551To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 26 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
On consideration of the letter of our bankers of Jan. 25. 1790. the Secretary of the Treasury’s answer to it, and the draught of powers and instructions to him. I am of opinion, as I always have been, that the purchase of our debt to France by private speculators would have been an operation extremely injurious to our credit; and that the consequence foreseen by our bankers, that the...
552To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
The late appointment of a Minister Resident to the Hague, has brought under consideration the condition of Mr Dumas, and the question, whether he is, or is not, at present in the service of the U.S.? Mr Dumas, very early in the war, was employed first by Dr Franklin, afterwards by Mr Adams, to transact the affairs of the U.S. in Holland. Congress never passed any express vote of confirmation,...
553From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, [1 April 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inform the President that Mr. Madison has just delivered to him the result of his reflections on the question How shall communications from the several states to Congress through the channel of the President be made ? ‘He thinks that in no case would it be proper to go by way of letter from the Secretary of state : that they should be delivered to the houses...
554From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 28 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I should have taken time ere this to have considered the observations of Mr. Young, could I at this place have done it in such a way as would satisfy either him or myself. When I wrote the notes of the last year , I had never before thought of calculating what were the profits of a capital invested in Virginia agriculture. Yet that appeared to be what Mr. Young most desired. Lest therefore no...
555To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Copy of a letter from Ld Cornwallis to Colo. Balfour was sent me by Govr Rutledge: lest you should not have seen it I do myself the pleasure of transmitting it, with a letter of Genl Harrington to Genl Gates giving information of some late movements of the Enemy. I was honored yesterday with your favor of the 5th inst. on the Subject of Prisoners, and particularly of Lt Govr...
556From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 10 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Houdon would much sooner have had the honour of attending you but for a spell of sickness which long gave us to despair of his recovery and from which he is but recently recovered. He comes now for the purpose of lending the aid of his art to transmit you to posterity. He is without rivalship in it, being employed from all parts of Europe in whatever is capital. He has had a difficulty to...
557VII. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 5 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last letter from Philadelphia, I mentioned that Mr. Madison and myself were about to take a trip up the North river as far as circumstances should permit. The levelness of the roads led us quite on to Lake George, where taking boat we went through that, and about 25 miles into Lake Champlain. Returning then to Saratoga, we concluded to cross over thro’ Vermont to Connecticut river and go...
558To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14–15 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
I was happy to find by the letter of Aug. 1 1786 which you did me the honour to write me, that the modern dress for your statue would meet your approbation. I found it strongly the sentiment of West, Copeley, Trumbul & Brown in London, after which it would be ridiculous to add that it was my own. I think a modern in an antique dress as just an object of ridicule as an Hercules or Marius with a...
559To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
I am obliged to you for your query as to the distance from New York to Cayahoga, as it has occasioned my reexamination of that matter & detection of an error of 150 miles. the distances from New York to Niagara I collect from information as follows. from N. York to Albany 164 miles Oneida 165 Oswego 171 Niagara 180 680 from Niagara to Cayahoga 140 820 This last distance [from Niagara to...
560To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 16 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to send to the President the copy of a Report he proposes to give in to the H. of Representatives on Monday on the subject of a Petition of John Rogers referred to him. The President will see by mister Hammond’s letter now inclosed, that he has kindled at the facts stated in Th: J’s report on commerce. Th: J. adds the draught of an answer to him, if the President...
561From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 17 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I was the day before yesterday honored with your favor of the 7th. inst. by post and yesterday I received that of the 11th. by express from Colo. Carrington. I will take care to be at Germantown by the 1st. of the month. As the ploughing thro the roads of the month of January would be disagreeable with my own horses, I shall send them back from Fredericksburg, for which place I will set out...
562To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter on the discriminations which have been heretofore made between the troops raised within this state and considered as part of our quota, & those not so considered, was delivered me four days ago. I immediately laid it before the Assembly, who thereupon came to the resolution I now do myself the honor of inclosing you. the resolution of Congress of Mar. 15. 1779 which...
