2301To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
incapable of giving a valid consent to their alienation in others belong to persons who may refer altogether to alienate, or demand a compensation far beyond the liberal justice allowable in such cases. From these causes the defence of our sea board, so necessary to be pressed during the present season, will in various ports be defeated, unless a remedy can be applied. With a view to this I...
2302To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Crockett, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The resignation of Mr George M Bibb attorney of the united states court, for the district of Kentucky; has caused that office to be vacant. Mr William T Barry attorney at law, wishes to be considered as a candidate for that vacancy; he is an attorney of some emence at the barr and it is said he is assiduous and vigilant in his profession. Mr Barry is well known to the most of the members from...
2303From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
It is a maxim of our municipal law and I believe of universal law that he who permits the end , permits of course the means without which the end cannot be effected. the law permitting rum, molasses & sugar to be imported from countries which have not packages for them, would be construed in the most rigorous courts to permit them to be carried. they would consider the restriction to ballast &...
2304To Thomas Jefferson from Lydia Heckle, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
We, who have hereunto subscribed our names, the wives, fathers and brothers of Americans, prisoners at Carthagena in South America, presuming to request your excellency’s attention, for a moment, to the situation of those wretched captives, do, in their behalf, implore such assistance as it may be consistent with the policy of the government to afford them; and ask of the mercy what we dare...
2305To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
To the President of the United States of America. The Report of the Surveyor of the Publick buildings of the United States, at Washington March 23d. 1808 My Report on the progress and state of the publick buildings of the United States in the City of Washington during the year 1807 has been delayed untill all the work performed at the Capitol and the Presidents house could be measured and the...
2306From Thomas Jefferson to Le Vavasseur, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sensible of the extraordinary ingenuity & merit of the work which you offer to the acquisition of our government. it would certainly be an ornament to any country. but with such an immense extent of country before us, wanting common improvement to render it productive, the United States have not thought the moment as yet arrived when it would be wise in them to begin to divert their funds...
2307From 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...
2308To Thomas Jefferson from Edon Marchant, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I could write my remonstrance with more confidence if I thought that, amidst the loud calls of publick, official duties, which now peculiarly demand your attention and claim your allmost ceaseless care,—the tale of individual private misery could reach your ear. And, did I not recollect, that your philanthropic disposition induces you (as well as a regard for administering Justice in mercy) to...
2309To Thomas Jefferson from John Morrow, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I shewed the inclosed Letter to the Attorney for the district, Mr. Jones, with design of leaving it with him, but he informed me that it was perhaps most proper to transmit it to you Sir, as the Court of enquiry now sitting was not authorised to enquire into the Matter stated in said Letter. Mr. William Pendleton is a man of respectability, and both he and Newman live in Berkeley County...
2310To Thomas Jefferson from Wilson Cary Nicholas, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
At the request of several of the most respectable people of Kentucky I take the liberty to mention Mr. Fortunatus Cosby, as a person every way qualified to fill the Office of Judge in the Indiana territory I am informed Mr. Cosby is a most respectable man and a good lawyer. I am not not myself acquainted with this gentn. Mr. Pope, can give you full information of his character and...
2311From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The plants of Privet which you have recieved are from mr Gordon and I intend them for a hedge in the garden which not being yet ready, they must be set out in a nursery where you can find a convenient open spot. the waggon must not go to Bedford before mr Chisolm goes. it will not be wanting there till they are proceeding to burn the brick kiln which must not be till mr Chisolm is there...
2312To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Similar applications have been made from a variety of quarters. All those who intend to import rum & molasses, and the exportation of other articles in american vessels is forbidden in the british west india islands, state it as absolutely necessary. By taking bond for the re-importation of the casks themselves, the danger of their being sold abroad may be avoided. But the question is whether...
2313To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith have the honor to send you two Copies of my report on the public buildings, the statements being corrected agreeably to your observations. It has been delayed by the copyist, & is even now not as fair, as I could have wished. With the highest respect Yrs. faithfully DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
2314To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 11th. instant the day after I returned from Albemarle. It is very distressing to me to discuss with you the topicks on which it treats, but in the state in which things are it is certainly best to come to a perfect understanding on every point & to repair on both sides any injury which may have been received. To do you an injury or indeed any one...
