51From Thomas Jefferson to William Livingston, 3 January 178[3] (Jefferson Papers)
It gives me real concern that I have been here several days and so closely engaged that I have not been able to pay you the respect of a letter and to assure you that I hold among my most estimable acquaintances that which I had the pleasure of contracting with you at this place. I am the more concerned, as expecting to leave this place about Tuesday next, I might have been gratified with the...
52Memorandum Books, 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 2. Pd. Ned 1/—Jupiter 3/. 3. Pd. Tom 1/. 4. Mr. Bryan receives 355 ℔ pork gross. 5. Giovannini da Prato receives 176 ℔ pork nett. He is to have for his & his wife’s year’s allowance 600 ℔. 6. I am indebted to Giovannini 20 barrels of corn for the year 1781. I do not charge him any money or other thing furnished him. I am to give for him & his wife for a year beginning Dec. 12. 1781. £20....
53Advertisement, 15 December 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
THE Subscriber having occasion to be absent from the State for some time, has confided the care of his affairs to Francis Eppes, Esq; of Chesterfield, and Col. Nicholas Lewis, of Albemarle, to whom, therefore, he begs leave to refer all persons having business with him. Printed from Hayes’ Virginia Gazette, or American Advertiser (Richmond), 28 Dec. 1782.
54To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
Draft ( LC : Jefferson Papers). Unsigned but in Jefferson’s hand. Addressed by him to “Hon. James Madison at Congress.” Your favour by Colo Basset is not yet come to hand. the intimation through the Attorney I received the day before Colo. Bland’s arrival by whom I am honoured with your’s of the 14th. inst. it finds me at this place attending my family under inoculation. this will of course...
55From Thomas Jefferson to Chastellux, 26 November 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your friendly letters of and June 30 but the latter not till the 17th. of Oct. It found me a little emerging from that stupor of mind which had rendered me as dead to the world as she was whose loss occasioned it. Your letter recalled to my memory, that there were persons still living of much value to me. If you should have thought me remiss in not testifying to you sooner how...
56From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, 26 November 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
I received in August your favour wherein you give me hopes of your being able to procure for me some of the big bones. I should be unfaithful to my own feelings were I not to express to you how much I am obliged by your attention to the request I made you on that subject. A specimen of each of the several species of bones now to be found is to me the most desireable object in Natural history,...
57From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 26 November 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday the letter with which you have been pleased to honour me, inclosing the resolution of Congress of the 12th. inst. renewing my appointment as one of their ministers plenipotentiary for negotiating a peace; and beg leave through you to return my sincere thanks to that august body for the confidence they are pleased to repose in me and to tender the same to yourself for the...
58From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 November 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour by Colo. Basset is not yet come to hand. The intimation through the Attorney I received the day before Colo. Bland’s arrival by whom I am honoured with your’s of the 14th inst. It finds me at this place attending my family under inoculation. This will of course retard those arrangements of my domestic affairs which will of themselves take time and cannot be made but at home. I...
59From Thomas Jefferson to Elizabeth Wayles Eppes, [3? October 1782] (Jefferson Papers)
The girls being unable to assure you themselves of their welfare the duty devolves on me and I undertake it the more willingly as it will lay you under the necessity of sometimes letting us hear from you. They are in perfect health and as happy as if they had no part in the unmeasurable loss we have sustained. Patsy rides with me 5 or 6. miles a day and presses for permission to accompany me...
60From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Tazewell, 30 September 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
The unhappy circumstances which have abstracted me from all business during the preceding summer will I hope apologize for my being so late in acknowleging the receipt of your letter of June 8. on the subject of the papers in the case of Kennon’s trustees. I have copies [of the] Bill, Mr. Kennon’s answer, Mr. Wayles and Hardyman’s joint answer, the separate answer of Acrill, the joint one of...
61From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 22 September 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honour of inclosing you a letter received from mr Thomas Smith as agent for mr Nathan. I have no idea that the laws, as they stand at present, can give him an action against me for assumpsits of public debts, made in council & so expressed, with their unanimous advice, & this in the presence of mr Nathan, who knew the debts to be public, who applied to me as a public officer...
62Lines Copied from Tristram Shandy by Martha and Thomas Jefferson, [before 6 September 1782] (Jefferson Papers)
MS (James Monroe Law Office, courtesy of L. G. Hoes, Fredericksburg, Va.); in the hand of Martha Wayles Jefferson with additional lines by TJ as indicated below; endorsed on verso by Martha Jefferson Randolph: “A Lock of my Dear Mama’s Hair inclosed in a verse which she wrote.” The original is wrapped around a lock of Mrs. Jefferson’s hair and is accompanied by an authentication in the hand of...
