1To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 20 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr William Kelty is a man of learning, of sound knowledge in the law, of exemplary life, unexceptionable character, and much respected in the State of Maryland. Altho’ a man of real worth, he does not possess that address and readiness of expression or action, which compel all who see him to acknowledge his merit, those who know him well value him highly. I know no man in this State or in the...
2To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 31 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
George Town and the City of Washington was the Stage upon which Morris & Nicholson acted the last scene of swindling and imposition. They contracted debts and issued notes to an immense amount here, and such was the folly of a numbers of our inhabitants that just before they sunk, they bought up their paper to a very great amount, which paper had been issued a considerable time before. Morris...
3John Thomson Mason’s Notes on Candidates for Bank Director, [ca. August 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
James Dunlop. A merchant of good character, not much understanding, in good circumstances, clear of debt, but a tool to U.F. Thos. Beall of Geo. A man clear of debt, of good estate, and character, of no understanding, and a tool to F. & S. John Laird A merchant of fair character, exceeding good understanding, of considerable property clear of Debt, and a tool to no man. These men reside in...
4To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 6 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
We have learned here that the Treasurer of the U.S. has determined to resign his appointment. My friend and relation Mr. John Mason, who has been suddenly called to Phida., has authorized and requested me to mention to you that he would thankfully accept this appointment, if you thought him quallified to fill it, and no person more acceptable to you should be thought of. But Mr Mason has...
5To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 5 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from the Revd. Mr Knox a very Republican Minister and the Head of an accademy in Frederick town, was sent to me with a view I presume of its being laid before you. Mr Polk the subject is I beleive personally known to you , he is a limner by profession. Mr Knox is I beleive mistaken as to the hopes of Mr Kilty ’s doing anything for him. There is not like to be any vacancy in...
6To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 12 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed I send you an estimate, from one of the Commissioners of the tax, of the taxes paid by that part of the District, which was formerly in the County of Prince Georges , to the State of Maryland. I have not yet received the estimate for that part of the District which was in Montgomery County. It is prepared and I shall probably get it this week at Annapolis Your Obedt Servt RC ( DNA :...
7II. From John Thomson Mason, [7 December 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
In the copy I have prepared some few alterations are made which I beg leave to submit to you before it goes out of my hands Instead of Bissextile read “every fourth year” if it stands bissextile will it not be confined to what is commonly called Leap year? if so it would involve us in difficulty as to the commencement of the election for Governor &c. Cowels Interpreter thus defines it...
8To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 9 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
At a Circuit Court held for the District of Columbia in the County of Washington at December Term 1801, James B. Heard and James Thompson were each indicted for retailing spirituous liquors contrary to law By the laws of Maryland no man is permitted to keep tavern without license first obtained from the Court of the County. The Court in granting or refusing such license have a discretionary...
9To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 14 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I last night reached home from Montgomery Court with the Gout in my foot so bad as to confine me to my room. The Judiciary Bill having finally passed , I now feel anxious to see something doing with the Territorial Bill , but I cannot discover from the papers that Congress are even thinking of it. Mr Peyton is with me and feels equally anxious on that subject. If Constitutionally practicable...
10To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 17 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with real diffidence that I shall enter upon the duties of Atty Genl of the US should future events induce you to wish it. Highly sensible of the Honor you did me in proposing it I explained to you the true grounds of my fears upon the subject. I shall industriously endeavour to remove them, in these endeavours I indulge myself with the hope of your friendly advice and assistance With...
11To Thomas Jefferson from William Kilty, William Cranch, and John Thomson Mason, 9 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The Case of the United States against Daniel McGinnis Daniel McGinnis having been much beat and abused by a certain James Carroll and others in the Month of July 1801 Gave information to the Grand Jury and a presentment was made by them at September Term 1801 Daniel McGinnis was recognised in the sum of fifty Dollars with John Barber and Alexander King his securities in the sum of twenty five...
12To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 12 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Upon examining the authorities I find it settled, at Common Law, 1. That the time and place of execution make no part of the Judgment in capital cases 4. Blac. Com. 404. 1 Hal. P.C. 368 . 2 Hawk. 658 2. That the Court having power to give Judgment of death, necessarily possesses the power of awarding execution 2 Hal. P.C. 406. 3. That formerly the Judge of the Court who pronounced Sentence...
13To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, with Jefferson’s Order, 19 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed I return to you the transcript of the record of conviction in the case of the United States v Samuel Fumfrey alias Pumphry Upon the trial the evidence was so strong and so respectable as to exclude all possibility of doubt as to his guilt. From the articles enumerated in the Indictment you will discover it was a little felony. The circumstances were these, the criminal, a free black...
