1From John Adams to Benjamin Rush, 22 December 1808 (Adams Papers)
I know not whether I shall make you smile or weep, excite your ridicule or pity or contempt when I reveal to you the mistery of my long delay to answer your last Letters. But before I unriddle that unusual negligence, I must say a few words concerning our Friend Whartons Attachment to Prophecies and his habit of applying them to passing events. I have no objection to the Study, but I am aware...
2From James Madison to Charles Thomson, 22 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
I recd. from Mr. Amies your very kind letter of the 13th. inst: with the two vols. the fruit of your learned & pious labours in the cause of revealed Religion. I accept them as I shall the remaining volumes, with peculiar pleasure, not only on account of their intrinsic value, but as the token of a friendship which I have always been proud to possess. I will not now obtrude any political...
3To James Madison from William Hull, 22 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose a Copy of two Sections of an Act, which has been adopted by the legislative Authority of this Territory, concerning the punishment of Crimes, and Misdemeanors. The two Sections relate to the emitting and passing bills of private banks. It is expedient, they should have publicity, as it is understood, bills of this discription are passing in the States, issued by a...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Pseudonym: "Amicus Americae", 22 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
offer’d for the Service of the U.Ss. a new invention of a cannon ball 1, doing as much if not more execution by its weight as the common one; 2, carrying a considerable quantity of fire to the ennemy’s vessel; 3, making, when lodged in it a most tremendous explosion, caused by a composition hitherto unknown. In the event of a war with Great-Brittain only an insertion of those lines— “a letter...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Anonymous, 22 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
When I reflect on the protection you give to Genl. Wilkinson and the misfortunes of Commo. Barron who is Left alone to Bare the frowns of the Federalist & Tories I am hurt at your Patiality and alltho I have revered you as the man who saved America From Tyrants and Federal opprssion yet I have considered your support of Wilkinson as hurtfull to your futer high character and I was sorry to see...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 22 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The answer to the petition of Percival & others praying that they may be permitted to send a vessel or vessels to take up their men from the desolate islands of the Indian ocean & thence to proceed on a trading voyage to Canton &c cannot but be a thing of course, that days having been publicly announced after which no permissions to send vessels to bring home property would be granted, which...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Henry Harrison, 22 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
By the treaty of 1803, we obtained from the Kaskaskias the country as far as the ridge dividing the waters of the Kaskaskias, from those of the Illinois river. by the treaty of 1804, with the Sacs & Foxes they ceded to us from the Illinois to the Ouisconsin. between these two cessions is a gore of country, to wit, between the Illinois river & Kaskaskia line, which I understand to have belonged...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 22 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I always consider it as the most friendly office which can be rendered me, to be informed of any thing which is going amiss, and which I can remedy. I had known that there had been a very blameable failure in the cloathing department, which had not become known so as to be remedied, till the beginning of October. but I had believed that the remedy had then been applied with as much diligence...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, 22 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Before the departure of the attorney of this district for Norfolk, I wrote to him, with his permission, a letter intended to be conveyed to the President of the United States, upon the subject of John Moss, who has lately received a sentence of ten stripes, and of imprisonment for four years, for robbing the mail at Petersburg. I know not, whether, in his hurry, he may not have forgotten to...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin W. Stuart, 22 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Having dedicated a portion of my life, to an attainment and advancement of Science and Art, both Phylosophical and Machanical; under the lamentable inconveniencies of darkness, most profound; and Ulcerated eye balls, that have for five or six years roll’d for a ray of light, but roll in vain. insurmountable as this deplorable state, at an early period of life may seem to be; produced by...