751From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 27 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 10. came safely to hand. we were for a moment flattered with the hope of a friendly accomodation of our differences with France by the President’s nomination of mr Murray our minister at the Hague to proceed to Paris for that purpose. but our hopes have been entirely dashed by his revoking that and naming mr Elsworth, mr Patrick Henry & Murray. the two former not to embark...
752Notes on a Conversation with Benjamin Rush, [27 March 1800 or after] (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Rush tells me that within a few days he has heard a member of Congress lament our separation from Gr. Brit. & express his sincere wishes that we were again dependant on her. MS ( DLC : TJ Papers, 108:18559); entirely in TJ’s hand; on same sheet as the preceding document, and is the final notation on that page. On 24 Feb. 1800 TJ received a letter of unspecified date from Rush that is...
753From 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...
754Memorandum to Richard Richardson, [ca. 21 December 1799] (Jefferson Papers)
Printed in New York Times , 15 Apr. 1923 (magazine section); date supplied from internal evidence and day of TJ’s departure for Philadelphia; at head of text: “Instructions.” For the engagement of James Dinsmore to work as a housejoiner at Monticello, see Vol. 30:249, 435. In a statement of his account with Dinsmore, dated 20 Dec. 1799, TJ noted that he paid the housejoiner $30, on 24 Oct....
755From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Richardson, 31 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
In your’s of the 21st. you acknolege mine of Feb. 17. since that I wrote to you on the 16th. and 25th. inst: the last was merely to inform you of the departure of a box of plants and 4. casks of plaister of Paris. I would have Fagg’s plank immediately sorted by mr Perry . what is fit for flooring to be kiln-dried directly, that not fit for it to be spread by way of floor in the loft of the...
756From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Brown, 25 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
You were a witness, before you left our side of the continent, to the endeavors of the tory party among us, to write me down as far as they could find or make materials. ‘Oh! that mine enemy would write a book!’ has been a well known prayer against an enemy. I had written a book, and it has furnished matter of abuse for want of something better. mr Martin’s polite attack on the subject of...
757From Thomas Jefferson to William Wardlaw, 25 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
[I have] your receipts for the [monies] […] cre[dited] […] to bring with me a memorandum of the […] destined for Dr. Jackson , and he had recieved no letter […]. But he conjectured the sum you wished paid to be 77.14.D. Should that added to 7.67 D. to Bache vary from what I recieved, it can enter into account between us, as I have not with me the book in which I noted what I recieved. We have...
758To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 12th. & then acknoleged your last at hand of the 2d inst. The sensations first occasioned by the late publications have been kept up and increased at this place. A petition from the merchants & traders & others was so industriously pushed as to have obtained a very extensive signature. The same measure is pursuing in New York. As the election of their governor comes on...
759From Thomas Jefferson to Littleton W. Tazewell, 30 October 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
By a settlement between mr Wickam as agent for Walsh & Cary of London, & mr Eppes, mr Skipwith & myself as exrs of mr Wayles, a debt of his, due to Cary & Walsh was divided between us, each to pay one third part at certain instalments annually on the 19th. of July. we informed mr Wickam that as the payments would be made out of our annual crops, we should expect to be indulged so far as to...
760From Thomas Jefferson to David Campbell, 14 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have long been of opinion that the only means we can have of coming at the descent and relations among the Indians, is by a collection & comparative view of their languages. for this purpose I have never failed to avail myself of any opportunity to get their vocabularies . I have now a large collection, & for fear that in case of any accident they should be lost, I am about to print them. I...
761From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 16 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have written you a letter of this date to be laid before the society. this is for yourself only. I have proposed so many members at different times that I am afraid to add to the number. yet Dunbar ought to be associated to us. I inclose you a letter with some communications of his to a mr Smith of London, which he sent to me open for perusal, desiring me when read to forward them as...
762To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 18 May 1797 (Madison Papers)
I was informed on my arrival here that Genl. Pinckney’s dispatches had on their first receipt excited in the administration a great deal of passion: that councils were held from day to day, and their ill temper fixed at length in war; that under this impression Congress was called: that the tone of the party in general became high, and so continued till the news of the failure of the bank of...
