1To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 17 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the US. and will have the honor of waiting on him to dinner on Thursday next NHi ; NNGL .
2To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 24 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Senate of the United States request you to accept their acknowledgments for the comprehensive and interesting detail you have given, in your speech to both Houses of Congress, on the existing state of the Union. While we regret the necessity of the present meeting of the Legislature, we wish to express our entire approbation of your conduct in convening it on this momentous occasion. The...
3From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 18 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose to you a Resolution of the Senate of this day. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient and very humble servant RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; in hand of Samuel A. Otis, signed by TJ. Not recorded in SJL . Enclosure: Senate resolution of 18 Feb. (same, in Otis’s hand; see below). The Senate on 18 Feb.,...
4From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 17 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the US. and will have the honor of waiting on him to dinner on Thursday next RC (Gary Hendershott, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1992); addressed: “The President of the US.” Not recorded in SJL .
5From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Adams, 26 February [1800] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Erving delivered me your favor of Jan. 31. and I thank you for making me acquainted with him. you will always do me a favor in giving me an opportunity of knowing gentlemen as estimable in their principles & talents as I find mr Erving to be. I have not yet seen mr Winthrop. a letter from you, my respectable friend, after three & twenty years of separation has given me a pleasure I cannot...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Amos Alexander, 13 June 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of May 26 . was recieved by our last post only, it having [unduly] loitered probably in some of the post offices. I am sorry that the subject of it’s enquiry happens to be less known to me than almost to any other. [a] consciousness of my own inequality to the difficulties of the station which a portion of our fellow citizens seem desirous of assigning to me has rendered it a...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Amos Alexander, 26 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 22d. did not come to hand till yesterday. I am extremely sensible and thankful for the marks of esteem which I recieve through you from your fellow-citizens & yourself, and should be very uneasy indeed were it possible that my motives could be mistaken for recommending all public manifestation of this […] to be suspended until the actual commencement of a new administration....
8From Thomas Jefferson to Andrew Alexander, 5 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
[Your] favor of Dec. 27. is duly recieved. I am sorry that mr Short’s instructions do not permit the disposing of the money now payable by the James river company in the manner you propose. he has directed it to be invested in a particular way for which arrangements are already made [or] I should have been happy to have been authorised to accomodate the academy at Lexington, as no one wishes...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Anthony, 6 May 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I hereby acknolege to have received from mr Anthony two sets of mr Trumbul’s prints of Bunker’s hill and the death of Montgomery, and to have paid him twenty eight dollars for them. if I possess any original subscription reciept it shall be returned; and if I did not then pay a moiety of the subscription (on which subject I cannot say a word by memory) I promise to pay it. RC ( CtY ). Joseph...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Anthony, 12 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I promised that on my return home I would examine & see what paiment I had made to mr Trumbull for the double pair of prints for which I paid you a moiety of the price. I found that on the 17th. Apr. 1790. I gave him an order on Leroy & Bayard, (we were then in New York) for six guineas which was paid & the order returned to me with his reciept & now in my possession. I presume therefore that...
11Enclosure: Statement for Arbitrators in Land Dispute with John Harvie, [ca. 5 December 1799] (Jefferson Papers)
Case between T. Jefferson and John Harvie Thos. M. Randolph decd. James Hickman, Martin Key William Watson, myself & others held lands on both sides of the S.W. mountains in Alb. the headlines of our several tracts on or near the summit of the mountain encompassing some vacant lands, in the form shewn by the Surveyor’s plat . 1773. Mar. 11. I obtained for it an order of council in these words....
12From Thomas Jefferson to B. D. Arrmistead, 20 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My occupations & avocations here not permitting me to read any thing with that close attention requisite for a work of the nature of that which you have been pleased to inclose to me, I have been able to give it but a hasty perusal, not sufficient indeed to make myself master of your views in all it’s parts, much less to pronounce on their merit. I see many which are ingenious, and which I am...
13Enclosure: Memorandum for Samuel Arnold, 12 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Memorandum for mr Arnold. I left with old George written directions about the accomodation of mr Arnold. I also pointed out to him the place where I left written directions for his employment. I think it was on the top of the glass clock-case in the parlour. I would have mr Arnold first prepare the architraves mentioned in those instructions, for the Alcoves & doors of all the rooms; because...
