1To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 15 October 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel sensibly the want of some papers which I left in a little trunk under the care of Mr. Short, whom I presume is in Italy, therefore Sir I take the liberty of requesting that you will do me the favour to have it put in some early channel of conveyance to me at No. 66 New bond Street. A private opportunity probably may offer. With best wishes for your Health I remain my Dr. Sir with much...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 6 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 6 Dec. 1788. Encloses a letter which he asks TJ to forward to William Short; asks him also to look over Short’s mail to see whether there is among his letters one with a “superscription” which agrees with “the Direction herein transmitted” this request arises from his having “recently received advices from Virginia, of a letter being forwarded under cover to Mr. Short, inclosing...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 14 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment received your favor of the 6th. inst. and have examined the several letters to Mr. Short. There is evidently but one among them which contains a letter within it, and the Superscription of that one is in quite a different handwriting from the one you inclosed for him. It is a letter, probably from Virginia, which has passed thro’ the hands of M. de Crevecoeur at New York,...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 February 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 1 Feb. 1789 . Intends to embark for Virginia this month or next, and asks TJ’s commands, as well as whether he intends to embark in the spring, “that I may bear the pleaseing intelligence to your friends on Appomatox,” who were well in November but reported the sickliest autumn in memory. Crops were plentiful in Virginia last year, and “what is much to her benifit and Credit,...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 1 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am able at length to snatch a moment to answer your favor of the 1st. ult. I am in hopes of being able to sail from Havre about the latter part of April. This however depends on the arrival of my congé which I have not yet received. I am very anxious to get out so early as to enable me to return between the autumnal equinox and commencement of cold weather. I shall hope to have the pleasure...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 November 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 1 Nov. 1789 . He thinks it probable that TJ has heard through Short “of the almost unparalleled misfortunes, which through an act of Providence in one instance and the bankruptcy of a man in another, are likely to deprive me of a handsome Competence … made by prudence and industry.” An “evil of no less magnitude” is that he is likely to “be thrown out of all Connexions in business.”...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 8 January 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Hors-du-Monde, 8 Jan. 1790 . From his conversation with TJ here and “from what passed between you and our common friend Colo. Tom, on the subject of my pretensions” to a consulate, Skipwith cherishes “a pleasing expectation of your intercession…with the President and Senate.” Hopes TJ will help him obtain such a post or “some employment, that may place me out of the reach of idleness, or...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 23 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
You will have recieved by the last post your commission of Consul for Martinique, which will include the agencies of Ste. Lucie, Tobago, and Cayenne, the agents to be appointed by yourself of such persons natives or foreigners, resident there, or who may go there, as you please. Any reasonable delay of your departure which may be necessary for you to arrange your affairs here will be allowed...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 18 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 30th. Ulto. I did myself the pleasure to address your Excellency, expressing the hope I daily entertained of receiving the instructions necessary to my entering into the office of Consul for the United States at this Port &c. &c.; and likewise informing of the awkward situation in which I may stand with the Governor, in regard to the exequatur required by the 1st. Art. of the convention...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 10 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 30th. Ulto. I did myself the pleasure to address your Excellency, expressing the hope I entertained of receiving the instructions necessary to my entering into office, and likewise informing of the aukward situation in which I may stand in regard to the exequatur required by the 1st. art. of the convention existing between his M. C. Majesty and the U. States, should government here not...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 10 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Owing to the long and obstinate continuance of the unhappy disputes of Martinique, and finding myself on that account no less than for want of instructions from you, unable to render much service in my official capacity, I have within the last fortnight been induced to make this my place of residence, meaning to await the reestablishment of order in that distracted island and likewise the...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 20 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave again to remind your Excellency that in none of the french colonies have they received from the Court of France (officially) the Convention with the United States respecting Consuls &c.—therefore no one of their Governors or Commandants can grant me the necessary exequateur or receive me in any form. With Respect I have the honour to be Your Excellys Mo Obt. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD );...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
St. Pierre, 1 May 1791 . The lack of an exequatur and tardiness of Congress in framing instructions or providing for consuls, the troubles of this island and consequent losses in commerce, added to the exhausted state of his finances, have driven him to the mortifying resolution to return to America until the obstacles can be removed and Congress “think proper to regulate the Consular Powers...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 24 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter will be handed you by the person who goes to Martinique as agent for those interested in the Sloop Jane of Baltimore lately commanded by Captain Woodrough. This vessel, according to the evidence handed me, appears to have been taken at Sea off the island of Martinique, carried into the port of Cazenaviere of that island, the cargo disposed of under authority of the Government, and...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 20 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 20 July 1791 . He will not repeat reasons for leaving Martinique given in two letters written from there, being assured TJ will understand that his return as consul cannot take place with propriety or justice to himself until France shall communicate the Convention and until Congress provides for the support and authority of consuls. He has left in Martinique a capable representative...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 31 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 20th. has come duly to hand, and with my congratulations on your safe arrival in your own country, am sorry to mix expressions of concern that your position in the West Indies has turned out the contrary of your expectations. The events indeed which have happened in France and it’s dependances are such as could not have been calculated on. But whilst I participate sincerely...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 4 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 4 Aug. 1791 . He encloses a packet lately received from the governor of Martinique, the purpose of which is to solicit from “the … Cincinnatus their honorary badge.” If granted, he will be happy to convey it to the governor. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD , T/431); endorsed by TJ as received 11 Aug. 1791 and so recorded in SJL .
