631From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 22d. since which I have received yours without date, but probably of about the 18th. or 19th. an arrival to the Eastward brings us some news which you will see detailed in the papers. the new partition of Europe is sketched, but how far authentic we know not. it has some probability in it’s form. the French appear busy in their preparations for the invasion of England:...
632From 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...
633From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, 12 September 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in due time your friendly letter inclosing two pamphlets . I have deferred acknoleging them till I could have time to read them. that time should be scarce here will seem odd to you. but mine, from an early breakfast to a late dinner is given to my farms, & from dinner to early bedtime to society or light reading. I have read that on animal life with very great delight. a great...
634From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I have suffered the post hour to come so nearly over on me that I must huddle over what I have more than appears in the public papers. I arrived here on Christmas day, not a single bill or other article of business having yet been brought into Senate. the P’s speech, so unlike himself in point of moderation, is supposed to have been written by the military conclave , & particularly Hamilton....
635From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 31 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your favor of the 17th. & communicated it to mr Smith. I lately forwarded you a letter from Dr. Priestly, endorsed ‘with a book ’; I struck these words through with my pen, because no book had then come. it is now recieved, & shall be forwarded to Richmond by the first opportunity: but such opportunities are difficult to find; gentlemen going in the stage not liking to take...
636From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 19th. it acknoleged yours of the 8th. in mine I informed you of the nomination of Murray. there is evidence that the letter of Taleyrand was known to one of the Secretaries, therefore probably to all: the nomination however is declared by one of them to have been kept secret from them all. he added that he was glad of it, as, had they been consulted, the advice would...
637From Thomas Jefferson to William Strickland, 23 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknoledge the reciept of your favors of Aug. 16. & 18. together with the box of seeds accompanying the former which has just come to hand. the letter of the 4th. of June which you mention to have committed to mr King, has never been recieved. it has most likely been intercepted on the sea, now become a field of lawless & indiscriminate rapine & violence. the first box which came...
638From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Pinckney, 29 October 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sep. 12 . came to hand on the 3d. inst. I have delayed acknoledging it in hopes of recieving the longer one you mentioned to have written. but that has not yet reached me. I was both pleased and edified by the piece on Robbins’s case . it ought to be a very serious case to the judge. I think no one circumstance since the establishment of our government has affected the popular...
639From Thomas Jefferson to Elizabeth House Trist, 9 April 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
We feel too much interested here in the dispositions you expressed to become our neighbor, not to be attentive to any occasion which may favor it. A Mr. Lewis, my next door neighbor, having determined to remove to Kentuckey this fall offers his lands adjoining me for sale. The tract contains 700. acres, scarcely an acre of it but of first rate quality, tho’ a part of what has been cleared has...
640From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 29 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your patriarchal address to your county is running through all the republican papers, and has a very great effect on the people. it is short, simple and presents things in a view they readily comprehend. the character & circumstances too of the writer leave them without doubts of his motives. if like the patriarch of old you had but one blessing to give us, I should have wished it directed to...
641From 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,...
642From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Notwithstanding the suspected infidelity of the post, I must hazard this communication. The Minority in the H. of R. after seeing the impossibility of electing B. the certainty that a legislative usurpation would be resisted by arms, and a recourse to a Convention to reorganise & amend the government, held a consultation on this dilemma. Whether it would be better for them to come over in a...
643From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, 23 September 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Aug. 22. and to congratulate you on the healthiness of your city. still Baltimore, Norfolk & Providence admonish us that we are not clear of our new scourge. when great evils happen, I am in the habit of looking out for what good may arise from them as consolations to us: and Providence has in fact so established the order of things as that most...
644From Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 21 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
It was with infinite joy to me that you were yesterday announced to the Senate as envoy extraordinary jointly with Genl. Pinckney and Mr. Marshel to the French republic. It gave me certain assurance that there would be a preponderance in the mission sincerely disposed to be at peace with the French government and nation. Peace is undoubtedly at present the first object of our nation. Interest...
645From 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...
646From Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah Moore, 14 August 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of July 12. the times are certainly such as to justify anxiety on the subject of political principles, and particularly those of the public servants. I have been so long on the public theater that I supposed mine to be generally known. I make no secret of them; on the contrary I wish them known to avoid the imputation of those which are not mine....
647To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1800 (Madison Papers)
Mrs. Brown’s departure for Virginia enables me to write confidentially what I could not have ventured by the post at this prying season. The election of S. Carolina has in some measure decided the great contest. Tho’ as yet we do not know the actual votes of Tenissee, Kentucky & Vermont yet we believe the votes to be on the whole J. 73. B. 73. A. 65. P. 64. Rhode isld. withdrew one from P....
648From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 24 September 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with sincere pleasure I learn that Wayles and Maria have concluded to run their course of life together. From his prudence I presume he has not proceeded thus far without knowing it would be agreeable to Mrs. Eppes and yourself. I have thought it right on this occasion to do precisely what I did on a former similar one. I have made what I gave to my daughter Randolph the measure of what...
