire reussir en Amerique, comme partout ailleurs. Vous ne pouvez pas manquer d’y trouver à quoi les occuper. Vous avez bien prevu que la manque de la langue du païs vous fera eprouver des difficultés. Je vous assure qu’ils ne seront pas mediocres, et je vous parle de ma propre experience. Il faudra aussi vous preparer d’y rencontrer...
456From Thomas Jefferson to Lucy Ludwell Paradise, 29 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured, my dear Madam, with your letter of the 5th. instant, and embrace the first opportunity which has offered by a private hand of sending to Mr. Paradise letters for Virginia. I shall be happy to hear he is gone there, because I believe he will be happier there than in England. It is a country where a rational and studious man may follow his inclinations with less...
457From Thomas Jefferson to Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 12 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Barclay the American Consul general for France being at present out of the kingdom, I have given orders to Mr. Grand, banker at Paris, to pay your draught for one hundred and eighty six livres advanced by you for the relief of the shipwrecked Americans. I thank you for your attention to these unfortunate people. It will rest with Mr. Barclay to give such future directions as he shall think...
458From Thomas Jefferson to Gilles de Lavallée, 11 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I received duly your favour of Aug. 14. It is not in my power to take on the account of Congress any part of the expences of your passage, having received no authority of that kind from them: nor indeed is the encouragement of emigrations among the objects with which they are charged. I fear that when you get to Portsmouth you will find difficulties in the winter season to go by water to any...
459From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 9 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The only letter of yours the receipt whereof I have not yet acknoleged is the 31st. of Dec. Mine are of Sep. 25. Jan. 3. and Jan. 27 [i.e., 26]. With that of Jan. 27. I had sent the crayons &c. formerly desired. With the present I will send 2. doz. camelshair pencils, and a doz. black lead pencils which are desired in yours of Dec. 31. I at the same time sent the 14th. 15th. and 16th....
460From Thomas Jefferson to John Paradise, 10 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your letter by Dr. Bancroft inclosing one from Dr. Burney for which I return you my thanks, and now trouble you with one to that gentleman. I have had with Dr. Bancroft much conversation on your subject. We concur in proposing to you a short trip to Paris, and in thinking it will relieve your health, and place you in a situation to decide on your plans more according to the...
461From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 2 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In mine of the 29th. June by the last post I inclosed you Mr. Grand’s letter of credit for £80. on Mr. Teissier. By your favor of the 25th. handed me to-day by Mr. Parker I see there is a probability that the carriage you had in view will not have been disposed of before the letter of credit reaches you, so that the opportunity of making the purchase will not be lost. I consulted with Mr....
462From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 16 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you many thanks for your kind attention in forwarding my letters. I shall probably remain here till Thursday or Friday next, and will therefore pray you to forward hither any which may arrive before that time. None I believe will come after that, as I have let Mr. Short know I should be gone. Since my arrival here I have had some thought of making a tour up the Rhine instead of...
463[From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Jones, 2–14 February 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 2–14 Feb. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Jos. Jones. Efficacy of deed of conveyance to Congress—interest on British debts— principal—confiscations—slaves carried from N.Y.—want of money.” Not found, but see Jones’ reply of 28 Feb. Entry in SJL is prefaced by the figures “2.14”; Jones acknowledged TJ’s letter of 2 Feb. , but the double figure probably means that TJ added a postscript...
464From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Thomson, 21 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 16th. last night. I was out when it was delivered, so know not how it came; a circumstance no otherwise important than as I am at a loss how or where to enquire for the packet which should have accompanied it containing the commissions, instructions &c. I shall immediately however make the enquiry. I am obliged to you for the order for the journals. I shall make...
