1To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 10 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to your knowledge the bearer of this, Mr. Benjamin Rittenhouse. Mr. Rittenhouse is the brother of our late illustrious astronomer. He is a man of the most amiable character, and of pure, unsoiled republican principles. Permit me, Sir, to congratulate your country upon the great event which has just taken place. To you, I am persuaded, the event is of much less...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 9 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honour to introduce to your knowledge, one of our countrymen, Dr. John Watkins , a gentleman of much information, and of great merit. Dr. Watkins has just returned from Spain, and is on his way to the Missisipi, where he proposes to settle. In that part of North-America, he will have ample opportunities of collecting important materials for the natural history of the new world;...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 13 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am informed, that a Marine Hospital is about to be established, at the expence of the government of the United-States, in the city of New-Orleans. Should this be the case, permit to observe, that I think Mr. Oliver H. Spencer , a young man who has just completed his studies in our University , would be a very proper person to serve in the capacity of a physician to the institution. Mr....
4From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 29 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13th. came to hand on the 20th. instant only. I now inclose you, from the Secretary at war, a letter to Colo. Meigs our agent with the Cherokees, and one to yourself which may answer with those of any other nation you may chuse to visit. should you visit the Creeks, you will find them assembled in May and June and with them General Wilkinson, General Pickens and mr Hawkins...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 27 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to your knowledge, the bearer of this, Dr. Edward D. Smith , of Charleston, S. Carolina, who is now on his return to his native place. Dr. Smith is a young man of very uncommon merit, ardently attached to science, and not less so to the interests of republicanism. These circumstances have procured for him many friends in Pennsylvania. I could not deprive...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 27 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a copy of two discourses sent you by mr La Cepede through the hands of mr Paine, who delivered them with some sent me. what follows in this letter is strictly confidential. you know we have been many years wishing to have the Missouri explored, & whatever river, heading with that, runs into the Western ocean. Congress, in some secret proceedings, have yielded to a proposition I...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 27 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Some propositions having been made to the public on the subject of a natural bed of Sulphur in Genesee, we wished to obtain information respecting it. Capt Williamson tells me you passed some time in examining it, and I am sure therefore you can give me better information respecting it than any other person, & on which I shall more rely. I pray you therefore to do it without delay, as we are...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 30 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your letter , which I received this morning, I shall, with great pleasure and strict sincerity, communicate what I know respecting the Sulphur in Jenisseia. I visited this bed of sulphur, or, as it is called in the country, the “Sulphur-Springs,” in August, 1797. I observed a quantity of sulphur in and about the springs. The whole quantity might, perhaps, have amounted to a...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 28 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed to you by Mr. F. A. Humboldt. I am persuaded that I need not offer any apology for introducing to your knowledge and attentions, the explorer of South America, and one of the most intelligent and active philosophers of our times. We all regret that his stay among us is to be so short. With sentiments of the highest respect, I remain, Dear Sir, Your obedient and affectionate...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 20 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Dr. Barton & has this day put on board Capt Ellwood’s schooner bound for Philadelphia a small paper packet addressed to him, containing a copy of mr Volney’s Tableau des E.U. for Dr. Barton, & 2. others for Mr. John Mifflin and the late mr Bordley . Th:J. asks the favor of Dr. Barton to have these last delivered. they were recieved, with many...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 24 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I little expected, when I took the liberty, some years ago, of addressing you in behalf of one of my friends and relatives , that I should ever trouble you, by soliciting a place for myself . The very delicate state of my health, however, which renders it impossible for me to endure the most laborious parts of the medical profession, seems to urge the propriety of my looking to some business,...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 1 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I am, at this time, engaged in revising for the press, my Eulogium (lately delivered before the Philosophical Society) on the late Dr. Priestley. I am anxious to render the performance as perfect as I can; and am, therefore, in pursuit of other materials, than those I have, hitherto, made use of. It has occurred to me, that some of Dr. Priestley’s letters to you would, possibly, furnish some...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 14 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 1st. inst. has been longer unanswered than I could have wished. the correspondence between Dr. Priestly and myself was unfrequent & short. his fear of encroaching on my public duties deprived me of communications from him which would have been always welcome. I have examined all his letters to me since Mar. 1801. (those preceding being at Monticello) & find they do not...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 2 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Dunbar, during his excursion up the Washita, the last fall and winter, collected some dried specimens of plants which he has sent me in order to have them ascertained. I know I cannot dispose of them better than by transmitting them to you, with a request of the result of your investigation. he went as far as the hotsprings on that river, 500. miles up it. he found their temperature...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 21 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Doctr. Barton: when sending him the dried specimens of plants from mr Dunbar he omitted to send some moss which he had taken out of the hotsprings of the Washeta, in a temperature of 150.° in which he says are some of the animalculae, inhabitants of the moss. Th: J. having no microscope here has been unable to see them: but he commits them now...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 12 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
of the plants with which you have favoured me, No. 1. is a species of Dactylis. No. 2. Solidago glamerata of Bartram. No. 3.