563To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
According to the desire expressed in your letter of June 30. I called together Doctr Thornton, Mr Hallet, Mr Hoben, and a judicious undertaker of this place, Mr Carstairs, chosen by Dr Thornton as a competent judge of the objections made to his plan of the Capitol for the City of Washington. These objections were proposed and discussed on a view of the plans: the most material were the...
564To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you on the 2d which I supposed would find you at Richmond, and again on the 10th which I thought would overtake you at Wilmington. the present will probably find you at Charleston. According to what I mentioned in my letter of the 10th the Vice-president, Secretaries of the Treasury & war & myself met on the 11th. Colo. Hamilton presented a letter from mister...
565To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President a copy of mister Genet’s instructions which he has just recieved from him with a desire that they may be communicated to the legislature. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. In a letter to Jefferson of 20 Dec., Genet enclosed the printed translations...
566To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
The house of Le Coulteux, which for centuries has been the wealthiest of this place, has it in contemplation to establish a great company for the fur trade. they propose that partners interested one half in the establishment should be American citizens, born & residing in the U.S. yet if I understood them rightly they expect that that half of the company which resides here should make the...
567To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 18 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of state thinking it his duty to communicate to the President his proceedings of the present year for transferring to Europe the annual fund of 40,000 Dollars appropriated to the department of state (a report whereof was unnecessary the two former years, as monies already in the hands of our bankers in Europe were put under his orders) Reports That in consequence of the...
568To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 2 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you copies of a letter I have received from the Governor of Virginia and of sundry papers which it covered on the subject of that part of the boundary between that State and the territory of the United States south of the Ohio, which has never yet been authoritatively settled, and to observe that an extension of the same line will form the boundary between the same...
569From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 9 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I received on the 2d. inst the letter of Aug. 23. which you did me the honor to write me; but the immediate return of our post, contrary to his custom, prevented my answer by that occasion. The proceedings of Spain mentioned in your letter are really of a complexion to excite uneasiness, and a suspicion that their friendly overtures about the Missisipi have been merely to lull us while they...
570To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 21 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President, and sends for his perusal a letter he has prepared for the Commissioners, which will inform him also of mister Blodget’s ideas, in the mean time Blodget will be preparing the necessary papers. Th: J. has at length been able to see Dr Wistar about the big bones. they are at his house, always open to inspection. the Doctor is habitually at...
571To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
In Bache’s Aurora of the 9th inst. which came here by the last post a paper appears which, having been confided, as I presume, to but few hands, makes it truly wonderful how it should have got there. I cannot be satisfied as to my own part till I relieve my mind by declaring, and I attest every thing sacred & honorable to the declaration, that it has got there neither thro’ me nor the paper...
572To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 9 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since the Letter which I had the Honor of last addressing to your Excellency, the military movements in this state have scarcely merited Communication except a very late one. The Enemy after leaving Williams burg came directly up James River & landed at City point being the point of Land on the Southern Side of the Confluence of Appamattox & James Rivers; they marched up to Petersburg where...
573From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 2 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you on the 27th. Ult. since which letters are received of Jan. 24. from Mr. Carmichael, and of Jan. 3. and 15. Madrid, and Feb. 6. and 12. Lisbon, from Colo. Humphreys. As these are interesting and may tend to settle suspense of mind to a certain degree I shall trouble you with quotations from some parts and the substance of others. Colo. H . says ‘I learn from...
574To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 2 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your Excellency’s letter by the last packet & thank you for the information it contained on the communication between the Cayahoga & Big beaver. I have ever considered the opening a canal between those two watercourses as the most important work in that line which the state of Virginia could undertake. it will infallibly turn thro the Patowmack all the commerce of Lake Erie...