63Epitaph for Martha Wayles Jefferson, [after 6 September 1782] (Jefferson Papers)
To the memory of Martha Jefferson daughter of John Wayles born Oct. 19. 1748. O.S. intermarried with Thomas Jefferson Jan. 1. 1772 torn from him by death Sep. 6. 1782. this monument of his love is inscribed. εἰ δὲ ϴανóντων πєρ καταλήϴοντ᾿ εἰν Ἀΐδαο αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ κεῖϴι φίλου μεμνήσομ᾽ ἑταίρου . [ on verso: ] to be engraved on a marble slab. MS (Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, on deposit ViU
64To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, with Jefferson’s Opinion on Mary Wayland, [16 August 1782] (Jefferson Papers)
Your most Curious Council is required on the following Cases. Case the 1st. Adam Wayland of Culpeper County in the Virga. State, after 1st. Lawful Marriage had 6 Children by his wife and She pregnant with the 7th.—Made a Will by which will he bequeath’d his wife one full Third part of his Estate, his wife in time of her pregnancy was Taken with the Small pox and Died—after remaining a widower...
65From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 7 August 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letters from Colo. Turpin will in some measure explain to you the reason of my troubling you with the present application. On the removal of the seat of government I engaged his house on the hill. A house having been always found for the Governor I took for granted that the rent of that would be considered as a public charge. Tho’ from the nature of my application to Colo. Turpin...
66III. Petition of Mace Freeland to the House of Delegates, 7 June 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
To the honourable the Speaker and the House of Delegates the petition of Mace Freeland of the county of Buckingham humbly sheweth That James Freeland, your petitioner’s father being seised and possessed of a considerable estate in lands slaves and personalties, and having issue James Freeland your petitioner’s elder brother by one venter, and your petitioner by another, devised to the said...
67From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 20 May 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been gratified with the receipt of your two favours of the 6th. and 11th. inst. It gives me pleasure that your county has been wise enough to enlist your talents into their service. I am much obliged by the kind wishes you express of seeing me also in Richmond, and am always mortified when any thing is expected from me which I cannot fulfill, and more especially if it relate to the...
68To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Watkins, with Jefferson’s Opinion concerning a Will, 9 May 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
As the Trustees mentioned in my Fathers Will, are at a loss to know, whether they have a right to divide his real Estate among his Children as they think fit, or not; I do, at their request, beg you that you would give us your Opinion on that head; and if you should think that they cannot, we would willingly know whether a division could be procured by a Suit in Chancery agreeable to the two...
69From Thomas Jefferson to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, 6 May 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Purposing to decline the office of delegate for this county to which I have been lately elected, I take the liberty of declaring to you that I do not accept of the appointment, and of begging that this my act of renunciation may through your favor be communicated to the honourable the House of Delegates with every assurance to them and yourself of the very great respect with which I have the...
70From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 13 April 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
The legion of Colo. Armand which was stationed here to be refitted for service has for some time been on sufferance for provisions. Flour they have had and still have, but of animal food the supplies have almost totally failed, and failed from a cause which is without remedy, that is, the want of it in the neighborhood. The former calls for beef by fifteenths and tenths had reduced the stocks...
71To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
Draft ( LC : Jefferson Papers). I have recd from you two several favours on the subject of the designs against the territorial rights of Virginia. I never before could comprehend on what principle our right to the Western country could be denied which would not at the same time subvert the rights of all the states to the whole of their territory. what objections may be founded on the Charter...
72From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 March 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received from you two several favours on the subject of the designs against the territorial rights of Virginia . I never before could comprehend on what principle our right to the Western country could be denied which would not at the same time subvert the rights of all the states to the whole of their territory. What objections may be founded on the Charter of N. York I cannot say,...
73From Thomas Jefferson to Marbois, 24 March 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very sorry that the papers I had taken the liberty to trouble you with have been so unfortunately delayed. I retired from office in the month of June last, and was obliged by the movements of the enemy to retire from my house at the same time, to which I did not return till the month of Aug. I immediately engaged in the work of digesting the materials I had collected in answer to your...
74From Thomas Jefferson to Overton Carr, 16 March 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of addressing you on the subject of the common trust confided to us by our deceased friend Mr. D. Carr, the others who were joined with us in that sacred charge having either declined it or been withdrawn by death. My avocations from every thing of a private nature left of course the management of the interests of the estate on my sister, in which she was greatly aided by...
