17601To Thomas Jefferson from R. Macarty, 18 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 18 Mch. 1789 . Thanks TJ for transmitting a letter from her husband; asks when she may write to him, as she has “ des chose de tres grande consséquence à lui faire passé, ” and requests that any other letters for her be addressed “ à l’hotel de toulouse, Rüe des vieux augustin. ” RC ( ViWC ); 1 p.; endorsed. Not recorded in SJL , but a second letter from Mrs. Macarthy (missing) is there...
17602To Thomas Jefferson from Parent, 18 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Jay Recüe votre lettre du 11 mars Dernier, par laquelle vous me dittes de tiré sur vous aux plustot possible. Je vient de donner une traite à Messieurs paschal et fils aux vingt mars pour estre payé le trente du meme mois sur vous de Deux cent Soixante et Douze livres, pour Sold de Compte avec vous que je vous Seré bien oblige de la payé. Et Donc je Suis bien faché de quoy je nay pas pouvüe...
17603From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Baptiste de Gouvion, 19 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honor heretofore of apprising you of the measures taken for paiment of the arrearages of interest due to the foreign officers, and that it rested on two points. 1. The success of a loan opened in Holland. 2. Orders from America to apply to that object so much of the money to be borrowed when so much shall be in hand. The last object is fulfilled by the resolution of Congress...
17604To Thomas Jefferson from Willink & Van Staphorst, 19 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
We have Your Excellency’s Letter to us of 11 Inst. Which causes us infinite pain, as You point out a Meaning to the Resolve of Congress We transmitted you, that it is impossible for us to admit, same being directly opposite to the plain and unequivocal Letter of Appropriations of the Funds You wish to dispose of, and the Employ is not only specific, but the Contingencies You have engaged for,...
17605To Thomas Jefferson from François Soulés, 21 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
In the parliamentary pocket-book I published, I find a note to that purport: a member of the Commons is a Knight, a citizen or burgess. He must be resident within the same county the day of the writ of summons and ought to have 40 shillings of free hold within the said county, beyond all charges &c . A person who has just published a book intitled, les Comices de Rome &c. maintains that to be...
17606To Thomas Jefferson from Madame d’Anterroches, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Rien n’est si flatteur que la lettre dont vous venés de m’honnorés. Mon fils qui en èst le sujet et que nous possédons depuis 4 jours était auprès de moi lorsque je 1 ai reçue. Il en a fait la lecture avec les mêmes sentimens de reconnaissance qu’elle m’a inspiré. Monsieur, nous ne l’attendions pas, ce fils. Il est venu pour ainsi dire par hazard et sans compter venir. Quelle agréable...
17607From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 20/31 from Petersburg came safe to hand, and is the only proof we have received of your existence since you left Copenhagen. I mention this that, reflecting how and what you have written heretofore, you may know how and what you may write hereafter. I shall put nothing into this letter but what is important to you, and unimportant to any government thro which it may pass. To...
17608From Thomas Jefferson to MacCarthy Brothers, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to acknolege your favor without date as also that [enclosed from Mr. Alexander Cain of] Bordeaux [who has desired] me to apply to the government so the bounty [….] which bounty [….] because [….] has mislaid or lost his clearance, and can only supply it by his own oath and that of others of his crew. I cannot ask of the government in any one case what I would not ask in every...
17609From Thomas Jefferson to François Soulés, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honor of notifying to you before that the manuscript which I put into your hands contained notes which I had made, in the course of my reading for my own use as the member of a legislature in America. As such it was necessary for me to know not only the law of the moment but what it had been at other times. The qualifications of a knight of a shire have been different at...
17610From Thomas Jefferson to James Swan, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honor to present his compliments to Mr. Swan and to express his regret that his absence today prevented him the pleasure of seeing him. He now returns him his letters in which he finds a great deal of good matter, and many useful views. In the course of perusing them, Mr. Jefferson noted on a bit of paper the following doubts, the importance and justice of which are...
