3191From Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Kennan, 13 November 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of Sep. 19. with the copy of your account shewing the amount of stock which you hold for Mr. Short, as also a balance of 50.17 D. cash and a further sum of 109.83 D. the quarter’s interest then due. Finding that Mr. Short possesses stock in Richmond also, and concluding it best to bring the whole to Philadelphia, I have lodged in the Treasury office there the...
3192From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael and William Short, 3 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 14th. of last Month, since which, some other incidents and documents have occurred, bearing relation to the subject of that letter. I, therefore, now inclose you a duplicate of that letter. From these papers you will find that we have been constantly endeavoring by every possible means to keep peace with the Creeks; that, in order to do this, we have even suspended and still...
3193From Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, 10 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed is a statement of a claim to some lands in the Oneida country given by the Indians to one Le Tonnelier, and by him sold to a Mr. Osmont. This latter gentleman is arrived from France and has fixed himself here. Being a stranger, without the means of informing himself what chance there is, and what should be his proceedings to recover the lands, and having been very particularly...
3194From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Pinckney, 22 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his compliments to Mr. Pinckney asks the favor of him to have the inclosed delivered to Mr. Donald himself. —Several circumstances have postponed Th: J’s departure to the end of the present year, when he will leave this place. He is anxious to hear of his threshing machine from Mr. Pinckney.—He does not write to him on public matters till he can meet with a confidential...
3195From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Leiper, 9 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Lieper and, according to the conditions of his lease , informs him he shall relinquish it at the end of three months from this date. He thinks it probable he can find a good tenant for Mr. Lieper, and shall do it with pleasure. Nothwithstanding what was done by the plaisterer the passage leaked excessively with the last rain.—Th:J. will be obliged...
3196III. Report on American Trade in the Mediterranean, 28 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom was referred, by the House of Representatives, so much of the Speech of the President of the United States, to both Houses of Congress, as relates to the Trade of the United States in the Mediterranean, with Instructions to report thereupon to the House, has had the same under Consideration, and thereupon makes the following Report. The Loss of the Records of...
3197From Thomas Jefferson to Jerman Baker, 17 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from Dr. Witherspoon came to hand soon after I had written mine of the 12th. to you on the subject. I have only therefore as an appendix to that letter to inclose it to you and ask an explanation on the subject of board as early as you can send it, that it may be forwarded in time to the Doctor. I am to add that the same doubt had arisen here with Mr. Patterson, and was one...
3198To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to return to the President the minutes of the 17th inst. the letters then agreed on are sent to the Secretaries of the Treasury & war for their corrections, & will then be handed to the President. he sends him also a letter from the Attorney of Kentuckey for his information, & because the subject of it belongs to another department. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous...
3199From Thomas Jefferson to Uriah Forrest, 13 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 13. found me under a severe indisposition, and I embrace the first moment I am able to answer it. Mr. Boyd’s brother in Paris desired me to inform myself of his situation, and communicate it to him, and expressed a desire to assist him if he could find out how to do it so as to be guarded against his intentions being defeated. I thought from his manner of speaking with me...
3200From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Tazewell, 16 January 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
As far as the public papers are to be credited, I may suppose that the choice of Vice president has fallen on me. On this hypothesis I trouble you, and only pray, if it be wrong, that you will consider this letter as not written. I believe it belongs to the Senate to notify the V.P. of his election. I recollect to have heard that on the first election of President and Vice President gentlemen...
3201To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 25 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inform the President that he called this evening on M. de Ternant, who produced to him the original letter of M. Le Brun instructing him to apply to our government for two millions of livres to be laid out in flour & one million in salted provisions. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; AL (letterpress copy), DLC : Jefferson Papers. Ternant’s account of his...
3202From Thomas Jefferson to François D’Ivernois, 6 February 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
Your several favors on the affairs of Geneva found me here in the month of December last. It is now more than a year that I have withdrawn myself from public affairs, which I never liked in my life but was drawn into by emergencies which threatened our country with slavery but ended in establishing it free. I have returned with infinite appetite to the enjoyment of my farm, my family and my...
3203From Thomas Jefferson to William Stokes, 11 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Stokes, and begs leave, should he persevere in his proposition of going to France, to give him letters to some of his friends there: tho’ he thinks the plan will deserve consideration. He returns many thanks to Mr. Stokes for his inaugural dissertation , and for the flattering notice he has been pleased to prefix, respecting himself and for which...
