15051To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Boromée LeBrun, 17 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur de jefferson ministre plenipotentiaire des etats unis de L’amerique Septentrionale Supplie humblement Charles Boromée leBrun procureur du Roi au Bailliage de coutances Et a L’honneur de vous Exposer que jerome michel leBrun de Bellecour, son frere, auroit occupé différens postes dans les troupes des etats unis de l’Amerique, que lors du decompte qui eut lieu en mil sept cent quatre...
15052To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 19 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
J’espere que Votre Excellence a reçu les miennes du 6 et 17 de ce mois. Je laisse l’incluse pour Mr. De La Fayette ouverte, afin que Votre Excellence la lise, et la remette. L’Extrait de la même est copié pour le Congrès afin de lui completer aussi l’idée qu’il faut avoir des affaires d’ici, qui sont vraiment interessantes. Comme cela change à chaque instant comme un verre à facettes, il...
15053From Thomas Jefferson to De Corny, 20 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
By the first conveyance which shall offer I propose to report to the Governor of Virginia the manner in which the wish of the state relative to the bust of the Marquis de La Fayette has been carried into execution, and of the friendly and flattering attentions paid by Messieurs le Prevot des Marchands et Echevins de Paris to them and to the character to which they desired to shew their...
15054To Thomas Jefferson from Plowden W. Garvey, 20 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
We have the honor to advise your Excellency that we retired from on board the Adventure, Capn. Daman, arrived here from London one Case directed to you shipped by Mr. Woodmason ⅌ order of Coll. Smith, one ditto containing Printed Books by Mr. Chs. Dilly. We got them Corded and Plumbed and sent them off yesterday to your address by Millard’s Cart to deliver them in five days. He has got an...
15055To Thomas Jefferson from Zachariah Loreilhe, 20 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour of acquainting you that I have received a letter from Mr. Thos. Barclay dated the 3d. of October where in he Desires me to engage 200 Barrels of the best gun Powder, 100 thousand Flints, and 100 Reams of Cartrige Paper, and to look out for a Good stout Vessel to proceed with them to Richmond in Virginia. Mr. Barclay informs me also that if any difficulty shall arise either in...
15056From Thomas Jefferson to Stael de Holstein, 20 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 20 Oct. 1786. This letter is almost identical with TJ’s letter of this date to Vergennes , q.v. for note on enclosure and variations in the text. PrC ( DLC ); 1 p.; in the hand of William Short; at foot of text, written by TJ with his left hand: “Stael Baron de.”
15057From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 20 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of communicating to your Excellency the copy of a treaty of amity and commerce concluded between the United States of America and his late Majesty the King of Prussia, in the two languages in which it was written, each of which was agreed to be equally original. The exchange of ratifications was made but a little before the death of the King. This circumstance with the delays...
15058To Thomas Jefferson from Achard Frères, 21 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
We have received the Passeport your Excellence has been so good as to send us. Your two Cases are on Board of the Diligence L’Adelaide and we hope they will Come Safe in the hands of your Excellence. Here inclosed is a note of our Expences which have been paid to us by the Master of the Diligence to whom we beg of your Excellence to reimburse them. We are most respectfully Your Most obedient...
15059To Thomas Jefferson from Calonne, 22 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
L’intention du Roi etant, [Monsieur,] de favoriser autant qu’il est possible le commerce des Etats unis, j’ai l’honneur de vous faire part de quelques dispositions prises a cet egard. Par ma Lettre du 9 Janvier 1784 a M. Le Marquis de la Fayette, je lui annonçois qu’au lieu de deux ports francs promis par le traité aux Etats unis, le Roi s’etoit determiné a leur en accorder quatre, [ce qui...
15060From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 22 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
How the right hand became disabled would be a long story for the left to tell. It was by one of those follies from which good cannot come, but ill may. As yet I have no use of that hand, and as the other is an awkward scribe, I must be sententious and not waste words. Yours of Sep. 18 and 22. and Oct. 1. and 4. have been duly received, as have been also the books from Lackington and Stockdale,...
15061From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 23 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sept. the 11th. came to hand in due time and since that I have recieved the copies of the Prussian treaty you were so kind as to send me. I have recieved a short letter from Mr. Barclay dated Cadiz Septr. 25th . only announcing his arrival there and that he should proceed immediately to Madrid. At this latter place he would meet my letter informing him that we did not propose any...
15062To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, with Enclosures, 23 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Je profite d’un Courier que M. l’Ambassadeur se propose d’expédier demain ou après-demain à sa Cour, pour faire parvenir à Votre Excellence et par Elle au Congrès les deux Pieces ci-jointes, que j’ai traduites pour Lui et pour Mr. l’Ambassadeur, qui les fait pareillement passer à sa Cour. Vous verrez, et s’il vous plait Mr. le Ms. De la Fayette aussi, par l’une de ces Pièces, que les Etats...