17611From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 24 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I informed you in my last that I would write you again on the subject of Admiral Paul Jones’s affairs. He had provided another fund for fulfilling his objects, and only desired me to call on you by way of supplement. I have therefore waited till I could know the extent of that fund; and I now find it is more than sufficient to answer the purposes with which I am charged: so that there will be...
17612To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 24 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Des deux raisons qui m’avoient privé des Lettres de V.E. cet hiver, l’une, la maladie de votre chere famille, m’a autant affligéque l’autre, l’approbation implicite de mes insertions dans la Gazette de Leide, a dû me flatter. J’espere que tout se porte bien maintenant avec V.E. Mr. Luzac a encore quelques Lettres de moi à publier, mais le Public, qu’il doit contenter, veut les plaies et les...
17613From Thomas Jefferson to Lucy Ludwell Paradise, 24 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Very much to do must always be my apology for acknoleging so late the receipt of your letters, and it will always be a true one in my present situation. I have been the less uneasy about this as I have from time to time mentioned to Doctor Bancroft what was necessary in the way of business. We wait with anxiety to hear whether the refusing creditor has yet come in. Tho’ Mr. Paradise does not...
17614From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 24 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 16th. inst. and since that have received yours of the 2d. inst. from Rome. By this I find you would leave Rome the 4th. and I am much afraid you will have left Florence before a letter will get there which I wrote Feb. 28. inclosing my commission for Genoa. I think I sent this letter to Florence under cover to your bankers: yet I am not sure that I did not send it to...
17615From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Willard, 24 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been lately honoured with your letter of Sep. 24. 1788. accompanied by a diploma for a doctorate of laws which the University of Harvard has been pleased to confer on me. Conscious how little I merit it, I am the more sensible of their goodness and indulgence to a stranger who has had no means of serving or making himself known to them. I beg you to return them my grateful thanks, and...
17616From Thomas Jefferson to D’Aranda, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall always be happy to find occasions of expressing the respect and veneration for you with which I was inspired during your residence at Paris. I wish you may think this a sufficient justification of the desire I feel of being sometimes recalled to your memory, as well as of the liberty I take in recommending to your notice the gentleman who will have the honor of presenting you this. He...
17617To Thomas Jefferson from Béthune-Charost, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Chateau de Beauménil, par Bernay, 25 Mch. 1789. Reminds TJ of their earlier correspondence about Martel’s bill of credit on the United States. As advised, Martel will entrust the matter to someone in America, but Béthune wonders what effect the organization of the new government will have, and asks TJ to protect Martel’s interests and to give him letters of recommendation. RC ( DLC ); in...
17618From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Rutledge, the son of Governor Rutledge of South Carolina, will have the honour of delivering you this. I suppose you must have been personally acquainted with his father, but surely so by reputation. It would suffice therefore to announce his son to you, in order to obtain your attentions and friendly offices for him. It is to gratify myself then that I add my sollicitations to the same...
17619To Thomas Jefferson from Giovanni Fabbroni, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Florence, 25 Mch. 1789 . Thanks TJ for having introduced him to Rutledge who, accompanied by Short, brought him a letter from TJ; Shippen was not with them. Regrets not having done more for them, but their stay was brief and they went “en droiture” straight to Leghorn without stopping at Pisa where the court was in residence and where Fabbroni could have presented them to “nôtre adorable...
17620From Thomas Jefferson to John Rutledge, Jr., 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your favor of March 3. and in consequence send you letters for Mr. Carmichael and Count d’Aranda at Madrid. I will endeavor to procure you some for Lisbon also, and will forward them to Bordeaux for you if you will let me know your latest day at that place, or I will send them after you to Madrid. I am in hopes you will conclude to go on to Bordeaux, as there is nothing in...
