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...
31To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 12 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of June the 22d. only reached me this day; being directed “near the Bowling Green” it has slept in that post office; for I now live 17 miles from it, near Port Royal. Immediately on receiving your first letter, I applied to Mr. Martin to make a drill for you, and my instances have been often repeated. His inclination to comply was strong and he promised it. The difficulty was to...
32To Benjamin Franklin from John Taylor, 1 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The great friendship you have ever shewn me, produces a liberty which I trust you will forgive, as the subject is a matter of the utmost importance to me, and my family— I see in Freemans Philada. Journal of the 27th. february 1782 among the names of those who have forfeited their Estates, two John Taylors , and as I have not heard from my Agent Wm. West...
33To Benjamin Franklin from John Taylor, 2 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I find myself under very great difficulty how to address you on a matter of private concern, when your time is so much taken up with public business but presuming on the many former instances of kindness you have shewn me, I hope to meet your forgiveness, if I act improperly by requesting your opinion on an affair of great moment to myself & large family....
34To John Adams from John Taylor, 10 February 1815 (Adams Papers)
I drop you a line to apprise you of an error in numbering your letters. Numbers 23 & 25 have been received, but no number 24.—25 is evidently the successor of 23, and ought to have been numbered 24. These letters give me great pleasure, and if I live, shall be candidly considered. They contain many observations, in which we differ and agree. They are all read under the influence of a wish to...
35To James Madison from John Taylor, 16 November 1796 (Madison Papers)
Governor Brooke is this day elected the attorney for the commonwealth in place of Mr: Innes, and several of us have turned our Eyes with much anxiety towards you as his successor. Our hopes that you will accept of the government are sanguine, in consequence of information, that you purpose to discontinue your seat in congress, after the next session. It is probable that there will be no...
36To George Washington from John Taylor, 14 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
IN the spirit of truth, and not of adulation, does the following performance solicit your attention. Nor is its hope of acquiring some share of your countenance diminished, by the circumstance of your not having in an official character withheld your signature, from several of the measures investigated. A responsibility in the chief magistrate, for the effects of every legislative act—an...
37To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 5 March 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
There is a spice of fanaticism in my nature upon two subjects—agriculture and republicanism, which all who set it in motion, are sure to suffer by. Tho’ there is no comfort, there is a warning in the confession, enabling you at this moment to escape from its effect. For I am about to go farther into the means which I have practised for the recovery of worn out lands, the experiments I have...
38To George Washington from Major John Taylor, 26 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose to your Excellency a Letter from Colo. Hazen to myself, by which you will see his anxiety to have his regiment with him on the canadian expedition, with which our own wishes warmly correspond. The greater part of our men are Canadians & New England-men, to whom this step would give new life, and who would act with redoubled vigor, besides their presence in canada...
39To James Madison from John Taylor, 10 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
Robert Baylor Carter, is the son of a person who was minister of the parish in which I formerly lived. There the father died, and there the son was born. I have known him from a child, and therefore can say positively, that he is a native of Virginia. This young friend of mine writes on the 4th. instant from Norfolk, that he was to sail the next morning for the Bay of Honduras, and he desires...
40To Thomas Jefferson from John Taylor, 5 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
It gives me great uneasyness that the Militia of this County By their riotous behavour have prevented my making a proper return to you. On the day appointed for the Draft they assembled in a Mob, and disarm’d the Officers as they came to the field, and took from me the papers relative to the draft which prevented my carrying it on. I had a Court Martial held according to Law, and many were...