575To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter from General Greene dated Guilford C. house Feby 10. we are informed that Lord Cornwallis had burnt his own waggons in order to enable himself to move with greater facility & had pressed immediately on. the prisoners taken at the Cowpens were happily saved by the accidental rise of a watercourse which gave so much time as to withdraw them from the reach of the enemy. Lord...
576To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 6 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I cannot but think that to decline the propositions of mister Genet on the subject of our debt, without assigning any reasons at all, would have a very dry and unpleasant aspect indeed. we are then to examine what are our good reasons for the refusal, which of them may be spoken out, & which may not. 1. want of confidence in the continuance of the present form of government, and consequently,...
577To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State, having had under Consideration the Situation of the Citizens of the United States in Captivity at Algiers, makes the following Report thereupon to the President of the United States. When the House of Representatives, at their late Session, were pleased to refer to the Secretary of State, the Petition of our Citizens in Captivity at Algiers, there still existed some...
578From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 10 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the honor of your two letters of Nov. 27. and Feb. 13. both of which have come to hand since my last to you of Dec. 4. and 5. The details you are so good as to give me on the subject of the navigation of the waters of the Patowmac and Ohio are very pleasing to me, as I consider the union of those two rivers as among the strongest links of connection between the eastern...
579To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 January 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of Sep. 26 which was delivered me by Mr Houdon, who is safely returned. he has brought with him the mould of the face only, having left the other parts of his work, with his workmen to come by some other conveiance. Doctor Franklin, who was joined with me in the superintendance of this just monument, having left us before what is called the costume of the...
580To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 13 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to lay before you a communication from Mr Hammond Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty covering a clause of a statute of that country relative to it’s commerce with this, and notifying a determination to carry it into execution henceforward. Conceiving that the determination announced could not be really meant as extensively as the words import, I asked and...
581To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you on the 2d inst. which I presume would overtake you at Richmond. the present I imagine will not overtake you till you get to Wilmington. since my last I have been honoured with your two letters of March 31. and two others of Apr. 4. one of which was circular. a copy of this I sent to the Vice president, and as Colo. Hamilton has asked a consultation on a letter...
582From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The late appointment of a Minister Resident to the Hague, has brought under consideration the condition of Mr. Dumas, and the question, whether he is, or is not, at present in the service of the U.S.? Mr. Dumas, very early in the war, was employed first by Dr. Franklin, afterwards by Mr. Adams, to transact the affairs of the U.S. in Holland. Congress never passed any express vote of...
583To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 8 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
The last week does not furnish one single public event worthy communicating to you: so that I have only to say ‘all is well.’ Paine’s answer to Burke’s pamphlet begins to produce some squibs in our public papers. in Fenno’s paper they are Burkites, in the other Painites. one of Fenno’s was evidently from the author of the discourses on Davila. I am afraid the indiscretion of a printer has...
584V. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 6 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot but think that to decline the propositions of Mr. Genet on the subject of our debt, without assigning any reasons at all, would have a very dry and unpleasant aspect indeed. We are then to examine what are our good reasons for the refusal, which of them may be spoken out, and which may not. 1. want of confidence in the continuance of the present form of government, and consequently...
585To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of state having had under consideration the two letters of Oct. 13. 1789. from the President of the U.S. to mr Gouverneur Morris, & those from mr Morris to the President of Jan. 22. Jan. 22. Apr. 7. 13. May. 1. 29. July 3. Aug. 16. & Sep. 18. referred to him by the President, makes the following Report thereon. The President’s letters of Jan. 22. authorized mr Morris to enter...
586To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 24 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 17th since which I have recieved yours of the 13th. I inclose you extracts from letters received from mister Short in one of the 7th of Feb. mister Short informs me that he has received a letter from mister de Montmorin, announcing to him that the King has named Ternant his minister here. the questions on our tobacco & oil have taken unfavorable turns....
587To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 3 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
In order to enable you to lay before Congress the account required by law of the application of the monies appropriated to foreign purposes through the Agency of the Department of State, I have now the honor to transmit you the two statements No. 1. & 2. herein enclosed, comprehending the period of Two Years preceding the 1st day of July last. The first statement is of the sums paid from the...
