1To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 23 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
When I determined to inclose for you the first fruits of my medical education, I was fully sensible of the superiority of that philosophic mind to which it was to be offered & consequently, of the greater certainty of the detection of my errors. In not confining it then, to a sphere, where the faint rays of respectability are eclipsed by the splendid appearance of great men, I was influenced...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Beale Ewell, 30 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the pamphlet you have been so kind as to send me, and shall read it with pleasure in the first leisure moment. how far a general work on chemistry is yet to be desired you are more able to judge than I am. but of the importance of turning a knolege of chemistry to houshold purposes I have been long satisfied. the common herd of philosophers seem to write only for one another....
3To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 10 September 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of the 30th ulto with which you honored me, came duly to hand. I submitted it to the perusal of my father. His heart swell’d with grateful feelings, on reading the generous mention you made of him—while your condescension served to encrease his exalted opinion of your worth, as well as to excite the warmest emotions of friendship. I will not pretend to convey my feelings on the...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 26 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
To be poor and dependant is dis–agreeable to every feeling mind; to make others acquainted with such circumstances is painful; and to be urged by pressing wants to communicate an account of them, to elevated characters on whom we have no claim for favor—is distressing in the extreme. But even this should be prefered to suffering in silence for want of employment. After anxiously appealing to...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Beale Ewell, 28 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the papers which were inclosed in yours of the 26th. and saw with pleasure the testimonials in your favor given by persons worthy of so high confidence. it is with regret I learn that you do not enter into business as speedily as your wishes & circumstances require; & with the greater regret as I do not see any thing within the pale of the government which can offer you aid...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 9 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Ewell takes the liberty to enclose for his Excellency Mr. Jefferson a copy of Dr. Hartshorne’s inaugural Essay. Should the President not be disposed to read the whole—between the 28th and last pages he will find those experiments related which shew how destructive the Oxygenated M. acid is to animals, and the consequent danger attendent on its use, as advised by the French chemists. MHi :...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 23 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Finding the prospect of procuring many subscribers to my work on chemistry, encreasing in a flattering degree, I shall send it, in a short time to the press. In pursuance with the custom of authors—I have determined to usher my performance into the world—under a dedication to an illustrious character. If the inclination of a private citizen can have a resemblance to the acts of an exalted...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Beale Ewell, 24 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I am thankful for the kind expressions towards myself contained in your letter of yesterday. it is to the honour of our countrymen that they exercise independantly their judgment for themselves, little influenced by a name. the intrinsic merit of your work will be it’s best patronage. the honorable place you propose for my name will be chiefly felt by myself as it will be the consolatory...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 1 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
After reflecting on that liberality which it is generally stated, often leads your excellency to encourage the honest endeavours of young men, and after adverting to the letter you honored me with on the 28th of last october in which you express a “ friendly disposition to aid me by any suitable appointment that might occur ” I cannot avoid believing that you will readily pardon me for again...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 5 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I last took the liberty to address you I received a certificate from Dr. Rush. The certificate I have sent to Mr. Smith; and here send for your consideration a true copy of it. With the highest respect I have the honor to be yr. ob. Servt. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
11To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 17 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Shortly after your Excellency left Washington, the Secretary of the navy informed me that I was appointed to supply the place of Doctr. Bullers at the Garrison. Since then he told me that in consequence of late intelligence received, Dr. Bullers would continue to hold the place he now occupies & that of course I could not be stationed in the city. Altho my expectations be thus disappointed, my...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 26 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my arrival in this place– I have been so much taken up with the discharge of pressing duties– that I could not as early as I wished, complete the reading of the works on chemistry published by order of the French government, which you were so obliging as to put in my hands. At any time that you may be desirous of having it returned– an order from you will be strictly obeyed; and this I...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 4 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