15063To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Eppes, 23 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favours of 22d. of April and 22d. of July were handed me on the twentieth inst. The agent of Farell & Jones has long since been with me on the subject of their demand against Mr. Wayles’s Estate. I have been pretty plain with the gentleman and cant help acknowledging I have been rather bitter in some of my expresions on the sales of our tobacco but really their conduct on that occasion...
15064From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 23 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter of Jan. 2. I had the honor of communicating to you the measures which had been pursued here for the improvement of the commerce between the U.S. and France, the general view of that commerce which I had presented to the C. de Vergennes, the circumstance of the renewal of the farms which had obliged me to press separately and in the first place, the article of tobacco, and that...
15065To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, [23 October 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed, my dear sir, I Send You the arrêts du Conseil about Wines. While you are printing Mr. de Calonne’s letter, Could you not Have it on two Columns, the one in English. It will be better translated By Mr. Short than By our News paper printers, and prove Convenient to such of our friends who Cannot well Read french. Let me have twenty Copies. Our last Evening’s Conversation, together with...
15066From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 27 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I formerly had the honour of mentioning to you the measures I had taken to have our commerce with this country put on a better footing; and you know the circumstances which had occasioned the articles of whale oil and tobacco to be first brought forward. Latterly we got the committee, which had been established for this purpose, to take up the other articles, and on their report the King and...
15067From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 27 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
By a confidential opportunity to London I had the honour of writing to you on the 23d. instant, and of inclosing you the original letter of Monsieur de Calonnes to me on the subject of our commerce. As it is probable however that the French packet which is to sail from Lorient the 1st. of the next month will sooner reach you, I inclose some printed copies of the same letter by that conveiance,...
15068To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 27 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you a few Lines by the last french Packet mentioning the Letters I had received from you, and that by another Conveyance you would receive particular and important Dispatches from me. Those Dispatches relate to the Consular Convention; they begin with a Letter from me of the 3d. Inst. which, among other Matters, enumerates the Number of Papers annexed to it. After those Dispatches were...
15069From Thomas Jefferson to David Ramsay, 27 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I mentioned to you in a former letter that as the booksellers in London were afraid to sell your book there, I would have some copies brought here, advertising in the London papers that they could be furnished weekly from hence by the Diligence. 50 copies are just arrived, and 50 more are on the way. The translation will come from the press in a few days. Having observed the immense...
15070To Thomas Jefferson from John Bondfield, 28 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
By mine of the 14 Instant I advised of my having given two drafts on you, favor Monsieur Dumez, together amounting to two Thousand Livres. If they have not been presented for payment I pray you to refuse payment of them having cause to suspect the due application for which they were intended. I have the honor to be respectfully Sir your most obedient Humble Servant, RC ( DLC ); addressed;...
15071Circular Letter to United States Consular Agents, 29 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose to you the copy of a letter which I have had the honor of receiving from his Excellency M. de Calonne, one of his Majesty’s ministers, wherein he is pleased to communicate to me sundry regulations lately made for the encouragement of the commerce between France and the United States of America. The favorable footing on which American productions will now be received in the ports of...
15072To Thomas Jefferson from Maria Cosway, [30 October 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[How I wish I?] could answer the Dialogue! But I hon[estly think my hear?]t is invisable, and Mute, at this moment more than usual[l it is?] full or ready to burst with all the variety of Sentiments, wh[ich] a very feeling one is Capable of; sensible of My loss a[t] separating from the friends I left at Paris, I have hardly time to indulge a shamisly tribute; but My thoughts Must be contrasted...
15073From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Boromée LeBrun, 30 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honored with the memorial which you were pleased to address to me on the arrearages of interest due to you from the United States. It belongs to the Commissioners of the treasury of the United States to furnish monies to M. Grand who is their banker, so that it is a matter not at all within the limits of my office. However I have joined my representations to those of Mr. Grand in...
15074From Thomas Jefferson to Zachariah Loreilhe, 30 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The order which you have received from Mr. Barclay for the purchase of gun-powder and other military items for the State of Virginia, was proper, and I believe the funds here would suffice to pay for them, though I have not lately enquired into their amount. But there is a circumstance of which Mr. Barclay is not apprized which will render it proper to defer the purchase till the spring of the...
15075To Thomas Jefferson from William Macarty, 30 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have procured some Dishes, petits Pots and Compotiers exactly like the patren and they will be sent off imediately. I cannot find any others that will answer. Should you want any larger Dishes, Soup Turiens, Sauce Boats or plates in plenty they can be had. I am very Respectfully Your most obedt. Sert., RC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ with his left hand. Noted in SJL as received 3 Nov. 1786, but...
