1To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 23 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The Newspaper accounts of the proceedings of the Legislature of Mass., during the present session, must have prepared you & the nation for results similar to the enclosed. It is not for me to assign reasons for such extraordinary conduct, different from the objects and the motives avowed. There is nothing concealed. The facts and their tendencies are on the face of the transactions and cannot...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 15 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Major Brocier a Gent. of this town is, this moment with me, on the wing for the city of Washington, as an amusement & to witness the inauguration of our great & good friend Mr Madison. Permit me to introduce him, & refer you to him, for information respecting the situation of parties in this section of the Union. I think the opposition has been over rated with you, & its character & object...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 31 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The day before yesterday, I took the liberty to write to the Secy of the treasury respecting the situation of the Collector’s Office in this town, and that it was then my opinion, that if things were not prematurely pushed by our friends here, difficulties would be adjusted, and the embargo law be complied with. Beyound my expectation, this desirable event is already taking place. The...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 23 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Since mine of the 10th. I Recd from Govr. Sullivan a letter of the same date, on the subject of the importation of flour. The following is an extract, & the whole touching that matter. “My son having communicated to me the contents of the letter you shewed him on Friday last, I have concluded to inform you that the authority I recd. from Mr Jefferson was accepted under an engagement to...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 10 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yours of August 22 while attending the Council at Boston. I possessed previously a general knowledge of the regulations adopted by the general Government to supply the deficient states with flour for their own consumption and to prevent an evasion of the embargo restraints. My impressions were that there had been great abuse of the indulgencies granted to the citizens of...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 21 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to introduce to your acquaintance Mr. Jonathan Russell of Providence, whose name I have frequently mentioned to you with pride & pleasure. I know of no man in the state of Rhode Island to whom republicanism has been more indebted, & whose abilities exertions & uniformity of conduct claim greater respect from the friends to our national Govt. You may recollect a July oration which I...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 7 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot deny myself the pleasure of congratulating you on the result of our late election. My motive is to releive you from the possible solicitude, that the numberless misrepresentations, circulated in our federal papers may have excited in your mind on that subject. I know you have more confidence in history, than in political prophecy, especially when the foreteller is inspired with a zeal...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 1 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your pleasing favor of March 23 reached me last evening, by the way of Boston. I was prepared to expect every thing mean, malignant, and false, at the approaching elections from Pickering, and his coadjutors, irritated by disappointments, before the explosion took place, produced by his pitiful letter. you over rate its effects, if you judge from the repeated bold & false assertions contained...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 26 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
At the request of several of the decided friends to the national administration of the first respectability in every branch of our Government I ask to be indulged with your attention for a moment. They have been informed that an application has been made for the appointment of a Mr Weston to the attorneys office for the US. in the Eastern district. This office is now ably & satisfactorily...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 5 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to introduce to your notice the bearer Coll. Hatch from this state. He is a gent of reputation and of attachment to the Genl. Govt. and waits on you to submit to your inspection and consideration, an apparently formidable military contrivance which he calls a floating castle. He expresses confidence in it; and if the project in practice, will perform the one half, that it has...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 17 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have in vain searched, and untill wearied with the pursuit, for some authority from the acknowledged law of nations, which would justify or condemn belligerents impressing or taking from a neutral vessel, at sea , its own subjects whether passengers or a part of the crew—It is clear, having on board such subjects, can by law, be no cause for the bringing too, & boarding. But the question is,...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 17 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
In the selfdenial which I have practiced for some time in forbearing to intrude for one moment on your attention, which must have been pressed with the weight of an unusual mass of important public concerns, especially in the last session of Congress, you will perceive only proofs of my attachment to your person, & respect for your character, and the momentous concerns, in which you must have...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 6 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by a member of Congress from the State of Massachusets. Mr. Bidwile’s character and merits, are too well known to need any recommendation. Equally conspicuous for political information, talents and industry as for a republicanism unalloyed by personal attachments to federal friends, or local prejudices, he has been a uniform & warm supporter of the measures of the...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 30 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your interesting favor of the 19th. ult. It came safely & duly to hand. The confidence and esteem evinced by its contents demand renewed expressions of gratitude and respect. I had early learnt from a common friend, now in Europe, that the only matter urged by our enemies, which can possibly cause you a moments attention, to be precisely as you have stated it. I...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 2 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
