1From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 29 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the Attorney General to meet the heads of departments here tomorrow at 12. aclock & to dine with him on the same day. RC ( MWA ); addressed: “Levi Lincoln esq. Atty Genl US”; Lincoln later wrote notes relating to land sales and payments on verso.
2From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 2 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Lincoln to do him the favor of delivering the inclosed according to their address, with his respects. they were lately recieved by him from Paris. he salutes mr Lincoln affectionately MWA .
3From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 10 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favour of mr Lincoln to dine with him tomorrow (11th.) at half after three. Oct. 10. 03. The favour of an answer is asked. RC ( MWA ); printed form, with blanks filled by TJ reproduced in italics; addressed: “Levi Lincoln esq. Atty Genl US.”; with unrelated notations added later by Lincoln perpendicular to text and on verso relating to land sales and financial...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 22 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
You are not unapprised that in order to check the evasions of the embargo laws effected under colour of the coasting trade, we found it necessary to prevent the transportation of flour coastwise, except to the states not making enough for their own consumption, and that to place the supplies of those states under some check, a discretionary power was given to the governors to give licenses to...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 1 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
On reading a paragraph in the N.Y. Evening post, I took up my pen to write a squib on it; but the subject ran away with me till I found I had written a treatise. it is one on which I have a great desire to reconcile the parties among the republicans, & the paragraph in the post seemed to offer an occasion of taking just ground, & introducing a public discussion of it, on which I have no doubt...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 14 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed is a case of the first impression and therefore needs consideration. the Louisianians have been heretofore allowed an appeal from their Govr. to the Govr. Genl. at Cuba. this seems intended as such an appeal. but tho’ Congress have authorised me to give to any person all the powers of the officers of the then existing government, yet I do not know that this includes the Govr....
7From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 5 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
in pursuance of the act of Congress providing that in case of vacancy in the office of Secretary of state the President of the US. may authorize a person to perform the duties of the same, I am to ask the favor of you & hereby authorize you to perform the duties of the Secretary of state until a successor to the office shall be appointed. I have the honor to be Sir your most obedt. servt PrC (...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 13 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a petition from Nantucket, & refer it for your decision. our opinion here is that that place has been so deeply concerned in smuggling that if it wants, it is because it has illegally sent away what it ought to have retained for it’s own consumption. be so good as to bear in mind that I have asked the favor of you to see that your state encounters no real want, while at the same...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 25 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
It gave me great pleasure to recieve your letter of the 17th. and especially to learn you had accepted your new post. The Newspapers tell us that Dr. Eustis has qualified. mr Gerry I presume & Genl. Heath must have reasons of justification for declining unknown to us at a distance. otherwise we should say that a good souldier does not retire on carrying the town merely, while the citadel is...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 13 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to satisfy yourself and advise me on the following persons? Samuel Whittermore Surveyor & Inspector of Gloster to be removed and Zachariah Stevens to be put in his place. he is recommended by Capt Crowninshield. Nath. F. Fosdick Collector of Portland to be removed, and who to be put in his place? Would it do good or harm at Boston for mr Bradford the marshal of...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 17 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I hasten to call your attention to the resolution of the Senate of the 15th. instant now inclosed, on the subject of the lands of the US. in the state of Tennissee, at this time, because while the members of Congress are here you may be able to collect such information on the subject as to enable you to shape your course in the execution of it with more facility as well as correctness. Accept...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter on the subject of mr Lee came safely to hand. you know our principles render federalists in office safe if they do not employ their influence in opposing the government, giving their own vote according to their conscience. if this be so as to those put in office by others, a portion as to those put in by ourselves. We have recieved from your presses a very malevolent & incendiary...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 4 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed paper signed Claudius is so bold, direct & false in it’s assertions respecting the clerks, that it ought really to be contradicted. would it not be worth while to ask of each head of department whether he found any republican clerk in his office & how many, and to state the fact, not naming the authority, but appealing to the notoriety of the fact. perhaps even the names as given...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 23 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the papers recieved in yours of the 15th. inst. with thanks for the perusal, and sincere congratulations on the pleasure you must experience from the possession of a son whose talents afford a prospect not less comfortable to his family than promising to his country. amid the dreary prospect of a rising generation committed from their infancy to the education of bigotted &...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 21 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Observing that the usage has been to insert the treaty at full length in the proclamation , on a conference with the Secretary of state, we have concluded it safest to follow the usage, and further to insert Buonaparte’s ratification & the subsequent advice of Senate verbatim. this being merely mechanical will be done by the clerks in the office of state; but in the mean time I must ask of you...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, [on or after 30 April 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
