1William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 14 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
As you are now retired from the important and dignified station of Chief magistrate of the United States of America , the duties of which you have fulfilled with the deserved approbation of all well disposed and discerning citizens, permit me to congratulate you on the magninimity you have evinced, in thus voluntarily relinquishing the highest and most responsible office in the power of the...
2William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 13 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your friendly letter of the 28 th ult o in answer to a communication of mine, dated the 14 th of March ;—and with great pleasure accept the apology you have been pleased to make for a delay in its’ acknowledgment;—for as well as I now recollect its’ contents, (having kept no copy) it might have remained in the hands of one of our self important would-be great men , an age,...
3William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 23 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last communication to you, I stated my intention of entering into astronomical calculations for the purpose of fixing a first meridian for the United States at the permanent seat of their government. It is, perhaps, to be regretted, that a dependence on Great Britain , for a spot of ground from which American navigators and geographers have been hitherto in the habit of estimating their...
4William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Some time since, I addressed a letter to you on the subject of a first meridian for the United States at the permanent seat of their government, to be effected by ascertaining the longitude of the Capitol in this city from Greenwich observatory, in England , being the spot from which many, if not the whole of our mariners are in the habit of reckoning their departure. It is proper that the...
5William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your esteemed favor of the 10 th inst t in answer to former letters of mine, and am much gratified by the approbation you have shewn of my undertaking to ascertain the difference of longitude of the Capitol in this city from Greenwich Observatory , with due precision, for on that circumstance will depend the establishment of a first meridian of our own, and also, the adapting...
6William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 19 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose a table which has been constructed with great care to every 3 minutes of intermediate time between 0 and 12 hours, for computing the Moon’s motion for 12 hours in longitude, latitude, &c. from which the true place may be easily obtained: it was intended to be as fair , as it is accurate , but some parts of it have been stained by accident, before it was finished. The second series...
7Enclosure: William Lambert’s Table for Computing the Moon’s Motion, with Examples [ca. 19 September 1809] (Jefferson Papers)
Table for computing the Moon’s motion for 12 hours at any intermediate time. h. m. ( x .) 1 st diff. ( y .) 1 st diff. (z.) 1 st diff. 0.
8William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 25 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The last paragraph of your letter of the 10 th instant , respecting the conduct of a certain European nation to us, as well as to others with whom it has any commercial intercourse, plainly evinces Your strong, unbiassed attachment to the true interests of the country which gave you birth. It is much to be regretted, that too many natives of this favored land are pusillanimous and unprincipled...
9To James Madison from William Lambert, 5 December 1809 (Madison Papers)
As the inclosed letter to bishop Madison, contains the principles of an useful method, not generally practised, to promote the geography of the United States, permit me to request that you will be pleased to read it with some attention, before you transmit it to him under your frank. I take this opportunity of acknowledging with gratitude and respect, the favors I have already received from...
10William Lambert to Thomas Jefferson, 5 December 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I acknowledge with sincere gratitude and respect, the receipt of your obliging note , inclosing a vote of thanks from the American Philosophical Society for a table of the Moon’s motion, transmitted to you, some time since, as their President. Truly sensible of the instances of friendship with which you have been pleased to favor me, I shall endeavor to reciprocate, so far as I may have it in...