We are now reposing from our electioneering conflict. The struggle has been, in general, severe & spirited, and on the part of the federalists, bitter in the extreme. Their frauds, falshoods, and force have secured to them a Governor, Senate, council, and house, in this State. By force I mean an intolerant and oppressive violence towards labourers, tenants, mechanics, debtors, & other...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 9 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In my endeavours to forget my friends at Washington, & to transfer and fix my attention to objects within the reach of my influence and agency nearer home, I fear you will think I have succeeded too well. This is the first letter I have directed to the seat of Govt since I left it. A few days after my arrival at Worcester, where I met my family and friends, generally, in health & spirits,...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 26 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The office with which I have been honored under your administration, was conferred without solicitation, accepted with diffidence, and has been held under circumstances which have urged its relinquishment. The withdrawing myself from the arrangements of private life, especially from a young and numerous family in want of parental care and assistance in the course of their education, was...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 13 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of communicating to you the result of an examination of the documents submitted to my consideration, respecting the conduct of the commanders of those british ships of war, which lately stationing themselves in the port of New York, cruised on our coasts, and imbarrassed our commerce. To determine the character of their various acts, it seems necessary to establish, or assume...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 14 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of your favor of the 16th ult. Absence from Worcester prevented a more seasonable acknowledgement. I will pay every attention in my power to the subject matter of the enclosures, in pursuence of your suggestions. Of the insult and injury involved in the outrages complained of, there can be but one opinion, on the mode of remidying, or securing...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 25 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
There can, I think, be but little difficulty in determining on the theory and general principles applicable to the subject matter of your communication , which I had the honor of receiving the last evening. “Taking a part in a war against a nation in amity with us’ or any way to interfere, and favor one party more than the other, must be agreed to be inconsistent with a fair construction of...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 20 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In the hasty consideration, which I have been able to give to the verbal communication which I had the honor to receive from you, my first impressions in favor of making a request on the Executive of Virginia have been confirmed. By the Sec. 2. Art 4 of the Const. “The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all the priviledges & immunities of citizens in the several states .”—And if a...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 27 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter, by the last evening’s mail, covering the inclosed from a young friend its author, he says, he transmits one copy of an address for my perusals, with a few more, which if it should be thought proper, I might present to such of my friends as would honor them with an acceptance. Mr Brazer is a young man of talents, of firmness, of zeal in the republican cause, and deserves the...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 17 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
By the inclosed, from Mr Russel you will perceive the situation in which he places himself—I have written him no answer. Nothing of importance has ocurred in the city since you left it—The maritime court have closed their enquiries into the conduct of Commodore Morris . The result altho but on a part of his conduct, from a deficiency in the evidence, will undoubtedly prove useful to Govt.—The...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 17 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have considered the subject of the letter, referred to by your note of the 8th , with which I have been honored. The 3d. Art. of the treaty of cession secures to the Inhabitants of Louisiana, from the Govt. of the U.S. the protection of the ‘free enjoyment of their liberty property & religion.’ The act of the 31st. of Octo last, providing for, the taking possession, and the temporary Govt....
25To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed, received by the last evening’s mail, from its extraordinary contents, I have felt myself constrained with reluctance to communicate. The deep confidence imposed by its nature is dispensed with, only from a belief, that it is of very great importance, you should be informed of every transaction, involving the welfare & reputation of the General Govt—the political state of Rhode...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 25 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have examined the questions referred to my consideration by your note of yesterday —By the Constitution of the US. offences against it and the laws made in pursuance thereof are cognizable by the federal Courts—All crimes or misdemeanors, which are not such by this constitution, or to which the jurisdiction of the federal Courts, is not by law, expressly extended, are, it is conceived...
27VII. Levi Lincoln’s Remarks on the Draft, 10 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have perused, and reperused with increased satisffaction the proposed message which you did me the honor of submitting to my inspection. Was I obliged to maintain an exception to any part of it, I should select for that purpose, the close of the last paragraph but one . Would not the sentiment present itself more formidable to foreign nations, & less exceptionable to many of our citizens, if...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 11 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed is a poem spoken by my 2d son on the last commencement at Harvard College—The Presidt of the College objected to the latter part, said it would give offence, and refused to approbate it. The author told him he would not alter it—He was directed to give a copy & consider further of the matter—It was spoken—the circumstance shews the spirit of the governors of that Seminary, altho...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, 10 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 30th ulto. was duly recd. I have to reproach myself with a neglect in not having written. My journey from washington to worcester was rather fatiguing. The weather was extreamly hot, & the roads dusty. I was melted with the one, & actually buried by the other. Their joint effects greatly injured my eyes. They have become stronger; It has been with difficulty, that I have...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Levi Lincoln, on or before 5 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The names, agt Worcester, in the memorandum were intended for commissioners of bankruptcy;— Vaughan I think was designed to supply the place of one who had not accepted, Cohen , I have no recollection of— Hull was named , altho the commission was considered as full, to quiet his feelings, which appeared to have been very much hurt, from an idea of his having been neglected—As the...