31From Thomas Jefferson to John Dawson, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
We shall be ready for you by the time you can arrive here. I would therefore wish you to come on without delay. mr Madison will not be here for some time; so that we cannot wait for him. health & friendly salutations. PrC ( MHi ); at foot of text: “John Dawson esq.”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso. John Dawson (1762–1814), a Harvard-trained Virginia congressman and lawyer from Caroline County,...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas Gouin Dufief, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved safely the books you were so kind as to forward me, and if you will have the goodness to call on mr Richards, whose address shall be stated below, he will pay you 5. D 80 c the amount of them. the one you propose being by it’s bulk far beyond any time I can flatter myself with having to spare for looking into it, I must forbid myself the acquisition. accept my salutations & good...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Cyrus Griffin, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you my thanks for your friendly congratulations on my election to the chair of the Union. if it shall be in my power to effect a reconciliation of parties, I shall think I have not lived in vain. to effect this something must be yielded on both sides, and I hope there is a spirit of accomodation rising among us. I know the task is difficult, and cannot possibly be so executed as to...
34From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I offer you my sincere condolances on the melancholy loss which has detained you at home: and am entirely sensible of the necessities it will have imposed on you for further delay. mr Lincoln has undertaken the duties of your office per interim, and will continue till you can come. Genl. Dearborn is in the War department. mr Gallatin, though unappointed, has staid till now to give us the...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Peyton, 12 March 1801 [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
General Wilkinson, the commander of our army, & [his aid] Capt. Huger, brother of the member of Congress, are here. not knowing (as [they] happened to dine out the day you were here) whether you [know of it], or whether you have invited them, or that it is not within the plan [supposed?], I mention it [merely] for your own (personal) information do not mention me on the subject. I will also...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I mentioned to you in my letter by mr Nicholas that I should be able by this post to fix a day for the departure of Davy Bowles with my chair & horses, & that he should be in readiness. though it is impossible for me to say to a day when I can set out from hence, yet I expect it may be by the time you recieve this. I would therefore have him set off from Monticello on Saturday the 21st. inst....
37From Thomas Jefferson to John Wright, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I ought sooner to have acknowledged the receipt of your favr. of Feb. 20. which has been at hand a fortnight, but that the press of business in the intervening time has rendered it impracticable. I thank you for the offer of forwarding to me one of your cutting knives, as sincerely as if I were in a situation which would permit my acceptance of it. but I have laid it down as a rule to myself...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Gabriel Duvall, 13 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The office of Chief judge for the district of Columbia being become vacant by the resignation of mr Johnson, my desire to procure for offices of so much confidence, & permanence, persons whose talents & integrity may ensure to the public the honest benefits expected from them, and strengthen the mass of confidence which from the people at large […] so necessary for their own service, has...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Ellicott, 13 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson having referred mr Ellicott’s letter to the Secretary of the Treasury (mr Dexter) received from him the inclosed note. he leaves this place on the 21st. inst. to be absent one month, when mr Madison will also enter on his office. in the mean time mr Lincoln will have charge of the Secretary of state’s office & will recieve any application from mr Ellicot, & do justice on it. he...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 13 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved a letter from you the last year, and it has been several since I wrote one to you. during the earlier part of the period it could never have got to your hands; & during the latter, such has been the state of politics on both sides of the water, that no communications were safe. nevertheless I have never ceased to nourish a sincere friendship for you, & to take a lively interest in...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 13 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor on the subject of capt Wm. Buchanan. mr Madison not being to join us for some time & mr Gallatin gone, I have concluded only to dispatch such subjects as are of absolute necessity & to go home to make some necessary arrangements there preparatory to a final removal to this place. I count on leaving this on the 21st. and of our being all assembled here within 4....
42From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 13 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your claims on my time need no apology certainly when the subject relates to the affairs of the government. to direct the conduct of these with the aid of the heads of departments constitutes the duties precisely for which I am placed here, & to which I cheerfully devote my whole time and faculties. The subject of your letter received yesterday, respecting the contracts for ship timber would...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Joel Barlow, 14 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Not having my papers here, it is not in my power to acknolege the receipt of your letters by their dates, but I am pretty certain I have received two in the course of the last twelve months, one of them covering your excellent 2d. letter . nothing can be sounder than the principles it inculcates, and I am not without hopes they will make their way. you have understood that the revolutionary...
