1To Benjamin Franklin from John Paradise and William Jones, 20 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin … (10 vols., Boston, 1836–40), VIII , 366n. Mr. Paradise and Mr. Jones present their best respects to Dr. Franklin. They are just arrived at Paris; and, as they were desired by their worthy friends, Dr. Price and Dr. Priestley, to deliver to him their publications, they have left the books and letters at Passy, where they propose...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Jones, 28 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Jones presents his best respects to Dr. Franklin. Since I had the honour of seeing you last, I amused myself with the enclosed translation of a curious fragment of Polybius; which, as it may possibly afford you also some little amusement, I take the liberty of sending to you. It will be both an honour and pleasure to Mr. Paradise and myself to be charged...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Paradise and William Jones, 1 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Paradise and Mr. Jones present their best respects to Dr. Franklin. Being informed that the King’s passport was absolutely necessary for them to go out of France, they sent to Versailles for that purpose, and have just received the enclosed answer. May they trouble his Excellency to insert in his passport what they seem to want namely, that Mr. Paradise...
4To Benjamin Franklin from William Jones, 17 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Do me the honour to accept the enclosed pieces of poetry, the fruit of a few idle hours: they contain sentiments, which, I trust, you will approve. Your excellent notes on Foster I received, and give you my warmest thanks for them. A few weeks ago I wrote a long letter to you, enclosing one from an amiable young lady, whose venerable father and agreeable...
5To Benjamin Franklin from William Jones, 5 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure yesterday of receiving your message contained in your letter to an amiable young lady. The translation, which you mention, I will do my best to procure, and will send it by the first opportunity. By the word repeat , which you use, I fear you had honoured me with a letter, which I have not received: this I should think a heavy loss, as...
6To Benjamin Franklin from William Jones and John Paradise, 15 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Mr. Paradise and Mr. Jones present their grateful respects to their inestimable friend Dr. Franklin, and beg leave to trouble him with the enclosed letter for Aleppo by the way of Marseilles, requesting him at the same time, if he has not had leisure to write the letters, with which he kindly intended to favour them, to send them by the post directed to...
7To Benjamin Franklin from William Jones, 5 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We have been here above a fortnight, but I am sorry to find that there will not be a good opportunity of embarking for America till the beginning of next month, if so soon. I have been on board all the ships here, that are bound for the land of virtue and liberty , and have given the preference in my own mind to the Annette , which will sail in about 5...
8To Benjamin Franklin from William Jones, 15 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I should have hastened, if an earlier opportunity had presented itself, to impart to you a piece of intelligence, which, I flatter myself, will give you pleasure. My profile will, I hope, have the honour of being hung up in your apartment with those of a family, whom you love and revere, and by whom you are loved and revered with the greatest cordiality. My...
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Jones, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I duly received your obliging Letter of Nov. 15: You will have since learnt how much I was then and have been continually engag’d in public Affairs, and your Goodness will excuse my not having answered sooner. You announc’d your intended Marriage with my much respected Friend Miss Anna Maria, which I assure you gave me great Pleasure, as I cannot conceive a Match...
10XXIV. William Jones to Richard Randolph, 31 May 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I have wrote ye several letters since the commencement of the late unnatural Destructive War, but have not had one line in return. I had however the satisfaction some time since of hearing that ye was well. Peace being now restored, I flatter myself that the Trade between this Country and America will in some degree return into its old Channells, and that the same happy confidence and...
11[To Thomas Jefferson from William Jones, 18 November 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Bristol [ England ], 18 Nov. 1783 . Entry under 10 Apr. 1784 in SJL reads: “received W. Jones.’ Bristol. Nov.18.1783. Richd. Hanson will bring a letter.” Not found.]
12To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Cain, Mark Collins, and William Jones, 9 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: American Philosophical Society; copies: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine We take The Liberty To address your Excellency on a Subject extremely interesting to us & many other persons concern’d in The Trade between This kingdom & The united states of america, The extention or diminution of which we will venture To Say depends...
13[To Thomas Jefferson from William Jones, 31 March 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Bristol, 31 Mch. 1786. Entered in SJL as received “while in London.” Letter not found. See TJ to Francis Eppes, 22 Apr. 1786.]
14To Thomas Jefferson from William Jones, 10 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
This day Col. Smith did me the honour to leave your note ordering a Ferguson’s Perspective Machine which I shall immediately put in hand and have it finished agreeable to the Description, and your amendments.—I am sorry Sir that the hurry of business has prevented me from closing investigating the principle, and action of the Air Pump; but I recollect some time back, that myself and two or...
15From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 5 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
When I had the pleasure of seeing you in London, I mentioned to you that the affairs of Mr. Wayles’s estate were left to be ultimately settled by Mr. Eppes, the only acting executor; that I had left in his hands also and in those of a Mr. Lewis the part of Mr. Wayles’s estate which came to me, together with my own: that they were first to clear off some debts which had been necessarily...
16To Thomas Jefferson from William Jones, 22 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
On account of the hurry of previous business, I have been prevented from finishing your Perspective Machine as soon as I wished, but herewith you receive it, and in a State which I presume will not be unacceptable. I have improved it, by adding the few requisites for a Drawing Board, which make it a complete Instrument. The use of the several parts of the Machine I presume will be obvious to...