3204From Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Tessé, 24 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty, my dear Madam, of presenting to you the bearer hereof, Mr. Horry a young gentleman of South Carolina, who expects to be at paris in the course of a tour he is about to make in Europe. I have for motives in this, the one to recall myself to your memory which will always be a precious office to my heart, the other to make known to you a gentleman, of course a stranger, and an...
3205II. Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton, 10 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to send to the Secretary of the Treasury a note just received from Mr. Otto with copies of a correspondence between certain bankers desirous of lending 40. millions of livres to the U. S. the French ministers and Mr. Short. He will ask the Secretary of the Treasury’s consideration of these papers, and that he will be so good as to return them to him with the...
3206From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 September 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved about three weeks ago a box containing 6. doz. volumes of 283. pages 12mo. with a letter from Lambert , Beckley’s clerk, that they came from Mr. Beckley and were to be divided between yourself, J. Walker, and myself. I have sent 2 doz. to J. Walker, and shall be glad of a conveyance for yours. In the mean time I send you by post the title page, table of contents , and one of the...
3207From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 January 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 8th. came to hand yesterday. I was not aware of any necessity of going on to Philadelphia immediately, yet I had determined to do it, as a mark of respect to the public, and to do away the doubts which have spread that I should consider the second office as beneath my acceptance. The journey indeed for the month of February is a tremendous undertaking for me, who have not been...
3208From Thomas Jefferson to Edmond Charles Genet, 11 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Mr. John Nicholson has applied to me on the subject of an apprentice of his, named George Allison, about 17. years of age, who has absconded from him and has been recieved on board the Little Democrat, where he now is. As the condition of the young man renders him in some degree the property of Mr. Nicholson, and that as well as his age leave him not free to take such a step...
3209From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 18 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been constantly afflicted at my inability to acknowledge the reciept of Dr. Mortimer’s letters and of those of my friends Mr. Fitzhugh and Mr. Page: but I have for some weeks past been forced by other business to suspend answering any letters whatever, unless indeed of indispensable magnitude, and even now I must beg you to make the answer for me. When I came into office, I found the...
3210From Thomas Jefferson to Matthew McAllister, 5 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your two favors of Oct. 24. and Dec. 24. as also the laws and proceedings you have been so kind as to collect. Those relative to British property and subjects will enable us, I presume to decide on any objections which may be derived on their part from proceedings of the state of Georgia.—With respect to the collection of the laws of Georgia, however desireable that a complete...
3211From Thomas Jefferson to John Dobson, 1 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
If my letter of Dec. 5. produced disappointment to you, be assured that your’s of the 18th. was not less mortifying to me. It was in a tone of complaint to which no action of my life has ever justly exposed me. I think I may say with truth that no man on earth has been readier to do every thing possible to discharge that debt, of a portion of which you are become the representative. The first...
3212From Thomas Jefferson to George Hammond, 5 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 30. remains still unanswered because the clerks are employed in copying some documents on the subject of the treaty of peace which I wish to exhibit to you with the answer. In the meantime, as to that part of your letter which respects matters of commerce, the fear of misunderstanding it induces me to mention my sense of it and to ask if it be right. Where you are pleased to...
3213From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Stockton, 12 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged by your attention in procuring a set of the laws of New Jersey. Your letter of yesterday, not being handed to me till this morning, and no body being in the Treasury offices on Sunday, I cannot procure you the necessary order for the money till tomorrow. It shall be done as early in the day as the attendance of the officers of the treasury and their forms will admit. As soon...
3214From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Baptiste Ternant, 23 October 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respectful compliments to M. de Ternant. He has examined again with care the commission of M. de la Forest, and finds it impossible to consider it as any thing more than a Commission of Consul General for N. York, Jersey, Pensylva. and Delaware. If any thing more has been intended, the error has been in those who drew the commission, and this error we are not...
3215From Thomas Jefferson to Moses Cox, 12 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Cox and will take his house on the terms mentioned by his son, who if he could accompany Th:J. there at any time would oblige him. Th:J. would wish to commence at the beginning of April, at which time he would remove there. PrC ( DLC ). Tr ( ViU : Edgehill-Randolph Papers); 19th-century copy. Sending most of his furniture to Virginia, TJ early in...
