1From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 25. had been duly recieved, and I was waiting in the hope I might find a moment of less pressure in which I might answer it somewhat in detail, when that of the 14th. instant came to hand. finding that instead of any relaxation of business it crouds more on me as I approach my departure, I can only indulge myself in a very brief reply. as to the rights of the US. as a...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 14 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Conscious that I have no unworthy motive for giving you so much trouble—I trust you will believe it—and that I shall be thought of no worse, than being too officious, & perhaps, vain. The non-intercourse bill, before Congress, will operate most unfavorably for this Country, and more favorably for England, than the Embargo has done.—for, besides other great injury as to ourselves, it will sweep...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 25 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot apologize as I ought, for the freedom of this letter—and therefore I will not apologize at all—but trust that I shall be forgiven for the sake of the motive; and indeed, I do not doubt it. It cannot, I am entirely convinced, be your wish, that this Country should be involved in the European War—still less, that the Union of these States should be destroyed. Most sincerely believing,...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The pressure of business & of ceremony at the commencement of a session rendered it impossible for me to peruse the inclosed till yesterday evening. I sincerely wish well to whatever may contribute to give growth to the city, under which term I include Georgetown also: for I consider that & Washington as standing in the same relation to the general government, & as constituting on[ly]...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 12 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The attention the City of Washington has constantly experienced at your hands, leads me to hope, that any honest plan which promises advantage to the City, and which can injure nobody, will have your countenance. Washington suffers more than any other place, for want of active capital. Men of money, have not shewn a disposition to move to Washington with their money; nor is it probable they...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 8th . is duly recieved. not having here a copy of the act of Congress for the resale of the lots, it is out of my power to decide [how far that act] [. . .] discretionary power over the sale. but I have by this post written to mr J. T. Mason, our ordinary counsel in the city affairs, to consider & advise mr Monroe as to the extent of our discretionary power over the sale of...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 18th. is duly recieved. before it’s reciept however, the letter from the Commrs. to which it referred had been recieved and answered. it contains some facts I had not been before informed of, and which I am glad to learn; but on a review of the subject I do not percieve that a previous knowlege of them could have changed the general answers I gave to the general questions...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 18 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing that the Comrs. of Washington, were about addressing you on a subject in which I have an Interest, I sent to them a letter, the copy of which I take the liberty to lay before you; as I find they had made up their dispatches before the rect. of the letter. Mr White, the Comr. alluded to, as not Joining in the engagement to the State of Maryland, informs me, that I have mistated his...
9To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 18 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have been for sometime past honored with your letter from Quincy, which afforded great gratification to my feelings, because it convinced me, you thought of me, & was not indifferent to my reputation. My first wish is to Act my part in life, with propriety & honor—my second, that minds like yours, should think I do so Act it. The attack made upon me in the wretched paper of Lyon, which no...
10From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 31 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
On the evening of the 18, a few minutes after my Arrival at this place commenced a violent Equinoxtial Gale of Wind, accompanied with a flood of rain, from the North East, which has continued with very Short intervals to this day and confined me to my house. This is So old fashioned a storm that I begin to hope that nature is returning to her old good nature and good humour and is substituting...