763From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 28 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
To give the usual opportunity of appointing a President pro tempore , I now propose to retire from the chair of the Senate: and as the time is near at hand, when the relations will cease, which have for some time subsisted between this honorable house & myself, I beg leave before I withdraw, to return them my grateful thanks for all the instances of attention & respect with which they have...
764From Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 8 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you some further communications from our envoys at Paris. to the information contained in these I can add that by the latest accounts mr Pinckney was gone into the South of France for the health of his family, mr Marshall to Amsterdam, and mr Gerry remained at Paris. it appears that neither themselves nor the French government dreamt of war between the two countries. it seems also...
765From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 3 [July] 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 23d. is duly recieved. the corks & a bottle of lemon juice [arrived yesterday?] I am sorry I gave you a second time the trouble of enquiring the price [of flour]. the [settlement with] my merchant having been delayed a twelvemonth […] failure & arrangement of […] [it had escaped] me that I had […] to you [the] last [June—] […] I have [turned to your] letter—at th[at time] […] your...
766From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 2 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My letters to yourself and my dear Martha have been of Jan. 13. 21. & 28. I now inclose a letter lately recieved for her. you will see in the newspapers all the details we have of the proceedings of Paris. I observe that La Fayette is gone there. when we see him, Volney, Sieyes, Taleyrand gathering round the new powers, we may conjecture from thence their views and principles. should it be...
767From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Tazewell, 27 January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
As you mentioned that some of your commee admitted that the introduction of juries into trials by impeachment under the VIIIth. amendment depended on the question Whether an impeachment for a misdemeanor be a criminal prosecution? I devoted yesterday evening to the extracting passages from Law authors shewing that in Law-language the term crimes is in common use applied to misdemeanors , and...
768From Thomas Jefferson to Sir John Sinclair, 28 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor on the 23d. of March of addressing a letter to y[ou on] some subjects of agriculture, which was committed to the care of mr Tho[rnton] Secretary to the British legation here, who went over in the packet. Th[is is?] merely to cover the bill of lading for a box put on board the ship Act[…] bound to London, in which are the Drill & Mouldboard spoken of in [my?] former letter. my...
769To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 February 1799 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 11th. Yesterday the bill for the eventual army of 30. regiments (30,000) & 75,000. volunteers passed the Senate. By an amendment, the P. was authorised to use the volunteers for every purpose for which he can use militia, so that the militia are rendered compleatly useless. The friends of the bill acknoleged that the volunteers are a militia , & agreed that they might...
770To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Pinckney, 24 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Although not sufficiently recovered from the effects of my late fall from my carriage to venture it I propose embarking on Sunday to join you at Washington having taken my passage for that purpose & as I cannot travel by land, again venture a Winter Voyage by sea—I write this Line to inform you of it & to mention that having seen in the Northern papers an account that a compromise was offered...
771From Thomas Jefferson to James Lyle, 6 May 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I have hitherto been in expectation of selling my last year’s crop of tobo. at Richmond & of ordering out of it the same paiment to you as the last year. but the prices, instead of rising through the season as usual, have fallen, & far below what the state of the general market of Europe justifies. I am therefore looking out for information whether to send my tobaccoes to Philadelphia, New...
772From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Clark, 16 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 12. has been duly received; as has also the parcel of Paccan nuts for which, as well as the oranges, be pleased to accept my acknolegements. the latter mr Coxe informed me had experienced the usual fate of such delicate things on long voiages. the nuts I have immediately forwarded to Monticello, my residence in Virginia, to be planted. two young trees planted in that part of...
773From 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...
774From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 22 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
It is very long since I wrote to you, because I have been uncertain whether you would not have left Eppington before the arrival of my letters there, & the rather as I found them very long getting there. mr Randolph’s letter of the 12th. informs me you had then returned to Edgehill. in a letter of Mar. 24. which is the last I have recieved from Eppington , mr Eppes informed me Maria was so...
