1To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, with Jefferson’s Opinion on Mary Wayland, [16 August 1782] (Jefferson Papers)
Your most Curious Council is required on the following Cases. Case the 1st. Adam Wayland of Culpeper County in the Virga. State, after 1st. Lawful Marriage had 6 Children by his wife and She pregnant with the 7th.—Made a Will by which will he bequeath’d his wife one full Third part of his Estate, his wife in time of her pregnancy was Taken with the Small pox and Died—after remaining a widower...
2To George Washington from John Taylor, 2 Aug. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from John Taylor, 2 Aug. 1779. On 5 Aug., GW wrote Taylor: “I have duly received Your two favors of the 30th of July and 2d Instant.”
3To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, [before 11 December 1798] (Jefferson Papers)
It would be happy indeed for us, if agriculture and farming still continued to be interesting subjects—but alas! can we, when our house is on fire, be solicitous to save the kittens? How long is it to burn, or will it ever be extinguished? I would be almost content to save a single apartment. If a sufficient spirit had appeared in our legislature, it was my project, by law, to declare the...
4To James Madison from John Taylor, 26 December 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 December 1803, Port Royal, Virginia. “Inclosed is the copy of a letter addressed to the Secretary of the treasury, for reasons therein stated. My motive for writing it, is an opinion that neither yourself or Mr: Gallatin, have the most distant chance of employing a clerk, likely to be so agreeable and useful as Mr: Mc.Allister; and I felt it a duty to make one of you to avail yourself (if...
5John Taylor to Thomas Jefferson, 25 February 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 14 th instant induces me to think, that the small sum mentioned in my last , may be of some use. Perhaps it may enable the young man intended for the law , to prosecute his studies in your university or elsewhere. Perhaps it may be beneficially applied to the unmarried daughters. But you do not say whether you will apply it. This is material, because it is my wish from some...
6To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 4 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I now take the liberty of inclosing you the papers accompanied with a drawing to obtain Mr: Martin’s patent , having by a reference to the law, discovered the error in having before omited this drawing. Mr: Martin wishes the former papers to be withdrawn or to remain unnoticed, not only on account of this error, but also because several essential improvements have been added by him, since the...
7To James Madison from John Taylor, 20 June 1793 (Madison Papers)
In coming from Philadelphia, alone, and meditative, after Congress had risen, the occurrences which had trodden on each others heels, in too rapid succession for much reflection during the session, began to pass muster in my mind, and to peice themselves together, so as to exhibit an unity of design. Connecting these with several important laws of the union, a variety of fantasies were...
8To George Washington from John Taylor, 6 Aug. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from John Taylor, 6 Aug. 1779. On 10 Aug., GW wrote Taylor: “I have been duly favored with your letter of the 6th inst.”
9To John Adams from John Taylor, 10 January 1798 (Adams Papers)
At the time when the contest for the Presidency, produced a general discussion relative to the political opinions of the gentleman proposed for that office, I mentioned to Genl. Lee a conversation I had with you in the Senate chamber some years past, and he now calls upon me for a statement of what I then said. I think there would at this time be an impropriety, in giving it, except for the...
10John Taylor to Thomas Jefferson, 24 July 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
When I first wrote to you on the private subject, I supposed that Col o Nicholas had left at least one young son, and that it would be better to pay $125 annually towards his education, than a larger sum at once. Upon learning from you the state of the family, it now seems to me that $500 contributed at once, will probably do them more good than the four annual advances. In a former letter you...
11To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 25 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
The observations contained in yours of the 4th. instant, upon my letter to Colo. New, induce me to say something respecting our political situation, explanatory of one idea in that letter, of which you evidently disapprove. Convinced of the caution imposed on you by the malevolence of party, I have forborne the liberty I am now about to take; but considering your interrogations as permissive,...
12To James Madison from John Taylor, 15 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 November 1802, Caroline, Virginia. Introduces his neighbor Landon Carter of Cleve, who comes to Washington “with an invention, which, if it is as successful in practice, as it promises in theory to be, will serve still farther to exalt the American character.” “Altho’ you may have no particular acquaintance with him, his reputation must undoubtedly have reached you.” RC ( DLC ). 1 p....
13To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, [before 13 May 1798] (Jefferson Papers)
Having removed to some distance from Mr: Martin’s, his consideration of your letter of the 6th. of April, and the drawing it covered, has been somewhat delayed. He says, as indeed you will discover, that his amended machine, of which a drawing was lately sent you, has anticipated several of your objections, by having dispensed with the screw, and some of the wheels—that he had in the course of...
14To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 8 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment been informed by Mr: Martin, that he has at length found a workman capable of executing the drill, and he expresses an anxiety to furnish you with it. He is however apprehensive that the long delay, and the disappointment of your wish to have it in time to be sent by the vessel you mentioned, may have altered your disposition to have it made at all. Be pleased to drop me a...
15To George Washington from John Taylor, 7 Aug. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from John Taylor, 7 Aug. 1779. On 12 Aug., GW wrote Taylor: “Your favor of the 7th came to my hands about an hour ago.”