44From 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...
45From Thomas Jefferson to the Borough of Wilmington, 14 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you my thanks, & through you to the corporation of the borough of Wilmington, for your congratulations on my appointment to the first magistracy of the United States. as far as a disinterested and well intentioned conduct on my part may tend to produce a prosperous administration of our affairs, my fellow citizens may count on me with confidence. for all beyond this I shall have great...
46Pardon for James Thomson Callender, 16 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America, To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas James Thomson Callender , late of the District of Virginia, was lately convicted in the Circuit Court of the United States for the same District, of a misdemeanor or misdemeanors in making uttering and publishing certain false, scandalous and malicious writings; and...
47I. Tables of Justices of the Peace for the District of Columbia, [before 16 March 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
Justices’ Commissions given out . Commissions not given . Washington county l 1 William Thornton
48II. Memorandum on Justices of the Peace for the District of Columbia, [on or before 16 March 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
reduced the number from about 20. to 15. for each county adding to 11. of those named by mr Adams for Alexandria county, the 4. others marked with an * in the following list, & to 14. of those named by mr Adams for Washington county, 1 other have been added. a commission is consequently made out as follows. for Washington county for Alexandria county Thomas Sim Lee George Gilpin Daniel...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Fayetteville Republican Citizens, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your felicitations on the issue of the late election are highly gratifying to me. I never doubted that the diversity of opinion, which for some time prevailed among us, proceeded from an honest diversity of view; while the good of our country was the common object of all. th[o’] I shall sincerely endeavor to merit the confidence which my fellow citizens have been pleased to repose in me, yet I...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Hanson, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have by some accident mislaid the papers recommending mr Moore to be justice of the peace, & therefore cannot get at his Christian name. can you furnish it to me? in the mean time a person of the name of Amariah Frost has been recommended by many. as the vacant place is that of a republican member, is he of that [description]? & is he as good a man as mr Moore ? if he be equal in other...
51From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, with Levi Lincoln, [17] March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Madison the Secretary of State being not yet arrived at this place, and a favorable apportunity of addressing you, offering itself by a government vessel going to France with our late convention with that country, I avail myself of it being authorized by the President of the United States to perform the duties of this department per interim. The Country in which you reside having as well...
52From Thomas Jefferson to Philip Mazzei, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Dec. 6. is just recieved, and a person leaving this place tomorrow morning for Paris, gives me a safe conveyance for this letter to that place. I shall depend on mr Short’s finding a conveyance from thence. yet as I know not what that conveyance may be, I shall hazard nothing but small & familiar matters. my health, which wore a very threatening aspect at the date of the letter...
53From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Pinckney, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favour agreeing to accept an appointment as Minister plenipotentiary to the court of Spain, and wishing to know when it would be expected you should take your departure. the convenience of Colo. Humphreys, the present minister there is the circumstance which must chiefly influence that question. you should be there as early in autumn as may admit his return to this...
54From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter will be handed you by mr Dawson, an antient acquaintance & fellow collegian of yours, who goes as the bearer of the ratification of our late convention with France. this ratification being on conditions which will occasion some of the ground of the preceding negociations to be recurred to & trodden over again, messrs. Elsworth & Murray will be called to Paris again for that...
55From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Dawson a member of the late Congress is appointed to be the bearer of the Convention with France, and will be ready to leave this place, within two days, for Baltimore & thence to proceed immediately for Havre, which I think the most eligible port for him to land at. I have therefore to ask the favor of you to give the necessary orders & instructions to the Commander of the Maryland to...
56From Thomas Jefferson to Volney, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
You left this country in a state of high delirium. the paroxysm was very [tense?], but has been shorter than I expected. it is now compleatly recovered. this has been effected by the better […] conduct of your nation in a considerable degree, and by a development of the artifices & the objects of those who fomented the quarrel between us. our citizens are now generally returned to their...
