51From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 23 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The Agricultural society of Paris has had a plough presented to them which, performing equally good work, requires but one half the force to draw it necessary for what had till then been deemed the best plough in France. in their zeal for improvement they sent one of them to England, and have sent me one, lately arrived at New York, & ordered round to Richmond where it will be open for...
52From John Adams to John Taylor, 9 June 1814 (Adams Papers)
Suppose another case which is not without examples; a family of Six daughters. Four of them are not only beautiful, but Serious and discrete Women. Two of them are not only Ugly, but ill tempered and immodest. Will either of the two, have an equal chance, with any one of the four, to attract the Attention of a Suitor, and obtain an husband of Worth, respectability and consideration, in the...
53Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 10 May 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just returned from my other home in Bedford where I pass much of my time. on consulting with my grandson he informs me that the elder daughter of mrs Nicholas , living with her, from her extraordinary good sense & discretion has the whole affairs of the family under her care, and that it is only on consultation with her that the best application of your favor can be decided on, and that...
54Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 17 June 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
My grandson lately returned from Warren where he had explanations on the subject of your letters, with Sarah Nicholas the eldest daughter and Mentor of the family. she acknoleged the distresses of the family, and agreed to accept what was proposed on two conditions. 1. that the money comes not from myself. 2. that they should be permitted to repay it, if ever in their power. as to the 1 st I...
55From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 4 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you mr Martin’s patent. a patent had actually been made out on the first description, and how to get this suppressed and another made for a second invention without a second fee was the difficulty. I practised a little art in a case where honesty was really on our side & nothing against us but the rigorous letter of the law, and having obtained the 1st. specification, and got the...
56From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 12 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 7th came to my hands about an hour ago by Mr Garrison with whom I have had a good deal of conversation and think his scheme, if it can be brought to bear, is a very good one—He will relate to you the substance of our discourse, which will save me a recital of it. I have only to request the favor of you to give it yr aid and that you will be so good as to fix a compensation...
57From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 6 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I had just recieved from New York the box containing mr Martin’s model of the hand-threshing machine, & the drill, when your favor of Mar. 25. came to hand, and I had nearly compleated a drawing to be filed in the Secretary of state’s office. I suspend further proceeding till I hear from you. in the mean time mr Bingham had communicated to me a model which he had recieved from England. I think...
58From James Madison to John Taylor, 20 September 1793 (Madison Papers)
I informed you from Albemarle of the step taken with regard to the paper from you. Our distant friend under whose perusal it passed is quite in raptures with it, and augurs the best consequences from it, if its appearance be well timed. He thinks the present in every respect unpropitious, and that under any circumstances the critical moment would be about two or three weeks before the first...
59From John Adams to John Taylor, 22 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
In my Apology, if you like that Word better than “Defence” I passed over England for more reasons than One. I very well knew, that there had been no nation that had produced so many materials for the illustration of my System and confirmation of my Principles as that in which I wrote. There was antiently no People, but Serfs; no House of Commons. The Struggles between Kings, Barrons and...
60From John Adams to John Taylor, 27 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
When Superior genius gives greater Influence in Society than is possessed by inferiour Genius or a mediocrity of Genius, i.e than by the ordinary level of Men, this Superiour Influence, I call natural Aristocracy. This cause you Say is “fluctuating.” What then? It is Aristocracy Still while it exits. And is not Democracy “fluctuating” too? Are the Waves of the Sea, or the Winds of the Air or...
61From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, 5 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received Your two favors of the 30th of July and 2d Instant with the papers—and thank you for the same and the intelligence transmitted. As I am persuaded your best endeavours will be directed to obtain all the information you can respecting the Enemy—I shall not trouble you with any particular request upon the present occasion—except with one, which is, that if at any time the...
62From John Adams to John Taylor, 9 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have received from Mr. John M Carter, Your “Inquiry,” in 656 Pages, neatly bound. If I had any rational Expectation in my 79th. Year, of Life health, unclouded Eyes and unparralysed fingers, for 20 Years to come: I would chearfully engage with you, in an analitical Investigation of all those Subjects, which you Say, have amused Some of your Leisure hours for 20 Years past. The Field is vast....
63From James Madison to John Taylor, ca. 1 April 1799 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 1 April 1799. Mentioned in John Taylor to Creed Taylor, 10 Apr. 1799 (ViU: Creed Taylor Papers). JM agrees to be a candidate for the Virginia General Assembly. It may have been in this letter that JM requested Taylor to ask Edmund Pendleton to return the letters JM wrote him from Congress (see John Taylor to JM, 4 Mar. 1799 , and n. 1; and Edmund Pendleton to JM, 12 May...
64From Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Taylor, [29 October 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Great Egg Harbor Landing, New Jersey, October 29, 1799. The description of this letter in the dealer’s catalogue reads: “… is sending clothing to Taylor by pilot boat. ‘I am getting sick & cant say any more.’” Letter not found. ] ALS , sold by G. A. Baker & Company, Inc., May 4, 1943, Item 25. When this letter was written, H and Brigadier General Louis Le Bèque Du Portail were at Great Egg...
