4891Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 13 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
A long absence from home must apologise for my delay in acknoleging your favor of Aug. 25. and thanking you for your attention to the time piece. the best method of packing it would be to wrap it in one or more coarse striped woollen blankets (commonly called Dutch blankets) place it in a well jointed case, and if the case could be covered with oil cloth it would be still safer from moisture;...
4892Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 22 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Of the last 5 months, I have passed 4. at a possession I have 90. or 100. miles S.W. from this. this must apologise for my having to acknolege your three favors of Oct. 24. Nov. 28. & Dec. 2. all at the same time. on my return, I make it my first duty to comply with your request of Dec. 2. by writing to the President on behalf of mr Hassler , which I have done by this mail. I am sure he will...
4893Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 23 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I have heretofore confided to you my wishes to retire from the chair of the Philosophical society , which however under the influence of your recommendations I have hitherto deferred. I have never however ceased from the purpose; and from every thing I can observe or learn at this distance, I suppose that a new choice can now be made with as much harmony as may be expected at any future time....
4894Thomas Jefferson to Robert M. Patterson, 8 February 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your letter of Jan. 20. conveying to me the flattering expressions sentiments which the American Philosophical Society have been pleased condescended, through you to express on my resignation of the office of President, in which they had been pleased so long to continue me. I recieve them with equal sensibility and gratitude. the motives for withdrawing from a station the...
4895Thomas Jefferson to Robert M. Patterson, 23 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I sollicited on a former occasion permission from the American Philosophical society to retire from the honor of their chair, under a consciousness that distance as well as other circumstances denied me the power of executing the duties of the station, and that those on whom they devolved were best entitled to the honors they confer. it was the pleasure of the society at that time that I...
4896Thomas Jefferson to Robert M. Patterson, 20 January 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 7 th informing me that the American Philosophical society , at their meeting of that day, had been pleased unanimously to re-elect me as President of the society. I recieve with just sensibility this proof of their continued good will, and pray you to assure them of my gratitude for these favors, of my devotedness to their service, and the pleasure with...
4897Thomas Jefferson to Lewis A. Pauly, 5 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 9 th of the last month , furnishing me with those facts which were necessary to enable me to judge of the rights of M r & M de de Beauvois , and to offer my opinion of the course to be pursued to recover them. Considering Doct r Ruelle to have been made a citizen of Virginia , as you suppose, Mad
4898Thomas Jefferson to Lewis A. Pauly, 1 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved, the last summer a letter from M. de Beauvois , requesting me to befriend a claim he has to an estate in New Kent under his brother in law Piernetz Piernet , held by a mr Lacy under an unexecuted will, the prosecution of which claim he informed me was under your care, I wrote to mr Oster the Consul of France (not knowing your residence) to offer my service in behalf of mr...
4899Thomas Jefferson to Lewis A. Pauly, 18 September 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved a letter from mr Oster with a copy of an opinion of mr Tazewell in the case of M. de Beauvois , very much in conformity with what I wrote to you. I presume the inclosed letter covers a copy of the same opinion for you. should it not, if you will be so good as to drop me a line saying so, I will forward to you my copy, that the proceedings advised may be immediately instituted....
4900Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 13 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
In your favor of May 2. you ask my advice on the best mode of selling your Museum, on which however I really am not qualified to advise. this depends entirely on the genius and habits of those among whom you live, with which you are so much better acquainted. I wish first it may be disposed of the most to your advantage, and 2 dly that it may not be separated. if profit be regarded, the...
4901Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 21 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been long your debtor in our epistolary account. a farmer being privileged to write only on rainy Sundays, his pen-work is apt to accumulate and get into arrears. in so hard a winter too as we have had, one was could not but yield to the pleasure of hovering over a fire with a book, rather than go to the writing table. we have indeed had a hard winter. our average of snow in a common...
4902Thomas Jefferson to Charles Wilson Peale, 22 August 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been for some time endeavoring to procure bills of some bank in Philadelphia to enable me to remit you the balance of 49. D 5½ C due you on account of my grandson . finding there is little hope of this, I have this day inclosed to my friend mr Barnes of Georgetown , bills of that place, & prayed him to exchange them for a draught of the Washington bank on that of the US. at Philadelphia...
4903Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 5 May 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Apr. 3. came to hand on the 23 d of April . I have no doubt that the marked differences between the elephant & our colossal animal entitle him to a distinct appellation. one of those differences, & a striking one, is in the protuberances on the grinding surface of the teeth, somewhat in the shape of the mamma, mastos, or breast of a woman, which has induced Cuvier to call it the...
4904Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 8 May 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I am indebted to you for two letters yet unacknolegged unacknoledged , to wit of June 18. and Dec. 23. 15. I pay three or four visits a year to a very distant possession I have in Bedford , where, being comfortably fixed, I pass a month or two at a time, so that it is almost a second home. it is in the finest part of our state for soil & climate, and near to Lynchburg ; now the 2
4905Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 17 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I had long owed you a letter for your favor of Aug. 19. when I recieved, eight days ago that of Mar. 2. 18 12 . a slip of the pen, I suppose for 18 13 . and the pamphlet accompanying it strengthens the supposition. I thank you for the pamphlet. it is full of good sense & wholsome advice, and I am making all my grandchildren read it, married & unmarried: and the story of farmer Jenkins will I...
