1From Thomas Jefferson to James Clarke, 22 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In conversation with mr Stannard a few days ago he informed me that you had invented and made a machine to be fixed behind a carriage for counting the revolutions of the wheel while travelling; he added further that he did not believe you would be averse to the communication of it. having myself made an effort of the same kind & failed, I should be very happy to have the benefit of any more...
2To Thomas Jefferson from James Clarke, 27 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 22d Instant respecting an instrument on my pheaton for measureing distances in traveling, and the pleasure I feel in complying with your request in having it coppied and introdused into publick use, will be greatly increased by your acceptance of it as a present. I would send it on to you by the first opportunity, or if you expect to return to Montecelo...
3From Thomas Jefferson to James Clarke, 5 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of May 27. and am very thankful to you for the kind offer of your odometer, on which according to the description of it I should certainly set great value. my wish to recieve it here was that I might take the distances on my road to Monticello, to which I shall go about the 20th. of the next month, and about the last day of that month proceed on to Bedford. I...
4James Clarke to Thomas Jefferson, 6 July 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Fearing that you have many intrusive correspondants, and that I may be rank’d among the number, it is with great deference I make this little communication; which I hope you will excuse. When I had the pleasure of being in your company (about 8. or 9 years ago, at Monteceloe ) conversing on the subject of the Odomater, you asked me, if I thought it practicable to construct a machine that could...
5Thomas Jefferson to James Clarke, 1 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of July 6. and am glad you have turned your attention to the invention of means for surveying and platting at the same time. I have but occasionally looked at the subject as a desideratum; but never seriously aiming at it’s solution myself. wh the basis however of what has occurred to me is a four wheeled carriage, very light, the wheels to be like cotton...
6James Clarke to Thomas Jefferson, 1 September [1820] (Jefferson Papers)
By the advice, and persuation of several Gentlemen who are anxious to get an Odometer like mine, I have at length concluded to take a pattent, and establish a manufactory of them. As you have had one of them in use many years, I’ll thank you for your opinion of them, as to accuracy, Simplicity, and durability; whether it incommodes, or disfigures a carriage. And, whether you believe the plan...
7Thomas Jefferson to James Clarke, 5 September 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 1 st instant requesting my opinion of the merits of your Odometer, which I shall give with pleasure and satisfaction having had it in use for 13. years. I think it as simple as we can expect such a machine to be, having only three toothed wheels, entirely accurate inconsiderable in weight and volume, and of convenient application to the carriage. with...
8Thomas Jefferson to James Clarke, 19 January 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return from Bedford lately I had the misfortune to lose the rod and ratchet wheel which communicates motion from the wheel of the carriage to the Odometer; and I had not been thoughtful enough to note the number of teeth in that wheel, their form, or the size of the wheel. I am obliged therefore to request you to draw for me on paper, or on a card the exact diagram of that wheel wh ich,...
9James Clarke to Thomas Jefferson, 2 April 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Through some neglect in the post offices your letters of the 19 Jan y and 22 d Feb y both came to hand the first of last week only—or I should sooner have had the pleasure of supplying the part lost from your Odometer I now send herewith, a case containing the rod with the wheels (from the same moulds) already fixed, and have directed it to the care of the postmaster in Milton If the rod...
10James Clarke to Thomas Jefferson, 15 August 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed, I send you a small sample of the cotton, and the coffee, which grows Spontaneously on that part of the coast of Africa now colonising with the free people of Colour from America. It was sent to Richmond by one of the first adventurers from Virginia He writes, the country is remarkably healthy and the soil extremely fertile—It gives me a pleasing hope, that we shall, in time, get rid...