1From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 22 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of May 28. inclosing those you had been so kind as to bring for me from America, as I had before been with a note informing me that such letters were in your possession. We had hoped you might have taken your passage in the French packet which might have given us the pleasure of seeing you here. Your arrival however in London was so well timed with respect...
2To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 23 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I was so exceedingly hurried the few Days that I remained in London after the receipt of your polite Letter (preparing for this excurtion, to the Prussian Camp) that it was not in my power to assure you how much I thought myself honoured by your attention, and of my determination to avail myself of the opertunity of establishing a Corespondence where the returns would be so evidently in my...
3To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 21 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your goodness will doubtless attribute my silence to a necessary attention to the duties of office, which since my arrival, have been neither few nor small . I was at a loss when I took my leave for Expressions to convey to you a proper Idea of the impression which your politeness and Hospitality had made on my mind, and now I can only thank and assure you, that while gratitude is considered a...
4To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 13 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Some day’s after my return, I did myself the honor of writing to your Excellency; and after attempting in a few Lines to express the obligation I felt myself under to you, while at Paris, I touched on the political stage, hinted at Mr. Eden, and left the papers which accompanied it, to satisfy you more fully on the subject. I also mentioned the application made by the ministry to a Committee...
MS not found. Printed from facsimile in WSS ’s hand in Magazine of American History, with Notes and Queries , [1879], 3:44–45; addressed: “His Excellency John Adams, &c., &c., &c., corner Brooks Street, Grosvenor Square.” The signatures were written in a circle and attached on a separate foldout page. The address was provided only in the Magazine article’s text. Published as “A Diplomatic...
6To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 28 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
John left yours of yesterday’s date with the order for 8 Guineas at my house this morning. I have not seen him and it shall be paid in the morning. I am apprehensive your calculations may yet fall short, should this wind continue in its station. Supposing it to have been impossible for you to have passed this morning, I dispatch this, to request you will draw on me for what you want, and I...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 4 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The morning after John left me at Dover, that is to say, on Friday, the wind became so favourable as to place me at Calais in three hours. At the moment therefore of your writing your friendly letter, to wit at a quarter before four of that day, I was on the road between Calais and St. Omer and I reached Paris in 48 hours from Calais. Whenever you come again to Paris come by the way of St....
8From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 17 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur de Tronchin, minister for the republic of Geneva at this court, having a son at this time in London, I take the liberty of introducing him to your acquaintance. A respect for the father induces me to this liberty, together with an assurance that the son merits it. He is young and may need a monitor, who, with the gay, may mix the serious, when it becomes necessary to keep him out of...
9To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 21 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I was much pleased by the receipt of yours of the 4th. inst. to find you had arrived safe at Paris, and that the rout you took proved so agreable, as to induce you to recommend it to me, when I visit Paris. If that should ever happen again, St. Omar’s and Arras shall be visited, not only on account of your recommendation, but to indulge my natural disposition which sometimes throws me out of...
10To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 21 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In a Letter which I wrote your Excellency this morning, I mention forwarding by Mr. Smith your press, but it is not in his power to take it. I shall send it by the first Gentleman who will not be much incommoded by it. Perhaps Mr. Trumbull or Dr. Bancroft will have the pleasure of presenting it. This delay will enable me to have a board made to fit it, in which tho’ no great ingenuity is...
11From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 4 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Having found an opportunity of furnishing myself with a horse here, I notify it to you according to what we had agreed on, to prevent you the trouble of getting me one in England. No news to give you but of the decision of the celebrated cause. La Villette banished. Madame la Motte condemned to be branded and whipped and to remain in a hospital all her life. But it is said the branding and...
12To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 12 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 4th. inst. and am glad you have found a horse that will suit you. I am pleased that the affairs of the Cardinal and Cagliostro are so well terminated. I suppose by this time the whole affair is sunk beneath the horizon of notice. May not something be soon expected to command the public attention in a more serious and important line? What is the News from Potsdam? I...
13From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 16 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the receipt of your favor of May 21. I have been in daily expectation of receiving from you a particular state of the cost of my press &c. Mr. Paradise wrote me that it was about five guineas, but I knew there would still be some additions. The moment you will be so good as to favor me with this information I will remit you a bill for that and the eight guineas I formerly took the...
14To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 5 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 16th. Ulto. When I sent the press I gave the Gentleman who carried it a Letter for you of the 21st. of May which you do not acknowledge the receipt of, or at least but one of that date. It contained the ammount of what I gave for the press, which was 5 Guineas and 5/ for the Box = £5.10. The press shall be sent agreable to your request. I am called off, and have...
15From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 9 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 16th. of June. Since that your favors of May 21. 21. and June 12. have come to hand. The accounts of the K. of Prussia are such that we may expect his exit soon. He is like the snuff of a candle; sometimes seeming to be out; then blazing up again for a moment. It is thought that his death will not be followed by any immediate disturbance of the public tranquillity; that...
16To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 18 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreable to your request I have been to Woodmason’s as I informed you in my last. He was to have sent the press to Mr. Garvey at Rouen, and in addition to the mode of obtaining payment suggested by you I have told him if it would be more convenient I would pay his Bill immediately after you had acknowledged the receipt of the press. This seemed to suit him best. The Letters which you requested...