4906Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 10 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Being just on the eve of my departure for Monticello I must write you a short letter returning you a thousand thanks for the portrait of my grandson , which is indeed inimitably done. I do not know whether age impairs the faculties of your art, but I am sure it would do honor to any period of life. it will be a treasure to his parents & not less so to me. as he wished to see them & had a month...
4907Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 17 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
In your’s of July 7. you informed me you had found a young watchmaker of good character disposed to come here, who had taken time to consider of it. hearing nothing further of him, & being now within a fortnight of departure to Bedford where I shall be 6. weeks I am anxious to know of a certainty; because were he to come during my absence he might not find the same facilities for first...
4908Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 20 August 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
It is long, my dear Sir, since we have exchanged a letter. our former correspondence had always some little matter of business interspersed; but this being at an end, I shall still be anxious to hear from you sometimes, and to know that you are well & happy. I know indeed that your system is that of contentment under any situation. I have heard that you have retired from the city to a farm, &...
4909Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 24 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in October a letter from mr M c Ilhenny whom you were so kind as to recommend as a watchmaker, informing me he would come on to establish himself at Charlottesville as soon as he could hear from me. I was just about setting out on a journey to Bedford , and answered him therefore by advising him to postpone his coming till my return. he did so, and arrived in Charlottesville by the...
4910Thomas Jefferson to Rembrandt Peale, 11 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved by mr Correa your favor of July 13. and with it the peices of agate & Madrepore sent me thro’ Gen l Armstrong & to your care. the transaction stated in the letter accompanying them had so entirely escaped my memory, that the name being subscribed in illegible characters, I am not able to ascertain from whom it comes. I am not however the less obliged to one who recollects to do...
4911Thomas Jefferson to Seth Pease, 23 May 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to present to your notice the bearer hereof mr Isham Lewis , a nephew of mine who proposes to become a resident of the Missisipi or Orleans territory . you will find him to be of excellent dispositions, correct in his conduct, and of a sound understanding, little aided only by a common education. he wishes to find employment in the business of surveying; and it is to request you to...
4912Thomas Jefferson to James Penn (for Archibald Robertson), 28 May 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your kind attention to my request of yesterday , and mr Goodman now takes on 1400.D. of treasury notes to exchange for banknotes. but as the person for whom they are intended shews difficulty as to the kind of money he will recieve, should there be among those you will send me any which he will reject, I shall hope to be permitted to send them back tomorrow and to recieve in...
4913Thomas Jefferson to Hardin Perkins, 11 August 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
My brother lately deceased having some years ago made me the depository of his last will and testament, wherein you are named an executor, I think it a duty to put it into your hands, and now therefore inclose it to you. altho’ also named an executor, my age disables me from undertaking it, or and the pursuits of my life have not been such as to enable qualify me for any useful interference in...
4914Thomas Jefferson to Jesse Perry, 20 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Watkins , who superintended & worked with my out-carpenters, has left me this year. he was employed in such carpenter’s work as the plantations required, and I gave him 150. Dollars a year, his provisions & a house to live in. I do not know on what footing you are at present employed with your brother , & certainly do not mean to break in on any arrangement of his with you. but if it...
4915Thomas Jefferson to John M. Perry, 16 February 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
M r M c Gruder has written to me urgently on the subject of the plank due him: I must therefore press you to execute that contract immediately, that I may at length be done with it. he says he is ready to return the money on recieving the plank, and as I presume, on his recieving the stocks from you, as he is to do the sawing himself. be so good as to let me know what I may say to him. Accept...
4916Thomas Jefferson to John M. Perry, 20 January 1810, with Notes on Agreement with Perry, 19 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
There is an old affair between mr Magruder & myself which I really had supposed done with, but he has lately revived it. he furnished me with some plank, & charged such extravagant prices as never had been given in this neighborhood by the half. I paid him according to the highest prices I had ever paid, amounting to £27–9 and wrote him that if he was not satisfied with that I would replace...
4917Thomas Jefferson to John M. Perry, 7 May 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
When I bespoke of you the other day the thousand feet of heart pine plank, cut crosswise in the stock into bars of a full inch or rather inch & eighth, I forgot to desire that the planks might not after sawing, be separated by splitting them asunder at the butt end but that the stock may come entire. perhaps the end should be bound round with a hiccory withe. if the planks are separated, the...
4918Thomas Jefferson’s Conveyance of James Hubbard to Reuben Perry, February 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
This deed poll and bipartite made between Thomas Jefferson of the county of Albemarle of the one part and Reuben Perry of the county of Bedford of the other part witnesseth that the said Thomas hath sold and now conveys to the said Reuben a negro man slave called Jame Hubbard aged about twenty seven years, who has lately, and is at this time absconded from his habitation in Albemarle , for the...
4919Thomas Jefferson to Reuben Perry, 26 December 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved a letter from mr Richardson of the Oxford iron works informing me he is very doubtful whether they would continue much longer in blast, & therefore urging the being furnished immediately with the model for my iron-backs. I must pray you therefore to have it sent to the works immediately that I may not be disappointed. if I lose this chance I may never get another, and the...
4920Thomas Jefferson to Reuben Perry, 10 December 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
In addition to f the jobs to be done here I must add 3. chimney screens to be made of half inch boards, plain, to fit exactly within the grounds for the architraves of the fireplaces. they are for the West fireplace of the parlour, and the North fireplaces of the East & West rooms, because these rooms having two fireplaces each, the one which has no fire in it draws the smoke of the next room...