2315To Thomas Jefferson from John Nicholson, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am informed by a person on whom I can rely that he lately heard one Philo Murray declare that he was to have $5 per day to follow Comfort Tyler into the southwestern Country, that another attempt was to be made there to effect a dismemberment, and that in order to this a strong force from England was to be landed at N. Orleans in the month of June next or sooner. I am acquainted with Murray,...
2316From Thomas Jefferson to Anne Cary Randolph, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
My reason for desiring Ellen & your-self to write alternately was not that I did not wish to hear from you both oftener, but that I could not probably find time to answer more than one letter a week. I am sorry our strawberries are unpromising; however I trust they will put out soon. if some sand and stable manure were put on the earth, the waterings would carry both down into the clay &...
2317To Thomas Jefferson from Robert T. Rawle, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Having now in the Press a work of which the Accompanying volume is the first part and presuming so rare and Extraordinary a production could not but prove acceptable to every man of true Science I have taken the liberty of addressing you a copy from Your most obedient Servant. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
2318To Thomas Jefferson from Pseudonym: "A Republican", 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Unused to address those who move in your elevated sphere I am sensible I probably shall be wanting both in Matter & Manner—impressed with a lively sense of the eminent danger our Republican cause is exposed to I feel it a duty to make the following to you and will only remark that our friends are fast falling off & the Federalists gaining ground upon us in every direction and our prospects ar...
2319To Thomas Jefferson from Andrew Ross, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me a poor invalade: who has ever bin faithful to the publick intrest, to thus address our Friend The President of the United States of America. My fathers family wher personally known, to the Honl. Elias Budenot late President of Congress. My father had bin chosen Mayor of the Borough of Elizth. for several years. He was Judge of the County: And Master in Chancery till his Deceas, just...
2320From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose two messages, the one public, the other confidential, with their respective documents under separate covers. those of the Confidential message consist only of such passages or articles as, being improper for publication, have been stricken out of the papers of the other. it is probable therefore that both may be better understood by being read alternately, taking up each separate...
2321From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
At the opening of the present session I informed the legislature that the measures which had been taken with the government of Great Britain for the settlement of our Neutral and National rights and of the conditions of commercial intercourse with that nation, had resulted in articles of a treaty which could not be acceded to on our part; that instructions had been consequently sent to our...
2322From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
In a separate message of this date I have communicated to Congress so much as may be made public of papers which give a full view of the present state of our relations with the two contending powers of France & England. every one must be sensible that in the details of instructions for negociating a treaty, and in the correspondence & conferences respecting it, matters will occur which...
2323From Thomas Jefferson to Peregrine Williamson, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been so much engaged lately that it has not been in my power sooner to write this short letter. The 4. calendar pens arrived safely, and I now inclose you a bank draught for 25. D. for those & what was furnished before. I find them answer perfectly and now indeed use no other kind. always willing to render service to any useful advance in the arts, I have no objection to your using the...
2324To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Bruff, 21 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am persuaded that any attempt to call your attention, at this interesting period of our publick affairs, to any thing I could produce, needs an apology and the only one I am able to offer, arises out of the present situation of the country, and the necessity there will shortly be of exerting mechanical talents, which I hope will yet find encouragement in a land so favourable to thier...
2325To Thomas Jefferson from Herman Culver, 21 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
To the honrable President of the united States Sir pleas your honor I have A Desire to know the Certingty from under your Honnors own hand if your honnor pleases to give it from Under your own hand for I have know Sertenty of it and It is Concerning an offer that your honnor afford as I have Understood by Induvidials that your honnor has offered Thirty thousands Dollers to any man that will...
2326To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 21 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose the rough draft of a circular to the collectors for the execution of the 7th Section of the last embargo act. We are earnestly urged to give instructions; & strong representations are made that all the applications may not be sent here in the first instance for examination. The loss of time, the time of the West India crops, the capitulation of S. Croix, and the fear of some new...