16To George Washington from Lt. Col. John Taylor, 30 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letters not found : from Lt. Col. John Taylor, 30 July 1779. GW wrote Taylor on 5 Aug.: “I have duly received Your two favors of the 30th of July” ( DLC:GW ).
17To James Madison from John Taylor, 4 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
I am told that very high credentials are in the Secretary of State’s office in favour of my old school mate Edmund J Lee, you must know more of him than I do. But a long intimacy & Friendship which I have been happy enough to enjoy with this modest & as I think unassuming Gentleman, induces me to feel an interest in his welfare & prosperity, & if his known diligence & capacity for Business...
18To James Madison from John Taylor, 4 March 1799 (Madison Papers)
Yesterday I received a letter from the southward of this state, written by a gentleman upon whom I can rely, containing the following sentence. “Mr: Henry has certainly declared for the next Assembly, in obedience to the call from General Washington, who has called on him to step forward and save his country —this is laughable; after the abuse formerly lavished upon that character, they now...
19To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 15 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Lancaster County, 15 Apr. 1781 . Encloses “a list of the number of Men raised in this County for recruiting this States quota of Troops to serve in the Continental Army, likewise a particular number of each Division, and a return of the Militia but not so full as your last instructions required, as I have not recieved any returns from the Different Captains since.” The return of ammunition...
20To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 23 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Several opinions, in relation to the present aspect of publick affairs, have long pressed on my mind; to publish them might be pernicious and to suppress them, criminal; The badness of my judgment and information, suggests the first apprehension, and the possibility nevertheless of their containing some useful hint, the second; to satisfy both; and recollecting that common soldiers have aided...
21To James Madison from John Taylor, 10 September 1800 (Madison Papers)
When Majr. Lindsay died, I have heard that you interested yourself on behalf of Mr: F. Taylor, as his successor. Colo. Byrd is now dead, and I take the liberty of informing you, by the request of Mr: Taylor, that he is again soliciting the naval officer’s place at Norfolk. I have heard Mr: Taylor frequently spoken of by merchants on this river, of opposed political principles, in terms of the...
22To James Madison from John Taylor, 7 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
A young Gentleman of your State has conceived that Nature intended him for an author. The enclosed Volume is his first fruit; & because I was known to him, he has solicited that through me his production should reach your attention. The Book I confess has very little of novelty or invention. The thoughts tho not out of the common way , appear to me for the most part to be strictly conformable...
23Memorandum from John Taylor, 11 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
On the 8th. or 9th. instant T. asked leave of absence of the Senate, and expressed seriously his intention to resign. K. soon after invited T. into one of the committee rooms, and informed him, that he wished to converse with him seriously & candidly upon a very important subject. He stated that it was utterly impossible for the union to continue. That the southern and eastern people thought...
24John Taylor to Thomas Jefferson, 25 March 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Nothing can be better, nor more conformable to my wishes, than the mode you mention of learning the wants of Col o Nicholas ’s family, and the application of the small sum destined towards their alleviation; and I thankfully agree to it. You will therefore be so good as to add to the obligation, by informing me, in which of the banks at Fredericksburg the money shall be lodged, or whether it...
25To John Adams from John Taylor, 8 April 1824 (Adams Papers)
During a long illness, from which I am not yet recovered, the reveries which usually amuse sick people, visited me; and among them the idea of writing a farewell letter to you, presented itself so often, as to leave an impression, which I have not been able to subdue. In yielding to it, my free style will I hope be pardoned, in consideration of its being the last trouble I shall give you; and...
26To John Adams from John Taylor, 20 May 1814 (Adams Papers)
I return you with regret your pamphlet printed in 1776, in the form of a letter to a friend. The admirable outline for a militia in its 22d. page, is itself a treasure—worthy of perpetual preservation, nor do I know as good a text for a valuable political work, is afforded in that short paragraph. Had it come to my knowledge, it would have been substituted for the North Carolina letter. That,...
27To John Adams from John Taylor, 24 December 1813 (Adams Papers)
Orator, and the printed Sheets you speak of in your letter of the 12th. instant, were, as you conjecture, written by me. Orator, published in the newspapers several years past, received the form of a book for the benefit of an indigent family; and the whole edition, or near it, has been sold. The paper binding and printing were all bad, and the price high. The same people have lately...
28To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 26 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
If this letter should be improper; its apology is, that no evil design suggested it. An idea is circulated, that after the expiration of the next presidential term, you purpose to decline a re-election.—as one of your constituents; as one of your friends; I am about to inform you of its reception within the compass of my observation, and to add several remarks as to its propriety. The...
29To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 14 October 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
A model of Martin’s machine for seperating the grain of wheat from the straw, is now before me, and yet simple as it is, I have no hopes that my mechanical knowledge is equal to a description so perspicuous, as to enable you to erect one. For it probably bears a very distant analogy to the Scotch machine or to Booker’s, neither of which had ever been seen by Mr: Martin, when he invented his....
30To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 15 August 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
Some time past, I inclosed you the pamphlet you wrote for—accepted of your commission to procure the drill plow—and requested to know to whom at Richmond I should forward it. The plow has been ready for some time and delayed for want of an answer. Concluding at length, that my letter, or your reply has failed, I have forwarded it herewith to the care of Mr: John Harvie at Richmond, and...