1To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknolege the honor of your two letters of Nov. 27 and Feb. 13 both of which have come to hand since my last to you of Dec. 4 and 5. the details you are so good as to give me on the subject of the navigation of the waters of the Patowmac and Ohio are very pleasing to me, as I consider the union of those two rivers as among the strongest links of connection between the eastern &...
2From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 10 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to acknolege the honor of your two letters of Nov. 27. and Feb. 13. both of which have come to hand since my last to you of Dec. 4. and 5. The details you are so good as to give me on the subject of the navigation of the waters of the Patowmac and Ohio are very pleasing to me, as I consider the union of those two rivers as among the strongest links of connection between the eastern...
3To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received at this place the honour of your letters of Oct. 13 and Nov. 30 and am truly flattered by your nomination of me to the very dignified office of Secretary of state: for which permit me here to return you my humble thanks. Could any circumstance seduce me to overlook the disproportion between it’s duties & my talents it would be the encouragement of your choice. but when I...
4From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 15 December 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received at this place the honour of your letters of Oct. 13 and Nov. 30. and am truly flattered by your nomination of me to the very dignified office of Secretary of state: for which permit me here to return you my humble thanks. Could any circumstance seduce me to overlook the disproportion between it’s duties and my talents it would be the encouragement of your choice. But when I...
5To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received the letter of the 21st of January with which you have honored me, and no longer hesitate to undertake the office to which you are pleased to call me. your desire that I should come on as quickly as possible is a sufficient reason for me to postpone every matter of business, however pressing, which admits postponement. still it will be the close of the ensuing week before I...
6From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 14 February 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received the letter of the 21st. of January with which you have honored me, and no longer hesitate to undertake the office to which you are pleased to call me. Your desire that I should come on as quickly as possible is a sufficient reason for me to postpone every matter of business, however pressing, which admits postponement. Still it will be the close of the ensuing week before...
7I. Plans presented to Washington, [26 March 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Establishment for Dollars A Minister Plenipotentiary. His salary 11,250 his Secretary 1,350 postage, couriers &c. 400 Outfit, suppose it to happen once in 7. years will be equal to an annual sum of 1,607 14,607 A Chargé des affaires. His salary 4,500 his Secretary 1,350 postage, couriers &c. 400 Outfit, as above
8To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 1 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inform the President that mr Madison has just delivered to him the result of his reflections on the question How shall communications from the several states to Congress through the channel of the President be made ? “he thinks that in no case would it be proper to go by way of letter from the Secretary of state: that they should be delivered to the houses either...
9From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, [1 April 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inform the President that Mr. Madison has just delivered to him the result of his reflections on the question How shall communications from the several states to Congress through the channel of the President be made ? ‘He thinks that in no case would it be proper to go by way of letter from the Secretary of state : that they should be delivered to the houses...
10To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 5 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jefferson has the honor of inclosing for the perusal of the President rough draughts of the letters he supposes it proper to send to the court of France on the present occasion. he will have that of waiting on him in person immediately to make any changes in them the President will be so good as to direct, and to communicate to him two letters just received from mr Short. AL , DNA : RG 59,...
11From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 5 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honor of inclosing for the perusal of the President rough draughts of the letters he supposes it proper to send to the court of France on the present occasion. He will have that of waiting on him in person immediately to make any changes in them the President will be so good as to direct, and to communicate to him two letters just received from Mr. Short. RC ( DNA : RG...
12Proclamation of the Consular Convention of 1788, [9 April 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation Whereas a Convention for defining and establishing the functions and privileges of the respective Consuls and vice-Consuls of his most Christian Majesty and of the said United States, was concluded and signed by the Plenipotentiaries of his said most Christian Majesty and of the said United States, duly and respectively...
13To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 24 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Constitution having declared that the President “shall nominate, & by & with the advice & consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors other public ministers & consuls” the President desires my opinion whether the Senate has a right to negative the grade he may think it expedient to use in a foreign mission, as well as the person to be appointed? I think the Senate has no right to...
14To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 29 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jefferson has the honor to submit to the President draughts of letters to mr Short and the Marquis de la Luzerne. as to the former he asks his attention to the paragraph respecting the devices for the Medal. he hopes he will change and accomodate the letter to M. de la Luzerne to his own ideas of the part that gentleman acted, & of the length proper to go in expressing our sense of it. the...
15From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 29 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honor to submit to the President draughts of letters to Mr. Short and the Marquis de la Luzerne. As to the former he asks his attention to the paragraph respecting the devices for the Medal.—He hopes he will change and accomodate the letter to M. de la Luzerne to his own ideas of the part that gentleman acted, and of the length proper to go in expressing our sense of it....
16To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
The state of Georgia having granted to certain companies of individuals a tract of country within their chartered limits, whereof the Indian right has never yet been acquired, with a proviso in the grant which implies that those individuals may take measures for extinguishing the Indian right under the authority of that government, it becomes a question How far this grant is good? A society...