17621From Thomas Jefferson to Willink & Van Staphorst, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I find by your favor of the 19th. inst. that we are not likely to agree in opinion as to the intentions of Congress and the board of Treasury; for it is their intention which forms the law for us both. I have asked of you the money for the medals and another purpose because I thought, and still think, it was their intention that these purposes should be executed in their turn: you have refused...
17622From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, [26 March?] 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am plagued to death with the applications of people who knowing the friendship you are so good as to entertain for me, wish to make use of it for their purposes. In general I get rid of them by a positive refusal to add to the thousands of applications and perplexities which you have already. You will see that the inclosed however cannot be parried altogether. I cannot refuse to send it to...
17623To Thomas Jefferson from Madame de Lafayette, 26 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Je dois a votre amitie pour mr. De la fayette, monsieur, de vous envoyer les nouvelles que jai recues de lui. J’ai ète desolee de navoir pas éte ches moy Lorsque vous y êtes venu, et de n’avoir pu trouver le moment de vous les porter moy même. J’attends un de ces jours-ci des nouvelles du sort de l’élection, et j’espere fort qu’il sera elu deputé de sa province. Tous les soins different qui me...
17624To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 26 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not written to you since I left Rome because I have been since that almost constantly in movement. I had the pleasure of recieving at Florence your letter directed to me there. The commission it contained for Genoa, I executed when at that place. My stay there was so short as not to allow me more than time enough to consult two workmen in marble, but as these two own most of the shops...
17625To Thomas Jefferson from Thiery fils aîné, 26 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 26 Mch. 1789 . Had the honor of calling that morning to discuss privately a letter that is now enclosed. This letter holds forth the promise of “tres grand avantage par une etablisement telle quel a vu les Notre en flandre” if he should go to Boston and set up an enterprise in the same line, and the person proposing this also offers to procure in good season the funds necessary. But the...
17626From Thomas Jefferson to Thiery fils aîné, 26 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Ne connoissant que trés peu la ville de Boston, je ne suis nullement capable de vous donner des renseignements assez surs pour vous decider d’y faire un etablissement. Je crois qu’on doit etre bien sur de son fait avant de se compromettre a une entreprise qui pourroit bien manquer. Je vous prie Monsieur de vous adresser à Monsieur Parker, qui est logé au Palais royal audessus du caffè de...
17627To Thomas Jefferson from Van Damme, 26 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
La Vente est finie. J’ai le Honneur de à Vostre Addresse Expedier une Caisse Marqué M.I. Libri., Contenant les Livres, selon le Note Incluse. En Tout ƒ 170-15-: Courant d’Hollande. Les Ouvrages, De Admiranda Narratio de Virginiae. xi . Tom: 3 Vol: Est un Chef de Oeuvre, Contenant tout les faits en Amerique, et ornée des plus belle Planches. Ouvrage de une derniere Raretée, Et Original. Je Vous...
17628To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Vaughan, 26 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to send you by this conveyance three sorts of dry rice seed; 1. Padee Coccoo ballam; the finest sort; } 2. Padee Laye; the best for a crop; from Sumatra. 3. Padee Undallan; the ordinary sort Since writing you by the post in answer to your letter of the 11th. inst., I have received a letter from Mr. Anderson, superintendant of our botanical garden at St. Vincent, informing me,...
17629To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Bancroft, 27 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the 15th inst. came safe to my hands though the Mail which brought it was a little delayed: immediately I gave Mr. Young the necessary directions for proceeding with the Deed, as fast as possible, but I fear he is so much occupied or so dilatory that it will not be done so quickly as it ought.—I received great satisfaction at learning that it was your intention to take Mr....
17630[To Thomas Jefferson from Descamets, 27 March 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 27 Mch. 1789 . Recorded in SJL as received 28 Mch. 1789. Not found.]