14From Thomas Jefferson to William Frederick Ast, [17] September 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
According to your desire I will now state to you the reasons which have induced me to decline engaging finally in the mutual insurance against fire. when I had the pleasure of meeting you at Dumfries in Jany. 1798. you were so good as to sit with me the evening & to go into considerable details on the subject of your plan of insurance . the calculations were of some length & difficulty, I was...
15From Thomas Jefferson to William Bache, 27 November 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter which mrs Bache did me the honor to write on the 7th. inst. came to hand on the 22d. I immediately went to mr James Key’s to communicate it’s contents. his situation is precisely this. he has purchased a place in N. Carolina adjoining his father in law. the money was to be paid the first of this month. the man who sold to him was to carry his family to Kentuckey. both are in...
16From Thomas Jefferson to William Bache, 2 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
After having waited long in hopes that either we could have found means of purchasing a draught here on Richmond, or that Brydie Brown & co. might sell there a draught on mr Barnes, I at length recommended to mr Barnes to endeavor to procure a government draught on their custom houses in Virginia. this could not be obtained on the one in the Richmond district: but they gave us one on Norfolk,...
17From Thomas Jefferson to William Bache, 20 September 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
We have been long in expectation of seeing you, but mr Trist’s return & information puts off that indefinitely. in the mean time your carpenters have gone on tolerably well. they will finish the ensuing week all their work except some small matters which will need further instructions from you, and which can be done in about a fortnight. I do not know what arrangements you made as to the...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen B. Balch, 18 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I took a little time the other day to consider of the application of mr Cathcart, his proposition being new, himself an entire stranger, & no paper communicated which could explain the intentions of the respectable authority under which he stated himself as acting. your presence however, as well as his statement, satisfies me on these points. but having omitted to ask his lodgings, & unable to...
19From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 27 July 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I was taken on my journey with sore eyes, and have continued so ill with them, & still am, as to be unable to do business almost entirely. nevertheless my anxiety on account of payments I have to make in Philadelphia obliges me to address you. on sending my accounts to my nailcustomers on my return home, I find them as much unprepared for prompt paiment as if they had never expected my return....
20From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 2 September 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favors of July 26. and Aug. [10.] the former covering your account to July 24. balance in my favor 6[…] since which your’s of Aug. 10. advises the acceptance of my draught in favor of […] Lott for 47.25 which consequently leaves me in your hands only 14.36. This is exclusive of Mr. Short’s dividends left in your hand for his purposes. Having now to pay...
21From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 31 August 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
A most astonishing derangement of our post has rendered it almost useless as the channel of communication. your letter of July 18 . was 25 days on it’s passage to me, that of Aug. 9. was 16 days; so that instead of 8. days as formerly letters are now never received under 16. days from Philadelphia & from that up to 22. and this is not all; for I recieve those letters now by a return post, so...
22From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 16 September 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 25. is duly recieved & the glass doors arrived at Richmond. I am filled with anxiety on the subject of the nail rod last ordered, as a failure to recieve it will stop my works. I hope therefore mr Roberts will have exerted himself to forward it. […] I send a statement of our account as it will stand (as nearly as I can make out) about the 7th. of October. you will perceive...
23From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 8 October 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. James Monroe having immediate occasion for a sum of money in Philadelphia , I have concluded it better to let him have Mr. Short’s quarter’s dividends payable the 1st. instant, than to leave them lying in an unproductive state, on the expectation now beginning to be weak, of Mr. Short’s arrival this autumn. I therefore inclose you a power of attorney to receive them, and as I do not know...
24From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 26 March 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose a note for some more sashes to be made by Mr. Trump, as we have put up those he furnished before, and find them well made and according to directions. I would wish these now ordered to be made as early as possible so as that payment may not be due till the 1st. of July; for tho’ I shall immediately order my tobacco to be sent on to you, yet it will not produce cash till July 1. I am...
25From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 15 October 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your last at hand was of Aug. 25. mine of Sep. 16. which I hope you recieved safely. it contained advice of a draught in favor of mr Roberts , on which subject he wrote me the 28th. of Sep. before mine to him of this 16th. had got to his hands. I hope that mine will have anticipated his [desire].—I recieved under cover from you a letter from a mr Griffiths No. 4. Pine street. I take the...