15076To Thomas Jefferson from Vergennes, 31 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Jai l’honneur Monsieur de vous envoyer les deux passeports que vous avez demandés pour la libre exportation des Ports de Bordeaux et du havre d’une certaine quantité de munitions de guerre que vous avez achetés par ordre de l’Etat de Virginie où vous vous proposez de les faire passer. FC (Arch. Aff. Etr., Corr. Pol., E.-U.; xxxii ; Tr in DLC ). Noted in SJL as received 1 Nov. 1786.
15077From Thomas Jefferson to Chastellux, [October 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Among the topics of conversation which stole off like so many minutes the few hours I had the happiness of possessing you at Monticello, the Measure of English verse was one. I thought it depended, like Greek and Latin verse, on long and short syllables arranged into regular feet. You were of a different opinion. I did not pursue this subject after your departure, because it always presented...
15078From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson, [October 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
I will call for you today, my dear between twelve and one. You must be dressed, because we drink tea with Mrs. Montgomery. Bring your music and drawings. Adieu my dear Patsy. MS not found; text printed from a photostat in NcD ; unsigned, undated, and unaddressed. This note was written with TJ’s left hand, and therefore belongs to some date after 18 Sep., when TJ injured his wrist, and before...
15079To Thomas Jefferson from Jean Durival, with Enclosure, 1 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Un écrivain, Monsieur, occupé d’un ouvrage monnétaire, m’a adressé le Mémoire cy-joint, et m’a engagé à avoir l’honneur de vous le communiquer en vous priant de vouloir bien lui procurer quelques lumieres sur les monnoyes fabriquées ou en circulation dans les Provinces Unies de l’Amérique Septentrionale. Si vous pouvez, Monsieur, concourir aux vuës louables de l’auteur monnétaire dont il...
15080To Thomas Jefferson from Antoine-Félix Wuibert, 1 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Six Semaines après mon arrivée chez moi, J’ay Reçu, avec bien du plaisir, Vos deux Lettres de Mai et Juin derniers, dont il a plut à Votre Excellence m’honnorer. Dans la derniere etaient incluses quelqu’autres Lettres de ma famille de tout quoy Je Vous fais mes très Sincères remerciments. Par Votre derniere Comme dans la prémiere, Je Reconnais que Vous avez bien Voulu avoir la Complaisance...
15081To Thomas Jefferson from John Banister, Jr., 2 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had the pleasure to address you last a severe fit of illness seized me which together with the idea I had of your having left Paris was the cause of my long silence. Mr. Short in a letter he wrote me gave me the disagreeable intelligence of your having been prevented undertaking your intended journey by the ill effects of a fall the consequences of which I hope are not very serious....
15082From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 2 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honor to inclose you the passeport for two thousand five hundred stand of arms, powder and other articles purchased and to be purchased for the State of Virginia. This passeport is to serve as well for what you have received as for what you will receive hereafter till its amount is satisfied. You will observe they are to pass free of all duty, but whether this will entitle us to...
15083From Thomas Jefferson to Calonne, 2 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s letter of October the 22d. wherein you communicate to me the regulations which His Majesty the King has been pleased lately to establish in favor of the commerce between his subjects and the Citizens of the United States. I availed myself of the first occasion of conveying this information to Congress, who will recieve with singular satisfaction this...
15084From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 2 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 2 Nov. 1786. This letter is almost identical with TJ’s letter to John Bondfield of this date , q.v., with the exception that it encloses passports for “two thousand four hundred cartouch boxes and accoutrements which will be the amount of the whole purchase when it shall be completed.” PrC ( DLC ); 1 p.; in Short’s hand, including signature; at foot of text: “(Test W Short Sec).”
15085To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 3 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Vos précieuses Notes sont actuellement entre les mains d’un Lecteur qui sait vraiment lire, qui me remercie toutes les fois que nous nous voyons de l’avoir ragouté par ce morceau, parce qu’il ne paroissoit depuis longtemps que de la crême fouettée. Il me fait des excuses de ce qu’il lit lentement, parce que cette Lecture mérite de n’être pas faite en courant: Que maintes lignes y ont couté...
15086From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 3 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your favor of the second instant . The reason for my importing harness from England is a very obvious one. They are plated, and plated harness is not made at all in France as far as I have learnt. It is not from a love of the English but a love of myself that I sometimes find myself obliged to buy their manufactures. I must make one observation with respect to the use I make of...