With this your Excellency will receive the work on chemistry by Mr. Adet—with which you were pleased to honor me. by entrusting it to my care & attention, while at Washington. There being scarcely any thing new in it—either in matter—or arrangement—I have altered a determination to translate & publish it in this country. Before next December a copy of “Plain discources on the chemical laws...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 13 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Several days since I returned by mail to your Excellency, Mr. Adets work,—stating that ere long I hoped to present a copy of my discourses on chemistry. These discourses being written, and more than one thousand subscribers being annexed to my lists, in consequence of your letter in my prospectus, it is incumbent on me to have them printed as early as possible. I delay the commencement only...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Beale Ewell, 15 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13th. is recieved. in the paper which your partiality for me proposes to prefix to your work I have ventured to make an alteration in the first paragraph because it contained an unnecessary & perhaps injurious reflection on foreign characters. Certainly it must be to every man the greatest of gratifications to enjoy the good opinion of his fellow citizens, & especially of the...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 28 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
My opinion of your goodness towards everyone, is such, that I cannot give way to the fear that you may be offended at my addressing you so frequently.—Indeed it is with unaffected diffidence I now offer for your consideration, the first pages of that work, of the plan of which you were pleased to approve. My feelings are common to those who engage in hazardous enterprises, on which they are to...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 9 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Were I not sensible that great men, like the authors of their existence, derive pleasure from befriending, relieving & raising the young to respectability and to usefulness,—it would have been with the strongist aversion, that I should ever have troubled you. But having obtruded myself upon your notice, and now feeling conscious, that I owe more to you, than I owe to any other man in...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 27 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson subscribed for 1 copy of Discourses on Chemistry $ 3: $ 3:
19To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 6 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
since I had the honor to converse with you, I have received intelligence of the intention of Doctr. Bullus to resign his appointment at the Navy Yard. No doubt you recollect the kindness with which last summer you determined that I should succeed to this office, on the Doctor’s resignation. In consequence of repeated assurances received from the Hon. Rt smith—that I should have the...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 19 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg good Sir, that you would not be displeased at my troubling you again—as my excuse is, nearly my all is at stake—and my hope is, I shall trouble you no more. Since the conversation with which you last favored me—I have been informed that without fail Doctr. Bullus, is to leave Washington in a short while. It is scarcely necessary to remind yr. Excellency, that the office the Doctor now...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 9 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctor Ewell offers his respects to the President: Having lately purchased a most valuable work of the Surgeon, of whose writings Mr. Jefferson has expressed favorable sentiments—he takes the liberty to send it for inspection. He does this the more readily, as the work is not only admitted to be the best of its kind, but contains (particularly the 2d. vol.) important doctrines—an acquaintance...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 15 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
No ruin hanging over me could make me again trouble you with a communication, if I alone was to feel the ruin. But my growing family will more keenly suffer; and it is this Good Sir urging me on to solicit the protection of a president—too just to sanction the undeserved disgrace of the lowest officer & too benevolent to withold his kind 2 from the man he had raised—’in the moments of...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Beale Ewell, 15 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I see with real concern the situation in which you are placed, and fear you do not form a true judgment of it yourself. you are charged by certain persons with improper acts. the Secretary of the Navy is in duty bound to have the charge investigated. you decline attending that investigation. the consequence will be that innocent things may be made appear otherwise, merely for want of...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 16 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter I have just been favored with, from you, is like all the treatment I have experienced at your hands—which has been uniformly kind and benevolent. To my very soul I am mortified at giving you so much trouble; and may eternal curses crush me, if I prove unprincipled & ungrateful. Indeed Mr. Jefferson my views of other characters become jaundiced—after seeing so much of that liberality...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 7 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose to the venerable & almost adored Patron of my youth the Copy of an oration the sentiments of which I hope he will be pleased with MHi .
26From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Beale Ewell, 13 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to D r Ewell for the copy of his eloquent oration of the 4 th of July last, which he has been so kind as to send him. he recognises in it the true spirit of 76. and rejoices always to see the ardor of those days still fostered in the bosoms of his f. c. and with his thanks he prays D r . E. to accept the assur es of his constant attamts and best wishes for his...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Beale Ewell, 12 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
From your report—I perceive that in the University you have had establish’d at Charlotte’s ville—it is intended to employ our Citizens to fill those offices not already given to foreigners. When my father died—which was before he educated me as he intended—he left an offspring numerous & dependent. At that time you caused my employment in the Navy; which afforded me a competency; but it not...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Beale Ewell, 5 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 12. was not rec d until the 25 th which must acc t for so much of the delay of my answer. there is no vacancy in our Univ y all the Professorships being filled, and we wait, to open it, the arrival only of three Professors embarked as we expect in Nov. from Lond. for Norfolk. the moment their arrival is known the day of opening the instn will be announced, among those daily...