26From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 16 August 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of June 21. since which I recieved yours of June 20. & 23. and this moment that of Aug. 6. I now inclose a letter for mr Roberts for a new supply of iron to be sent off by the 1st. of Sep. I observe you have paid mr Short’s instalment for Aug. 1. if my statement be right you have about enough in your hands of his money & mine to meet that of Sep. 1. & for that of Oct. 1. you...
27From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 24 June 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of May 24. & June 8 . have been duly recieved, and but for an inadvertence as to the post day, should have been acknoleged by the last post. all the articles forwarded by you have come to hand except the half dozen square railed Windsor chairs bought in 4th. street. as these are not received, and mr Jefferson says nothing of them in his letters, I presume they never came to his...
28From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 15 June 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 26th. & 31st. of May ; since which yours of May 26. is recieved. I observe what you say on the price of tobo. at the same time with your letter, I recieved one from mr Remsen of N. York, advising me on the same subject. the manufacturers there offered me 11. Cents a pound if they should like the quality, & he advised me to try 10. hhds. I accordingly directed mr Jefferson to...
29From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, [18] July 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
After parting with you at Philadelphia, I recollected that the box which Mr. Johnston was forwarding to you for me, went from this place and contained a large tooth and another bone of the Mammoth. I must ask the favor of you to open it and to take the tooth, have it packed in a box of exact size, to be directed to ‘the Prince of Parma,’ and delivered to the Chevalier Yrujo, Minister of Spain,...
30From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 31 July 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Just after closing and sending away my letter of the 18th. Mr. Lott desired me to pay you for him 40. Dollars which I undertook to do. The last post day however escaped me without observing it: so that there has been a fortnight’s delay not at all imputable to Mr. Lott . Be pleased now to debit my account and credit his by that sum, or perhaps it might be a dollar or two or some cents more,...
31From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 24 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I gave my servant an order on you in favor of Henrietta Gardner , washer-woman, for fifteen dollars. he says he has lost it. be so good therefore as to pay him that sum if not before paid on account of Dr Sir Your most obedt. servt The woman brings it herself RC ( CSmH ); at foot of text: “Mr. Barnes”; endorsed by Barnes. Not recorded in SJL . Fortune Barnes, not evidently related to John...
32From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 17 September 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 2d. inst. The present is merely to advise you that counting on your recieving a quarter’s salary for me on the 1st. of the ensuing month, I have this day drawn on you in favor of Joseph Roberts Junr. for 446.D. 76c. payable Oct. 3. and that my buildings here will occasion me to draw on you for nearly the whole of the balance of salary almost immediately. I learn from Mr....
33Enclosure: Statement of Account with John Barnes, 16 September 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
1799 J. Barnes in acct. Dr. with Th:Jefferson Cr. D [July] 4. To quarter’s salary May 26. By [balance] due you from treasury 1242.50 pr. acct. rendd. [64.49½] [Oct.] 4. To do.
34From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 25 September 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 14th. inst. is recieved. In mine by last post I advised you that, counting on your receiving a quarter’s salary on the 1st. of Oct. I had drawn on you in favor of Joseph Roberts for 400 and some dollars payable Oct. 3. On the same ground I have this day drawn on you in favor of Charles Johnston & Co. for six hundred and fifty dollars payable Oct. 3. Be pleased also to credit Peter...
35From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 23 November 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
The [derangement] of our post still continuing, this is the first moment I have an opportunity of acknowleging the receipt of your favor of the 1st inst. announcing your return to Philadelphia. I hope it to have been safe from that time, tho’ we have had such warm weather here as made me apprehend a revival of the fever with you. I thank you sincerely for the very kind offer of accomodations...
36From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 26 September 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of the 10th. & 18th. came to hand yesterday. the post which leaves Alexandria Monday morning gets here Thursday morning. a recollection of this may shorten the passage of our letters. mine of Saturday morning ought to be at Alexandria Wednesday evening & with you Thursday morning. so that 11. or 12. days are requisite for a letter & it’s answer. I will thank you on the reciept...
37From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 19 July 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 24th. of June, since which I have recieved yours of June 29 . July 1. 3. & 7. I am sorry my omission to write a week sooner should have left you that much longer unable to contradict the useless fabrication on which you are so good as to express so much sensibility. I have never in my life enjoyed higher or more uninterrupted health than since I left you in...
38From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 8 October 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sep. 29. is at hand. The paiment to Mr. Bache is right. Myself and some of my neighbors have to pay for some of the pamphlets of Callendar, which they have desired me to do for them. Be so good therefore as to pay him twenty dollars on my account. He is to be found at the printing office of Snowden & Mckorkle No. 47. North 4th. street. If you will be so kind as to send a note...