57From Thomas Jefferson to Napoleon Bonaparte, 18 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
To testify to you the sincerity of the Government of the United States in its negotiations, I have transmitted to Oliver Ellsworth and William Vans Murray, two of the late Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States to the French Republic, the ratification of the Convention between the said States and the French Republic, signed at Paris on the 30th day of September...
58From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Carroll Brent, 18 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Being to appoint a Marshall for the district of Columbia it has been intimated to me by a mutual friend that you might perhaps be willing to accept of that office. on this suggestion I take the liberty of proposing it to you. as a court is to be held here on Monday next, it becomes necessary for me to ask the favor of an answer by the bearer, mr M[ason]’s servant who goes expected for this...
59From Thomas Jefferson to Oliver Ellsworth and William Vans Murray, with Levi Lincoln, [18] March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Madison the Secretary of State being not yet arrived at the seat of Government I have been authorized by the President to discharge the duties of that office per interim; and among the objects which have claimed the earliest attention is the Convention signed by yourselves and General Davie with the government of France. This instrument was laid before the Senate on the 16th. of December...
60From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 18 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
In providing an administration for our government I was led by every just consideration to wish that General Smith of Baltimore should undertake the Secretaryship of the navy, and accordingly proposed it to him. after taking time to consider of it, I have this morning recieved a letter from him informing me it is not in his power. in this case I have no hesitation in making the proposition to...
61From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 18 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of Oct. 1. 4. 6. 16. came duly to hand, and the papers which they covered were, according to your permission, published in the newspapers & in a pamphlet , & under your own name. these papers contain precisely our principles, & I hope they will be generally recognized here. determined as we are to avoid, if possible, wasting the energies of our people in war & destruction, we...
62From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe de Létombe, 19 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I was honored last night with your favor of the 15th. by mr Rapin, and owe you a thousand acknolegements for the trouble you are so good as to take, & still to offer with respect to the procuring a cook. I mentioned to Rapin that you had your choice of two. he said he did not know who they were, but he imagined one was of the name of Julien, as he was known to M. Flamand, and he should prefer...
63From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 19 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I snatch half a moment to inform you that a circumstance has occurred which will inevitably keep me a week longer or thereabouts. in the mean time my horses will wait I presume at Heron’s. my tender love to my dear Martha, & the little ones. Affectionate attachment to yourself. P.S. I do not know if there is any merit in the music inclosed. It has been sent to me. RC ( DLC ); endorsed by...
64From Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Tessé, 19 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
After so long a time & such various events, I take the liberty of recalling myself to your recollection. a letter I recieved yesterday from the Marquis de la Fayette informed me you were living in Paris. this is the only certain information I have recieved of the place where you were, except once by mr Gautier to whom I immediately addressed a letter for you, which I hope you recieved. I...
65From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, 20 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
How many hard struggles, my dear friend, would it save me, had I really parted with my last vice on the 3d. of March. I thought you had known me better: but as you do not, I must endeavor to conceal, if I cannot eradicate, what remains amiss. I recommended to the Secretary at war your proposition on the subject of clothing. he wishes to avail himself of it and has instructed the proper agent...
66From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 20 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed, tho’ false and frivolous, yet requires to be answered with care. the other side of the medal requires to be shewn. we may safely admit there are talents of a certain kind on the other side; because all the talents which were venal have been bought up by the administration. Smith has refused. an offer is made to Jones. Duval has also refused & an offer is made to Kelty. health,...
67From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 20 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Pichon, who arrived two days ago, delivered me your favor of Jan. 1. and I had before recieved one by mr Dupont dated Aug. 24. 99. both on the subject of lands claimed on the behalf of your brother mr Gèrard, and that of Aug. 24. containing a statement of the case. I had verbally explained to mr Dupont at the time, what I presumed to have been the case, which must I believe be very much...
68From Thomas Jefferson to Warren County Inhabitants, 20 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I tender my thankful acknolegements to the inhabitants of Warren county for their congratulations on my election to the chief magistracy of our country. I am duly sensible of the obligations imposed on me by the public will, as well as by the election made by the House of Representatives in the manner pointed out by our constitution, and no [endeavors] of mine shall be wanting to fulfil them....
