1To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 6 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Boston, 6 May 1791 . Recommends for consular appointment Samuel Cooper Johonnot, grandson and only male descendant of “the late American Patriot Doctor Cooper.” Johonnot “has had his education in France … has read Law under my direction, and has been about three years at the bar. His conduct has added much to the partiallity I general[ly] feel for my pupils.” He has had a call to Demarara, and...
2From Thomas Jefferson to James Sullivan, 31 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Sullivan and thanks him for the perusal of the pamphlet he was so kind as to send him. He sees with great pleasure every testimony to the principles of pure republicanism; and every effort to preserve untouched that partition of the sovereignty which our excellent constitution has made, between the general and particular governments. He is firmly...
3To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 2 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have a wish to serve the public and to oblige my friend. From the office you hold, and the character you support, I venture to attempt through you to do it. Mr. de L Etombe the consul of france for this state, has rendered himself very agreeable to the people here, and has been from the reduction of the Bastile to the present moment, a friend to liberty and the french revolution: and yet it...
4From Thomas Jefferson to James Sullivan, 8 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I was yesterday honored by the receipt of your letter of June 2. on the subject of Mr. Letombe’s continuance in the consulship, and am sorry to inform you that an appointment had taken place three days before and the Exequatur had issued. I should with pleasure have handed in your testimony in favor of Mr. Letombe had it not been too late; in which I should have been gratified in rendering a...
5To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 12 January 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
This intrusion can do no hurt, if it can do no good. I ask leave to tell you, that your Friends in the New England States, who are many will be much disappointed if you should decline being Vice President. It is true that you have been abused. But this abuse came from a party, who are determined to abuse every one, who will not with them, bow, in adoration to the british monarchy. If the...
6From Thomas Jefferson to James Sullivan, 9 February 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have many acknolegements to make for the friendly [anxiety you are pleased] to express in your letter of Jan. 12. for my undertaking the office to which I have been elected. The idea that I would accept the office of President, but not that of Vice President of the US. had not it’s origin with me. I never thought of questioning the free exercise of the right of my fellow citizens to marshall...
7To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 8 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
One Mr Dearborn of this Town whom I conceive to be a natural Machanic, carries this letter to Philadelphia and hopes to have the honor to deliver it to you. His object is to gain by Patents an exclusive priviledge in several inventions among which are a perpendicular wind-Mill on new & useful principles, a Steelyard calculated to prevent fraud—a Trigonometrical Instrument useful in measuration...
8To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 17 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have, frequently been requested to introduce my friends to you, but have uniformly refused to comply. I have considered your time as the property of your country, and as being too important to be improved a moment on any thing I would propose. I cannot, however, refuse to join with many others in asking your attention to Colonel Lee of Marblehead. I formed an attachment to him on the plains...
9To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 11 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The very great pleasure which I should enjoy, in paying my respects, in person, to Mr. Jefferson, as President of the United States, it is not probable that I shall have very soon, unless you shall give us the honor of a visit to the northward. My son John Langdon Sullivan , who is in the mercantile line, is making a tour to the seat of government; I have requested some of my friends there, to...
10To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 24 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Some time ago the Secretary of State, Mr Madison, requested of me information in regard to the method of ascertaining the boundary between the United States, on their northern angle, and the British dominions. He was lead to this by my having been the agent of our nation in the settlement of the St. croix line. I readily complied with his wishes; and now observe in the Presidents communication...
11From Thomas Jefferson to James Sullivan, 21 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
An accumulation of business which I found on my return here from a short visit to Monticello, has prevented till now acknolegement of your favor of the 14th. Ult. this delay has given time to see the result of the contest in your state, and I cannot but congratulate you on the advance it manifests, & the certain prospect it offers that another year restores Massachusets to the general body of...
12To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 20 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I was exceedingly honoured by your condescention in your letter of the 21st. of may. The mail had scarcely gone from Boston with mine of the 14th. of april before I deeply regretted having troubled you with it. I then knew, on a moments reflection, that there was no vacancy, and that it would be ineligible for me to leave this State. The same friendly feelings which dictated your letter will...
13To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 7 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I should have indulged the pleasure of replying to the letter you condescended to honour me with in June last; but I reflected that there was a vast number, who had a prior claim, and with whom a correspondence with Mr Jefferson, personally, would be more agreeable to him, and I also considered, that the accumilation of business, on the mind of the first magistrate of a nation must be so...
14To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 21 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose to you a hasty sketch of our state politics. The sufferings I have endured would not have been oppressive if my wife, and my only son in America did not feel more than I do. When I say my only son, I mean the only one now in America attached my politics. My oldest son is with the other party and is more bitter against me than any of the federalist, with a few exceptions. My situation...
15To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 21 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
By some letters from Washton lately recieved it appears that there is great interest felt in our state election, among the gentlemen near the seat of government. The republicans have made every possible fair exertion. There will be 80000 votes, 70000 are already known, in which the federal candidate has 1200 more than the republican candidate. There are some scattering votes. If there is a...