3216From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Graham, 8 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received and laid before the President your letter of Nov. 26. and after due acknolegements for the offers of service you have made, I have to observe that the measures already taken by the Executive of the US. for the establishment of their right to the navigation of the Missisipi, would not at all comport with those you are pleased to propose in your letter. I should have been happy...
3217From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 24 June 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
Having made another purchase of James river canal shares for Mr. Short, I have this day drawn on you in favor of Mr. Robert Pollard for twelve hundred and seventy two dollars and a half at 30. days sight which be pleased to honor. Your favor of June 14. came to hand last night. I am with esteem Sir Your most obedt. servt PrC ( MHi ); at foot of text: “Mr. John Barnes”; endorsed in ink by TJ.
3218To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 28 April 1793 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 12th. inst. is received, and I will duly attend to your commission relative to the ploughs. We have had such constant deluges of rain & bad weather for some time past that I have not yet been able to go to Dr. Logan’s to make the enquiries you desire, but I will do it soon. We expect mr. Genest here within a few days. It seems as if his arrival would furnish occasion for the...
3219From Thomas Jefferson to Sir John Temple, 11 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson presents his compliments to Sir John Temple: he has paid due attention to the enclosed papers which he returns in the first moment in his power. The validity of the laws in question being purely a judiciary question, will, by our Constitution, be to be decided on by the Federal Court, before whom the parties interested will of course take care to bring it. He is happy to believe...
3220To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State having received from the Secretary of the territory South of the Ohio a report of the Proceedings of the Governor of that territory from Mar. 1. to Sep. 1. 1793. has examined the same and Reports to the President That he finds nothing therein which will require his immediate agency. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; ALS (letterpress copy), DLC : Jefferson Papers;...
3221From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Pinckney, 11 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have already had the honor of delivering to you your commission as Minister Plenipotentiary of the U.S. at the court of London, and have now that of inclosing your letter of credence to the king, sealed, and a copy of it open for your own information. Mr. Adams, your predecessor, seemed to understand, on his being presented to that court, that a letter was expected for the queen also. You...
3222From Thomas Jefferson to George Hammond, 5 September 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with yours of August 30th. Mine of the 7th. of that month assured you that measures were taking for excluding, from all further asylum in our ports, vessels armed in them to cruize on nations with which we are at peace, and for the restoration of the prizes the Lovely lass, Prince William Henry, and the Jane of Dublin, and that should the measures for restitution fail in their...
3223Memorandum Books, 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
1791. Philadelphia Jan. 1. Cutting wood 2/3 etrennes to Printer’s boy .25 borrowed of Mr. Remsen 50.D. 2 Pd. wages to Francis 6.D. board 8.D. } = 26.D. Matthew 6.D. James 6.D.
3224From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 11 December 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a power of Attorney to recieve a quarter’s interest due on Mr. Short’s stock. Be pleased to place one hundred dollars of this to the credit of Mr. Peter Lott with you, and to hold the residue subject to my draughts which will be made shortly. I am Dear Sir Your most obedt. servt PrC ( CSmH ); at foot of text: “Mr. John Barnes”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.
3225From Thomas Jefferson to George Logan, 1 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly compliments to Dr. Logan. Having engaged a good farmer to go and put one of his plantations in Virginia into a regular course of farming, and being about to give him his plan , he takes the liberty of submitting it to Dr. Logan, in whose experience and judgment he has great confidence. He begs him to favor him with his observations on it, freely and as fully...
3226From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 4 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 13th. of June. The Senate have passed the bill for fixing the residence of Congress at Philadelphia for ten years, and then permanently at Georgetown. It has been read once or twice in the H. of representatives and will be ultimately decided on the day after tomorrow. I believe it will pass there by a considerable majority. I imagine we shall remove from hence early in...
3227To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to send to the President Dr Thornton’s answer to mister Hallet’s objections this moment received, & which he has not had time to read. perhaps the President may think it worth while to communicate them to mister Hobens & see what he thinks of them, for which reason he sends them to the President in the instant of receiving them. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous...
3228From Thomas Jefferson to John Garland Jefferson, 17 December 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
At the time your favor of Nov. 11 . came to hand I had not yet recieved an answer from Genl. Smith. It came some time after and I now inclose it to you. You will percieve that from a different construction of the same clause in the constitution in the superior and inferior courts, you would be refused in the former and admitted in the latter the first year. You would therefore not be merely...
