601From Thomas Jefferson to John Syme, 17 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I reci[eved yesterday your fa]vor of the 2d. inst. I [was] not in fact [in want of a horse, having] the number which [I] allow myself [to keep; but hearing tha]t one of your’s (called Thomas) was remarkeably ha[ndsome and strong, I] mentioned to Dr. Currie that if he was to be bought for £45. or even £50. payable in three months, so as to give me time to sell one of mine, I would purchase him....
602From Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Hart, 14 November 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Understanding that there was a box containing an Orrery for me at the Custom-house at the Hundred, I had asked the favor of Mr. David Randolph to take it out and pay the duty, which I suppose small, as the machine cost but about 2½ guineas. He writes me word that before he received my letter, you had been so kind as to liberate it from the custom house, with a view of sending it on to me. The...
603From Thomas Jefferson to Matthew Maury, 4 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you an order on Mr. Brown of Richmond for the sum of fifty pounds, which will be paid on sight, which I hope will get to hand in time, as you mentioned that it would not be till the 1st. of December that you should want it.—Finding that Dabney Carr’s inclination did not lead him more to Physic than law, that his mother had thought of the former on reasons which she had not laid...
604From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 18 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to submit to the President’s approbation the draught of letters to Mr. Genet and the Atty. Genl. on the subject of the prosecution desired by the former to be instituted against Messrs. Jay and King. He also incloses the form of a warrant for Đ 2544.37 for the Director of the Mint for the purchase of copper. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The Pres[…]”;...
605From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 31 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
You will have understood perhaps that in the appointment of Consuls which has taken place, another than yourself has been named for Bordeaux. I feel it a duty to explain this matter to you lest it should give you an uneasiness as to the cause. No nomination occasioned more difficulty, nor hung longer suspended. But the Senate refused in every instance, where there was a native citizen in any...
606From Thomas Jefferson to William Mewburn, 14 November 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Donald of London, in a letter of Aug. 30. informs me you had been so kind as to take charge of a telescope for me. Not knowing whether you are yet arrived, and apprehending, if you were, that you might forward the glass on to this place, I take the liberty of lodging the present letter at Richmond, to desire you, instead of sending it on here to deliver it to Mr. Randolph my son in law...
607From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
You will percieve by the inclosed papers that Genet has thrown down the gauntlet to the President by the publication of his letter and my answer , and is himself forcing that appeal to the people, and risking that disgust, which I had so much wished should have been avoided. The indications from different parts of the continent are already sufficient to shew that the mass of the republican...
608From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 21 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been duly honored with your favor of May 8. covering the letter of Mr. Newton, and that of May 13. with the letter of the British consul at Norfolk and the information of Henry Tucker, all of which have been laid before the President. The putting the several harbours of the US. into a state of defence having never yet been the subject of deliberation and decision with the legislature,...
609From Thomas Jefferson to the Rev. Matthew Maury, 8 January 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return to Virginia I found that my sister Carr had seen it necessary to take her son Dabney from the Prince Edward college. Having heard that you had opened school, she could not doubt what would be most advantageous to him and agreeable to me. She had accordingly decided to send him to you, and being to take his bed &c. from Prince Edward she concluded it more convenient to bring it to...
610To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 28 July 1791 (Madison Papers)
I this moment recieve yours of the 26th. The sugar of which you inclose a sample would by no means answer my purpose, which was to send it to Monticello, in order, by a proof of it’s quality, to recommend attention to the tree to my neighbors. In my letter of yesterday I forgot to tell you there is a brig here to sail for Halif[a]x in 10. days. She is under repair, & therefore may possibly...
611From Thomas Jefferson to Adam Lindsay, 22 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
This being the first moment since the rising of Congress, that it has been in my power to take up my private letters wanting answers, I make it my first duty to acknolege the receipt of yours of Apr. 12. and the two casks of cyder by Capt. Tatem, and to inclose a bill of 6 ⅔ dollars which with the 24 ½ dollars in my letter of Apr. 9. make up the amount. I pray you to accept my thanks for your...
612From Thomas Jefferson to John Garland Jefferson, 5 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I received a considerable time ago your favor of Nov. 12. and have been prevented from answering it by an extraordinary press of business from which I am but just now emerging. I think Mr. Carr and yourself have acted prudently in dropping your acquaintance with Mr. Rind. I am not acquainted with his character, but I hope and trust it is good at bottom; but it is not marked by prudence, and...