16From Thomas Jefferson to James Sullivan, 26 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Apr. 21. came to hand at Washington while I was in the hurry of preparation for departure to this place on a visit of three or four weeks for recreation as well as private calls. the current of votes, after the date of your letter, set so favorably for republicanism that I thought it highly probable the final decision would be such. and so I still expect, for altho’ the issue is...
17To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 20 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The letters I have presumed to intrude on you have been too much filled with egotism, and I rely on it that they are reduced to a state of illegebility soon after you have the trouble of them; and you may rely on it that you will have no more trouble in this way. A man of strong feelings wounded with the poisoned arrows of malice and calumny will be troublesome, but it ought to be restrained....
18To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 27 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
On what we call western circuit, and whence I returned yesterday, I have had intercourse with Lincoln, Bidwell and other friends of the national administration. We all realize the pain and anxiety incident to your exalted Station; and would by no means add to the burdens you are destined to bear, by letters, from whence you can derive no advantage. The situation of the national government in...
19To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 22 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Leonard Jarvis Esqr. who has been in respectable public life in Massachusetts, is going to the capital on business, and has conceived that a letter from me may have a tendency to procure him the notice of the President of the United States; to whose administration he and his connexions are warmly attached. I do not feel willing to injure myself so much as to say that a recommendation from me...
20To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 3 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The station to which I have been recently called by my fellow citizens encourages me to believe that the intrusion of a letter will not be offensive to the cheif magistrate of the nation. My general Sentiments on our public concerns will appear from the press, in the gazette of tomorrow, in form of a communication made this day, by me, as Governor, to both branches of our legislature. I...
21To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 3 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In days of great adversity when I was surrounded inveterate enemies your notice and sentiments inspired me with firmness and gave me support. They are vanquished—They are fawning at my feet—The serpent is torpid with the cold, looking with but little hope for the return of the scorching beams of federalism. In the days of my keen anguish I intruded upon you one imprudent letter at least, will...
22From Thomas Jefferson to James Sullivan, 19 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In acknoleging the reciept of your favors of the 3d. instant I avail myself of the occasion it offers of tendering to yourself, to mr Lincoln & to your state, my sincere congratulations on the late happy event of the election of a republican Executive to preside over it’s councils. the harmony it has introduced between the Legislature & Executive branches, between the people & both of them, &...
23From Thomas Jefferson to James Sullivan, 20 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In one of your letters of the 3d. inst. you say that ‘in the days of your keen anguish you intruded on me one imprudent letter,’ which you ask me to consign to the fire. I certainly had never thought any letter recieved from you was of that description; and on revising them should not have been able to fix on the one you viewed as such, had I not found, in a letter of June 20. 1805. the...
24From Thomas Jefferson to James Sullivan, 31 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure to inclose to your Excellency a Report of the Secretary of State on the subject of your letter of the 18th. ult. and to renew to you the assurances of my constant & high respect and esteem. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
25To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 2 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The mail that carries this has a letter to the war department on the public concerns of this state. I am very sensible of the impropriety of addressing letters to you: but there are things which it is necessary for you to know, that cannot be communicated through the heads of departments. As no answer is expected to this, I hope the casting your eye over it will not add too much to the burden...
26To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 8 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to you, a Resolution of both Houses of the Legislature of this Commonwealth, requesting me to apply to the Government of the Union in behalf of the unfortunate Claimants, under the Act of the State of Georgia of 1795 to part of their western Territory, who are Citizens of this State—I cannot but flatter myself, that in communicating this Representation to both...
27From Thomas Jefferson to James Sullivan, 18 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 8th. instant, covering, at the request of the General court of Massachusets, a Memorial to the Senate & House of Representatives of the US. on behalf of Benjamin Hichborn & others, with a desire that I would communicate & recommend the same to both Houses of Congress. I should avail myself with particular pleasure of every occasion of doing what would be...
28To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 18 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I am aware that I am guilty of an impropriety in giving you the Trouble of this letter. Since the death of my friend Doctor Jarvis there have been many applications to me for letters on this score; my answer has been uniform, that I had no authority to trouble the President of the United States on this subject; but I cannot deny my name to Doctor Waterhouse on the Occasion. I know him to be...
29To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 7 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
We are, of course, in a state of doubt and uncertainty in regard to a war with Great Britain here; nor do I find that you have much more knowledge on the subject at Washington. Should such a war happen we have much to do in this state to prepare the ship for action. The decks must be cleared. There is no way to carry on a war with that vigour which is necessary to success without the decisive...
30To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 10 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know but that I have been incautious in Mentioning Dr Waterhouse to you as surgeon for the hospital here. I beleived him qualified but knew that a great number the faculty were opposed to him as they had been to Dr Jarvis, but beleived the opposition to be founded in politics. I am now apprehensive that his Skill in surgery is not such as I had supposed and conceive that any opinion I...