31Thomas Jefferson to John F. Oliveira Fernandes, 8 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have read with pleasure and edification the pamphlet and documents you were so kind as to send me. the attempt seems really extraordinary, in this age and country, to sieze on private and voluntary funds under spiritual authority. and it is a novelty in any country to impose a teacher against the will of the employers. I have always supposed it as a principle of every church that endowment...
32Thomas Jefferson to John H. Peyton, 8 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have built, as you perhaps know, very expensive manufacturing and grist mills on the Rivanna river , near this place, the canal to which alone has cost me 20,000. Dollars. the Rivanna company claim a right to use this canal for navigation, independently of my permission, and of the regulations necessary to prevent obstruction to the operation of my mills. this obliges me to bring a suit in...
33Thomas Jefferson to Josephus B. Stuart, 8 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 26. reached me two days ago, and I am glad to see that our merchants, as well as our rulers, are at length looking to principles of navigation which, as Secretary of state, I submitted to them in a Report of Dec. 1793 .— the crew of the Armstrong have also my sincere prayers for indemnification either thro’ our government or from it: for a more gallant conduct than theirs...
34Thomas Jefferson to John L. Sullivan, 8 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 17. is just now recieved. I readily see how desirable it is that the steam-boat, hitherto confined to ti de waters, should extend it’s benefits to the river navigation of the upper country; and I shall with pleasure communicate the prospect of it which the letter you have favored me with gives, to the circle of society around me. but, dear Sir, this is small; I am grown old,...
35Thomas Jefferson to William A. Burwell, 6 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 22. came to hand last night, with the papers of mr Graham inclosed. of all mechanical machines existing, the steam engine is that which I have the least studied. the principle we all understand; and the structure of the original one I understood when at College. but have never since paid the least attention to the multiplied improvements which have changed nearly every thing...
36Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 6 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I am infinitely obliged by the kind offer of the sum mentioned in your letter, and any further one you will be able to spare: an award is given against me for between 7. & 800.D. for rent to the Hendersons , to be paid instantly. I have also to pay 1600.D. more for the 3. shares of the daughters. this, with purchase of corn, and two years failure of crops embarrasses me beyond my expectations....
37Thomas Jefferson’s Statement of His Taxable Property in Albemarle County, 1 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
A list of taxable property of the subscriber in Albemarle Feb. 1. 1817. 5. white tythes . 79. slaves of 16. years old & upwards 9. d o of 12. years old & not 16. 31. horses and mules. 1. gigg 1. 4-wheeled carriage (a Landau) MS ( MHi ); written entirely in TJ’s hand on verso of portion of a reused address cover from Joseph C. Cabell
38Thomas Jefferson: Analysis of Weather Memorandum Book, January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
1817. January. Having been stationary at home since Mar. 1809. with opportunity and leisure to keep a meteorological diary, with a good degree of exactness, this has been done: and, extracting from it a term of seven years compleat, to wit from Jan. 1. 1810. to Dec. 31. 1816. I proceed to analyse it in the various ways, and to deduce the general results which are of principal effect in the...
39Thomas Jefferson to Charles Thomson, 29 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I learnt from your last letter , with much affliction, the severe and singular attack your health has lately sustained; but it’s equally singular and sudden restoration confirms my confidence in the strength of your constitution of body and mind, and my conclusion that neither has recieved hurt, and that you are still ours for a long time to come. we have both much to be thankful for in the...
40Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 28 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you the power of Attorney which I am in hopes fulfills all the forms of the treasury & will enable us I hope to compleat this transfer for our friend . ever & affect ly PoC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “M r Barnes”; endorsed by TJ. Enclosures: enclosure to TJ to Barnes, 31 Dec. 1816 , and possibly also first enclosure to TJ to Barnes, 15 Dec. 1816 . our friend :
41Thomas Jefferson to James Eastburn, 28 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
The republication of the antient and valuable works now out of print, will certainly be an useful undertaking. but it is time for me to withdraw from my attention from all long-winded enterprises. they belong to the generation which is to carry them through, as little would I presume to prescribe to them the proper objects of their attention. these books have by their worth established their...
42Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Milligan, 27 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I n am in the daily hope of recieving new proof sheets and the particular wish that we may go thro’ the work before April, because I shall then go to Bedford and be absent a month. I do not know how our account stands; I mean independantly of the 60.D. for the translation; for I do not wish that reimbursement until you have made it by the sale of the book. if you will send me my account,...
43Thomas Jefferson to Peter Derieux, 26 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return from Bedford I found here such a mass of letters and other business accumulated during my absence, that this is the first moment it has been in my power to turn to mr Mazzei’ s will . this occupies 4. sheets of paper, in a difficult hand. it is beyond my leisure to copy entirely, nor is their there any one else in the neighborhood who could understand and decypher it. after some...
44Thomas Jefferson to Peter S. Du Ponceau, 26 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I promised you in my letter of Jan. 22. 16. to make enquiry on the subject of the MS. journal of the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina , run in 1728. of which you have a defective transcript. I have since been able to obtain the original for perusal, and now have it in my possession. I call it original , because it is that which has been preserved in the Westover family, having...
45Thomas Jefferson to William Sampson, 26 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have read with great satisfaction the eloquent pamphlet you were so kind as to send me , and sympathise with every line of it. I was once a doubter Whether the labor of the Cultivator, aided by the creative powers of the earth itself, would not produce more value than that of the manufacturer, alone and unassisted by the dead subject on which he acted? in other words, Whether the more we...