75From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Stone, 16 March 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
You will probably be surprised at the receipt of a letter from one who has been so long withdrawn from your notice, but who still retains a proper sense of that worth with which his service with you in Congress brought him acquainted. There resides within the limits of your state a Mr. Overton Carr, formerly of this country, whose opinions, or conduct, or some other circumstances have...
76I. Jefferson’s State of the Case and Opinion thereon, 15 February 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
James Freeland having cohabited with Mary Williams and by her had issue a son Robert Williams, and having afterwards intermarried with the said Mary, made his last will and testament bearing date the 14th of Mar. 1770. duly proved and recorded and therein lent to his wife Mary for her life or widowhood all his estate real and personal, consisting of lands, slaves and mere personalties and...
77II. Petition of Mace Freeland to the Governor and Council, 15 February 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
To his Excellency Benjamin Harrison esq. Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the honourable the Council of state the Petition of Mace Freeland of the county of Buckingham humbly sheweth That James Freeland your petitioner’s father being seised and possessed of a considerable estate in lands slaves and personalties, and having issue James Freeland your petitioner’s elder brother by one...
78To Thomas Jefferson from John Lyne, with Jefferson’s Memoranda for a Legal Opinion, 13 January 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed copy of Mr. Todds Will and money I receiv’d a few days ago from the Gentleman who has married the Widow. He requisted that I would inclose it to you for your Advice for all matters relative to the Widow and perticular to the question below. If the money inclosed is short of your demand for Advice I will pay you or Order the balance on demand. I shall be glad to be favoured with...
79Memorandum Books, 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 1. Pd. a midwife £30. Recd. of the Treasurer £3870. 4. Gave Giovannini to buy provns. £15. Borrowed of Mr. Blair £6. Gave Zach. at Tuckahoe £6. 6. Pd. expences at Britton’s £60. 7. Gave Mrs. Jefferson £165. 8. Pd. expences at Treadway’s £51. 9. Pd. for oysters £15. Gave Capt. Molly £9.
80From Thomas Jefferson to Isaac Zane, 24 December [1781] (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to be told here that you are sick in Philadelphia. I had hoped to have had the pleasure of seeing you. You have heard probably of the vote of the H. of Delegates at the last session of assembly. I came here in consequence of it, and found neither accuser nor accusation. They have acknowledged by an express vote that the former one was founded on rumours only, for which no foundation...
81Jefferson’s Account and Attendance Record in the General Assembly for October 1781, [10–22 December 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
1781 [The Commonwealth of Virginia to] Thomas Jefferson [Dr.] Dec. Travelling to & from the Assembly 150 miles @ 2d 300 [℔. Tobo.] To 13. days attendance from Dec. 10th. to 22d inclusive 650 Entries in TJ’s hand in record of accounts and attendance of the members of the General Assembly, 1781–1782 ( Vi ). TJ was more precise in giving the dates of his attendance than the other members from...
82From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 20 December 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of receiving a letter from your excellency desiring that application might be made to Colo. Arthur Campbell of Washington for certain papers taken on his expedition against the Cherokees, and described, in his relation of that, as the Archives of the nation. The application was immediately made, and he has transmitted to me the packet which accompanies this , with a promise of...
83From Thomas Jefferson to Marbois, 20 December 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I now do myself the honour of inclosing you answers to the quaeries which Mr. Jones put into my hands. I fear your patience has been exhausted in attending them, but I beg you to be assured there has been no avoidable delay on my part. I retired from the public service in June only, and after that the general confusion of our state put it out of my power to procure the informations necessary...
84From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Thomson, 20 December 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I received notice from the secretary of the American Philosophical society some time ago that they had done me the honour of appointing me a counsellor of that body. The particular duties of that office I am quite a stranger to, and indeed know too little of the nature of their institution to judge what objects it comprehends. In framing answers to some queries which Monsr. de Marbois sent me,...
85From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, 19 December 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Having an opportunity by Colo. Boon I take the liberty of calling to your mind your kindness in undertaking to procure for me some teeth of the great animal whose remains are found on the Ohio. Were it possible to get a tooth of each kind, that is to say a foretooth, grinder &c. it would particularly oblige me. Perhaps you know some careful person at Fort Pitt with whom they might be safely...
86A Bill for the Relief of Military Pensioners, [19 December 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas by the act of General assembly for establishing a board of Auditors the said board was authorized to allow pensions and sums in gross to a certain extent to officers and souldiers of the army or navy raised by act of general assembly and disabled in the service and to the widows of those slain or dying therein, which allowances having been made in paper currency have by the...