17From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, [10] August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
An opportunity will offer by Mr. Bullfinch of acknowleging the receipt of your favours of July 5. and 18. and as I mean by the same hand to write my American letters, the number of these obliges me to abridge with you. I therefore make this previous declaration that there shall be neither prayer nor compliment in this letter, nothing but a simple tho’ sincere proffer of respect to Madame,...
18To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 23 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I replyed fully to yours of the 9th. Ulto. on the 18th. of the same sinee which I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you. Mr. Dilley informs me the Books are shiped agreable to the inclosed Bill of Lading accompanied with the account ammounting to £25/14.0 sterg. I have also the honor of forwarding a Copy of a Letter received this morning from Mr. Barclay at Morocco of the 26th. of...
19To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 1 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of forwarding to your Excellency a Copy of a Letter I received this day from Mr. Barclay at Morrocco dated the 16th. of July ulto. I have sent a Copy to Mr. Jay and shall forward a duplicate by the next Vessel. I am your Excellency’s most Obedt. Humble Servt., RC ( MHi ): postmarked; addressed. Noted in SJL as received 23 Sep. 1786. Enclosure: Barclay to Commissioners, 16 July...
20From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 13 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 9th. of August and since that have received yours of Aug. 23. I have not yet heard of Mr. Adams’s return to London, nor when that may be expected if it has not already taken place. I have nothing public and proper for the post. A letter from Mr. Barclay dated at Mogadore in July shews he was on his return. I impatiently wait an answer from Mr. Adams as...
21To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 18 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have only time to enclose your Excellency a Copy of a Letter received yesterday from Mr. Barclay, and to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 9th. Ulto. by Mr. Bullfinch. The maps, occasioned by Mr. B’s excurtion in the country after his arrival, did not reach me untill the 6th. inst. Mr. Neele took them in hand on the 7th. and will finish the plate within the period mentioned and...
22To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 22 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you on the 18th. inst. in answer to your favor of the 9th. of August, since which I have received yours of the 13th. inst. Mr. A. returned here on the 7th. or 8th. He took up the subject on which you impatiently wait an answer on his arrival, a short letter on which, you must have received before this. However he is still thinking on it, and you will hear more...
23From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 23 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Being desired by a friend to procure him a copying press I take the liberty of putting the inclosed under cover to you and of requesting you to pay for it and have it sent as therein desired. I wish it may be in time to come with the other articles that it may not multiply my applications for passports. Be so good as to let me know whether Mr. Tessier has any hesitations about going beyond the...
24To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 1 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received yours of the 23d. ulto. The first printing press has been forwarded some time. Mr. Woodmason is disposed to consider himself free’d from every obligation respecting the safe conveyance of his machine to Paris. He looks upon himself acquitted on presenting the Bill of lading, and receipt of the Captain. Upon this principle, the one is forwarded and payed for. I hope no...
25To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 4 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Adams wrote you on the 11th. ulto. by post, accompanied with an Answer to Mr. Lamb signed, the receipt of which is not yet acknowledged. I immagine he is waiting for your answer to that before he decides on the subject.—The business of the Secretary has been long done, but whether it will be made use of I cannot yet discover. I am Sir your Excellency’s most obedt Humble servt., RC ( MHi );...
26From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 22 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
How the right hand became disabled would be a long story for the left to tell. It was by one of those follies from which good cannot come, but ill may. As yet I have no use of that hand, and as the other is an awkward scribe, I must be sententious and not waste words. Yours of Sep. 18 and 22. and Oct. 1. and 4. have been duly received, as have been also the books from Lackington and Stockdale,...
27To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 11 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed is Mr. Jones’s answer to your Question. I have given to Mr. Stockdale 4 Vols. of Pope’s Iliad and Odysey, which were not ready in time for the last parcel. They will accompany those last ordered from Stocke . The Compendio del Vocabolerio degli Accademici della Crusca for Mr. Short at 13/6 and Cicero on old age, I think for you, price ⅙.—I forward Lackingtons list of the books sent...
28To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 28 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 28 Nov. 1786. Requests that TJ obtain letters of introduction from his friends in Paris for James and Nathaniel Hayward, of Charleston, S.C., who expect to reside for some time in Dijon in order to acquire a knowledge of the language; has made the same request of Lafayette. They are “young Gentlemen of Character and Fortune” who will “do honour to your Introduction”; if they go to...
29To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 5 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed are the Copies of the Letters which you requested in one of yours. I have no tolerable excuse to offer for not sending them before and I cannot yet tell a——without a qualm of conscience. Mrs. Smith I suppose is disposed to open a Corespondence, as she requests me to forward a note addressed to you. I am too Gallant a H——d to enquire of the contents, as it is sealed. I also send those...
30From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 20 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
‘Not having any letters on my file unanswered, I shall not trouble you further.’—Is this you?— Did you count 10 . distinctly between the origin of that thought, and the committing it to paper? How could you, my dear Sir, add reproach to misfortune with a poor cripple who but now begins to use his pen, a little, and that with so much pain that it is real martyrdom? However I believe I am even...