3229From Thomas Jefferson to James Currie, 24 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 14th. was delivered to me on Sunday the 20th. I sent on the 21st. (by a person who possesses my confidence) your two notes to Mr. Potter. The intention was merely to prepare him for my calling on him myself, as we were not personally known to each other. His answer was ‘no effects at this time.’ On the 22d. (the day before yesterday) yours of the 15th. came to hand with the...
3230Jefferson’s Instructions for Henry Remsen, Jr., 16 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Letters which come in time to reach Albany before the 25th. instant may be sent to Albany. No newspapers to be forwarded, except Fenno’s. If a letter comes from the President, which seems to cover the commission for Mr. Eveleigh’s successor, Mr. Remsen will be so good as to open it,.put the great seal to it, and send it to the person, with an assurance that I shall countersign it on my return....
3231From Thomas Jefferson to Van Damme, 3 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Les livres que vous avez eu la bonté de m’expedier me sont parvenus avanthier en assez bon etat. J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer actuellement un ordre à Messieurs Van Staphorst de vous en payer le montant, c’est à dire la somme de cent soixante et dix florins quinze sols. Comme je compte de partir tout-de-suite pour l’Amerique, je vous prie de considerer comme non-avenues les parties des...
3232From Thomas Jefferson to George Hammond, 25 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honor to inclose you the answer of the Attorney General to a letter I wrote him on the subject of your’s of the 18th. inst. It appears that the Judges of the supreme court of the United states are open to the application of Mr. Pagan for a writ of error to revise his case. This writ is to be granted indeed or refused at the discretion of the judge; but the discretion of a judge...
3233Jefferson’s Memoranda for Washington, [29 November 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Note of letters recieved. Mr. Short. July 16. A private letter in which he says it is true that the Queen of Portugal has appointed Mr. Freire her Minister resident for the U.S. Ignatius Polyart. Phila. Oct. 5. Announcing his commission as Consul general for the Queen of Portugal in the U.S. Dumas. Hague. May 26.—July 10.—July 14. Nothing new. Nathaniel Gilman. Exeter Sep. 10. } accepting...
3234From Thomas Jefferson to John Brown Cutting, 16 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your attention to the cir[cumstance] of my passage, and lament extremely that I cannot avail myself of so favorable a conveiance as the Washington offers, which I would certainly have done had I received my permission. But that is not yet arrived.—The Vanstaphorsts have written to me to receive their bond[s]. This awaits your return.—The Impost act has pass[ed] the house of...
3235Opinion on Apportionment Bill, 4 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Constitution has declared that ‘Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers,’ that ‘the number of representatives shall not exceed one for every 30,000, but each state shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse 3. Massachusets...
3236From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Williams, 3 July 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I take shame to myself for having so long left unanswered your valuable favor on the subject of the mountains. But in truth I am become lazy as to every thing except agriculture. The preparations for harvest, and the length of the harvest itself which is not yet finished, would have excused the delay however at all times and under all dispositions. I examined with great satisfaction your...
3237From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Knox, 28 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th:Jefferson presents his compliments to Genl. Knox and asks the favor of him to peruse the letter he has prepared in answer to Mr. Hammond’s and to be so good as to suggest any alterations either of matter or manner which he thinks might be made to advantage. He begs his pardon for this trouble; but the importance of this first move in the business renders him anxious that it should be well...
3238From Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 3 January 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I troubled you once before on the subject of my nails, and must trouble you once more, but hope my present plan will protect you from all further embarrasment with it. I sat out with refusing to retail, expecting the merchants of my neighborhood and the upper country would have given a preference to my supplies, because delivered here at the Richmond whole sale prices, and at hand to be called...
3239To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
Since mine of Jan. 14. yours of Jan. 2. & Mar. 1. have been handed to me; the former by mr̃ Jones, whom I am glad to know on your recommendation and to make him the channel of evidencing to you how much I esteem whatever comes from you. the internal agitations of this country & the inactivity to which England is reduced by the State of imbecillity in which the madness of the king has...
3240To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 February 1794 (Madison Papers)
We are here in a state of great quiet, having no public news to agitate us. I have never seen a Philadelphia paper since I left that place, nor learnt any thing of later date except some successes of the French the account of which seemed to have come by our vessel from Havre. It was said yesterday at our court that Genet was to be recalled: however nobody could tell how the information came....