17To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
a letter is received from Mr Dumas, begun Dec. 4 & ending Jan. 26. the only interesting passage is the following “I have the satisfaction to be able to testify that the American funds are in great favor with the monied men of this country. I have seen them sell from one to another the obligations of the Congress of the first loan at 100.¾ per cent; those of the last of 1788. at 99 to 100....
18From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, [3 May 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
A letter is received from Mr. Dumas, begun Dec. 4 and ending Jan. 26. The only interesting passage is the following: ‘I have the satisfaction to be able to testify that the American funds are in great favor with the monied men of this country. I have seen them sell from one to another the obligations of the Congress of the first loan at 100. ¾ per cent; those of the last of 1788. at 99 to 100....
19II. The Opinion of Thomas Jefferson, 3 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The accounts of the souldiers of Virginia and North Carolina having been examined by the proper officer of government, the balances due to each individual ascertained, and a list of these balances made out, this list became known to certain persons before the souldiers themselves had information of it, and those persons, by unfair means, as is said, and for very inadequate considerations...
20Memorandum of Thomas Jefferson, 7 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
North Carolina. District judge. Colo. Davie is recommended by Steele. Hawkins sais he is their first law character. Brown sais the same. Samuel Spencer. Steele sais he is a good man, one of the present judges, not remarkeable for his abilities, but deserves well of his country. Bloodworth sais Spencer desires the appointment. but sais nothing of him. John Stokes. Steele names him at his own...
21Recommendations for Federal Offices in North Carolina and the Southwestern Government, [before 7 June 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
District Judge District attorney. South-Western government Governor. Secretary. Judges. Attorney. MS ( DLC : Applications for Office under Washington); entirely in TJ’s hand; undated but docketed in Lear’s hand: “From the Secretary of State June 7th. 1790.” Dft ( DLC : TJ Papers, 59: 10192); also in TJ’s hand and undated, varying in phraseology but not in substance except in the instances...
22To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose for the President’s perusal a letter from Mr Gouverneur Morris on the subject of our affairs in Amsterdam; the observations are worthy being known to the President. Mr Howell of Rhode island has imposed on him the duty also of putting into his hands the letter & papers from him. the printed papers are merely to prove his dispositions enounced in the...
23From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 15 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose for the President’s perusal a letter from Mr. Gouverneur Morris on the subject of our affairs in Amsterdam; the observations are worthy being known to the President. Mr. Howell of Rhode island has imposed on him the duty also of putting into his hands the letter and papers from him. The printed papers are merely to prove his dispositions enounced in the...
24To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
(Translation.) Means which the Congress may make use of in order to force the Regencies of Barbary to make Peace with them. The Flag of the United States cannot be displayed ’till after the Congress shall have made peace with the Regencies of Barbary. The consideration of the advantages which the anglo-americans would derive from this navigation, have already induced the Congress to attempt...
25To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th. Jefferson had a conference yesterday with mister Madison on the subject recommended by the President. he has the honor of inclosing him some considerations thereon, in all of which he believes mister Madison concurred. he has sketched the heads only, as the President’s mind will readily furnish the developement of each. he will wait on the president at one aclock on some other business,...
26Enclosure: Jefferson’s Opinion of American Conduct in an Anglo-Spanish War, 12 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
Heads of consideration on the conduct we are to observe in the war between Spain & Gr. Britain and particularly should the latter attempt the conquest of Louisiana & the Floridas. The dangers to us, should Great Britain possess herself of those countries. she will possess a territory equal to half ours, beyond the Missisipi she will seduce that half of ours which is on this side the Missisipi...
27Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 12 July 1790 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Abstract. 12 July 1790, New York. Secretary Jefferson reports to Washington that he “had a conference yesterday with mr. Madison on the subject recommended by the President. He has the honor of inclosing him some considerations thereon, in all of which he believes mr. Madison concurred.” The enclosure, in Jefferson’s hand, delineates “the conduct we are to observe in the war between Spain and...
28I. Secretary of State to the President, enclosing Opinion, 12 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson had a conference yesterday with Mr. Madison on the subject recommended by the President. He has the honor of inclosing him some considerations thereon, in all of which he believes Mr. Madison concurred. He has sketched the heads only, as the President’s mind will readily furnish the developement of each. He will wait on the president at one aclock on some other business, and then...
29Enclosure: Jefferson’s Outline of Policy Contingent on War between England and Spain, 12 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
MS ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); in TJ’s hand; endorsed by Washington: “The Secretary of State 12th July 1790”; brackets in MS . Dft ( DLC ); in TJ’s hand; text varies from that above, principally in phraseology, but some of more important differences are noted below (full text printed, though not with complete accuracy, in Ford, Paul Leicester Ford, ed., The Writings of Thomas Jefferson , Letterpress...
30To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have formed an opinion, quite satisfactory to myself, that the adjournments of Congress may be by law, as well as by resolution, without touching the constitution. I am now copying fair what I had written yesterday on the subject & will have the honor of laying it before you by ten aclock. the address to the President contains a very full digest of all the arguments urged against the bill on...