1From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, [June? 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society, depend so much upon an upright and skilful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that. The judges, therefore,...
2From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 1 November 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
I have got thro’ the bill ‘for proportioning crimes and punishments in cases heretofore capital,’ and now inclose it to you with a request that you will be so good as scrupulously to examine and correct it, that it may be presented to our committee with as few defects as possible. In it’s style I have aimed at accuracy, brevity and simplicity, preserving however the very words of the...
3From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 1 March 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I left you I have reflected on the bill for regulating the practising of attornies, and of our omitting to continue the practitioners at the county and General courts separate. I think the bar of the general court a proper and an excellent nursery for future judges if it be so regulated as that science may be encouraged and may live there. But this can never be if an inundation of...
4From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 29 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by Mr. Paradise, a Græcian and honest man by birth, a gentleman and man of learning by education, and our countryman by choice, the most rational of all titles. I need not say more to ensure him all the services you can render him. He has a heart which will repay your attentions with overflowings of gratitude. Probably he will want your counsels, perhaps too your...
5From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 13 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Jan. 10. and Feb. 10. came to hand on the 20th. and 23d of May. I availed myself of the first opportunity which occurred, by a gentleman going to England, of sending to Mr. Joddrel a copy of the Notes on our country, with a line informing him that it was you who had emboldened me to take that liberty. Madison, no doubt, informed you of the reason why I had sent only a single...
6From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 6 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Paradise being desirous of placing the conduct of his steward under the controul of some one or two good gentlemen in the neighborhood of his estate, has desired me to recommend his affairs to the persons whom I should think best. But since my departure from Williamsburg things are so much changed that I am incompetent to that nomination. I therefore advise him to execute a power of...
7From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, with Enclosure, 16 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknowlege the receipt of your favors of Dec. 13. and 22. 1786. and of Jan. 1787. These should not have been so long unanswered, but that they arrived during my absence on a journey of between 3. and 4. months through the Southern parts of France and Northern of Italy. In the latter country my time allowed me to go no further than Turin, Milan, and Genoa; consequently I scarcely...
8From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 17 December 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My friend Mr. Eppes is informed that his son’s situation at the college, by subjecting him to attendance on certain courses of lectures, withdraws him from the pursuit of what you might recommend preferably. But his first wish being that his son should follow implicitly what you would be so good as to recommend, he does not hesitate to decide on his quitting the college, and boarding in such a...
9From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 13 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
An indisposition of several weeks has prevented my sooner acknowledging the reciept of your favor of Apr. 22.—The bookseller whom I have employed at Strasburgh always is Armand Koenig. A Biographical dictionary to which I have been obliged to have recourse for information about Phlegon, authorises me to inform you of these circumstances relative to him. He was surnamed Trallion, from a city in...
10From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 14 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am really ashamed to be so late in acknowleging the reciept of your favor of Jan. 10. which came to hand the 2d. of February. But during the session of Congress the throng of business was such as to oblige me to suspend all my private correspondence. Their recess now enables me to resume them. I think the allusion to the story of Sisamnes in Mr. West’s design is a happy one: and, were it not...