1Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 27 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you sincerely for the letter with which you have honoured me. I did not intend that the Dissertation of Playfair Should be returned, as I possessed another copy; but I am heartily glad, at all events, that I have been the means of contributing to your amusement. The Professor himself would attach no Small importance to the opinion which you have pronounced on his work, and I rejoice in...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 10 December 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I venture to intrude to the extent of a single page on your kind attention. The place of Civil Engineer to the Board of Public Works of Virginia is vacant; and Major S. H. Long, resident in this city and belonging to the United States corps of Topographical engineers, is a candidate for that place. I know that Major Long is held to be eminently qualified for it, by the gentlemen of this city...
3Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 24 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return, a few days ago, from a visit to Washington , I found here your obliging & very interesting letter of the 4 th ins t concerning D r Franklin . I am the more grateful for the opinions and anecdotes you have Communicated, as I know how you are oppressed by the extent of your correspondence. What you have said as to Franklin ’s share in the Preliminaries, and to his relations with...
4Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 21 October 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
When I mentioned to you the Dissertation of Professor Playfair on the progress of Mathematical and Physical Science, you expressed, I think, a wish to have the work. I therefore take the liberty of Sending it to you, and have no doubt but that it will give you particular pleasure, inasmuch as you have a strong relish for Mathematical Studies. In examining an invoice of Books Sent Me from...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 1 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Ralston, son of one of our principal citizens, and a young gentleman distinguished by his intelligence and breeding, may venture to call at Monticello, in the course of this month, in order to pay the homage due from every American youth, to its master. I know him well and esteem him greatly. He has travelled in Europe & has brought back much information of a valuable kind. DLC : Papers of...
6Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 25 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I send the Analectic Magazine for the present month. Circumstances have induced me to decline any further Co-operation in that journal, but Judge Cooper will still continue to supply it with an article from time to time. He has written for it a critique on De Tracy’s Political Economy. I do not know what representation he has made of the book, or whether his studies have been of such a nature...
7Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 15 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have requested the Bookseller to transmit at once by Post to M r Jefferson his Copy of the 2 d Vol: of the American Register & to Correct with a pen the errors of phrase which would have been avoided, if my position had allowed me to revise the proof-sheets more attentively. I trust that M r Jefferson will be pleased with my (too hasty) translation of M r de Marbois’ work. I have the honor...
8Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 6 March 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Ro Walsh J r has the honor to present to M r Jefferson the volume sent herewith , presuming that the scientific and literary intelligence which it Contains, may be of interest to one, who embraces so large a portion of human knowledge in the range of his enquiry. RC ( DLC ); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esq re ”; endorsed by TJ as received 15 Mar. 1817 and so...
9Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 6 July 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Not being able to resist my itch for scribbling, I have undertaken, in concert with Judge Cooper and a gentleman of New York , to contribute to a magazine of which I take the liberty of sending you two Numbers . The first article of each is of my doing , and the “Reflections on the Institutions of the Cherokees” are from the pen of M r F. Gilmer so well known, and so piously attached, to you....
10To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 14 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
You must not suppose, on seeing my handwriting that I mean to importune you. I would not consent that you should suffer any inconvenience like that to which you refer. The remainder of your brilliant and valuable life ought to be exempt from whatever is irksome, and arduous for the bodily powers. I trust and fervently hope that it will prove more considerable and easy than you seem to expect....
11To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 20 June 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been requested by a gentleman, Mr. B. Constant (a Merchman) , who has been for some years, principal of M t Airy College near Germantown, to present him to you as a candidate for the professorship of Modern History, Geography & Languages which is to be included in the faculty of your University. I believe Mr. Constant to be fully capable of teaching the French and Latin, with Modern...
12Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 1 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you another N o of the Analectic magazine ;—not, however, as to a subscriber. It was by no means my intention to subject you to a double tax. That of even looking thro’ such light matter is enough, and, perhaps, the more onerous of the two in your estimation. I have no pecuniary interest in the circulation of this journal. There is no branch of “internal improvement” in which I feel so...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 27 July 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Patterson, President of the A. P. S. communicated to me, a few days ago, a letter from you to him touching the communication of literary & scientific intelligence to M. Julien at Paris. The subject was referred to me as Corres: Sec: of the Society and your recommendation alone would be sufficient to obtain the most regular attention to it on my part. I think it well to mention to you that,...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Walsh, 18 March 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of recommending to your attention, the Prospectus sent herewith. My object in addressing it to you is to induce you either to furnish me with the dates & principal incidents appertaining to your career, or to indicate to me where they may be found recorded with accuracy. I need not say that I wish to be exact & full, in noting the services which you rendered to your...
15Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 8 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
We heard in this city, a few weeks ago, that you were painfully indisposed; and I believe there was no one to whom this information gave more chagrin than to my self. I consider the prolongation of your vigor and life as devoutly to be wished not only on account of your personal merits, and past services to the country, but with a view to the great good which you may still effect. Not being...
16Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 20 April 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
As there is now no likelihood of the resurrection of the American Register, & as I am about to return with my family to Philadelphia , I think it proper to restore to you at once the valuable manuscript of M r de Tracy . It certainly deserves to be well translated, & published among us; but I doubt the sale would defray the expence of printing. The taste for Such profound speculations is...
17Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your acceptable letter of the 19 th Ulto : and the tract of M r Tracy were received in due season. Owing to the attention which I found myself impelled by curiosity to give to the debates of Congress and the arguments of the Supreme Court , I did not find get leisure to Cast my eye over the work of Tracy , until yesterday.
18Robert Walsh to James Madison, 14 February 1831 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to make known to you, Wm. Keating Esqr, a gentleman of this city, who holds an elevated rank as a traveller and savant. He is about to visit the South for scientific purposes, and will be glad to pay his respects to you on his way. His abundant information, excellent temper & refined manners will recommend him to your favor. With profound consideration, Dear Sir, your faithful...
19Robert Walsh to James Madison, 3 July 1831 (Madison Papers)
I wish to introduce into the Encyclopedia Americana, published at Boston, a biographical Sketch of Bishop Madison of Virginia. There is a notice of him in the American edition of Lempriere’s Universal Biography, but it is too slight for my purpose. Perhaps, you may have within reach, some memoranda concerning the periods of his birth, education, & death, his public Stations & labors, & his...
20Robert Walsh to James Madison, 22 April 1836 (Madison Papers)
It is probable that I shall go abroad about the end of next month to divide a twelvemonth between France & England. From patriotic motives & personal attachments I intend to publish in Paris or London from time to time Sketches Biographical & Bibliographical, of the most eminent among the living writers & intelligences of our country. I wish to obtain now, accordingly, suitable memoranda—mere...
21Robert Walsh to James Madison, 4 September 1831 (Madison Papers)
Be pleased to accept my best acknowledgments for the memoranda concerning the excellent Bishop Madison. I found them on my table, on my return from a journey, a few days ago. A sketch has been sent to Boston for the Encyclopædia Americana, but I fear it will be too late. I shall use the materials for another form of publication, & will then return them to you. I unite with the whole mass of...
22Robert Walsh to James Madison, 10 February 1831 (Madison Papers)
The letter in which you directed an alteration of the text of your defence of Mr. Jefferson, did not reach me until after the defence was printed. I regret this circumstance, inasmuch as you wished the change; but I do not think harm has been done. You have ably exonerated the deceased patriot, without giving cause of dissatisfaction to anyone. It gave me particular pleasure to publish the...
23James Madison to Robert Walsh, 22 August 1831 (Madison Papers)
I inclose the answer of Mr. Scott on the subject of Bishop Madison, as just received that you may extract the materials suited to your object. The intellectual power and diversified learning of the Bishop may justly be spoken of in strong terms; and few men have equally deserved the praise due to a model of all the virtues social, domestic, and personal which adorn and endear the human...
24Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 6 February 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Continual ill health for 18. months past has nearly ended the business of letter-writing with me. I cannot however but make an effort to thank you for your vindicae vindiciae Americanæ against Gr. Britain . the malevolence and impertinence of her critics & writers really called for the rod, and I rejoiced when I heard it was in hands so able to wield it with strength and correctness. your work...
25James Madison to Robert Walsh, 15 July 1831 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of was duly recd. Finding that I did not possess the means of complying with its request, I communicated it to Mr. Scott at Richmond who married the daughter of Bishop Madison, and was a Student at Wm. & Mary whilst he was President. Mr. Scott happening to be absent at the time, I have but just recd. his answer. He says that he will be under the necessity of consulting documents &c...
26John C. Payne (for JM) to Robert Walsh, 19 May 1836 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison being entirely disqualified by present indisposition to reply to your letter of the 22d ulto., he desires me to do it for him. I therefore enclose a brief note of the characteristic events of his life, and a list of his printed works now recollected. The list does not of course include his share in the printed proceedings of the old and new Congress & the Convention & Legislature...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 5 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Mar. 18. has been duly recieved. I have had several applications, within a few years past, from different persons, to furnish them with materials for writing my life, and have uniformly declined it on the ground of the decay of my memory, the decline of the powers of body & mind, the heaviness of age, and the crippled state of both my hands, which renders writing the most painful...
28Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 9 January 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned a few days ago only from a long visit to my other home, the Poplar Forest . this must apologise for my long detention of your book. I have read it with great delight. Montucla is so voluminous that we can read him but once. but Playfair has brought into a small compass the leading facts in Mathematical history, and presented them so philosophically to our view, as that the memory...
29James Madison to Robert Walsh, 25 January 1831 (Madison Papers)
Confidential The publication which gave rise to the inclosed observations, having first appeared in the National Gazettes, I ask the favor of you, to allow them the advantage of issuing from the same source & of circulating thro the same channel. I have thought it best to leave them without a name, that no feelings of any sort towards the writer may mingle themselves with the impressions made...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 26 June 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 20 th recommending mr Constant to a place in our University. the best answer I can give will be a statement of facts. our Visitors, at their meeting in April last, finding that our preparations were sfftly matured to fix a day certain for the opening of the instn, proceeded to consider the subject of Professors. deeming it their duty to provide for their...