17631To Thomas Jefferson from Sir John Sinclair, 27 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have requested Mr. Hamilton, a Gentleman of information, and merit, who will deliver this to you, to take with him to Paris, the appendix to my history of the British Revenue, of which I beg your acceptance. I am much obliged to you for occasional literary communications. Mr. Hamilton will inform you, how all is going on here. It will always give me pleasure to hear of your welfare. Excuse...
17632To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 29 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was committed in December to Mr. Gouverneur Morris. I was then on my way to Virginia. The elections for the new government commenced shortly after my arrival. The first was of Electors, to Ballot for a President and Vice President. The successful candidates were General Wood, Mr. Zachy. Johnson, Genl. Edward Stephens, Doctor David Stuart, Mr. W. Fitzhugh of Chatham, Mr. Warner Lewis of...
17633From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 30 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Paradise writes to you by this post on the subject of the proposition made to him by the Creditors to take the money in the funds and a third of his Virginia income instead of £400 a year. I think with him that he should accept it. My greatest objection is that it will not admit of a plain and unsuspicious execution. For it will be a question, pretty difficult to decide in England, and...
17634From Thomas Jefferson to Boyd, Ker & Co., 30 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honour to present his compliments to Messieurs Boyd & Ker and to inclose them a letter for Mr. Rutledge, with two bills of exchange of twelve hundred livres each. PrC ( MHi ). SJL Index records an undated letter from Boyd, Ker & Co. under this date, perhaps an acknowledgment of the above.
17635To Thomas Jefferson from Lucy Ludwell Paradise, 31 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Excellency by this Post will recvd. two Letters . This I was obliged to write by it’s self, as it is a Letter only for your Excellencies private reading. Your Letter of the 24th. of Mar. arrived this day and as it is Five days a going, I thought proper, contrary to my first intention to answer it immediatly. Dr. Bancroft and myself wait for your Answer to his Last Letters however in the...
17636To Thomas Jefferson from Madame Oster, 1 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Je profite de la permission que vous m’avez donné de vous adresser mes lettres pour l’amerique. Voulez vous bien avoir la bonté d’Envoyer celles-cy directement a Madame Banister sous votre couvert, car je suis tres inquiette de ce quaucune de mes lettres ne sont encore parvenues a mes amies. Quelquautres personnes, à ce que je soubsonne, pourroient bien se les Etre appropriées, connoissant mon...
17637To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Rutledge, [ca. 1 April 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
It is a long while since I have done myself the Pleasure of writing you; but the variety of concerns of a public and private Nature, together with the constant attention which I am necessarily obliged to give to an affectionate wife, who is in constant ill-Health, have suffered one week to steal after another, and leave me in shameful silence. I cannot however permit Mr. Cutting to quit us,...
17638[To Thomas Jefferson from Charpentier, 2 April 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 2 Apr. 1789 Recorded in SJL as received 3 Apr. 1789. Not found.]
17639To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 2 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Convenient Opportunities of writing to you seem less frequent than formerly, and those of hearing from you, still more scarce. My last was dated the 1. Decr. by Mr. Govr. Morris by whom also I sent a Packet of News Papers for yourself and a small Book of Songs for Miss Jefferson. I hope they have long since reach’d your hands. I have at last received the Case of Vinegar (Via Baltimore) for...
17640To Thomas Jefferson from André Limozin, 2 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
A Most Serious illness, of which I only begin to recover forced me to postpone to own the receit of the Letter your Excellency hath honored me with the 8th Ulto, and to wait upon Monsieur Du Mistral Intendant of Normandy. I intend to do it as soon as the Weather will be a little milder, for I am Still weak and am afraid of relapsing. I shall let your Excellency now what I shall learn further...
17641To Thomas Jefferson from Sarsfield, 2 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Vous ne me dîtes point l’autre jour, Monsieur, que vous Etes sur le point de votre depart. Je n’ay pu aprendre cette nouvelle avec indifference. Je partage le plaisir que vous allez trouver à rentrer chez vous, mais Je regretterai fort de ne plus avoir l’honneur de vous voir. Je compte aller vous chercher incessament; mais, en attendant, Voicy une observation sur la diminution de notre livre...
