751To 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...
752From 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...
753From 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...
754To 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...
755From 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...
756To 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...
757From 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...
758From 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...
759From 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....
760From 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...
761From 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...
762To 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...
763From 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...
764From 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...
765From 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...
766From 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...
767From 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....
768From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Hawkins, 14 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I had twice before attempted to open a correspondence by writing to you, but recieving no answer, I took for granted my letters did not reach you & consequently that no communication could be found. yesterday however your nephew put into my hands your favor of Jan. 23. and informs me that a letter sent by post by way of fort Wilkinson will be certain of getting safely to you. still I expect...
769From Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 14 May 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved by the hands of mr Coalter £13. from mr Alexander. he is mistaken in supposing I had recieved £3–10–3 on his account from Gamble & Grattan, his letter now inclosed by you being the first and only mention to me that such a paiment had been expected. however this balance is not worth troubling you further with. I am sorry still to be troublesome with my nailery. mr Mcdowel writes me...
770From Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 13 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I avoid writing to my friends because the fidelity of the post office is very much doubted. I will give you briefly a statement of what we have done and are doing. the following is a view of our finances in round numbers. the impost brings in the last year 7½ millions of dollars, the Excise, carriages, auctions & licences ½million, the residuary small articles ⅛ of a million. it is expected...
771From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 August 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Before the reciept of your last favor , mr Mc.Gehee had called on me, and satisfied me that the entry of nails delivered in Aug. & left blank was really of nails charged in July & not then delivered. this misconception on my part arose from imperfect entries made on the reports of mr Richardson who generally delivered out the nails. I am chagrined at it’s having been the cause of my holding...
772From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 12 March 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved no letter from you since that which you wrote on your departure from Madrid . That gave me reason to believe you would come over early in the spring, and having been ever since in the daily expectation of your arrival I had suspended writing to you. Having come on here for a few days to qualify into office, and being now on my return again, I avail myself of the opportunity by...
773From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Dec. 25. came to hand yesterday. I shall observe your directions with respect to the post day. I have spoken with the Depy. Post. M. Genl. on the subject of our Fredericksburg post. he never knew before that the Fredsbg printer had taken the contract of the rider. he will be glad if either in your neighborhood or ours some good person will undertake to ride from April next. the price...
774From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 26 November 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
We formerly had a debtor & creditor account of letters on farming; but the high price of tobo. which is likely to continue for some short time, has tempted me to go entirely into that culture and in the mean time my farming schemes are in abeyance, and my farming fields at nurse against the time of my resuming them. but I owe you a political letter. yet the infidelities of the post office and...
775To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 November 1798 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Richardson has been detained by several jobs indispensible to the progress of the carpenters, & to the securing what is done against the winter. When will Whitton be done with you? Or could you by any means dispense with his services till I set out for Philadelphia? My floors can only be laid while I am at home, and I cannot get a workman here. Perhaps you have some other with you or near...
776From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 21st. your’s of the 12th. therein acknoleged is the last recd. the measure I suggested in mine of adjourning for consultation with their constituents was not brought forward; but on Tuesday 3. resolutions were moved which you will see in the public papers . they were offered in committee to prevent their being suppressed by the previous question, & in the commee on the...
777From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 11 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to mr Randolph on the 2d. inst. acknoleging the receipt of his letter of the 18th. Jan. I had one also at the same time from mr Richardson giving me the details from Monticello. the death of Jupiter obliges me to ask of mr. Randolph or yourself to give orders at the proper time in March for the bottling my cyder. I forgot to bring with me a morsel cut from one of our sheets, as a...
778From Thomas Jefferson to Van Staphorst & Hubbard, 30 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of June 26. reached me Sep. 22. in Virginia. having settled the interest on the account inclosed in it agreeably to a statement which will be at the foot of this letter, I prepared a bond for the amount, which I brought on to this place, and have kept by me till the present season which gives a better chance for a safe conveyance than a winter passage. A paragraph in your letter has...