465From Thomas Jefferson to Lambert, 26 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Jefferson a l’honneur de presenter l’hommage de ses respects à Monsieur Lambert, et de lui envoyer les deux exemplaires de ses Observations sur la peche de la baleine qu’il lui a fait celui de demander. C’est bien flatteur à lui si Monsieur Lambert y auroit trouvé quelque chose qui merite son attention. Il ose en esperer des arrangemens d’une utilité commune aux deux nations. Il n’en...
466From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Cary, 4 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing your fondness for Botany, and meeting with a new edition of Linnaeus’s systema vegetabilium in English with many additions furnished the editors by young Linnaeus which have never yet been in print, I procured one for you, and now avail myself of the return of Monsr. de la Croix to Williamsburg to convey it to you and ask your acceptance of it. I saw in the hands of Mr. Mazzei a list...
467From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe-Denis Pierres, 12 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
M. Jefferson prie Monsieur Pierre de vouloir bien lui envoyer les feuilles qu’il a eu la bonté de faire imprimer pour lui. Il a l’honneur de lui demander s’il seroit possible de procurer pour la presse d’imprimerie que Monsieur Pierre a eu la complaisance de se charger de faire faire pour M. Jefferson, les characteres charmantes de Didot, de deux grandeurs, c’est à dire, de la plus petite, et...
468From Thomas Jefferson to Fanny Delagarde, 3 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I this moment receive your letter, inclosing those which you wish to have sent to America. I will put them under cover to the Delegates of Massachusets in Congress and will send them by the packet which sails the 25th. of this month, so that you may be assured of their going safe. A packet goes to New York from Havre every six weeks. Whenever you chuse to write to your friends therefore, send...
469From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Franklin, 5 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
A Vessel sailing from Havre to Philadelphia furnishes the Mr. Fitzhughs with a passage to that place. To them therefore I confide a number of letters and packets which I have received for you from sundry quarters and which, I doubt not, they will deliver safe. Among these is one from Mr. Du Plessis. On receipt of your letter, in answer to the one I had written you on the subject of his...
470From Thomas Jefferson to Lucy Paradise Barziza, 24 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 29th. of November, and happy since that to see the safe arrival of the Count de Barziza, Mr. and Mrs. Paradise at this place. I am sensible of the painful position in which you have been placed between persons so dear to you. The annuity of £150. settled on you by Mr. Paradise was an act of reason and justice. I suppose however that the first...
471From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 23 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Frouillé, the bookseller here who is engaged in having your book translated and printed, understanding that you were about publishing a sequel to it, has engaged me to be the channel of his prayers to you to favor his operation by transmitting hither the sheets of the sequel as they shall be printed; and he will have them translated by the same hand, which is a good one. It is necessary for me...
472From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Treasury, with Enclosure, 9 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeable to the desire expressed in your letter of Feb. 16. 1787. I now send you a rough state of the articles attached by Messrs. Schweighauser & Dobree, and actually remaining in the warehouse at Nantes. You will perceive that it is only an estimate made by myself on the spot, as an exact account could not be obtained without unpacking the whole. My estimate is followed by some Notes on the...
473From 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...
474From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 11 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Baron Polnitz not going off till today enables me to add some information which I receive from Mr. Barclay this morning. You know the immense amount of Beaumarchais’ accounts with the U.S. and that Mr. Barclay was authorized to settle them. Beaumarchais had pertinaciously insisted on settling them with Congress. Probably he received from them a denial: for just as Mr. Barclay was about to set...
475From Thomas Jefferson to Augustin Dupré, 23 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Jefferson va faire imprimer des explications de toutes les médailles, pour les envoyer avec les médailles aux souverains de l’Europe; il lui manque celle de M. Franklin, faite par M. Dupré; il le prie de lui en prêter une exemplaire, et de lui en communiquer l’explication aussi, s’il y en a été une de faite comme il y en avait sans doute. MS missing; text from Loubat, Medallic History...