87From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 14 December 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your friendly letters of Aug. 2. and Nov. 15. and some of the gentlemen to whom you wished them to be communicated, not being here, I have taken the liberty of handing them to some others so as to answer the spirit of your wish. It seems likely to end as I ever expected it would, in a final acknowlegement that good disposition, and arrangements will not do without a certain...
88From Thomas Jefferson to Duncan Rose, 13 December 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure of your favors of the 10th. and 13th now before me. Should the report of the Committee of Trade on your claim come on while I am here I will propose the order that the Commercial agent pay your balance on a supposition that the account does in it’s nature belong to that department. This being done it will be easy for you and he so to accomodate your matters as that any...
89To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I hope it will not be unacceptable to your Excellency to receive the congratulations of a private individual on your return to your native country, & above all things on the important success which as attended it. great as this has been however, it can scarcely add to the affection with which we had looked up to you, and if in the minds of any the motives of gratitude to our good allies were...
90From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 28 October 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope it will not be unacceptable to your Excellency to receive the congratulations of a private individual on your return to your native country, and above all things on the important success which has attended it. Great as this has been however, it can scarcely add to the affection with which we had looked up to you, and if in the minds of any the motives of gratitude to our good allies...
91To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Jefferson, 5 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; AL (draft): Monroe Memorial Foundation The bearer hereof Colo James Monroe who served some time as an officer in the American army and as such distinguished himself in the affair of Princetown as well as on other occasions, having resumed his studies, comes to Europe to complete them. Being a citizen of this state, of abilities, merit & fortune, and my particular...
92From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Franklin, to John Adams, and to John Jay, 5 October 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Colo. James Monroe who served some time as an officer in the American army and as such distinguished himself in the affair of Princetown as well as on other occasions, having resumed his studies, comes to Europe to complete them. Being a citizen of this state, of abilities, merit and fortune, and my particular friend, I take the liberty of making him known to you, that should...
93From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 5 October 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I should have been and shall always be happy to see you at Monticello, but could not expect so much of the little time you have to prepare for your journey. I inclose you three letters, the one directed to Dr. Franklin, the other two for Mr. Jay and Mr. Adams but not directed because I really do not know the address of those two gentlemen. This you will be able to learn before you shall have...
94To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 September 1781 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Jefferson Papers). A second page, which Jefferson used as the cover of this letter, is addressed to “The honourable James Madison Philadelphia favoured by Mr. Short.” Note 2, below, explains why this letter was never received. I beg leave to introduce to your acquaintance the bearer mr. Short who comes to Philadelphia in hopes of being able to prosecute in greater quiet there than he...
95Jefferson’s Certification of William Short as an Attorney, 30 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
At the desire of the Executive I have examined Mr. William Short and report it as my opinion that he is duly qualified to practise the law as an Attorney. Given under my hand on the day above-mentioned. MS ( Vi ); entirely in TJ’s hand; endorsed in part: “Feby 18. [1782?].” Below TJ’s statement is the following in the hand of George Wythe: “Nov. 2. 1781. From an intimate acquaintance, of some...
96From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to introduce to your acquaintance the bearer Mr. Short who comes to Philadelphia in hopes of being able to prosecute in greater quiet there than he can here the studies in which he is engaged: and I chearfully add to what you may already have heard of him my testimony of his genius, learning and merit. I do this the rather as it gives me an opportunity of saving the right of...
97From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 30 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Mr. William Short purposing to Philadelphia for the prosecution of his studies, I do myself the honor under authority of the acquaintance I had the pleasure of forming with you in Philadelphia, of introducing him to your notice, persuaded that should you give him an opportunity of being known to you, you will think it a circumstance not merely indifferent to add to the number of...
98From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Morris, 30 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Monticello, 30 Sep. 1781 . This letter is identical in substance with TJ’s letter to Thomas McKean, this date. Intended as RC , but not sent ( DLC ); written on a sheet which TJ subsequently used for a summary of the case of Hunt v . Tucker’s executors; addressed: “The honourable Robert Morris Philadelphia favored by Mr Short.”
99From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Peters, 30 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Monticello, 30 Sep. 1781 . This letter is identical in substance with TJ’s letter to Thomas McKean, this date. Intended as RC , but not sent ( DLC ); written on a sheet which TJ subsequently used for a summary of the case of King v . Dugard; addressed: “The honourable Richard Peters Philadelphia favored by Mr Short.”
100From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 16 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your letter of the 7th. inst. That mentioned to have been sent by the preceding post has not come to hand nor two others which Mrs. Randolph informs me you wrote before you left Virginia, nor indeed any other should you have been so kind as to have written any other. When I received the first letter fr[om the President of C]ongress inclosing their resolution, and mentioning...