613From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson sends to the President a letter he received from Mr. Hammond, with the general sketch of an answer he had proposed to write to him. He will have the honour of seeing the President on the subject to-day. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); endorsed by Lear. Tr ( DNA : RG 59, SDC ). Not recorded in SJL
614To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 26 November 1790 (Adams Papers)
From a letter received from the President mr̃ Lear is satisfied he cannot be here to-day and doubts even the possibility of his arrival tomorrow. of course our expedition of to-day would be certainly fruitless, and is therefore laid aside agreeably to a message I have received from Gen l. Knox & the attorney Gen l. Your’s affectionately & respectfully RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “The...
615From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 January 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote the inclosed letter to you a little before I left Paris, and having no occasion to send it, I brought it with me. I mentioned it to you when I had the happiness of possessing you at Monticello, but still forgot to give it to you. After so long lying by me, and further turning the subject in my mind, I find no occasion to alter my mind. I hazard it therefore to your consideration. I...
616To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the draught of a letter to mister Pinckney. also the paper sent to him for the signatures now put to it. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. Later on this date GW approved Jefferson’s letter to Thomas Pinckney of 4 June, whose topics included the...
617To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 October 1794 (Madison Papers)
In the moment of the departure of the post it occurs to me that you can, by the return of it, note to me the amount of Mazzei’s claim against Dohrman, for the information of the Van Staphorsts. I will put off my answer to them for that purpose. The day you left me I had a violent attack of the Rheumatism which has confined me ever since. Within these few days I have crept out a little on...
618From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Crew, 10 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of Aug. 21 and am glad to hear that the prospect for the crop of wheat in Virginia this year is favorable. I am persuaded there will be a great demand in this country before the next harvest. They have begun on the present one, two months sooner than common, and I imagine it was not more than would feed them three weeks over and above the year. Consequently...
619From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 12 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor of inclosing to the President the opinion on the two cases of vessels referred to the heads of the department, and the letter he has prepared in consequence to the Attorney of the district. Genl. Knox will wait on him with his letter to the Governor .— Symmes’s case is to be considered of tomorrow, as it required some enquiry. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed:...
620From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 11 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acknolege the receipt of your joint favor of April 14. and Mr. Carrol’s separate one of Apr. 16.—I had informed you in a former letter that the catastrophe among the paper dealers would retard the completion of the loan. I now inclose you a letter from Mr. Blodget by which you will perceive it’s effect to be greater than he had at first supposed. He thinks that the payment of June,...
621From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 19 October 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson the bearer hereof is not entirely unknown to you I believe. He asks of me however a line of introduction. He is a candidate for the office rendered vacant by the death of Mr. Hay, and he wishes me to say to you what I know of him. He has respectable talents, is well-read in the law, and is a good republican, and a very honest man. If no fitter person offers, I need not ask your...
622From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Lewis, Jr., 5 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
My principal object with respect to Elkhill being to sell it, I do not propose to subject it to any lease which might disappoint me of a purchaser. If you think proper to continue the occupation as lessee at will as you have heretofore done and on the same terms, I consent to it. But I shall expect the rent of the year to be paid with the produce of the year, and think it but fair to observe...
623From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been in conversation to-day with Monsr. Payan, one of the St. Domingo deputies, I took occasion to enquire of him the footing on which our commerce there stands at present, and particularly whether the colonial arret of 1789 permitting a free importation of our flour till 1793. was still in force. He answered that that arret was revoked in France on the clamours of the merchants there:...
624From Thomas Jefferson to Messrs. Robert & Hugh Ingram, 3 August 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Having occasion to remit the sum of £124. sterling to London for Alexander Mc.Caul esquire of Glasgow, and taken his order on the subject, he desired me to have it paid into your hands. I have therefore the honor to inclose you Messrs. Grand & co.’s bill on M. Louis Teissier of London for one hundred and twenty four pounds sterling at two days sight, which be pleased to receive on account of...