775From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 13 May 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Colo. Monroe, & his sincere congratulations to him & mrs Monroe on the interesting addition to their family. he wishes to know how mrs Monroe & the youngster do; and would be made very happy if he could offer any thing grateful to [mrs] Monroe. rice, pearl barley &c sometimes useful to the sick, she probably has: if not, they are here at her service....
776From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 17 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved at Monticello two letters from you , & meant to have answered them a little before my departure for this place; but business so crouded on me at that moment that it was not in my power. I left home on the 21st. & arrived here on the 28th. of Dec. after a pleasant journey of fine weather and good roads, & without having experienced any inconvenience. the Senate had not yet entered...
777From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 23 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof mr John Barnes is a merchant of this city, of a worthy & excellent character. he thinks of removing with the government to the city of Washington, & therefore goes on now to see if he can do it to advantage. I take the liberty of recommending him to you for such information & counsel as may be useful to a stranger in a place where those into whose hands he might otherwise...
778From Thomas Jefferson to John Heckewelder, 11 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
About the year 1787. I published a book entitled ‘Notes on Virginia’ in which was an account of the murder of the family of Logan an Indian chief in the year 1774. by some whites, at the head of whom was said to be one of the Cressaps. this was the general report & belief of that day. lately a mr Martin of Maryland, who married a Cressap, has undertaken to contradict the fact, to deny that...
779From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 22 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
The Senate have this day thrown out their own bill for raising 15,000 men as a provisional army. I think they will also reject the bill for permitting private ships to arm. The Representatives rejected the bill from the Senate for raising artillery, and have this day by resolution proposed to the Senate to adjourn on Wednesday the 28th. Under present appearances I may by possibility be 3. or...
780From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 11 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 23d. of Jan. since which yours of Jan. 26. is recieved. a bill will pass the Senate to-day for enabling the President to retaliate rigorously on any French citizens who now are or hereafter may be in our power, should they put to death any sailors of ours forced on board British vessels & taken by the French. this is founded expressly on their arret of Oct. 29. 98....
781From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 12 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have still to acknolege your favors of Mar. 19 . & 26. my last to you was of Mar. 29. I have recieved a letter from Arnold dated Apr. 1. in which he promises to set out for Monticello immediately after Easter: I suppose therefore about the 9th. and that he will be there before you recieve this. I inclose a memorandum for him, and propose that John Hemings shall work with him for the present....
782From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 12 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to Martha on the 5th. inst. and desired my horses might be at Fredericksburg on Tuesday evening the 5th. of March. I shall arrive there the next morning, & proceed part of my way home. I mention this again lest any accident should befal that letter. we have just confirmed the President’s appointments of Rufus King to enter into a treaty of commerce with the Russians at London; & of...
783Certificate for Alexander Spotswood, 12 September 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I hereby certify that on an invasion of this state by the British troops under the command of Genl. Leslie , the continental officers retired from service within this state were requested by me as Governor of Virginia to take commands of the militia called into the field on that occasion; that Genl. Alexander Spotswood, in compliance with that request, repaired to the militia and remained with...
784From Thomas Jefferson to William Thornton, 14 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Doctr. Thornton. he has recieved his friendly invitation to pass the evening on Monday next; but for 10. years past he has been in the habit, from considerations of health, of never going out in the evening. his friends have been so kind as to indulge this habit, & he is sure Dr. Thornton will accept it as an apology. RC ( DLC : William Thornton...
785From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 8 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of yours of Feb. 12. 19. & 25. at length the charm is broke, and letters have been recieved from our envoys at Paris. one only of them has been communicated, of which I inclose you a copy with the documents accompanying it. the decree therein proposed to be passed has struck the greatest alarm through the merchants I have ever yet witnessed. as it has not been...
786From Thomas Jefferson to John Tyler, 15 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 30. by mr Tyler your nephew has been duly recieved, and I read in it with great satisfaction the expression of friendly regard which I can with truth reciprocate. we have had a long course together, and in the moments of trial, I have seen you always at your post. our political vessel has rode very uneasily under the gales of monarchy: I hope, when put on her republican...