18To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
For some time back I had been looking forward to the agreeable event of your arrival at Monticello that there above all other places I might have the pleasure of paying you my respects in person. This satisfaction I am now compelled to defer untill your return to Philadelphia, being called to Norfolk by some little business of such urgency as will not indulge me with delay. The same reasons...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 21 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeably to your request I have called on Colo. Smith and afforded him all the information which, I am possessed of, respecting the seisure of the Sloop Jane.—I now do myself the pleasure to subjoin the names of the few citizens of the U. States, who at present reside in the french W. Islands. Say. Geo. Patterson, St. Pierre M/que from Balto., brother of Mr. Patterson Director of the Bank....
20From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 26 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 5th. inst. and wish I could give a more satisfactory answer to it. I do not believe our Consuls in the French islands will be recognised by the government of France very shortly. Should the treaty they have proposed, come to any thing, perhaps we may get this matter determined expressly. The Consular bill has never yet been taken up by the house of...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 28 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after my late address from Norfolk I embarked for this Island and have been now some weeks arrived. Government here continuing still without any official communication from their Court touching the reception of a Consul from the United States places me in my former state of suspense; yet whenever the obstacles which keep me out office shall be removed, I shall with pleasure undertake to...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 18 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The death of my late Partner, my want of health in the West Indies and the still existing obstacles to my recognition of Consul from the United States to Martinique, have driven me to the necessity of taking a final leave of that Island. Under the many inconveniences naturally resulting from so many disadvantages, my present Situation will not be problemetical—and having in many preceeding...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 12 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
In order to save the remnant of a little property, which, from the Situation of Martinique, I have been obliged to leave behind me, I am under the necessity of returning once more to that unhappy Island. What the posture of affairs there, may be on my arrival I can hardly hazard a conjecture; should, however, its Inhabitants have been brought under obedience to the reigning Government of...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 6 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly received your favor of Feb. 12. and knowing my situation you will be at no loss to ascribe the delay of my answer to the pressure of other business. I now inclose you a letter for M. de Rochambeau. I have not applied for one from the French minister lest the circumstance of his being recalled should excite some delicacies about writing official letters. We are told that a Mr. Genest may...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
It is now a week since the Vessel in which I took my passage from Boston, came into this place, (a small port in the Windward part of the Island) where is exhibited the most terrible scene of distress and Confusion immaginable. About a month ago it seems that the Planters were advised of the arrival of the British fleet, at Barbados, and at the same time they received Assurance that the object...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Many details of the disaster which have befallen this devoted Island have doubtless reached you e’er this—and in no one can any great exaggeration have been made of the waste and horrors mutually committed by the two contending parties. The Royalists, however, are entirely driven from the Island with the British armament at their heels. Whether they will repeat their visit or not after the...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 17 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I leave to Mr. Barlow , who writes to you by Mr. Lee the confidential bearer of his and this letter, to trace the rise and progress of the present alarming indisposition of this Government towards ours; but being more frightened than perhaps my friend Mr. Barlow is at the dangers which threaten the peace and safety of my Country, I am irrisistably led to express my fears to the man of my...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 30 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot let pass the opportunity by Mr. Dupont, of saying in this private manner some things which I am desirous of communicating to you, my dear Sir, but which I should feel an awkwardness in making the subject of a letter to the Department of State.—I shall in doing this expect your indulgence; perhaps, because I have so often experienced it. In a sketch here inclosed I have hazarded, for...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 6 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer of this Mr. Thos. L. Halsey , a Gentleman of very distinguished connexions in the State of Rhode Island informed me of his intention of waiting on you soon after his return to his native Country, and having expressed his design of soliciting a grade in the army of the U.S. is willing to charge himself with a letter of recommendation from me, with others from several of your friends...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 4 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I am about to ask from you the execution of a troublesome commission, without being able to encourage it’s undertaking by an assurance that it may not be repeated hereafter. the meanness of quality, as well as extravagance of price of the French wines which can be purchased in this country have determined me to seek them in the spot where they grow. when in France I visited all the remarkeable...