1From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Baptiste Le Roy, 13 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I received the honour of yours of Sep. 18. a day or two after the accident of a dislocated wrist had disabled me from writing. I have waited thus long in constant hope of recovering it’s use. But finding that this hope walks before me like my shadow, I can no longer oppose the desire and duty of answering your polite and learned letter. I therefore employ my left hand in the office of scribe,...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Baptiste LeRoy, 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you with many thanks the Volume with D. Bernoulli’s paper which I have read with great satisfaction. I observe that the proposition of M. Bernoulli differs from Mr. Rumsey’s in several essential points. 1. His Water was to be raised by man: Rumsey’s by elastic vapour. 2. Bernoulli ’s water was to act on an inclined plane: Rumsey’s on a direct one. 3. Bernoulli ’s was to act by it’s...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Baptiste Le Roy, 24 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
You may remember that I had the honour of presenting to you at Paris my ingenious countryman Mr. Rumsey , as the discoverer of a simple and advantageous method of propelling vessels thro’ the water by steam. You first mentioned to me the step which Bernoulli had advanced towards the same discovery. Mr. Rumsey is since dead, and the bearer hereof Mr. Barnes , a citizen of the United states,...