46Thomas Jefferson to Jerman Baker, 25 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13 th was recieved by our last mail. Francis is now here engaged in learning Spanish. I thought he could not employ the winter better. but he has lost much of it at home. I think in a couple of months he may make such progress as that he will be able afterwards to pursue it by himself. I would then rather have him with mr Wood than any other teacher I know, but would much...
47Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 24 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sincerely concerned and mortified at the failure of the remittance I had supposed made to you as long ago as March last. I received an account signed ‘ John B. Smyth for W m Duane’ in Feb. consisting of 2 articles to wit the translation 60.D. a year’s subscription for the Aurora to become due May 1 st 16. and on the 18 th of Mar. I desired my correspondents Gibson & Jefferson of Richmond...
48Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas G. Dufief, 24 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved the Connoissance des tems for 1817. & 1818. two copies *I find on reexamn that it is a single copy of Blunt for each of the years 1817.18. that I have rec d of Blunt ’s Nautical almanac for 1817. and Graglia ’s Italian dictionary. I presume Blunt has not yet published his Almanac for 1818. At the time I recieved your favor of Dec. 16. my account with mess
49Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 24 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Francis arrived here in good health the day before Yesterday. I think he cannot do better than to take this occasion of learning Spanish, because it is a language rarely taught in this country, and will be of great importance within his day. it is that too in which all the early history of America is written. I suppose he may acquire so much of it in 2. or 3. months as to pursue it easily...
50Thomas Jefferson to Dabney Minor and Peter Minor, 24 January [1817] (Jefferson Papers)
On the subject of the rents claimed from me by the representatives of Bennet Henderson , my grandson desires me to put into your hands what information I have as to the rents for what are called the lower and upper field. I had given him a statement of those recieved from after 1807. when returning home to live I had taken the business into my own hands, and for the period before that while...
51Thomas Jefferson to James Barbour, 19 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9 th is recieved by our last mail. I have been very long and intimately acquainted with Col o Trumbull , have had the best opportunities of knowing him thoroughly, and can therefore bear witness of my own knolege to his high degree of worth as a man. for his merit as a painter I can quote higher authorities, and assure you that on the continent of Europe , when I was there,...
52Thomas Jefferson to Thomas T. Barr, 19 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very sensible of the honor done me by the Kentucky Agricultural society , in appointing me one of their honorary members . distance will be one great obstacle to my being of use to them; but a much greater and growing one will be the increasing torpor of age, now sensibly felt in body and mind. should any occasion arise however in which I can serve their institution, I shall do it with...
53Thomas Jefferson to David Hosack, 19 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, Sir, for the books you have been so kind as to send me. they will afford me amusement as well as instruction. from a general view I have taken of Thomas’s work , it appears, with your aid, to be valuable for family use. without science in Medecine, I am yet fond of it’s philosophical speculations. with these I observe your Medical Register mingles disquisitions in all it’s kindred...
54Thomas Jefferson to Hezekiah Niles, 19 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Accept my thanks for the specimen you have been so kind as to send me of the new preparation of mucilaginous substances for clarifying liquors. it is in the neatness of the manner of preparation, and equality of distribution on catgut, I suppose, that what there is of invention in it consists; as the clarifying powers of the mucilages, animal and vegetable, have been always known. I am sorry...
55Thomas Jefferson to William Lee, 16 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved three days ago a letter from M. Martin 2 d Vice-president am and M. Parmantier Secretary of ‘the French agricultural & manufacturing society’ dated at Philadelphia the 5 th instant: it covered Resolutions proposing to apply to Congress
56Thomas Jefferson to James Ligon (for Patrick Gibson), 15 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Understanding that mr Gibson is too unwell to attend to business, I take the liberty of addressing to yourself directly a request of my account from the last period to which it was rendered (Sep. 1 st ) to the end of the year, that I may make my arrangements accordingly. in my letter of Dec. 28. I mentioned that a purchase of corn would require me to draw about this time for between 500. &...
57Thomas Jefferson to Lancelot Minor, 14 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 25. came during an absence of 2. months in Bedford ; that of the 6 th inst. was recieved on the 10 th In my letter of Jan. 17 th of the last year I promised that in the spring of the present I would pay out of my own resources the debt to Col o Callis ’s estate . this shall assuredly be done as soon as my crop of flour is sold; which however I do not expect will take place...
58Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Thweatt, 14 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Our last mail brought me your favor of the 5 th and I hasten to answer by it’s first return. Jefferson Randolph is y not yet returned, so that I am without the benefit of any information thro’ him I inclose you a survey of the roads in question made by the county surveyor for the use of the court on the question of these roads; so I must beseech you to return it to me safely, and as soon as...
59To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 11 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
Forty three volumes read in one year, and 12. of them quartos! dear Sir, how I envy you! half a dozen 8vos. in that space of time are as much as I am allowed. I can read by candlelight only, and stealing long hours from my rest; nor would that time be allowed me indulged to me, could I, by that light, see to write from sun-rise to one or two oclock, and often from dinner to dark, I am drudging...
60From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Smith Adams, 11 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
I owe you, dear Madam, a thousand thanks for the letters communicated in your favor of Dec. 15. and now returned. they give me more information than I possessed before of the family of mr Tracy. but what is infinitely interesting is the scene of the exchange of Louis XVIII. for Bonaparte. what lessons of wisdom mr Adams must have read in that short space of time! more than fall to the lot of...