625To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 January 1796 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 24 January 1796. Acknowledged in JM to Jefferson, 7 Feb. 1796 ; mentioned in Jefferson’s Epistolary Record (DLC: Jefferson Papers) and in JM to Jefferson, 10 Apr. 1824 (DLC). Acknowledges JM’s letters of 27 Dec. 1795 and 10 Jan. 1796 . Asks JM to make some inquiries in Philadelphia, to inform Jefferson weekly of governmental proceedings, and to send certain pamphlets....
626To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President and sends him his report on the subject of commerce with Spain, & the form of a message to the Senate. a second copy is now making out for the President’s own use, so that he may send in the one now inclosed to-day, assured of receiving the other the moment it is finished. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George...
627From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton, 12 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Humphries having charged Mr. Church our Consul at Lisbon to send us information of the truce between Algiers and Portugal by an Express vessel, he engaged one under Swedish colours to come here with his letters. She is now lying at New York at our expence. Thinking it material to save as much of the expence as we can, by permitting her to be freighted back to Lisbon to which place she is...
628From Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 14 July 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
Having lately had an opportunity of examining our tax law in the new volume of laws lately published, I find lands whereof the taxes have not been paid for three years are liable to have a warrant located on them by any person whatever, without notice to the owner. I am therefore become really uneasy about my Natural bridge tract, and the more so as I have no information from the Commissioner...
629From Thomas Jefferson to Willink, Van Staphorst & Hubbard, 3 August 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with pleasure your favor of the 27th. July and immediately took measures for beginning the particular business confided to me by Congress, and for which the sum of 30,000 florins is destined. Within about three weeks I shall be possessed of such information as will enable me to decide on the disposal of the money. In the mean time you will be pleased to keep it in your hands.—With...
630From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 21 July 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I drew on you about the 10th. or 11th. inst. in favor of William Wardlaw or order for 40. Dollars, of which this serves to advise you, if I did not write a letter of advice at the time. If I did, I omitted to keep a copy of it and it has escaped my memory. I am with esteem Dear Sir Your most obedt. servt PrC ( MHi ); at foot of text: “Mr. John Barnes.” TJ’s draft in favor of Dr. William...
631From Thomas Jefferson to James Wilson, 17 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Wilson. He omitted to observe to him on the subject of his bookshelves that whenever he has occasion to remove them from one room to another, or one house to another, they may be taken to peices and put together again the whole of them in half an hour, as there is not a single nail, screw, nor glue used in putting them together. Carstairs, who...
632From Thomas Jefferson to James Rumsey, 14 October 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 4th. instant and will pay attention to what you say on the subject of the Barker’s mill your friends beyond the water are about to erect. I am sincerely sorry not to have known the result of your experiment for steam navigation before my departure. Tho I have already been detained here and at Havre 16. days by contrary winds I mu[ch] hope that detention will...
633From Thomas Jefferson to Jerman Baker, 15 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I forward the inclosed letter from Doctr. Witherspoon the moment it comes to my hand, in hopes that I may receive Mr. Robinson’s ultimate determination before I leave this place; as, should it come afterwards his or your letter might remain here unopened and the opportunity be lost. I am with great esteem Dear Sir Your friend & servt PrC ( MHi ); at foot of text: “Jerman Baker esq.” Tr ( DLC...
634From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 31 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Mar. 20 with the several papers it inclosed, which were duly communicated to the President. No proof was necessary to satisfy us here of your good conduct every where. In answer to your request to obtain and transmit the proper authority of the U.S. for your retaining the order of St. Anne conferred on you by the Empress, I can only say that the...
635From Thomas Jefferson to John Hylton, 15 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of Apr. 13. and am as much concerned at the want of success in your affairs which renders you desirous of engaging in other business, as that it is not in my power at present to propose any to you. I am at this time furnished with a very good manager in Bedford, and another in Albemarle. The last is now in the first year of my employment, but having been all his...
636From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 11 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter by last post I forgot to inclose you the bill of exchange for £50. sterl. which you were so kind as to furnish me with, and for which I had no occasion. I now inclose it having first torn off the signature. Having been deprived by the snow of the use of my own carriage, which I left at Alexandria, obliged to come on in the stage, and still to have my horses brought on and a...
637From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 22 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the extracts he desired from his letter of May 4. 1787. He finds by a note, which he does not know however where he got, that the city of Mexico is about 200. miles from the sea. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by Washington: “22d. July. 1790 State of the Portuguese in So. America.” Not...