15087To Thomas Jefferson from John Trumbull, 3 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival I had the pleasure to find your letter of the 13th. Octr. enclosing one to Mrs. Cosway. You may conceive with what alacrity I executed the commission of delivering it with my own hand; you, who have so justly estimated the value of her acquaintance. I now have the pleasure of enclosing to you her return. Thanks to her kind dissuasion, I did not go to Holland:—The Season of the...
15088[To Thomas Jefferson from Cavalier, Fils, 4 November 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Dieppe, 4 Nov. 1786. Recorded in SJL as received 7 Nov. 1786. Not found.]
15089From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson, 4 November [1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Two of your country-women, Mrs. Barrett and Mrs. Montgomery, will dine with me tomorrow. I wish you could come and dine with them. If you can obtain leave let me know in the morning and I will come for you between one and two o’clock. You must come dressed. Adieu my dear Patsy your’s affectionately, MS not found. Text printed from a photostat of RC in NcU ; the following note appears on the...
15090To Thomas Jefferson from Vergennes, 4 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai fait expédier, Monsieur, comme vous l’avez demandé, un Passeport de franchise pour quelques parties de vins étrangers qui doivent vous arriver des Ports de Marseille, Livourne et Lisbonne, pour votre usage et la consommation de votre maison à Paris. J’y ai fait comprendre le Clavecin qui vous vient de Londres, quoique cet objet de pur agrément, ne puisse pas être rangé dans la classe des...
15091From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 6 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 28th. of October came to hand the day before yesterday. In the mean time your two bills had been presented; the smaller one drawn on my private account I had paid on sight; under the larger one I had written an acceptance and I think an order to Mr. Grand to pay it. I went immediately to Mr. Grand’s; the bill had not been presented for payment and they assured me that by the...
15092From Thomas Jefferson to St. John de Crèvecoeur, 6 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress have as yet come to no resolution as to the general redemption of paper money. That it is to be redeemed is a principle of which there is no doubt in the mind of any member of Congress, nor of any citizen of the United States. A Resolution of Congress taken in a particular case, which stood on the same ground on which the general one will stand, founds a presumption amounting nearly...
15093Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 7 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you from Cadiz the 2d. of last Month a Copy of which goes under the Cover of this and the Original with the Papers mentioned therein will I hope be very soon delivered to you by Colonel Franks. On my arrival here I had the pleasure of receiving Mr. Jefferson’s Letter of the 26th . of Septr. informing me that for the present any further attempts to arrange Matters with the Barbary...
15094From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Durival, 7 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 1st. inst. inclosing enquiries on the subject of the coins of the United States. Some time during the last year Congress decided that the Spanish milled Dollar should be their money unit, and that their coins should be in a decimal progression above and below that. Some intermediate coins will also be doubtless made for convenience and indeed they...
15095To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 8 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know how long it is since I wrote to you, but am sure it is much longer since I heard from you. I am in daily expectations of a Letter in answer to some of mine. I send you another Packet of News Papers and enclose the Leg of a strange Bird which has nothing curious in it but a fine small toothed Comb annexed to one of its Toes, and three very beautiful Feathers (of which I send two)...
15096To Thomas Jefferson from David Ramsay, 8 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the tenth of July was a few days ago received by the way of New-York. Your friendly interposition in respect of my work lays me under great obligations. I have long since thought that the mode you have adopted was the best the nature of the case admitted of to introduce it to the people of England. I wish that some copies might in some way or other be introduced to Ireland. The...
15097To Thomas Jefferson from Brissot de Warville, 10 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Craignant que vous n’aiés besoin de vos Lois de la Virginie pendant mon sejour à Orléans, et ne pouvant m’occuper de L’extrait que je veux en faire, et en publier dans mon ouvrage, Je prens le parti de vous le renvoier, en me reservant de Vous le redemander à mon retour. Je me suis trouvé à diner aujourdhui avec Messrs. Desaint et Brack directeurs des traites foraines à La douane, dont le...
15098To Thomas Jefferson from William Jones, 10 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
This day Col. Smith did me the honour to leave your note ordering a Ferguson’s Perspective Machine which I shall immediately put in hand and have it finished agreeable to the Description, and your amendments.—I am sorry Sir that the hurry of business has prevented me from closing investigating the principle, and action of the Air Pump; but I recollect some time back, that myself and two or...
15099To Thomas Jefferson from John Paradise, 10 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctor Burney has just this moment been with me to acquaint me that the harpsicord that was bespoken for you has been finished by Kirkman a considerable time, and is now in the hands of Mr. Walker, who is affixing to it his Celestini stop, upon a new construction, according to your Excellency’s wish and idea. The Doctor has been in daily expectation ever since his arrival in town, of hearing...
15100[To Thomas Jefferson from John Bondfield, 11 November 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Bordeaux, 11 Nov. 1786. Recorded in SJL as received 15 Nov. 1786. Not found.]