779From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 26th. since which yours of the 22d. of April is recieved acknowleging mine of the 12th. so that all appear to have been recieved to that date. the spirit kindled up in the towns is wonderful. these and N. Jersey are pouring in their addresses offering life & fortune . even these addresses are not the worst things. for indiscreet declarations and expressions of passion...
780From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Priestley, 18 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to thank you for the pamphlets you were so kind as to send me . you will know what I thought of them by my having before sent a dozen sets to Virginia to distribute among my friends. yet I thank you not the less for these which I value the more as they came from yourself. the stock of them which Campbell had was I believe exhausted the first or second day of advertising them. the papers...
781From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 14 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you a petition on the 29th. of Jan. I know the extent of this trespass on your tranquility, and how indiscreet it would have been under any other circumstances. but the fate of this country, whether it shall be irretrievably plunged into a form of government rejected by the makers of the constitution or shall get back to the true principles of that instrument, depends on the turn which...
782From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 June [1797] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 18th. of May. The address of the Senate was soon after that. The first draught was responsive to the speech and higher toned. Mr. Henry arrived the day it was reported. The addressers had not as yet their strength around them. They listened therefore to his objections, recommitted the paper added him and Tazewell to the committee, and it was reported with considerable...
783From Thomas Jefferson to Littleton W. Tazewell, 17 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Feb. 14. never was so unfortunate a slip made as mine with respect to my last year’s tobacco. I was offered in May 11. Dollars in Richmond; but believing it would be higher as usual in the fall, & unaware of the effect of the nonintercourse law, I refused it, and after keeping it and bringing it here, have only lately been able to sell it for 7....
784From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Richardson, 10 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Jan. 7th. and 18th. have both been recieved. on the 12th. of January I made a remittance to mr Jefferson, and directed him to pay out of it 329. dollars to your order as I notified you in my letter of the 13th. which I presume you recieved on the 22d. I am sincerely concerned for the death of Jupiter, which I am persuaded might have been prevented could I have prevailed on him...
785From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 21 December 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Presuming that you get the newspapers I shall not repeat the public news which they detail. The great victory obtained by the English over the Dutch fleet is placed beyond doubt, they have taken 9 out of 16. As to the proceedings of Congress, they have passed a bill putting off the commencement of the Stamp act till July next. The land tax will not be taken up this session. It is suspected...
786From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 12 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Eppes’s letter of Jan. 17 . had filled me with anxiety for your little one, & that of the 25th. announced what I had feared. how deeply I feel it in all it’s bearings, I shall not say, nor attempt consolation where I know that time & silence are the only medecines. I shall only observe as a source of hope to us all that you are young and will not fail to possess enough of these dear...
787From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Livingston, 30 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved with great pleasure your favor of the 11th. inst. by this time I presume the result of your labours is known with you, tho’ not here. whatever it may be, & my experience of the art, industry, & resources of the other party has not permitted me to be prematurely confident, yet I am entirely confident that ultimately the great body of the people are passing over from them. this may...
788From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 2 [September] 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of June 4. and in the first place to return my thanks to the Agricultural society for the honour they have been pleased to confer on me in naming me one of their members. in affection indeed to the science I am a sincere brother; but it has been but a short portion of my life which has been free enough from other business to permit an indulgence of...
789From Thomas Jefferson to James Thomson Callender, 6 October 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
On recieving your favor of Sep. 29. I did believe it would be in my power to answer you satisfactorily on both the points on which you asked information. I knew indeed that I had not made any particular memorandum of the sum which the Ct. de Vergennes supposed a treaty with the Porte would cost; but I expected that I had mentioned it either in my letter on the subject to mr Jay, or in that to...
790From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 4 March 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have never written to you since my arrival here for reasons which were explained. your’s of Dec. 29. Jan. 4. 9. 12. 18. & Feb. 14. have therefore remained unacknoleged. I have at different times inclosed to you such papers as seemed interesting. to-day I forward Bingham’s amendment to the election bill formerly inclosed you, mr Pinkney’s proposed amendmt. to the constn , & the report of the...