588From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of Sep. 26. which was delivered me by Mr. Houdon, who is safely returned. He has brought with him the mould of the face only, having left the other parts of his work, with his workmen to come by some other conveiance. Doctor Franklin, who was joined with me in the superintendance of this just monument, having left us before what is called the costume of...
589To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 31. came to hand yesterday; and a confidential conveiance offering, by the way of London, I avail myself of it to acknolege the receipt. I have seen, with infinite pleasure, our new constitution accepted by 11 states, not rejected by the 12th and that the 13th happens to be a state of the least importance. it is true that the minorities in most of the accepting states have...
590To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
It may seem odd considering the important events which have taken place in this State within the course of ten days past, that I should not have transmitted an account of them to your Excellency. but such has been their extraordinary rapidity & such the unremitted exertions they have required from all concerned in Government that I do not recollect the portion of time which I could have taken...
591From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 7 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
An account presented to me by Mr. John B. Cutting, for expenditures incurred by him in liberating the seamen of the United States in British ports during the impressments which took place under that government in the year 1790, obliges me to recall some former transactions to your mind. You will be pleased to recollect the numerous instances of complaint or information to us, about that time,...
592To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 26 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 8th instant. having found it impracticable to move suddenly the whole Convention troops, british and germans, and it being represented that there coud not immediately be covering provided for them all at fort Frederic we concluded to march of the British first from whom, was the principal danger of desertion and to permit the germans...
593To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 1 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inform the President that mr Madison has just delivered to him the result of his reflections on the question How shall communications from the several states to Congress through the channel of the President be made ? “he thinks that in no case would it be proper to go by way of letter from the Secretary of state: that they should be delivered to the houses either...
594From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 10 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It may seem odd considering the important events which have taken place in this State within the course of ten days past, that I should not have transmitted an account of them to your Excellency, but such has been their extraordinary rapidity and such the unremitted exertions they have required from all concerned in Government that I do not recollect the portion of time which I could have...
595From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 11 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Majr. Galvan as recommended by your Excellency was dispatched to his station without delay, and has been furnished with every thing he desired as far as we were able. The line of expresses formed between us is such as will communicate intelligence from one to the other in twenty three hours. I have forwarded to him information of our disasters in the South as they have come to me. Our...
596From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 30 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Certain proceedings of the Ministers of the United States abroad, on behalf of M. de la Fayette rendering it necessary that I should do myself the honor of addressing you on that subject in order that the proper sanction may be obtained for what is done, I shall be justified by the interest which yourself and our fellow citizens generally feel in the fortunes and sufferings of that Gentleman...
597To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have duly considered the letter you were pleased to refer to me, of the 18th of August from his Excellency Governor [Charles] Pinckney to yourself, together with the draught of one proposed to be written by him to the Governor of Florida claiming the redelivery of certain fugitives from justice who have been received in that Country. The inconveniencies of such a receptacle for debtors and...
598To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 23 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have determined to make the subject of a letter, what, for some time past, has been a subject of inquietude to my mind without having found a good occasion of disburthening itself to you in conversation, during the busy scenes which occupied you here. perhaps too you may be able, in your present situation, or on the road, to give it more time & reflection than you could do here at any...
599To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 23 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday forwarded to you a letter from Colo. Wood informing you of his situation. That Post has been for some time past pretty regularly supplyed, and I hope will continue so to be for some time to come. A Person whose punctuality can be relied on offers to contract for victualling it. If We can agree on terms, and the Assembly will Strengthen our Hands Sufficiently, We think to adopt that...
600From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 31. came to hand yesterday; and a confidential conveiance offering, by the way of London, I avail myself of it to acknolege the receipt. I have seen, with infinite pleasure, our new constitution accepted by 11. states, not rejected by the 12th. and that the 13th. happens to be a state of the least importance. It is true that the minorities in most of the accepting states...