17From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 13 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved information early last winter of mr Boudinot’s intention to retire from the Direction of the mint, and, as was then supposed, immediately, it became a matter of consideration with the administration who should be appointed to succeed him. it was thought that the duties of that office call for the best Mathematical talents which could be procured, as well on account of...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 17 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In the month of June, last, I did myself the honor to forward for your perusal, Mr. Pearson’s printed paper on a peculiar manure. If the paper be at Washington, I shall esteem it a favor if you will send it, under cover, to my Brother, Richard P. Barton, who resides near Winchester, in Virginia. He is a good farmer, and anxious to see the paper. Or, if more agreeable to you, it may be returned...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 21 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved from you a letter dated June 12. in which you were so kind as to give me the information I had asked respecting mr Dunbar’s specimens of plants, & you mentioned your preparing your Indian geography for the press, but there is no mention in that or any other letter recieved from you of any paper on the subject of manure, nor have I the slightest recollection of such an one. I have...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 22 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Under another cover I send you drawings & specimens of the seed, cotton, & leaf of the Cotton tree of the Western country, recieved from Genl. Wilkinson at St. Louis. to these I must add that it appears from the journals of Lewis & Clarke that the boughs of this tree are the sole food of the horses up the Missouri during winter. their horses having on a particular occasion gone through...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 27 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I am greatly obliged to you for the drawing and specimens, which you have forwarded to me. The Cotton-tree is, no doubt, the Populus deltoides of Bartram and Marshall. I am not certain that it is noticed in any of the systematic books on Botany. It seems, however, to have been known to Chaleroix, who mentions it (English translation) by the name of Cotton-tree. He even tells us, that it...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 11 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your letter of Dec. 27. I snatch a moment from incessant business & interruption to inform you that the Missouri & Missisipi chiefs will set out in a few days to go as far as New York & perhaps Boston, and consequently will give you an opportunity at Philadelphia of making all the enquiries you desire, & more satisfactorily by yourself than by another. There are 4. Little Osages,...
23To James Madison from Benjamin Smith Barton, 13 January 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Benjamin Smith Barton. 13 January 1806, Philadelphia. “I find, by the President’s letter to me, and by other information, that the Indians, now at Washington, are to leave that place, for Philadelphia, in a very few days. I am extremely anxious, upon their arrival here, to have as much of their company as possible , to extend the stock of my specimens of Indian languages. But it is...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 10 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of this note is Mr. J. C. Cabell, a young Virginian of uncommon merit, who has just returned from France, and other parts of Europe, where he has employed his time, to great advantage, in the cultivation of science, and in extending his attachments to his native country. I take the liberty of introducing him to your knowledge; and am, with, very high respect, dear Sir, Your obedient...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 7 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of transmitting to you a copy of the first 24 pages of my “Remarks on the Speech of Logan.” The remaining Sheets Shall be forwarded to you, in a few days. The work in which this little paper is to appear, is not yet published . I am, with Sentiments of the highest respect, Dear Sir, Your obedient & humble Servant, &c., DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
26From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 21 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The period preceding & during the session of Congress is so occupied by an accumulation of business that it has not been in my power to acknolege earlier the reciept of some sheets of your publication on the authenticity of Logan’s speech. I certainly do not know myself that it is authentic; that is, I did not hear Logan deliver it, but I had it from him who recieved it from Logan & translated...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 22 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have a grandson, the son of your old acquaintance mr Randolph, now about 15. years of age, in whose education I take a lively interest. his time has not hitherto been employed to the best advantage, a frequent change of tutors having prevented the steady pursuit of any one plan. whether he possesses that lively imagination, usually called genius, I have not had opportunities of knowing; but...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Smith Barton, 24 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
With much pleasure I give you, so far as I am able, the information which you require. The lectures on Botany having finished a few days since, after the usual continuance of something less than two months, there will be no lectures, in the University, on the different branches which you mention, until about the 3d or 6th of November, next. Of course, it will not be necessary that young Mr....
29From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 24 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much indebted to you for your kind favor of April 24. and have delayed acknoleging it until I could communicate it to mr Randolph & decide on the disposal of his son. it was much the wish of us both that he should have gone this autumn to Philadelphia, and it had been decided on. but mr Ogilvie his present tutor has been so earnest in his desires to keep him another year, that it has been...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 18 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night a Diploma from the Linnaean society of Philadelphia, doing me the honor of associating me to their body. I pray you to do me the favor of assuring the society of my sensibility for this mark of their notice and of my thanks. sincerely associated with the friends of science in spirit and inclination, I regret the constant occupations of a different kind which put out of my...
31From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 12 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by my grandson Th: Jefferson Randolph who goes on to take the benefit of your lectures in Natural history in the first instance, & of those of Anatomy & Surgery. it is proposed that the two former shall occupy his attention almost exclusively, his attendance on the lectures in Surgery being merely with a view to the situation of the head of a family in the country where...