2327To Thomas Jefferson from Pseudonym: "An Obscure Individual", 21 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
An obscure individual, who is ambitious of no title higher than that of a good citizen—and knows no wish but his country’s good, sends you this, as he has many other publications of the country. Was he not assured that you are appised of the object of the publication, it should be here given. Anonymous publications, as well as communications ought to pass unheeded. This belief has prevented my...
2328To Thomas Jefferson from John Warkson, 21 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Please to hearken to my Complaint—I am unhappy, And do Earnestly beg of you for Protection and favor—Should I be Successful I should Consider my-self the most happy—I shall in the first place Make known to you my Sittuation With a Small account of of my life—I was Born in Pensylvania of English Parrents, My Mother died When I was 3 years Old—My father followed the Sea, for his livelyhood—As...
2329From Thomas Jefferson to John Agnew, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I see with pleasure, fellow-citizens, in your address of Feb. 15. a sound recurrence to the first principles on which our government is founded, an examination by that test of the rights we possess & the wrongs we have suffered, a just line drawn between a wholsome attention to the conduct of rulers, & a too ready censure of that conduct on every unfounded rumor, between the love of peace, &...
2330From Thomas Jefferson to George Bourne, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 14th. inst. and feel a just sensibility at the mark of approbation implied by the proposition it contains. the only desire I have ever felt is that of having given satisfaction to my constituents in the mode of conducting their affairs, and therefore cannot but accept with willingness the testimony of it which your letter offers. I shall certainly rejoice...
2331To Thomas Jefferson from Charles IV, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Los achaques de que adolezco, no permitiendome soportar por mas tiempo el grave peso del Gobernio de estos Reynos, hé resuelto, despues de la mas seria deliberacion, abdicar la Corona en favor de mi muy amado Hijo Fernando, Principe de Asturias, para gozar en clima mas templado, la tranquilidad de la vida privada. Os comunico esta mi determinacion, añadiendo o s que, estando bien persuadido de...
2332From Thomas Jefferson to William Crawford, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved thro’ you the Address of the Democratic citizens of the county of Adams in Gettysburg on the 15th. of Feb. last, I ask permission through the same channel to return the answer, & to offer to them & yourself the assurances of my high respect. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
2333From Thomas Jefferson to Lewis Deblois, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Deblois, and took the liberty two days ago of sending to his care 8. boxes of glass to be forwarded to Gibson & Jefferson at Richmond. besides the obligation he is under so often for troubling mr Deblois with these small concerns, he is certain he must be indebted to him for small expences on them, as wharfage, storage, Etc which he prays him to...
2334From Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 18th. I sent from here to Alexandria to be forwarded by the first vessel to Richmond 8. boxes of glass, containing 200. panes 12. I. square, 300. do. 12 by 18. and 50 do. 14. by 18. by which you will percieve I have considerably enlarged the quantity called for, in order to have a supply for breakage. be so good as to tell mr Bacon of this shipment, & that on it’s arrival at Milton, the...
2335To Thomas Jefferson from William Duane, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Capt. Norris’s papers are in my hands, and Should have been forwarded last week, had I not been (as I have been for six weeks past) harrassed by various lawsuits; I am this day released to rest, but tomorrow my suit, or rather Gouverneur Morris’s suit against me comes on; it began on Thursday and may be expected to end tomorrow; I have had no counsel hitherto but have been induced to call in...
2336To Thomas Jefferson from Fernando VII, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Los achaques de que adolece Nuestro Augusto Padre no permitiendole soportar por mas tiempo el grave peso del governio de estos Reinos y habiendo resuelto despues de la mas seria deliberacion abdicar su Corona para procurar reparar su salud grando en clima mas templado de la tranquilidad de la vida privada, hemos sido llamador por la Divina Providencia a la Corona hereditaria de todos los...
2337From Thomas Jefferson to P.A. Guestier, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 14th. is recieved, and I have to return you my thanks for the trouble you have been so good as to take in procuring the seeds requested by mr Reibelt. I remember that he was so kind as to undertake through his friends to procure for me some Maize of Italy, of the kind called Quarentine, valuable for it’s early coming to table, & I presume what you have recieved is of that...