17642To Thomas Jefferson from Nicolas & Jacob van Staphorst, 2 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Amsterdam, 2 Apr. 1789. Inform TJ that “the vindictive Proceedings of the Party, that has triumphed by the late Revolution in this Country” has deprived them of “the usual Assistance of Our Mr. Jacob,” and they have made Nicholas Hubbard an active partner in the firm, thenceforth to be “the Firm of Nichs. & Jacob Van Staphorst & Hubbard; who will always esteem themselves peculiarly happy, in...
17643To Thomas Jefferson from Willink, Van Staphorst & Hubbard, 2 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
We are honored with Your Excellency’s respected favor of 25. Ult. closing our Correspondence relative to the Monies for Medals, and another purpose; but bringing forward a Resolution of Congress of 20 August 1788, appropriating so much of the Loans in Holland as shall be necessary to discharge the Interest due, on Certificats issued to Foreign officers to the 31 Decbr. 1788, and at the same...
17644To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Après le contenu de l’incluse que Votre Excellence lira, je n’ai rien à ajouter, sinon de me référer à celle que j’ai eu l’honneur de Lui écrire le 24 du mois passé, et de l’assurer que dans ma solitude c’est une douceur pour moi de profiter du séjour qu’elle fait encore dans notre Continent, en l’entretenant un moment, ne fût-ce que pour Lui répéter les assurances du respectueux dévouement...
17645To Thomas Jefferson from Ralph Izard, 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I received a few Weeks ago your Letter of so old date as 17th. last July; and beg that you will accept of my thanks for your very friendly offer respecting my Son. Mr. Cutting, who will be the Bearer of this Letter, flatters me with the hope of seeing you at New York the ensuing Summer; and he thinks it probable that you may embark before his arrival in France. I could not however let him...
17646From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Baptiste LeRoy, 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you with many thanks the Volume with D. Bernoulli’s paper which I have read with great satisfaction. I observe that the proposition of M. Bernoulli differs from Mr. Rumsey’s in several essential points. 1. His Water was to be raised by man: Rumsey’s by elastic vapour. 2. Bernoulli ’s water was to act on an inclined plane: Rumsey’s on a direct one. 3. Bernoulli ’s was to act by it’s...
17647To Thomas Jefferson from John Rutledge, Jr., 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I this moment have the pleasure to receive yours of the 25th of march, with the letters you have been as friendly as to send me for Madrid and for which I request you will accept my sincere thanks. The matter, and manner, of them might embelish demerit itself, and however ambitious I may be to deserve the Idea they convey of the Bearer, I will find it truly difficult to sustain.—Before this...
17648From Thomas Jefferson to Sarsfield, 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I could not name to you the day of my departure from Paris because I do not know it. I have not yet received my congé, tho I hope to receive it soon and to leave this some time in May so that I may be back before the winter. Impost is a duty paid on any imported article in the moment of it’s importation, and of course it is collected in the seaports only. Excise is a duty on any article,...
17649To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 3 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 24th. of March has come to my hands. I have read it with an uncommon degree of pleasure because it is a new proof Sir of that friendship which I have long considered as essential to my happiness. The most pleasing proof that can be given of this sentiment is an unreserved communication of one’s thoughts and particularly when they regard the person to whom it is made. Your...
17650To Thomas Jefferson from Jonathan Jones, 4 April 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 4 Apr. 1789 . Encloses a letter sent him by Mr. Sauvage, ship broker; the accompanying book and two parcels of newspapers have already been forwarded, addressed in care of Jacques Texier, “ Rue notre Dame de bonne nouvelle à Paris.—The Receveur General of the Domaine here pays without difficulty the bounty on american Wheat, and flour; on producing the general clearance: for this...