65From John Adams to John Taylor, 9 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
I am Still upon Birth and my Seventh Argument is. 7. It was a Custom among the Greeks and Romans; probably in all civilized Nations to give Names to the Castles Palaces and Mansions, of their Consulls Dictators and other Magistrates Senators &c This practice is still followed in England France Etc. Among the Ancients the distinctions of Extraction were most commonly marked by the Spots on...
66From John Adams to John Taylor, 16 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
It is unnecessary to discuss, the nice distinctions, which follow in the first page of your respectable Volume; between Mind, Body and Morals. The Essence or Substance of Mind and Body, of Soul and Body of Spirit and Matter; are wholly witheld as yet, from our knowledge; from the penetration of our Sharpest faculties; from the keenest of our inscision knives; the most amplifying of our...
67From John Adams to John Taylor, 19 April 1814 (Adams Papers)
That Aristocracies, both ancient and modern have been “variable and artificial” as well as natural and unchangeable, Mr. Adams knows as well as Mr. Taylor, and has never denied or doubted. That “they have all proceeded from moral causes” is not so clear; Since many of them appear to proceed from physical causes; many from immoral causes; many from Pharisaical, jesuitical and Machiavilian...
68From John Adams to John Taylor, 5 March 1815 (Adams Papers)
A few Words more concerning the Characters of litterary Men. What Sort of Men have had the Conduct of the Presses in the United States for the last thirty Years? In Germany, in England in France in Holland, tho Presses even the Newspapers have been under the direction of learned Men. How has it been in America? How many Presses, how many Newspapers have been directed by Vagabonds fugitives...
69From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 26 November 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
We formerly had a debtor & creditor account of letters on farming; but the high price of tobo. which is likely to continue for some short time, has tempted me to go entirely into that culture and in the mean time my farming schemes are in abeyance, and my farming fields at nurse against the time of my resuming them. but I owe you a political letter. yet the infidelities of the post office and...
70From John Adams to John Taylor, 12 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
A Word or two more upon Birth. 10thly. Birth is naturally and necessarily, and inevitably So connected and blended with Property Fame, Power, Education, Genius, Strength Beauty, Learning Science Taste, Figure Air, Attitudes, Movements &c &c &c that it is often impossible and always difficult to Seperate them. Two Children are born on the Same day, of equal Genius; one the Son of Mr Jefferson,...
71From George Washington to Major John Taylor, 28 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Previous to yours of the 26th inst: I had received directions from the Board of War to send part, or if they could be spared, the whole of Colo. Hazens Regt to Albany. Their numbers are so reduced that it is not worth while to make a division, and I therefore desire that you will immediately march with all that are fit for duty. As your nearest Rout will be thro’ Bethlehem you will cross the...
72From John Adams to John Taylor, 16 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
Give me leave to add a few Words, on this Topick. I remember the Time when three Gentlemen, Thomas Hancock, Charles Apthorp and Thomas Green, the three most oppulent Merchants in Boston, all honourable virtuous and humane Men if united could have carried any Election, almost unanimously in the Town of Boston. Harrington, whom I read forty or fifty Years Ago and Shall quote from Memory, being...
73From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 6 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your ingenious friend, mr Martin, formerly made for me a drill of very fine construction. I am now very desirous of sending one of them to the Agricultural society of Paris, with whom I am in correspondence, & who are sending me a plough, supposed to be of the best construction ever known. on trial with their best ploughs, by a dynamometer, it is drawn by from one half to 2/3 of the force...
74Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 18 August 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 3 d came to hand duly. soon after that date you would recieve mine of the same date , relieving all doubt. the letter of mine which you mention as having seen in the newspapers was placed there by my consent. I am pelted for it in that vehicle and in private letters complaining of the use made of it by the Nat l Intelligencer and the federal papers, I inclose you a copy of my...
75From James Madison to John Taylor, ca. 27 August 1793 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 27 August 1793. Mentioned in JM to Jefferson, 27 Aug. 1793 , and JM to Taylor, 20 Sept. 1793 . Acknowledged in Taylor to JM, 25 Sept. 1793 . Written from Monroe’s home near Charlottesville, the letter urges Taylor to organize a public meeting in Caroline County, suggests resolutions supporting the French alliance, and proposes that Edmund Pendleton patronize the measure....
76From John Adams to John Taylor, 18 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
“Knowledge” you Say invented Alienation, and became the natural Enemy of Aristocracy. This “Invention” of “Knowledge” was not very profound or ingenious. There are hundreds in the Patent office more brilliant. The Right, Power and Authority of Alienation is essential to Property. If I own a snuff box, I can burn it in the Fire, cast it into a Salt pond crush it to attoms under a Wagon Wheel,...
77From John Adams to John Taylor, 14 August 1814 (Adams Papers)
In your fourth page you “are unable to discover, In Oour form of Government, any resemblance of Monarchy, Aristocracy or Democracy.” “as defined by ancient Writers, and by Mr Adams himself.” As these Words are technical Terms, whose meaning is as well defined both by ancients and moderns, as the Words, Point, Line, Surface, or Solid, in Geometry, I Shall nor turn over Volumes to quote...