2338From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 16th. is recieved. I sent from hence two days ago 8. boxes of window glass to Alexandria, to be forwarded to Richmond by the first vessel passing, which I will pray you to send up by the first Milton boats to mr Higginbotham. Accept my affectionate salutations. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
2339From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 18th. is duly recieved. be assured that I value no act of friendship so highly as the communicating facts to me which I am not in the way of knowing otherwise, and could not therefore otherwise guard against. I have had too many proofs of your friendship not to be sensible of the kindness of these communications, and to recieve them with peculiar obligation. the reciept of mr...
2340From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 20 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 12th. is recieved. Congress I think will rise in about three weeks, say about the 11th. of April and I shall leave this 5. or 6 days after on a visit of some length to Monticello. this illy accords with your journey to the Westward in May. but can you not separate your excursion to this place from the Western journey? between Philadelphia & this place is but two days, & the roads...
2341To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Bacon, 19 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I received by the Last maile several hundred small Ciants. which I think are Called Privey for makeing hedges. I suppose some Person sent them by the stage without Your noing it, and as I have no directions whare to plant them I send to you for directions whare to be planted, I have them Burried in the Ground at present. We are Going on with the Garden I have 430 feet. nearly done. (I have...
2342To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 19 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot to ask you this morning whether the hint about returning in the Revenge was not in the private letter from Genl Armstrong to yourself—We cannot find it in any of the publick letters—This information Mr. Madison wants Respectfy DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
2343From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 18 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the heads of departments and Atty Genl to meet to-day at 12. oclock on a consultation. Catalog--Paul C. Richards Autographs.
2344To Thomas Jefferson from John Harris, 18 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Plese be so Kind as to use your Exertions and Authorety to Have the Within Message printed in the Different Gazetts of the Unighted States allso throughout the World And oblige the most High Who Ruleth in the Kingdom of Men and Giveth it to Whomsoever He Will Whose Store House is Full. your Humble Servent MHi : Coolidge Collection. Though the Ways of God are equal ever since the beginning—yet...
2345To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Leigh, 18 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
as the President of the United States there was early transmitted you the Illustrations of the Prediction of Merlin. The Heads of Departments was Furnished each Furnishd with One. R E Lee Esqr. at Norfolk—The Incorporate Seal of the N Jerusalem Church at Baltimore & I presume a Man of thy A and Deep Penitration will Readily Allow that Some deep Matter is Still in Embryo. under the Sacred tie...
2346To Thomas Jefferson from Wilson Cary Nicholas, 18 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose you Mr. Quincy’s Speech. In the anxiety that I feel upon the subject I mentioned to you last night, I beg you to be assured I am influenced by personal considerations towards you as well as considerations of public welfare; indeed I have always considered the public weal, and your popularity as most intimately connected; perhaps in my solicitude for both I annex more importance to...
2347To Thomas Jefferson from Anne Cary Randolph, 18 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Ellen & myself have agreed that we will write to you every post that Mama & Papa do not so that you may never be more than a week without hearing from us. I am very anxious to go to Monticello to see how the flowers come on but Papa has not a horse that can be riden by a lady with safety. I hear however from them once or twice a week by Burwell for I never fail to enquire after their health....
2348To Thomas Jefferson from Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, 18 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am glad my Dear Grand papa expresses approbation at my writing about little things as I always shall have enough to say to you in my letters. I shall be much obliged to you for the pen it will be very convenient and usefull to me as I have a great deal of writing to do pray in your next inform me what it is made of I guess it is glass. I shall certainly read Madame de Sevignè’s letters. I...
2349From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar Augustus Rodney, 18 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the heads of departments and Atty. Genl. to meet to-day at 12. aclock on a consultation. Privately owned.
2350From Thomas Jefferson to United States Senate, 18 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I nominate George Hodges of Massachusets to be Surveyor for the port of Salem. Robert Wickliff of Kentucky to be Attorney for the United States in the district of Kentucky. Hugh Lawson White of Tennissee to be Attorney for the United States in the district of East Tennissee. Return Jonathan Meigs, now agent for the US. with the Cherokees to be Commissioner to attend a negotiation & treaty...