476From Thomas Jefferson to Matthew Clarkson, 17 August 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been here but few days and as yet seen but little of the place or people I cannot pretend to decide from my own observations on the hopes which may be justly formed here of success in your mission. From the conversations I have had on the subject they appear to me small indeed. Dr. Franklin is decidedly of opinion they are desperate here, and Mr. Adams that they are so both here and in...
477From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 17 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur de Tronchin, minister for the republic of Geneva at this court, having a son at this time in London, I take the liberty of introducing him to your acquaintance. A respect for the father induces me to this liberty, together with an assurance that the son merits it. He is young and may need a monitor, who, with the gay, may mix the serious, when it becomes necessary to keep him out of...
478From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Barclay, 2 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
You could not have obliged me more, my dear Madam, than by the friendly application you have made. The thousand livres shall be delivered into the hands of any person you will be so good as to direct to call for them; or to any person you please in Paris at a moment’s warning. My last letter from Mr. Barclay was dated Alicant Jan. 6. He was well, and was to set out in two days for Madrid, from...
479From Thomas Jefferson to John Rutledge, Jr., 2 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I should have sooner answered your favor of Jan. 2. but that we have expected for some time to see you here. I beg you not to think of the trifle I furnished you with, nor to propose to return it till you shall have that sum more than you know what to do with. And on every other occasion of difficulty I hope you will make use of me freely. I presume you will now remain at London to see the...
480From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 24 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 15th. and accede to the proposition of the young workman to make me as good a carriage for £105. as the shops furnish at 130£. I would wish it to be 3 feet 8. inches wide within, a strapontin to unship and ship as may be wanting, the steps to shut within, a box to take in and out, coachman’s seat to ship and unship readily, mortise locks, venetian blinds,...
481From Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Bréhan, 9 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not till the month of March, my dear Madam, that we became assured of your safe arrival in America. In the mean time we had been alarmed by reports, to which we should have paid no attention in a case less interesting. No author for the tale could be named, no origin traced; yet those who loved you, and they are numerous, feared it might be true, because it was not impossible. And even...
482From 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....
483From Thomas Jefferson to François Soulés, 2 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you the papers M. de Crevecoeur sent to Normandy for. The account of the destruction of Wyoming begins page 40. You may rely certainly on the author’s facts, and you will be easily able to separate from them his reflections. You can best judge whether an account of that interesting settlement, condensed into a few lines might not form an agreeable episode in your history, and prepare...
484From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 5 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The resolution of Congress of Oct. 29. 1783. is the only one I have seen on the subject of the Danish business. That is directed expressly to ‘the Ministers plenipotentiary of the U.S. at the court of Versailles empowered to negociate a peace.’ It is true that I had the honour of being named in that commission and was preparing to come when we received news of the signature of the preliminary...
485From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, 31 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Fitzhugh being to leave this within two or three days and proposing to attend the next session of Assembly in Richmond, I am thereby furnished with an opportunity of writing you a line, and knowing myself the anxieties of a parent for an absent child I know I cannot better gratify you than by informing you of the welfare of your son. From this place he went to Avignon, and not to Lisle as...
486From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 22 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The letters of which the inclosed are copies, are this moment received, and as there is a possibility that they may reach Havre before the packet sails, I have the honor of inclosing them to you. They contain a promise of reducing the duties on tar, pitch and turpentine, and that the government will interest itself with the city of Rouen to reduce the local duty on Potash. By this you will...
487From Thomas Jefferson to William Macarty, 6 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I took the liberty of writing to you in the month of June last to endeavor to get me a supply of china, like, or nearly like a sample you were so kind as to carry from here for me. You informed me afterwards there were no dishes of near that pattern to be had, and for plates they asked 36₶ the dozen. As there have been some arrivals from India since that time, perhaps those articles can now be...
488From Thomas Jefferson to Dorcas Montgomery, 21 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 18th . inst. came to hand yesterday. I am sorry it is not in my power to direct the paiment of the bills therein inclosed, as that would probably be more agreeable to you. Doctr. Franklin was the last of the American commissioners in Europe authorized to pay those bills. This he did as long as he staid which was for six years after the date of the bills. Those not presented...