638From Thomas Jefferson to James McHenry, 28 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Having sent your letters to Mr. Short with a desire that he will, as far as is right, patronize the applications which shall be made to the minister on your demand, instead of destroying your first letter to Messrs. Le Couteulx, I have thought it better to return it to you, in proof that your desires have been complied with.—A murder of some friendly Indians a little beyond Fort Pitt is likely...
639From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 7 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
My head has been so full of farming since I have found it necessary to prepare a plan for my manager, that I could not resist the addressing my last weekly letters to Mr. Randolph and boring him with my plans.—Maria writes to you to-day. She is getting into tolerable health, tho’ not good. She passes two or three days in the week with me, under the trees, for I never go into the house but at...
640From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Carr, 19 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved your letter in which you were so kind as to inform me what kinds of supplies might be useful to our sister Marks, and I meant when I should make a purchase of stores for myself in Philadelphia to bring here, to have got some for her also. But the infectious fever which took place there, drove us all away very suddenly, and made it too dangerous to go into the city to purchase: so...
641From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 11 October 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Having determined to try my Bedford tobacco this year at the London market, I could have no hesitation to whom to consign it. I have therefore ordered it to be very carefully handled, and in some degree sorted, to be got down to Richmond as early as possible and there delivered to Mr. Brown to be shipped to you on my account. According to arrangements taken with Mr. Brown as to the sum I might...
642From Thomas Jefferson to Adam Lindsay, 9 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I acknoleged to you the receipt of the three boxes of candles soon after they came to hand. The desire expressed in your letter that I should not forward the cost till the arrival of another parcel which you expected would follow the other soon, prevented my sending you a bill for the amount. Presuming that some accident has prevented the second parcel, I think myself no longer justifiable in...
643From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was of the 17th. if I may reckon a single line any thing. Yours of the 13th. came to hand yesterday.—The proclamation as first proposed was to have been a declaration of neutrality. It was opposed on these grounds 1. that a declaration of neutrality was a declaration there should be no war, to which the Executive was not competent. 2. that it would be better to hold back the...
644From Thomas Jefferson to James Woodhouse, 31 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Dr. Woodhouse and his thanks for his interesting dissertation on the Persimmon tree. He is happy to find that this plant may become a valuable addition to our stock of Chemical and Pharmaceutical subjects, in both which lines Dr. Woodhouse has presented very interesting experiments on it. Th: Jefferson has for some time turned his attention to the same...
645To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 30 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to inclose for your perusal a letter which I have prepared for mister Short. The ill humour into which the French colonies are getting, & the little dependence on the troops sent thither, may produce a hesitation in the National assembly as to the conditions they will impose in their constitution, in a moment of hesitation small matters may influence their decision. they may...
646From Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Burwell, 1 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Being to write shortly to Mr. Paradise I should be very happy to be able to hand him any information with respect to the prospect of raising money to pay his debts. You know there was some hope from the cutting and selling of timber. Is this likely to be realised? I recollect he had a considerable sum of public paper. As I am on the spot where the science in that line is mathematically exact,...
647From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 23 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of my letters (a servant of Mr. Morris) not going off till to-day I am enabled to add to their contents. The spirit of tumult seemed to have subsided, when yesterday it was excited again by a particular incident. Monsieur Foullon, one of the obnoxious ministry, who, as well as his brethren, had absconded, was taken in the country, and as is said by his own tenants, and brought to...
648To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President, sends him the draught of a letter to Madame de la Fayette, as also the draught of a letter to mister Morris. if this be approved, he proposes to write a like one to mister Pinckney. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; AL (letterpress copy), DLC : Jefferson Papers; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of...
649From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 1 June 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Apr. 11. and I now inclose the letter of Mr. Short on the diplomatic arrangement which you desire. It is marked private, as you see, having been a part of his private correspondence with me, which was the reason I did not leave it in the office. I take the liberty of inclosing to you a letter for him which I will thank you to forward by the...
650From Thomas Jefferson to David Rittenhouse, 1[5] June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclosed you, the day before yesterday a rough draught of the report I had prepared on the subject of weights and measures. I have this morning recieved from Mr. Short a proposition made by the Bishop of Autun to the National assembly of France on the same subject, which I inclose you, and will beg the favor of you to return it by post after you shall have perused it. He mentions that the...