The Attorney general will be pleased to carry into execution the inclosed resolution of the Senate of Apr. 30. respecting the claims of John Cleves Symmes . PrC ( DLC ); undated. Enclosure not found, but see below. A 30 Apr. RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE requested that the president direct the attorney general to examine the 1788 contract between the United States and JOHN CLEVES SYMMES for a grant...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 24 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I had no conception there were persons enough to support a paper whose stomachs could bear such aliment as the inclosed papers contain. they are far beyond even the Washington Federalist. to punish however is impracticable until the body of the people, from whom juries are to be taken, get their minds to rights; and even then I doubt it’s expediency. while a full range is proper for actions by...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 25 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I should have set out for Washington this morning, but that it has now been raining upwards of a week, with some intermissions, is still raining & the wind at North East. of eight rivers between this & Washington, 5 have neither bridges nor boats. as soon as the one on which I live is fordable, it will be a signal that the others are so. this may be tomorrow; and in that case, if it has ceased...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 25 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I know that I need not examine my letter files to decide that I am in your debt in our epistolary account: but I know also that your indulgence will not ascribe it to a want of esteem, but to it’s true cause, the abundance of things pressing on me, and the duty of doing that first which is most indispensible. We are in want of a Consul for Tunis. you know that those places require a person...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 28 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson incloses the Executive proceedings of Govr Sinclair for the consideration of the Attorney General, with a view to the power exercised by the Governor of laying off counties , establishing courts therein fixing the time and place of holding them, and, as would seem from the proceedings of Oct. 30th. of determining their legislative representation. the Attorney General is desired...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 22 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In April 1804 you were so kind as to recieve from mr Barnes 13. D. and to pay the same to the editors of the Chronicle, Democrat, Aegis, & Salem register. being desirous of closing all newspapers accounts and bidding adieu to that kind of reading I have written the inclosed notes to three of the editors. these I should certainly have sent direct, without troubling you, but for the inclosed...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 12 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you for your consideration the case of the Betsy Cathcart, a prize brought into the US. some years ago, sold, & the money deposited in the treasury for safety. had the only question been between us and the captors, we should have delivered up the money without troubling you. but a doubt has been suggested whether, as the prize was never condemned, the original proprietor may not...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 30 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter came to hand by yesterday’s post. you will be sensible of the circumstances which make it improper that I should hazard a formal answer, as well as of the desire it’s friendly aspect naturally excites that those concerned in it should understand that the spirit they express is favorably viewed. you can judge also, from your knolege of the ground, whether it may be usefully...
24Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 25 August 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
It is long, my good friend, since we have exchanged a letter. and yet I demur to all prescription against it. I cannot relinquish the right of correspondence with those I have learnt to esteem. if the extension of common acquaintance in public life be an inconvenience, that with select worth is more than a counterpoise. be assured your place is high among those whose remembrance I have brought...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 28 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your letter of the 26th. proposing to resign your office, and I recived it with real affliction. it would have been my greatest happiness to have kept together, to the end of my term, our executive family: for our harmony & cordiality has really made us but as one family. believing too that another four years will consolidate the basis on which we are building the...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 16 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
It will be necessary to lay before Congress the aggressions of the British vessels before the harbour of New York. for this purpose it will be necessary in the first place to examine all the cases, and to class them according to the principle of the aggression, and secondly to prepare a succinct statement of them, for I believe that would be more proper than to furnish them the documents. they...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 20 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the Attorney general to prepare a proclamation agreeable to the inclosed advice of Senate . he understands the Judges have some cases awaiting this determination . it would be well therefore if they could be certified of the ultimate sanction of the treaty either by the proclamation itself, or by a communication of the advice of Senate on Monday. RC (Privately...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 28 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 14th. came to hand yesterday. having written to you two days ago only, I have but to acknolege the reciept of the letter before mentioned and to refer to you a case in which the US. seem threatened with the danger of having a considerable sum to pay, contrary to law & justice, and if the inclosed statements are right, merely by the negligence of their district-attorney . the...
29Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 11 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I ought before this to have acknoleged the reciept of two or three letters from you, but the hurry of a close of Congress and bustle of my own departure which takes place in an hour, has prevented me. yours of Feb. 15. is just now recieved, & I hasten to inclose you an order of the bank of the US. here on that at Boston for 45.62 D to reimburse what you have been so kind as to pay for me for...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 26 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his compliments to mr Lincoln returns him mr Crowninshield’s letter . the appointmt. of a substitute for mr Story shall await further information.—he has not been at all moved to doubt the propriety of Fosdyck’s removal. Mr. Lincoln is perfectly free to retain the copy of the Syllabus, & to make any use of it his discretion would approve, confident as Th:J. is that his...
31From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 17 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday I recieved your favors of the 8th. & 9th. and as the delay of the post here is short, I can only acknolege their reciepts. before the next post (a week hence) reaches you I shall be with you myself; that is to say on the 28th. health & weather permitting. till then I can say nothing on Priestman’s case: & the rather, as having been already the subject of a deliberate decision, it...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 10 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I reached this place on the 4th. having passed an evening with mr Madison who is in as good health as for some time past, but that is very indifferent. he will set out for the seat of government about the time I shall. I did not percieve till I got here, that I had brought away the inclosed commissions before they were sealed. I therefore return them. if sealed and returned to me in Thursday...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln and John Thomas Mason, 11 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Sentence of death having been passed by the Circuit court of Columbia , against a citizen of Washington county, guilty of an aggravated murder, a question arises Who is to sign the warrant for execution? By the act of Congress 1801. c. 86. the laws of Maryland , as they existed at that date, are in force in Washington county: and by the law of Maryland 1795. c. 82. the Governor of Maryland is...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 25 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 16th. is recieved, and that of July 24. had come to hand while I was at Monticello. I sincerely condole with you on the sickly state of your family and hope this will find them reestablished with the approach of the cold season. as yet however we have had no frost at this place, and it is believed the yellow fever still continues in Philadelphia if not in Baltimore. we shall...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 26 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 28. was recieved here on the 20th. instant. the superscription of my letter of July 11. by another hand was to prevent danger to it from the curious. your statement respecting the Berceau, coincides with my own recollections in the circumstances recollected by me, and I concur with you in supposing it may not now be necessary to give any explanations on the subject in the...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 11 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 15th. came to hand on the 25th. of June, and conveyed a great deal of that information which I am anxious to recieve. the consolidation of our fellow citizens in general is the great object we ought to keep in view, and that being once obtained, while we associate with us in affairs to a certain degree the federal sect of republicans, we must strip of all the means of...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 24 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Extract of a letter from Thos. Barclay British Consul at N. York, to Dewitt Clinton esq. Mayor of the city dated June 18. 1804. ‘His (Capt. Bradley’s) orders from Vice Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell direct him to proceed from hence, on the delivery of his dispatches, on a cruize for the protection of the trade not only of His Majesty’s subjects but of that of the people of these states, and which...
38III. To Levi Lincoln, 1 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Averse to recieve addresses, yet unable to prevent them, I have generally endeavored to turn them to some account, by making them the occasion by way of answer, of sowing useful truths & principles among the people, which might germinate and become rooted among their political tenets. the Baptist address now inclosed admits of a condemnation of the alliance between church and state, under the...
39VIII. Referral of the Draft to Levi Lincoln (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to give the inclosed a scrupulous examination, and suggest any alterations for the better, and without any reserve. the sooner you return it the better, as, when it has been separately examined and amended by the gentlemen, I mean to ask their joint attendance to consider it finally. RC ( MHi : Levi Lincoln Papers); undated or date clipped; endorsed by Lincoln as 25 Nov....
40XIV. To Levi Lincoln, 27 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you the message on the state of the nation to be sent to Congress on their meeting. I will ask the favor of you to give it serious perusal & to favor me with such observations, corrections & queries as you may think expedient: to observe also on any negligences of style, which may be corrected without weakening expression: for wherever by a small sacrifice of the rigorous rules of...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Heads of Departments (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks a consultation with the heads of departments tomorrow at 11. aclock, on the subject of N. Orleans & the Floridas. should we meet later, we may be prevented by the visits usual on the day. will mr Smith be so good as to send the inclosed over the way to mr Lincoln? RC ( MHi : Levi Lincoln Papers); undated or date clipped; endorsed by Levi Lincoln as 31 Dec. 1802; with...