1Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1804 (Adams Papers)
The affectionate sentiments which you have had the goodness to express in your letter of May 20. towards my dear departed daughter, have awakened in me sensibilities natural to the occasion, & recalled your kindnesses to her which I shall ever remember with gratitude & friendship. I can assure you with truth they had made an indelible impression on her mind, and that, to the last, on our...
2Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 22 July 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 1 st. inst. was duly recieved, and I would not again have intruded on you but to rectify certain facts which seem not to have been presented to you under their true aspect. my charities to Callender are considered as rewards for his calumnies. as early, I think, as 1796. I was told in Philadelphia that Callendar, the author of the Political progress of Britain, was in that...
3Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 11 September 1804 (Adams Papers)
Your letter, Madam, of the 18 th. of Aug. has been some days recieved, but a press of business has prevented the acknolegement of it: perhaps indeed I may have already trespassed too far on your attention. with those who wish to think amiss of me, I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent: but where I know a mind to be ingenuous, & to need only truth to set it to rights, I cannot be as...
I have duly recieved your letter of the 28th. of July expressing a wish that your brother could find some emploiment in New Orleans in which his knolege of the French and Spanish languages might be made useful. it would have been pleasing to me to have been able to point out such an emploiment, & more so to add that any such was within my powers of appointment, but the only appointments I make...
5Circular Letter from Thomas Jefferson, 29 April 1802 (Madison Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the heads of the departments to examine and consider the charges of Colo. Worthington against Govr. St. Clair with the answer of the latter and the documents in support or invalidation of the charges; & to favor him with their opinion in writing on each charge distinctly, whether ‘established’ or ‘not established,’ and whether those ‘established’ are...
6To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 5 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I think it is dean Swift who says that a present should consist of something of little value, & which yet cannot be bought for money. I send you one strictly under both conditions. The drawing was made by Kosciusko for his own use, and the engraving also I believe. He sent me four copies, the only ones which have come to America. The others I give to my family, and ask yourself & mrs. Madison...
7To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
The road through Ravensworth is renderd absolutely impassable for a four wheeled carriage by a single change made lately by one of the mr. Fitzhughs in his plantation. You must not therefore attempt it, but go on to Fairfax C. H. & there turn off to Songster’s. Bull run is now passed at an excellent ford, and the hills by a great deal of work have been made quite good. The road between Elkrun...
8To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you on the 9th. but whether the new post had got into motion at that time I know not. It related chiefly to the roads. Yesterday I recieved your’s of the 7th. & 11th. It really seems doubtful whether the conduct of Le Clerc proceeds from the extravagance of his own character, or from a settled design in his government. So many things lately wear the latter appearance that one cannot be...
9To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
Our postrider having mistaken his day, brought us no mail on Thursday last. Yesterday I recieved a double one. In it were the inclosed letters. Those from Dupont & Granger are forwarded for your perusal, and I will recieve them again when I see you at your own house. The one from Dallas to yourself on Jackson’s case I recieved from mr. Brent: the recommendation of the Attorney of the district,...
10Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 19 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
Henry Warren (of Mass) to be Collector of Marblehead v. Samuel R. Gerry. William Lyman of Massachusetts to be Collector of Newbury port, vice Dudley A. Tyng William R. Lee of Massachus: to be collector of Salem & Beverley vice Joseph Hiller Peter Muhlenburg of Pensylvania to be Collector of vice George Latimer John Page of Virginia to be Collector of Petersburg v. William Heth. Tenche Cox of...
11To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of July 22. came to hand on the 25th. the day of my arrival here. I think the proposition to tender another 30,000. D. to Algiers a very judicious one, and have therefore written to mr. Gallatin to take measures in conjunction with yourself to make the remittance by the General Greene. I have not yet written to the emperor of Morocco; because when one has nothing to write about it is...
12To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the letters of mr. Pichon, and of Jones; also those of Van Polanen & Thos. Sumter. The letter to be written to Van Polanen should be so friendly as to remove all doubt from the Batavian government that our suppression of that mission proceeds from any other motive than of domestic arrangement & e[c]onomy. I inclose you a draught of a letter to the emperor of Morocco, which...
13To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed letter from mr. Simpson our Consul in Marocco was forwarded to me from your office by yesterday’s post. The demand of the emperor of Marocco is so palpably against reason & the usage of nations that we may consider it as a proof either that he is determined to go to war with us at all events, or that he will always make common cause with the Barbary powers when we are at war with...