14To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 7 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had last the pleasure to see you I have revolved in my mind the subject we then conversed on, towit the vacancy which Mr Marshall ought and probably would shortly make by his resignation . No man can be generally known as a man eminent in the law unless it be by his success as a practitioner, and it is to be apprehended that a man thus situated would scarcely be prevailed on to accept...
15To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 5 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment received the inclosed letter from a Gentleman I beleive personally known to you. The letter I think might have been properly addressed to you and therefore it is that I take the liberty of thus sending it. The great respect and attachment which I formed for the author of this letter in early life, and which the lapse of seventeen years has ripened into a sincere friendship,...
16To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 20 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I some time ago took the liberty to mention to you my friend N. Fitzhugh as a person willing to fill the vacancy about to be made by the resignation of James Marshall. Why or wherefore I know not, I have this day received two letters from thorough going Feds. To you I take the liberty of inclosing them, not because I think them recommendations but merely because they relate to a subject upon...
17To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 18 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I some time ago took the liberty to enclose to you a letter from my much esteemed friend James Brown of Kentucky expressive of his Wish to serve the United States in their newly acquired territory at the Mouth of the Mississippi. At the request of the same Gentleman I beg leave to make it known to you, that his services, if desired, may be commanded in the Revenue department, either as...
18To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, with Jefferson’s Query, 21 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
John Duffy of the County of Alexandria who now stands committed to the Jail of that County was tried and convicted at the last term in the month of December for keeping a disorderly house, for the fine then imposed he then was committed and has ever since remained in Jail. I know not the man or his situation in life, the witnesses on the trial were respectable persons, they deposed that he was...
19To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 5 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
As I have changed my residence and now consider the County of Washington in the State of Maryland my domicile, it is in my Judgment improper that I should any longer hold the Office of Attorney of the United States for the District of Columbia which you have heretofore honored me with. In resigning this appointment permit me to offer you my thanks for the Confidence manifested in confering it...
20To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 18 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your obliging favour of the 12th. has this moment reached me. You mentioned to me your intention to appoint Mr Jones, with which I was much pleased but having once heard from himself that he would not accept, I mentioned Mr Sprigg to you. Mr Jones may however have changed his mind, I hope he has, for if he will attend to the business, he is unquestionably better quallified than any Man in the...
21To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 5 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Sure I am that the interest which I feel in the distresses of Mrs Peacock & her children is the result of weakness. But I cannot help it, the tears and afflictions of an amiable woman, who in the most trying circumstances that can occur in life, preserves and manifests all the feelings and dispositions, that a virtuous and affectionate wife, a tender and an amiable parent ought to possess,...
22To James Madison from John Thomson Mason, 25 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I hold it a duty to communicate to you a circumstance which has taken place in this County. Some time about the 20th. of last Month an Officer of one of the British Ships now laying at our Capes came up to the mouth of the Pattuxent river, where a young man of this County resided. The Officer there threw off his Uniform put on plain cloaths and with the aid of this young man thus disguised was...
23To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 27 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
My friend Mr Wm. O Sprigg has just made known to me his wish to be mentioned to you as a candidate for the Office of Marshall about to be vacant by the resignation of Col. Brent. The profession of the law is that to which he was bred, and tho’ a man of considerable acquirements in that profession, the practice has not answered his expectations He lived in my family four years, I can speak with...
24To James Madison from John Thomson Mason, 28 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
At the Request of Dr: James H. Blake, I state with much pleasure and great truth, that during an acquaintance of many years Part of which time he resided in George Town, and part in Fairfax County Virginia, I have uniformly known him, a Man of Integrity and assiduity, a decided Republican, and a zealous, active, and useful Supporter of the present administration DLC : Papers of James Madison.
25Robert Wash to Thomas Jefferson, 23 July 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
M r John T Mason , intends to pass thro’ your part of the Country on his return to Loudon ; and having exp r essed a desire to see Monticello &C, I have ventured to give him a pretext for calling. Should he deliver the Nos. of the Louisiana Gazette in person, you will be able to obtain from conversations with him, information more useful, interesting & authentic than they can possibly afford....
26To Thomas Jefferson from John Thomson Mason, 4 May 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr José A. Miralla, a distinguished South American patriot, wishes to see & know you—the great apostle of liberty. An enlightened foreigner, seeking in our country a knowledge of our free institutions and collecting maxims of political Science from our wisest Statesmen, has a passport to the good feelings & kind offices of every patriot & philanthropist. With you he will want no other...