489To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 30 May 1786 (Adams Papers)
In my letter of the 11 th. instant I had the honour of inclosing you copies of letters relative to the Barbary affairs. others came to hand three days ago, of some of which I now send you copies, & of the others the originals. by these you will perceive that mr̃ Randall and mr̃ Lamb were at Madrid, that the latter means to return to Alicant & send on a courier to us. mr̃ Randall does not...
490From Thomas Jefferson to John Trumbull, 3 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Being obliged to set out for Holland at a very few hours warning I have only time to notify you that I shall be absent hence three or four weeks. I trouble you with a letter on which I know not how to put any address particular enough to find the gentleman who is at Edinburgh. If you can supply it by enquiry and forward it, I will be obliged. My affection to our two friends Mrs. Church and...
491From Thomas Jefferson to Morgan, Père et Fils, 17 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday the honor of your letter of the 9th. instant, and think it a duty to answer immediately the several questions you propose. The country bordering on the Chesapeake is certainly the most likely to furnish without delay the flour you desire. It would be best for your vessels to go directly to Norfolk, because they will very probably be able to supply themselves there: and if...
492From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 15 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10th. is just now received, and as the refusal of one of Mr. Paradise’s creditors to accede to the deed of trust, will occasion some change in Mr. Paradise’s plan this again will require that the whole be dispatched. As the post goes out in the morning, and his lodgings are very distant from me I cannot consult him expressly on the occasion, but many conversations have put me...
493From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 18 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
You have done very well not to venture the olive plants thro’ the canal of Languedoc during the late cold season, as you mention to me in your favor of the 1st. inst. I should wish a good parcel to be sent by the Baltimore vessel, only charging your correspondent in Baltimore to ship them immediately to Charleston to the address of Messrs. Brailsford & Morris merchants of Charleston, or Mr....
494From Thomas Jefferson to La Rouerie, 12 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of the 26th. of Dec. on the subject of the interest due to the foreign officers. An express instruction of Congress having subjected their monies in Europe to the order of their board of treasury only leaves me without the power of giving the order you desire. However, wishing to do whatever was possible for those officers, I went to Mr. Grand’s to consult...
495From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Henley, 14 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
This is accompanied by the copy of a letter I did myself the pleasure of writing you in March last. I sent it by a gentleman going to London who promised to endeavor to find you out. He brought it back to me with an assurance that he had been unable to learn the place of your residence. I gave it to another who went soon after to London: and as he did not return it to me I flattered myself it...
496From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 27 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I formerly had the honour of mentioning to you the measures I had taken to have our commerce with this country put on a better footing; and you know the circumstances which had occasioned the articles of whale oil and tobacco to be first brought forward. Latterly we got the committee, which had been established for this purpose, to take up the other articles, and on their report the King and...
497From Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas Darcel, 29 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not accept the inclosed bills of exchange because I am not the person to whom they are addressed. I am named Minister plenipotentiary of the U.S. for transacting their affairs with the court of France, but with nothing to do in any other matter. These bills are directed to the Commissioners of the U.S. at Paris, that is to say to Doctr. Franklin, Mr. Deane and Mr. Lee who were appointed...
498From 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,...
499From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 17 January 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
No post having arrived here from the Southward during the present month till this day, and being to return in a few minutes I am obliged without an opportunity of asking the concurrence of my collegues to inclose you a copy of the proclamation of the Definitive treaty and of it’s ratification which happily took place on the 14th. instant. Two officers were immediately dispatched to seek...
500From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Franklin, 14 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of March 20. and much satisfaction from it. I had been alarmed with the general cry that our commerce was in distress, and feared it might be for want of markets. But the high price of commodities shews that markets are not wanting. Is it not yet possible however that these high prices may proceed from the smallness of the quantity made, and that from the want of...