39From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 25 September 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 31st. of Aug. acknoleging your’s of Aug. 9 . that of the 11th. of Aug. did not get to me till the 4th. inst. having been 24. days on it’s passage owing to the derangement of our post which still continues & almost annihilates all benefit from it. it does not, I believe affect the passage of letters from hence to Philadelphia. by the time you recieve this you will be...
40Enclosure: Power of Attorney to John Barnes, 8 October 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Know all men by these presents that I Thomas Jefferson named in a certain letter of Attorney from William Short of the state of Virginia late one of the ministers of the US. abroad, bearing date the 2d. day of April 1793. and now lodged in the bank of the US. thereby constituting me his attorney with full powers to act for him in all cases as validly as he could do himself were he personally...
41From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 26 May 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
A neighbor of mine having a right to some military lands , I carried his papers to Philadelphia; but when presented at the War office they could not be passed for want of some formalities a first and second time. I think they now fulfill all the requisitions of the law; and I must ask the favor of you to present them at the war office to the proper clerk & to obtain from him the paper usually...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 14 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 18 . is duly recieved. the subject of it did not need apology. on the contrary should I be placed in office, nothing would be more desireable to me than the recommendations of those in whom I have confidence, of persons fit for office. for if the good withold their testimony, we shall be at the mercy of the bad. if the question relative to mr Zantzinger had been merely that...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 1 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Dr. Barton. he is just now beginning to copy the Indian vocabularies lent him by Dr. Barton; but finds it necessary to know previously whether some of them may not already have been entered in the Vocabularies of Th:J. lent to Dr. B. he will therefore thank him for them, & if Dr. B. has not made the uses of them which he wished, they shall be speedily...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 17 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly compliments to Dr. Barton and his thanks for his note of yesterday . He sets too high value on his esteem not to recieve every mark of it with sensibility. The subject of his piece is worthy of it’s author and he is satisfied the execution also will do justice to the subject. RC ( PHi ); addressed: “Doctr. Barton 86. North 5th. street.” Not recorded in SJL ....
45From Thomas Jefferson to Tarleton Bates, [23?] February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing where the persons to whom the [enclosed are?] directed, may be at this time, and believing that this knoledge may [be] acquired at Pittsburg, I have taken the liberty of putting them under cover to you, and of adding a sollicitation that you would be so good as to address and forward them by any conveyance which may occur to the persons for whom they are, wheresoever they may...
46From Thomas Jefferson to John Beckley, 12 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of my undertaking to mr Trigg, I wrote to my manager near Lynchburg to know if he could pay him 240. Dollars the 1st. of July. he has informed me he could not; but that, according to my directions in that case, he had engaged a merchant of Lynchburg to do it, in exchange for my draught for that sum in Richmond. I have accordingly made provision for the payment in Richmond. on...
47From Thomas Jefferson to John Beckley, 17 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
You mention that Colo. John Trigg will accomodate you with the sum of three hundred & forty dollars or part of it on an assurance that it shall be replaced to him in Richmond or Lynchburg within two or three months from this time. I will undertake to have it replaced to him the first week in July in Richmond, if that will suit him, for which this letter shall be my obligation. I sincerely wish...
48From Thomas Jefferson to John Beckley, 16 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with sincere concern that I learn your situation and find myself so unable to relieve it. I have not at this moment more than 50. dollars in the world at my command, and these are my only resource for a considerable time to come. I have been in the habit of keeping myself in a situation just to meet ordinary occurrences, & have been thrown behind by the necessities of two persons whom I...
49From Thomas Jefferson to John Beckley, 17 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
If Colo. Trigg will be so good as to furnish you the two hundred & forty dollars, I will undertake that it shall be repaid to him at Lynchburg the first week of July in such way as shall be satisfactory to him; on which subject I will confer with him for explanation, and conform myself to his wish. I will call on him the first moment in my power, or be glad to see him at my lodgings if he...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Auguste Belin, 6 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of the several copies of the funeral oration pronounced by Monsr. Chaudron on the death of our late most illustrious General Washington, which you were pleased to send me. no circumstances can ever efface the memory of those services which had rendered him so dear to his country; no time can dry their tears. the tender expressions of grief which flow from the...