14To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, [13] August 1802 (Madison Papers)
The post having made it night before his arrival yesterday and my mail extraordinarily voluminous, I have been able to read & now return you the inclosed papers only. Mr. Livingston’s shall come by the next mail. I do not like this mistake of Capt. McNiel’s, and fear it will be very embarrassing. Other d⟨is⟩patches oblige me to close here with assurances of my affectiona⟨te⟩ esteem & respect....
15To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I now return all the papers recieved from you by this post, except those relative to our affairs at Buenos Ayres. Mr. Boudinot’s provisional measures for taking care of the Mint on shutting it up appear entirely proper. The 5th. alone seems imperfect, as I do not see why a positive conclusion should not have been formed as to the care of the bullion, the most important part of the charge. I...
16To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the papers forwarded by the merchants of Philadelphia and Boston on the subject of the wrongs they complain of at Buenos Ayres. I observe that they have not gone into a developement of the subject. Two or three cases are opened with some degree of detail; as to the rest we have only a list of the ships for which our interference is claimed. But in cases where a hair’s breadth...
17To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 23 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday’s post brought me, as I suppose it did you, information of the Emperor of Marocco’s declaration of war against us, and of the capture of a merchant vessel of ours (the Franklin, Morris) off cape Palos, by a Tripoline as is said in a New York letter; but a Marraquin as I am in hopes from the place, & the improbability of a Tripoline being there. The letter to the Emperor, & the gun...
18To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 27 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you a letter from W. Hampton & Fontaine Maury on the subject of apprehensions that the negroes taken from Guadaloupe will be pushed in on us. It came to me under the superscription of mr. Brent, so may not have been seen by you. Would it not be proper to make it the subject of a friendly letter to M. Pichon. Perhaps Govr. Clinton should also recieve some mark of our attention to the...
19To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 August 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your two favors of the 25th. & blank were recieved yesterday; and all the papers forwarded me are returned by this post. I must pray you to direct an extract from so much of mr. Clarke’s letter as relates to the dissatisfaction of the Chickasaw chief with the Spanish governor, to be taken & sent to Genl. Dearborn to whom I have written on the subject. Mr. Clarke’s letter cuts out a...
20To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 1st. was received yesterday. I now return the letters of Higginson, Davis &c. praying that a public vessel may be sent to demand their vessels of the Viceroy of La Plata, indemnity for the detention, & a full performance of existing contracts with the Spanish merchants of La Plata. It would certainly be the first instance of such a demand made by any government from a subordinate....
21To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 3d. came to hand yesterday. I am content that the questions relative to Commissioners of bankruptcy and dockets should remain until we meet: altho’ I think there are reasons of weight for not leaving the latter for Congress to do, for that would be abandoning it. The repeal of that law has been unquestionably pleasing to the people generally; and having led Congress to it, we owe...
22To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
Yours by yesterday’s post is recieved. The letter to Higginson & others is entirely approved, and is sealed & forwarded to mr. Brent. The Consulate at Nantes must be disposed of according to our former arrangement. I do not know whether the mr. Lynch recommended is the one who was living at Nantes when I was in France, or his son. Of that one there is something not favourable resting in my...
23To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 13 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the papers which came in your letter of the 11th. I am not satisfied that the ground taken by Chancellor Livingston is advantageous. For the French government & the Spanish have only to grant him all he asks (and they will in justice & policy do that at once) and his mouth must be shut: because after-sought objections would come from him to great disadvantage. Whereas the true...
24To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
I recieved yesterday your’s of the 15th. In the hope of seeing you here tomorrow I return no papers. I will pray you not to fail in your visit. I have recd a letter from mr. R. Smith disapproving of the countermand of the John Adams for reasons detailed; & one from mr. Gallatin disapproving of the original order for her sailing. (He had not then, Sep. 9. heard of the countermand.) The vessel...
25To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 27 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
Unexpected delays in getting my carriage ready will render it impossible for me to leave this till Thursday or Friday, probably Friday: and as you will be gone or going by that time, and we shall meet so soon at Washington, I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you at your own house, but get on as far as the day will let me. Mr. Gallatin left N. York on the 21st. and expected to be at...
26Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, ca. 18 October 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Ca. 18 October 1802. Lists commissioners of bankruptcy for Vermont for whom commissions are to be made out, including Samuel Prentiss, Darius Chipman, Richard Skinner, Mark Richards, Reuben Atwater, James Elliott, and Oliver Gallup; “Also a Commission for Robert ⟨Elliott Coc⟩kran to be Marshal of S. Carolina vice Charles B. Cockran resigned.” RC ( ViU ). 1 p. RC torn, partially obscuring the...
27To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
Will you give the inclosed a serious perusal, and make such corrections in matter & manner as it needs, & that without reserve, & with as little delay as possible, as I mean to submit it in like manner to the other gentlemen, singly first, & then together. The part respecting the treasury department is not yet prepared. A concluding paragraph is also to be added, when we see if any other...
28To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
I had before heard this matter spoken of, but did not suppose it seriously intended. If there be any danger of it, the Secretary at war shall be desired to give orders at Màssac̀ & Fort Adams to stop them by force. But would it not be well to write to the Govr. of Kentucky to have the perso⟨ns⟩ arrested & bound to their good behavior or the peace? RC ( DNA : RG 59, NFL , Spain, vol. 2). Filed...
29To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
I return you the report, and have prepared a message, tho’ I confess myself not satisfied on the main question, the responsibility of the government in this case, and with our taking wholly on ourselves the risk of the decision. For to enable Congress to judge for themselves the record must go; & the printing that would prevent it’s being taken up this session. If we do not send in the record...
30To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 10th. is recieved and I now inclose a letter to the Secretary of the navy, which be pleased to seal & deliver after perusal. I think not a moment should be lost in forwarding the stores to Algiers, as it is of im⟨po⟩rtance to keep those powers quiet. Might it not be useful to propose to the Dey with a year’s annuity in stores to recieve another year’s in money? The answer from...
31To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you on the 17th. since which yours of the 14th. is recieved, and I now return the letters of Mr. Livingston & O’Brien. I hope the game mr. Livingston says he is playing is a candid & honourable one. Besides an unwillingness to accept any advantage which should have been obtained by other means, no other means can probably succeed there. An American contending by stratagem against those...
32To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 March 1803 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 17th. is recieved. I concur in your ideas that the request from the Bey of Tunis of a frigate of 36. guns should be complaisantly refused. I think the greatest dispatch should be used in sending either the gun carriages or money to Simpson for the emperor of Marocco, and the stores to Algiers; &, if you approve it, the powder on account : or perhaps it would be better to authorise...
33Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 May 1803. Directs JM to issue commissions to Samuel Ward of Massachusetts to be naval officer for Salem, Massachusetts; Samuel Osgood of New York to be naval officer for the district of New York; Jeremiah Bennett, Jr., of New Jersey to be collector of customs for the district and inspector of the revenue for the port of Bridgeton, New Jersey; and George House of Connecticut to be master of...
34To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 July 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 July 1803 . Invites “Mr. Madison & family […] at half after […].” “Many thanks to mrs. Madison for the trouble she has been so good as to take.” RC (owned by Charles M. Storey, Boston, Mass., 1961). 1 p.; torn and blotted so as to be nearly indecipherable. Dated “Wednesday”; since Jefferson left Washington on 19 July, this invitation could have been dated 6 or 13 July. Below this line, in...
35Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
Commissions to be made out. Thomas Rodney of Delaware to be judge of Missipi. vice S. Lewis Thomas Rodney of Delaware. } to be Commrs. &c West of Pearl river. Robert Williams of N. Carolina Ephraim Kerby of Connecticut } to be Commrs. &c East of Pearl river. Robert Carter Nicholas of Kentucky A blank commission for the Register East of Pearl river. Tenche Coxe of Pensylvania to be Purveyor....
36To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
It was agreed yesterday 1. that a copy of the proclamation should be inclosed to each member in a letter from the Secy. of state, mentioning that the meeting of Congress had been necessarily anticipated three weeks, because the ratificns. of the treaty & conventions for the cession of Louisiana were to be exchanged on the 30th. day of October, & suggesting the importance of a punctual...
37To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 31 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I return you the petition of Samuel Miller with the pardon signed. Mr. Kelty had spoke to me on this subject and told me that he and mr. Craunch should join in a recommendation. I wish mr. Wagner would obtain this before he delivers the pardon. I return also mr. King’s letter which has really important matter, especially what respects the Mare clausum, the abandonment of the colonial system, &...