17[To Thomas Jefferson from William Jones, 25 February 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Bristol, 25 Feb. 1787 . Recorded in SJL as received 26 Mch. 1787, at Aix-en-Provence. Not found, but see TJ to Jones of 5 Jan. 1787 .]
18To Thomas Jefferson from William Jones, 11 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It is now a long time since I had the honour of a letter from your Excellency, nor have I or my Agent in Virginia receivd a shilling in part of the large debt due from the Estate of the late Mr. Wayles. The ballance of that Account proved, and sent out by Mr. Hanson (including Interest during the War) was £11,158:19:6 beside the Account of the African Ship Consignd Wayles & Randolph the...
19From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 9 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of January 5. of the last year, I informed you that I had received information from the gentlemen to whose management I had left my estate, that the proceeds of a sale they had made, with the profits of the estate to the end of the year 1786. would clear it of other demands so that I might begin the discharge of a debt to Kippen & co. and my part of Mr. Wayles’s debt to you: that...
20From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 10 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, Mr. Parker, being to return to Paris in a few days, furnishes me a safe conveiance for a couple of thermometers for which I have occasion, and which I beg the favor of you to send me by him: the one about 8. inches long graduated from boiling water down to about 20°. of Farenheit below nought; the other not less than 18. inches long, and graduated from boiling water down to...
21To Thomas Jefferson from William Jones, 2 January 178[9] (Jefferson Papers)
Herewith you receive the Two Thermometers, and I believe tolerably consistent with the description contained in the favour of your Letter. Being confined to a small period of time, and that near the most busy of Times, Christmas, I was prevented from paying that peculiar attention to the process in the fabrication of your Thermometers, as I wished. The essential parts, The Tubes and Scales I...
22From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 17 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now to acknolege the receipt of your favors of Octob. 20. and Dec. 20 . My proposition (referred to in your letter of Octob. 20) was to fix times of paiment for my part of Mr. Wayles’s debt on his private account, and that these paiments of my third should discharge me and my property of all responsibility for the remaining two thirds. Without having acceded to my propositions you...
23From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 1 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of May 22. and receive it with great pleasure as it assures me you will write to Mr. Hanson to settle Mr. Wayles’s account with us. I have never seen a copy of that account since the one you transmitted first after his death, nor have Mr. Eppes and Mr. Skipwith explained to me the objections made, fully. One objection I know is to interest, and another to the...
24From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 7 October 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
A delay in receiving my leave of absence has detained me from beginning my voyage to America longer than I expected. I received it the last month and by advice of those skilled in sea voiages I deferred setting out till after the equinox. I am now here, on my way, and expect to embark immediately for Virginia where I hope to find your agent with full powers and dispositions to settle our...
25XXVI. William Jones to Richard Hanson, 30 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed I send you John Powells Affidavit that no Bond was given by F & J as Guarantees for the Prince of Wales’s Cargoe of Slaves consign’d to Mess. Wayles & Randolph. But their letters accepting the consignment &c &c will certainly be sufficient to make the Executors answerable for the Deficiency. You will perhaps think it extraordinary that they should not require a Bond but they said that...
26To Thomas Jefferson from William & Samuel Jones, 9 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
We had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 26th. of Decr. Ulto. and have accordingly sent herewith, one of the best kind of our Portable Orreries . The price of the one sent is 3 Guineas, the additional half guinea is on account of its having a stand, and the plates under the earth and moon more durable, and not so liable to be loose dirty, and useless after a little while as those made of...
27From George Washington to William Jones and the Philadelphia Board of Health, 10 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Among those who commiserate the afflicted Citizens of Philadelphia, I beg you to be persuaded that none do it with more sincerity, or with more feeling than I do—and the poignancy is very much increased by the declaration of the malignancy of the fever, & difficulty of cure. That I may contribute my mite towards the relief of the suffering and unfortunate poor of that place, I enclose two Post...
28From Thomas Jefferson to William Jones, 18 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
In providing an administration for our government I was led by every just consideration to wish that General Smith of Baltimore should undertake the Secretaryship of the navy, and accordingly proposed it to him. after taking time to consider of it, I have this morning recieved a letter from him informing me it is not in his power. in this case I have no hesitation in making the proposition to...
29To Thomas Jefferson from William Jones, 23 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Deeply penetrated with the confidence you are pleased to evince in proposing to me the Secretaryship of the Navy, I entreat you to believe that I have weighed with mature deliberation all the considerations which ought to influence my decision in a case so important to the public interest and the honor of the administration To be associated with private worth and exalted talents such as...
30To James Madison from William Jones, 2 May 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
2 May 1801, Philadelphia. In compliance with request of the subscribers to enclosed recommendation, adds his endorsement of William E. Hũlings for consulate at New Orleans. Hũlings is qualified by experience, political views, “and his mercantile and moral character … for the appointment.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1801–9). Docketed by JM: “Hulings Wm. E. recomd. for Consul at New Orleans by Wm....