1Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 6 March 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Ro Walsh J r has the honor to present to M r Jefferson the volume sent herewith , presuming that the scientific and literary intelligence which it Contains, may be of interest to one, who embraces so large a portion of human knowledge in the range of his enquiry. RC ( DLC ); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esq re ”; endorsed by TJ as received 15 Mar. 1817 and so...
2Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 23 March 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, kind Sir, for the favor of sending me a copy of the American Register of the present year. I had not before an opportunity of witnessing it’s merit. a first view of it’s matter and manner now assures me that I shall read it with interest and satisfaction. altho’ at my age little more is forgotten than newly learnt, yet I am still glad to know what is going forward in the literary...
3Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 15 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have requested the Bookseller to transmit at once by Post to M r Jefferson his Copy of the 2 d Vol: of the American Register & to Correct with a pen the errors of phrase which would have been avoided, if my position had allowed me to revise the proof-sheets more attentively. I trust that M r Jefferson will be pleased with my (too hasty) translation of M r de Marbois’ work. I have the honor...
4Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 21 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
When I mentioned to you the Dissertation of Professor Playfair on the progress of Mathematical and Physical Science, you expressed, I think, a wish to have the work. I therefore take the liberty of Sending it to you, and have no doubt but that it will give you particular pleasure, inasmuch as you have a strong relish for Mathematical Studies. In examining an invoice of Books Sent Me from...
5Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 9 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned a few days ago only from a long visit to my other home, the Poplar Forest . this must apologise for my long detention of your book. I have read it with great delight. Montucla is so voluminous that we can read him but once. but Playfair has brought into a small compass the leading facts in Mathematical history, and presented them so philosophically to our view, as that the memory...
6Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 27 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you sincerely for the letter with which you have honoured me. I did not intend that the Dissertation of Playfair Should be returned, as I possessed another copy; but I am heartily glad, at all events, that I have been the means of contributing to your amusement. The Professor himself would attach no Small importance to the opinion which you have pronounced on his work, and I rejoice in...
7Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 19 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 27. was duly recieved, and I now inclose you Tracy ’s tract on the certainty of the operations of the human understanding. he rests them on our sensations, of which we are very certain, and on this basis erects demonstrations irresistably cogent, I think, against Scepticism, a disease of the mind so uncomfortable that it is charity to exhibit it’s cure, if there exists one....
8Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your acceptable letter of the 19 th Ulto : and the tract of M r Tracy were received in due season. Owing to the attention which I found myself impelled by curiosity to give to the debates of Congress and the arguments of the Supreme Court , I did not find get leisure to Cast my eye over the work of Tracy , until yesterday.
9Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 20 April 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
As there is now no likelihood of the resurrection of the American Register, & as I am about to return with my family to Philadelphia , I think it proper to restore to you at once the valuable manuscript of M r de Tracy . It certainly deserves to be well translated, & published among us; but I doubt the sale would defray the expence of printing. The taste for Such profound speculations is...
10Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 6 July 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Not being able to resist my itch for scribbling, I have undertaken, in concert with Judge Cooper and a gentleman of New York , to contribute to a magazine of which I take the liberty of sending you two Numbers . The first article of each is of my doing , and the “Reflections on the Institutions of the Cherokees” are from the pen of M r F. Gilmer so well known, and so piously attached, to you....
11Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 20 July 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return from Poplar Forest the day before yesterday I found here your favor of the 6 th with the two N os of the Analectic magazine, for which I thank you. on learning that yourself and judge Cooper were to contribute to that work, I had determined to become a subscriber, and knowing of no one in this state who is authorised to recieve subscriptions to it, I will avail myself of this...
12Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 1 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you another N o of the Analectic magazine ;—not, however, as to a subscriber. It was by no means my intention to subject you to a double tax. That of even looking thro’ such light matter is enough, and, perhaps, the more onerous of the two in your estimation. I have no pecuniary interest in the circulation of this journal. There is no branch of “internal improvement” in which I feel so...
13Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 8 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
We heard in this city, a few weeks ago, that you were painfully indisposed; and I believe there was no one to whom this information gave more chagrin than to my self. I consider the prolongation of your vigor and life as devoutly to be wished not only on account of your personal merits, and past services to the country, but with a view to the great good which you may still effect. Not being...
14Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 4 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the Nov. 8. has been some time recieved; but it it is in my power to give little satisfaction as to it’s enquiries. D r Franklin had many political enemies, as every character must which, with decision enough to have opinions, has energy & talent to give them effect on the feelings of the adversary opinion. these enmities were chiefly in Pensylvania & Massachusets . in the former they...
15Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 24 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return, a few days ago, from a visit to Washington , I found here your obliging & very interesting letter of the 4 th ins t concerning D r Franklin . I am the more grateful for the opinions and anecdotes you have Communicated, as I know how you are oppressed by the extent of your correspondence. What you have said as to Franklin ’s share in the Preliminaries, and to his relations with...
16Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 25 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I send the Analectic Magazine for the present month. Circumstances have induced me to decline any further Co-operation in that journal, but Judge Cooper will still continue to supply it with an article from time to time. He has written for it a critique on De Tracy’s Political Economy. I do not know what representation he has made of the book, or whether his studies have been of such a nature...
17Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 11 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
This is merely to advise you that I have sent of f your Grimm well packed in a secure box to Richmond directed to yourself in Philadelphia , to the care of Capt n Peyton in Richmond . the vessels constantly sailed sailing from thence to
18Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 6 February 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Continual ill health for 18. months past has nearly ended the business of letter-writing with me. I cannot however but make an effort to thank you for your vindicae vindiciae Americanæ against Gr. Britain . the malevolence and impertinence of her critics & writers really called for the rod, and I rejoiced when I heard it was in hands so able to wield it with strength and correctness. your work...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 10 December 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I venture to intrude to the extent of a single page on your kind attention. The place of Civil Engineer to the Board of Public Works of Virginia is vacant; and Major S. H. Long, resident in this city and belonging to the United States corps of Topographical engineers, is a candidate for that place. I know that Major Long is held to be eminently qualified for it, by the gentlemen of this city...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 21 December 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10 th is just now rec d having loitered by the way, and I shall with pleasure second your wishes with our board of public works for the appm t of your friend to the office of civil engineer. our Governor, who is it’s President , was chosen a few days ago while at Congress of which he was a member and I have not yet heard of his arrival in Richm d but, by our first mail 3....
21To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 18 March 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of recommending to your attention, the Prospectus sent herewith. My object in addressing it to you is to induce you either to furnish me with the dates & principal incidents appertaining to your career, or to indicate to me where they may be found recorded with accuracy. I need not say that I wish to be exact & full, in noting the services which you rendered to your...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 5 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Mar. 18. has been duly recieved. I have had several applications, within a few years past, from different persons, to furnish them with materials for writing my life, and have uniformly declined it on the ground of the decay of my memory, the decline of the powers of body & mind, the heaviness of age, and the crippled state of both my hands, which renders writing the most painful...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 14 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
You must not suppose, on seeing my handwriting that I mean to importune you. I would not consent that you should suffer any inconvenience like that to which you refer. The remainder of your brilliant and valuable life ought to be exempt from whatever is irksome, and arduous for the bodily powers. I trust and fervently hope that it will prove more considerable and easy than you seem to expect....
24To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 27 July 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Patterson, President of the A. P. S. communicated to me, a few days ago, a letter from you to him touching the communication of literary & scientific intelligence to M. Julien at Paris. The subject was referred to me as Corres: Sec: of the Society and your recommendation alone would be sufficient to obtain the most regular attention to it on my part. I think it well to mention to you that,...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 1 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Ralston, son of one of our principal citizens, and a young gentleman distinguished by his intelligence and breeding, may venture to call at Monticello, in the course of this month, in order to pay the homage due from every American youth, to its master. I know him well and esteem him greatly. He has travelled in Europe & has brought back much information of a valuable kind. DLC : Papers of...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 20 June 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been requested by a gentleman, Mr. B. Constant (a Merchman) , who has been for some years, principal of M t Airy College near Germantown, to present him to you as a candidate for the professorship of Modern History, Geography & Languages which is to be included in the faculty of your University. I believe Mr. Constant to be fully capable of teaching the French and Latin, with Modern...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 26 June 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 20 th recommending mr Constant to a place in our University. the best answer I can give will be a statement of facts. our Visitors, at their meeting in April last, finding that our preparations were sfftly matured to fix a day certain for the opening of the instn, proceeded to consider the subject of Professors. deeming it their duty to provide for their...