791To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 February 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 25th. Ult. since which yours of the 21st. has been recieved. Bache had put 500. copies of Monroe’s book on board a vessel, which was stopped by the early & unexpected freezing of the river. He then tried in vain to get them sent on by fifties at a time by the stage. The river is now open here, the vessels have fallen down and if they can get through the ice below, the...
792From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was of the 17th. since which yours of the 13th. is recieved. the Alien bill of the Senate still hangs before them. some of it’s features have been moderated, which has so much disgusted it’s warmest friends that some of them have declared they will vote against it, so that I think it possible they may reject it. they appear to be waiting for one from the house of repr. worse I think...
793From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 23 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
The newspapers furnish you with the articles of common news as well as the Congressional. you observe the addition proposed to be made to our navy, and the loan of 5. millions opened at 8. percent to equip it. the papers say that our agents abroad are purchasing vessels for this purpose. the following is as accurate a statement of our income & expence, annual , as I can form, after divesting...
794From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Eppes, 7 January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I acknowleged, my dear Maria, the reciept of yours in a letter I wrote to mr Eppes. it gave me the welcome news that your sprain was well. but you are not to suppose it entirely so. the joint will remain weak for a considerable time, & give you occasional pains much longer. the state of things at Chesnut grove is truly distressing. mr B.’s habitual intoxication will destroy himself, his...
795From Thomas Jefferson to Sir John Sinclair, 23 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of your two favors of June 21. & July 15. & of several [separate] parcels of the Agricultural reports . these now form a great mass of information on a s[ubject] of all in the world the most interesting to man; for none but the husbandman makes any thing [for him] to eat, & he who can double his food, as your exertions bid fair to do, deserves to rank, [among...
796Section of a Bill for Settling Disputed Presidential Elections, [1800] [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
Title—a bill supplementary to the act &c strike out the first 11. sections. leave Sect. 12. 13. 14. properly amended add And be it &c that whensoever the two houses of Congress shall be assembled for the purpose of having the certificates of the electors of the several states opened & counted, the names of the several states shall be written on different & similar tickets of paper & put into a...
797Indenture for the Sale of Elk Hill, 5 August 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
This indenture made on the 5th day of August one thousand seven hundred & ninety nine, between Thomas Jefferson of Monticello in the county of Albemarle on the one part and Thomas Augustus Taylor of the county of Chesterfield on the other part witnesseth that the sd Thomas Jefferson in consideration of the sum of fifteen hundred pounds current money of Virginia to him paid or secured to be...
798Course of Reading for William G. Munford, [5 December 1798] (Jefferson Papers)
Mathematics, Natl Philosophy Natural history till VIII. aclock in the morning Law from VIII. to XII. the first [2 hours] or 3 ½ […] the [longer works] in the 1st. column and the [residue] reading […] in the 2d column. large works tracts. Pike’s arithmetic Coke’s four institutes Perkins Mussenbroeck, or Martin’s Phil. Brit. or Nicholson. Coke’s repr Doctor & Student Vaughan Lambard’s...
799Notes on John Adams’s Replies to XYZ Addresses, [before 6 October 1800] (Jefferson Papers)
1. Favor to England. Smith . 1798. Oct. 18. pa. 1. Answer to Grand jury of Ulster county N.Y. ‘if by a coalition—of aiding each other.’ 26. lines. Folsome . pa. 51. to Inhabitants of Concord in Massachus. ‘as I have ever wished—useful to remember it.’ 25. lines Fenno . 1798. July. 6. pa. 2. to Officers & souldiers of Morris county N.J. ‘had not the measures—& perhaps better founded. 30. lines....
800Notes on Senate Debates, 29 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
1800. Apr. 29. Jury bill under considn. Mr. Dexter & Hillhouse & mr Read insisted in the fullest & most explicit terms that the common law of England is in force in these states and may be the rule of adjudication in all cases where the laws of the US. have made no provision. Mr. Livermore seemed to urge the same, tho’ he seemed to think that in criminal cases it might be necessary to adopt by...