69From Thomas Jefferson to George Caines, 21 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The desire you express to prefix my name to the work you are about to publish is gratifying to me as an additional testimonial of that approbation of my fellow citizens which is so consoling to me. the matter of your work possesses too much self importance to need any adventitious aid from external circumstances. it cannot fail to recommend itself to a very general attention. I ask the favor...
70From Thomas Jefferson to George Logan, 21 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
An immense press of business has prevented my sooner acknowleging your favors of Feb. 20. & 27. I join you in congratulations on the return of republican ascendency: and also in a sense of the necessity of restoring freedom to the ocean. but I doubt, with you, whether the US. ought to join in an armed confederacy for that purpose; or rather I am satisfied they ought not. it ought to be the...
71From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Priestley, 21 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I learnt some time ago that you were in Philadelphia, but that it was only for a fortnight, & supposed you were gone. it was not till yesterday I recieved information that you were still there, had been very ill but were on the recovery. I sincerely rejoice that you are so. yours is one of the few lives precious to mankind, & for the continuance of which every thinking man is solicitous....
72From Thomas Jefferson to James Warren, 21 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much gratified by the reciept of your favor of the 4th inst. and by the expressions of friendly sentiment it contains. it is pleasant for those who have just escaped threatened shipwreck, to hail one another when landed in unexpected safety. the resistance which our republic has opposed to a course of operation for which it was not destined, shews a strength of body which affords the most...
73From Thomas Jefferson to Isaac Weaver, Jr., 21 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I was duly honoured with your favor of Feb. 25. and am [from] duty bound to return my thanks for the expressions it contains of confidence and respect to myself. I perfectly agree with you that while it is necessary to clothe public magistrates with powers sufficiently nervous for order & defence that every surrender of power beyond that is improper. I believe too that a great deal more than...
74From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Fay, 22 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 21. has been too long unacknoleged. the press of business on a first entrance into office must apologize for me. it contains much to thank you for. while the esteem of my friends is dear to my heart, I see that their expectations are painfully too high; and especially in a scene of such vast extent, where we must of necessity depend on information not inspection. the...
75From Thomas Jefferson to Elijah Griffiths, 22 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of July last was delivered to me at Monticello, from which place I had nothing new, or worthy the subject of an answer. that of Feb. 22. is now to be acknoleged. I have considerable hopes that our government will go on with less opposition than preceding occasions have called for. I rather expect that several circumstances latterly have brought over & consolidated with us a large...
76From Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Niles, 22 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 12. which did not get to my hands till Mar. 2. is entitled to my acknolegements. it was the more agreeable as it proved that the esteem I had entertained for you while we were acting together on the public stage , had not been without reciprocated affect. what wonderful scenes have passed since that time! the late chapter of our history furnishes a lesson to man perfectly...
77From Thomas Jefferson to Columbia, South Carolina, Citizens, 23 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The reliance is most flattering to me [whic]h you are pleased to express in the character of my public conduct; as is the expectation with which you look forward to the inviolable preservation of our national constitution, deservedly the boast of our country. that peace, safety, & concord may be the portion of our native land, & be long enjoyed by our fellow citizens, is the most ardent wish of...
78From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 23 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved two days ago your favor of the 16th. and thank you for your kind felicitations on my election; but whether it will be a subject of felicitation permanently will be for chapters of future history to say. the important subjects of the government I meet with some degree of courage & confidence, because I do believe the talents to be associated with me. the [honest] line of conduct we...
79From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Newton, 23 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved your favor of the 12th. inst. and thank you for the information respecting the receipt of a consignment of old Madeira wines. I will gladly take a pipe of the Brazil quality which you mention to be the best: and should hope a means of conveying it hither would occur. the price I presume I shall be able to remit by a bill on the Collector of your port. We [hear] nothing very...
80From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 23 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Feb. 1 did not reach me until Feb. 28. and a press of business has retarded my acknoleging it. I sincerely thank you for your congratulations on my election, but this is only the first verse of the chapter. what the last may be nobody can tell. a consciousness that I feel no wish but to do what is best, without passion or predilection, encourages me to hope for an indulgent...