1From Thomas Jefferson to John Peter Van Ness, 12 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The case of mr Peacock has been duly considered. had we been permitted to yield to circumstances of commiseration for his wife & family certainly there is no case in which they have been more deeply felt but the public security will not allow these considerations to confer entire impunity. the judges who sat on his trial, & the attornies who assisted in it declare they can offer no...
2From Thomas Jefferson to John Peter Van Ness, 10 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been hitherto unyielding to the many sollicitations for a pardon to Jacob Ray, who has been for some years confined in the jail of this district under a sentence for forging bank notes. these sollicitations appeared to be founded only on the benevolent feelings of those who brought them forward, which can never be acted on as a proper measure of public punishment. but I now recieve...
3To Thomas Jefferson from John Peter Van Ness, 5 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of sending you by the Bearer two worms which I took this afternoon on a lombardy poplar tree standing on dry ground that answers, I think, very well (although the colour of the same worm is variegated and the shades of the two are different from each other) the description of the reptile, said to be poisenous, which infests those ornamental trees.—As this subject has lately...
4To Thomas Jefferson from John Peter Van Ness, 21 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Learning lately that the Office of Major Caleb Swan (that of Pay-master, I think, to the War Department) is soon to become vacant, I take the liberty of reminding you of the Application of Mr. John Ward of New York, which I had the honor of submitting to you sometime ago, and which you was pleased to receive encouragingly.—I am the more induced to this step, at this time, as, by the Act lately...
5To Thomas Jefferson from John Peter Van Ness, 11 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Van Ness takes the liberty of submitting to the President’s perusal the enclosed Letters, & will call for them tomorrow morning.—Of Mr. Annin it may with truth be said that he is a man of great merit & reputation— DCHS .
6To Thomas Jefferson from John Peter Van Ness, 9 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
We have given, to your rough draft of an affidavit, the form of answers to the interrogatories annexed to the Commission, and now inclose them together with the interrogatories, for your consideration. If you find any alterations necessary you will please to make them and return them to us. We will have them copied fairly and will wait on you to administer the oath at such time as you may...
7From Thomas Jefferson to John Peter Van Ness, 11 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Colo. Van-Ness & Judge Craunch, and returns the draught of the answers to the interrogatories in the form in which he can make oath to them, which he will be ready to do any forenoon that it may suit them to do him the favor of calling on him. CSmH : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
8John P. Van Ness to Thomas Jefferson, 5 July 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Henry Middleton Jn r of S. Carolina , Son of our Minister at S t Petersburgh , having intimated to me that, being about to visit Virginia , he would probably do himself the honor of giving you a call, I took take the liberty of offering