38To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
If M. Dalbarton be really Jerome Bonaparte, he will have satisfied thereof the minister of his nation, thro’ whom we shall be apprised of the fact, and relieved from all trouble in deciding on it. This may yet be done, perhaps just as a frigate is ready to sail, and accompanied with a request of a passage in her; when no time will be left for consultation. Our duty to our constituents would...
39To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 13 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I recieved yesterday the inclosed letter & papers from Governor Mercer, requesting my approbation of the relinquishment of a part of their claim to bank stock in England in order to obtain the residue. This it seems is required by an act of the legislature of Maryland, but with what view, or to what end I am unapprised, never having seen the act. It cannot certainly be with a view to raise any...
40To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 13th. came to hand yesterday. I now return Paine’s Duane’s Lear’s, Simpson’s & Toulman’s letters, and the two protests on impressment by a British and a French armed vessel. I am glad of the latter, as it will serve as a set-off against French complaints on the British trespasses on us. But the former is an afflicting subject. With every disposition to render them all...
41To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you two letters from Rob. R. Livingston. That of the 2d. of June is just intelligible enough in the uncyphered parts to create anxieties which perhaps the cypher may remove. I communicate them for your information, & shall be glad to recieve them decyphered. I infer that the less we say about constitutional difficulties respecting Louisiana the better, and that what is necessary for...
42To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
Your two favors of the 18th. & 20th. were recieved on the 21st. The letters of Livingston & Monroe are sent to mr. Gallatin as you proposed. That of Simpson to mr. Smith for the purpose of execution. All of them will be returned. Thornton’s, Clarke’s, Charles Pinckney’s, Graham’s, Appleton’s, Davis’s, Mitchell’s, Newton’s, & Derieux’ letters are now inclosed. With respect to the impressment of...
43To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 29 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
By the last post I recieved & forwarded your letter to Duane, in which there was nothing but what was safe and proper. Duane is honest, & well intentioned, but over zealous. These qualities harmonise with him a great portion of the republican body. He deserves therefore all the just & favorable attentions which can properly be shewn him. By the same post I recieve from the collector of Norfolk...
44To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I now return you the several papers recieved by the last post, except those solliciting office, which as usual, are put into my bundle of like papers. I think it possible that Spain, recollecting our former eagerness for the island of N. Orleans, may imagine she can, by a free delivery of that, redeem the residue of Louisiana: and that she may withold the peaceable cession of it. In that case...
45To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you Clarke’s memoranda. The following articles seem proper for Executive attention. An instrument vesting in the Collector of Natchez the powers of the Administrator, Treasurer & Contador. Instructions to Claiborne to suppress useless offices to remove any existing officers. to appoint others. It would be well these could go by next post. Would it not be well to send in what...
46To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
I wrote yesterday to Genl. Dearborne on the subject of intruders on the public lands in Louisiana, inclosing a note to each of the heads of department asking them to give me their opinions thereon separately. I did this by way of beginning the practice of separate consultation, which a host of considerations satisfy me is a very salutary & useful one to be resorted to occasionally. The...
47To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
Will you be so good as to consult with the other members of the administration on the allowance to be made to Govr. Claiborne? There are several elements of consideration to be attended to, towit, as to his character 1. as Governor of Missisipi. 2. Commissioner for the receipt of Louisiana. 3. as Governor of Louisiana: as to the funds from which his compensation is to be taken, to wit 1. the...
48To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 13 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
I recieved by last post mr. Gallatin’s observations on Dr. Stevens’s case. His outworks are stronger than his main citadel: that is to say, on the 1st. and great question which involves important principle, he yields a good deal, and presents no views of the residue which are new and difficult. But on his 2d. & 3d questions relative to evidence he is truly strong, and his preliminary...
49To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. was recieved on the 13th. and can only be answered by tomorrow’s post, the ordinary course requiring 9. or 10. days from writing a letter to the reciept of it’s answer. I return you the exequatur unsigned, but have signed a blank paper to submit to your consideration the port which shall be inserted in it. The one filled up with Natchez admits that a consulship for...
50To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
I recieved yesterday your letter of the 12th. and now return the letters it covered. I recieved also thro’ mr Gallatin, Govr. Claiborne’s information to you that he had chartered a state bank at N. Orleans. As the act of Congress for a bank there, & the Charter of the Bank of the US. renders Claiborne’s charter a nullity, he should revoke it on that ground, as given before information was...