649From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 14 February 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Jan. 28th. is duly recieved. in mine of Jan. 14. I mentioned that Colo. Thos. Bell would be authorized to draw on you for 165.D. this was intended to answer two notes I had given Feb. 12. 1797. the one to Lucy Wood senr. for £33. the other to Lucy Wood junr. for £16.10 for the hire of negroes. I did not know into what hands these notes had got and desired Colo. Bell to seek them out &...
650From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 10th. since that I have recieved yours of the 5 th. I immediately sent a note to Carey to forward his paper to your brother as you desired. the first vote of any importance on the alien bill was taken yesterday. it was on agreeing to the 1st. section, which was carried by 12. to 7. if all the Senators in town had been present it would have been 17. to 7. the...
651From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 May 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress will rise today or tomorrow. mr Nicholas proposing to call on you, you will get from him the Congressional news. on the whole the federalists have not been able to carry a single strong measure in the lower house the whole session. when they met, it was believed they had a majority of 20. but many of these were new & moderate men, & soon saw the true character of the party to which...
652To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 19th. since which your’s of the 15th. is recieved. I well remember the recieving that which inclosed a letter to Muhlenburg, but do not exactly recollect how I sent it. Yet I have no doubt I sent it by my servant, that being my constant practice. Your note from Baily I shewed to Genl. Van Cortlandt who was going to N. York. On his return he told me he would pay the note...
653From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 19th. since which your’s of the 15th. is recieved. I well remember the recieving that which inclosed a letter to Muhlenberg, but do not exactly recollect how I sent it. yet I have no doubt I sent it by my servant, that being my constant practice. your note from Baily I shewed to Genl. Van Cortlandt who was going to N. York. on his return he told me he would pay the note...
654To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 12 February 1799 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 5th. which acknoleged yours of Jan. 25. the last at hand. Yesterday the bill for 6. 74s. & 6. 18s. passed the H. of R. by 54. against 42. and the bill for a new organisation of the army (into regiments of about 1000.) passed the Senate. The bill continuing the suspension of intercourse with France and her dependencies has passed both houses. But the Senate struck out...
655From Thomas Jefferson to William Hamilton, 22 April 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
A little reflection enabled me to understand the appearance of neglect which you were kind enough to mention to me the other day. it was in March 1797. you did me the honor of calling on me. I had then come up to Philadelphia only to take the oath of office. on that occasion I recieved the visits not only of every one in the city who had known me, but of great numbers who did not. the Senate...
656From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 11 April 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter from Maria was of Mar. 20. & from yourself of Feb. 8 . the dates of my latest to Maria were of Apr. 1. Mar. 7. and to yourself of Feb. 18. you have seen in the papers the resolutions proposed by mr Sprigg, the first of which was that under existing circumstances it is not expedient to resort to war with France. it is very uncertain how this would have been decided. but the...
657From 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...
658From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 12 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 14. with the papers accompanying it came safely to hand about the last of October. that containing remarks on the line of demarcation I perused according to your permission, and with great satisfaction, and then inclosed to a friend in Philadelphia to be forwarded to it’s address. the papers addressed to me, I took the liberty of communicating to the Philosophical society....
659To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1798 (Madison 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 may...
660To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 June 1797 (Madison 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 & 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 & Tazewell to the committee, and it was reported with considerable...
661To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 June 1797 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 1st. inst. You will have seen by the public papers that the amendment for putting France on an equal footing with other nations was clogged with another requiring compensation for spoliations. The objection to this was not that it ought not to be demanded, but that it ought not to be a sine qua non, and it was feared from the dispositions of the Executive that they...
662To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 January 1798 (Madison 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...
663From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 20 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 14th. and am well pleased with the sale of my tobacco: for tho’ if no check were to happen I think it would continue to rise, yet considering the critical affairs of this country, & still more of England, I think a check very possible, & that it must take place this summer, if at all. the price obtained secures my making two paiments of 1200. D. each in...
664To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 October 1798 (Madison Papers)
The day after you left us, I sat down and wrote the petition I mentioned to you. It is not yet correct enough, & I inclose you a copy to which I pray your corrections, and to return it by the next post, that it may be set in motion. On turning to the judiciary law of the US. I find they established the designation of jurors by lot or otherwise as now practiced in the several states ; should...
665From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 5 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you a power of attorney respecting mr Short’s canal shares to supply the place of the former one supposed to be mislaid. this will authorise you to recieve the money now paiable, and to act for him in every thing respecting his canal interest. the money is immediately to be transferred to this place to mr Barnes who is instructed to make a peculiar investment of it. I happen at...
