1Notice concerning Legal Fees, 20 May 1773 (Jefferson Papers)
ON serious Consideration of the present State of our Practice in the General Court, we find it can no longer be continued on the same Terms. The Fees allowed by Law , if regularly paid, would barely compensate our incessant Labours, reimburse our Expenses, and the Losses incurred by Neglect of our private Affairs; yet even these Rewards, confessedly moderate, are withheld from us, in a great...
2From Thomas Jefferson to the President of the Virginia Convention, 11 July 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
The continued sitting of Congress prevents us from attending our colony Convention: but, directed by a sense of duty, we transmit to the Convention such determinations of the Congress as they have directed to be made public. The papers speak for themselves, and require no comment from us. A petition to the king is already sent away, earnestly entreating the royal interposition to prevent the...
3Virginia and Pennsylvania Delegates in Congress to the Inhabitants West of Laurel Hill, 25 July 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
It gives us much concern to find that disturbances have arisen and still continue among you concerning the boundaries of our colonies. In the character in which we now address you, it is unnecessary to enquire into the origin of those unhappy disputes, and it would be improper for us to express our approbation or censure on either side: But as representatives of two of the colonies united,...
4From the Virginia Delegates in Congress to George Washington, 26 July 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
With the most cordial warmth we recommend our Countryman Mr. Edmund Randolph to your patronage and favor. This young Gentlemans abilities, natural and acquired, his extensive connections, and above all, his desire to serve his Country in this arduous struggle, are circumstances that cannot fail to gain him your countenance and protection. You will readily discern Sir, how important a...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Henry, [16 July 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from the President was directed before he knew of your being invested with the office of Governor: you will therefore please to open it. After congratulating you on your appointment and hoping every thing favourable from our new institutions I subscribe myself Dr. Sir Your very humble servt., RC (The Rosenbach Co., Philadelphia, 1946). Endorsed: “Virginia Delegates July 16....
6From Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Henry, 27 March 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
A report prevailing here that in consequence of some powers from Congress the Governor and council have it in contemplation to remove the Convention troops either wholly or in part from their present situation, I take the liberty of troubling you with some observations on that subject. The reputation and interests of our country in general may be affected by such a measure. It would therefore...
7From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Virginia, 9 February 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honour of acknowleging the receipt of your Excellency’s letter of Nov. 12. inclosing a bill of exchange of W. Alexander & co. on Mess. Laval and Wilfelsheim for 8957₶-11 Tournois, as also a duplicate of the same letter with the second of Exchange. These came to hand the 26th. of January. I called on Mr. Laval the 28th. presenting the bill. He said he had no advice of it. I...
8From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Virginia, 15 April 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of informing your excellency in my letter of Feb. 3 that I had received and presented Mr. Alexander’s bill on Laval & Wilfelsheim; that they had refused to pay it; that I had had it protested, but on their saying they would then accept, I had sent it to them again, but received no answer, when I was obliged to send off my letter. They returned it to me accepted, paiable in...
9From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Virginia, 12 May 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that at length Messrs. Laval & Wilfelsheim have paid the bill of exchange remitted. It will enable me to furnish Monsr. Houdon for his voiage to Virginia when he shall be sufficiently reestablished in his health to undertake it. Dr Franklin proposing to return either the next month or the month following, I think it probable that Houdon will accompany him. I have...
10From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Virginia, with Enclosure, 16 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of receiving the day before yesterday the resolution of council of Mar. 10. and your letter of Mar. 30. and shall with great pleasure unite my endeavours with those of the M. de la Fayette and Mr. Barclay for the purpose of procuring the arms desired. Nothing can be more wise than this determination to arm our people as it is impossible to say when our neighbors may think...
11From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Virginia, 11 July [1785] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Houdon’s long and desperate illness has retarded till now his departure for Virginia. We had hoped from our first conversations with him that it would be easy to make our terms, and that the cost of the statue and expence of sending him would be but about a thousand guineas. But when we came to settle this precisely, he thought himself obliged to ask vastly more. Insomuch that at one...
12From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Virginia, with an Account of Expenses, 22 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I was honoured yesterday with your Excellency’s letter of June the 16th. inclosing the resolution of Assembly relative to the busts of the M. de la Fayette. I shall render chearfully any services I can in aid of Mr. Barclay for carrying this resolution into effect. The M. de la Fayette being to pass into Germany and Prussia it was thought proper to take the model of his bust in plaister before...
13From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Virginia, 28 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The house of LaVal & Wilfelsheim have lately protested Mr. Morris’s bills. I should not venture to say they have stopped paiment altogether; but it is something so like that that those who have bills on them may count on their being protested. They stopped their paiments on Saturday last. Their creditors are endeavoring to boulster up LaVal, but I doubt whether American demands will receive...
14From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Virginia, 24 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellency’s two letters of Sep. 10th. and that of Octob. 14. 1785 . The former were brought me by Mr. Houdon, who is returned with the necessary moulds and measures for General Washington’s statue. I fear the expences of his journey have been considerably increased by the unlucky accident of his tools, materials, clothes, &c., not arriving at Havre in time to go...
15Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Patrick Henry, [before 12 April 1812] (Jefferson Papers)
My acquaintance with mr Henry commenced in the winter of 1759–60. on my way to the college I passed the Christmas holidays at Col o Dandridge’s in Hanover , to whom mr Henry was a near neighbor. during the festivity of the season I met him in society every day, and we became well acquainted, altho’ I was much his junior, being then in my 17 th year, & he a married man. the spring following he...
16Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Henry (of Rockbridge County), 10 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved no answer from D r Thornton to my offers to let him off of the lease of the Bridge , I consider the lease as continuing. I pray you therefore to do nothing with any of his works in consequence of my conversations with you while I expected he would give up the lease and to consider those works as still at his sole command. I shall certainly be with you in autumn to get my lines...
17Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Henry (of Rockbridge County), [22] October 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I should long ago have been at the Natural bridg e to have my lines there ascertained, but that during the years 19. and 20. I was in a state of low health which rendered it impossible. I am now as well as usual, altho not absolutely well. but if no change occurs I shall try to go to the bridge . I shall set out for Albemarle in 3 days; where however I shall stay not more than a week and...