787From 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...
788From 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...
789To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 4 April 1800 (Madison Papers)
Christopher Mcpherson, better known as mr. Ross’s man Kitt, proposing to go to Charlottesville direct, I shall put into his care a packet of books & a letter left in my room for you by somebody, while I was out, without information as to the quarter from whence they come. I observe them addressed to the care of Governor Monroe. I suppose Kitt will carry on the letter; but as he goes in the...
790From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Call, 28 September 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 23d. the Sheriff of this county had informed me that he had served the process on the guardians of all Henderson’s children under age of which description are the two in Kentucky ; their guardian however is here and I had hoped the service was compleat. should I be mistaken in this, I would still prefer taking the decree finally against the others. as I...
791From Thomas Jefferson to George Wythe, 28 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I know how precious your time is and how exclusively you devote it to the duties of your office. yet I venture to ask a few hours or minutes of it on motives of public service, as well as private friendship. I will explain the occasion of the application. You recollect enough of the old Congress to remember that their mode of managing the business of the house was not only unparliamentary, but...
792From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson, 11 March 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved with great pleasure your letter from Varina, and though I never had a moment’s doubt of your love for me, yet it gave me infinite delight to read the expressions of it. Indeed I had often and always read it in your affectionate and attentive conduct towards me. On my part, my love to your sister and yourself knows no bounds, and as I scarcely see any other object in life, so would I...
793From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 February 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 8th. we have still not a word from our envoys. this long silence (if they have been silent) proves things are not going on very roughly. if they have not been silent, it proves their information if made public would check the disposition to arm. I had flattered myself, from the progress of the public sentiment against arming, that the same progress had taken place in...
794From Thomas Jefferson to William Strickland, 12 March 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been longer in acknoleging the reciept of your favor of May 28. 96. than I would have been but for the constant expectation of procuring the seeds you desired (one kind of which was to be sent for to Kentuckey). This, the Buffalo clover, is in a packet which accompanies this letter: as also the wild pea which you wished to recieve, and I promised to send you. I have added some seeds of...
795From Thomas Jefferson to Aaron Burr, 20 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
When I had the pleasure of seeing you here, I spoke to you on the case of a friend of mine, Dr. James Currie of Richmond [in Virginia] and asked the favor of you to proceed, in the way then spoken of, [to] recover against Robert Morris , Dr Currie’s demand, the paper establishing which you had recieved. I have just recieved a letter from him wishing this matter to be pressed. I take the...
796From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
The forgery lately attempted to be plaid off by mr H. on the house of representatives, of a pretended memorial presented by Logan to the French government, has been so palpably exposed as to have thrown ridicule on the whole of the clamours they endeavored to raise as to that transaction. still however their majority will pass the bill. the real views in the importance they have given to...
797From 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...
798From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, [1] January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
You have probably seen or heard of some very abusive letters addressed to me in the publick papers by a mr Martin of Baltimore, on the subject of Logan’s speech, cited in the Notes on Virginia. I do not mean to notice mr Martin, or go into the newspapers on the subject. but I am still anxious to enquire into the foundation of that story, & if I find any thing wrong in it it shall be corrected,...
799From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 August 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I scribbled you a line on the 24th. Ult. It missed of the post and so went by a private hand. I perceive from yours by Mr. Bringhurst that you had not recieved it. In fact it was only an earnest exhortation to come here with Munroe, which I still hope you will do. In the mean time I inclose you a letter from him, and wish your opinion on it’s principal subject. The variety of other topics, the...
800From Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 4 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Ross’s Kitt setting out for Charlottesville where he has a cause to be tried with James Ross, and apprehending personal danger from him, has asked me to interest some person to ensure him the protection of the laws. I assured him every one would see that protection extended to him, however as he intreated it, I promised to write to yourself, mr Randolph & Colo. Bell to have an eye to him....