666To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 June 1797 (Madison Papers)
My last was of the 8th. inst. I had inclosed you separately a paper giving an account of Buonaparte’s last great victory. Since that we recieve information that the preliminaries of peace were signed between France & Austria. Mr. Hammond will have arrived at Vienna too late to influence the terms. The victories lately obtained by the French on the Rhine were as splendid as Buonaparte’s. The...
667From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 14 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 7th. since which yours of the 3d. is recieved. your next (which I shall still be here to recieve on the 19th) will probably acknolege mine of May 31. and will perhaps be your last as you would see by mine of the 7th. that I should leave this on the 20th. which I still purpose. the new citizen or naturalization bill is past the Senate also. it requires 14. years...
668From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Rutledge, 24 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege your two favors of May 4. and 19. and to thank you for your attention to the commissions for the peas and oranges, which I learn are arrived in Virginia. Your draught I hope will soon follow on Mr. John Barnes merchant here, who, as I before advised you, is directed to answer it. When Congress first met, the assemblage of facts presented in the President’s speech with the...
669From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 5th. which acknoleged yours of Jan. 25. the last at hand. yesterday the bill for 6. 74s. & 6. 18s. passed the H. of R. by 54. against 42. and the bill for a new organisation of the army (into regiments of about 1000.) passed the Senate. the bill continuing the suspension of intercourse with France and her dependancies has passed both houses. but the Senate struck out...
670To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 January 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 2d. inst. on which day I recieved yours of Dec. 25. I have not resumed my pen because there has really been nothing worth writing about but what you would see in the newspapers. There is as yet no certainty what will be the aspect of our affairs with France. Either the Envoys have not written to the government, or their communications are hushed up. This last is...
671From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 18 February 179[8] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 1st. inst. and three days ago recieved Maria’s of the same date. we have intelligence which seems to be authentic that the Spaniards have delivered up the posts on the Missisipi. this is the more welcome, as the commencement of war in that quarter seemed more imminent than it is with France. we are certainly more indebted for avoiding it to the good sense & moderation...
672From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 21 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Apr. 8. 14. & May 4. & 14 have been recieved in due time. I have not written to you since the 19th. Ult. because I knew you would be out on a circuit, and would recieve the letters only when they would be as old almanachs. the bill for the Provisional army has got through the lower house, the regulars reduced to 10,000. and the volunteers unlimited. it was carried by a majority of 11....
673From Thomas Jefferson to John Gibson, 31 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
In my Notes on the state of Virginia I have given a translation of the celebrated speech of Logan to Ld. Dunmore with a statement of facts necessary to make it better understood. A Mr. Luther Martin of Maryland has lately come forward, denies the facts and also the authenticity of the speech. As far as my memory serves me we received the speech as a translation of yours, and tho’ I do not...
674To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 3d. inst. since which yours of Apr. 29. is recieved. A day or two after I arrived here J. Bringhurst called on me. Since that moment I have never seen him nor heard of him. He cannot therefore be here. But I have put your letter & draught into the hands of mr. Barnes, & desired him to get Bohemian glass from Donath. I will myself look to the locks & hinges. But both...
675From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 July 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Since you were here I have had time to turn to my accounts, and among others undertook to state the one with you: but was soon brought to a non-plus, by observing that I had made an entry Aug. 23. 99. of nails delivered for you, but left the particulars & amount blank till mr Richardson should give them in to me. whether he omitted this, or I to enter them I cannot tell, nor have either of us...
676From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs. Brown ’s departure for Virginia enables me to write confidentially what I would not have ventured by the post at this prying season. the election of S. Carolina has in some measure decided the great contest. tho’ as yet we do not know the actual votes of Tenissee, Kentucky & Vermont yet we believe the votes to be on the whole J. 73. B. 73. A. 65. P. 64. Rhode isld. withdrew one from P....
677To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 May 1798 (Madison 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...
678From Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 13 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 4th. inst. came to hand yesterday. That of the 4th. of Apr. with the one for Monroe has never been recieved. The first of the 27th. of March did not reach me till Apr. 21. when I was within a few days of setting out for this place, and I put off acknoleging it till I should come here. I entirely commend your dispositions towards Mr. Adams, knowing his worth as intimately, and...
679From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1 May 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letters to you have been of Mar. 12, & June 30. 97. since which I have recieved yours of Dec. 27. 97. & Jan. 23. 98. I write to you from this place, because I can myself chuse the channel of conveyance. but it is subject to the material inconvenience of writing where I have not a single paper to turn to, & therefore I can only write from memory, & mine is not an exact one. I have at...
680From Thomas Jefferson to Tench Coxe, 21 May 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Apr. 29. came to hand by our last post. I have for some time been anxious to write to you on the subject mentioned therein, but a want of confidence in the post office, and a certain prospect of conveyance by Dr. Bache who has been with us some time, & was to return to Philadelphia, induced me to await that occasion which now accordingly takes place. immediately on my parting...