15601From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 26 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Making a tour round the sea-ports of this country on matters of business, and meeting at this place with Capt. Gregory, just sailing for Portsmouth, I cannot deny myself the pleasure of asking you to participate of a parcel of wine I have been chusing for myself. I do it the rather as it will furnish you a specimen of what is the very best Bourdeaux wine. It is of the vineyard of Obrion, one...
15602To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Montgomery, 26 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Alicante, 26 May 1787 . Wrote by the last post and enclosed a letter from Lamb, “who is Yet in Quarantine.” A vessel arrived at Carthagena from Algiers last week brought news of the Dey’s death and the continuance of the plague. Has no other news except that he has been told that “the Cecession of hostillities with Napoles has not been Very Strictly attended to on the Side of the Pirates.” RC...
15603To Thomas Jefferson from G. Pin, 26 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Des affaires pressantes m’ont Empeché de vous faire parvenir Plutot l’itineraire du Canal que vous desiries recevoir. Je l’insere icy. S’il y a quelque autre Eclaircissement qui puisse vous plaire, veuillé s me donner Vos ordres. Personne ne sera plus Exact que moy à les Executer et à vous donner des preuves du Zele qui m’anime pour tout Ce qui peut vous Interresser. Je suis avec respect...
15604From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 26 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I find here the letter you were so kind as to leave for me and am truly sorry I did not arrive in time to have the pleasure of meeting with you here. I hope however you will take Paris in your way back, and indemnify my loss. I am to thank you as usual for favors, attention to the press, the mathematical instrument, books, letters &c. This done I will pass to a more pleasing subject still,...
15605To Thomas Jefferson from Martha Jefferson, 27 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I was very glad to see by your letter that you were on your return, and I hope that I shall very soon have the pleasure of seeing you. My sister’s letter gave me a great deal of happiness. I wish she would write to me; but as I shall enjoy her presence very soon, it will make up for a neglect that I own gives me the greatest pain. I still remember enough of geography to know where the places...
15606To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 29 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday evening your favor of the 21st. from the canal of Languedoc and in consequence of the route which you trace I send this to L’Orient to the care of the American Agent there. I percieve by your letter that mine of the 8th. must necessarily have missed you at Aix. I hope that of the 14th. sent to the care of Mr. Bondfield at Bordeaux, and that of the 21st. sent to Nantes post...
15607To Thomas Jefferson from John Sullivan, 29 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Before your Moose and other Articles were on their way I found myself under the Necessity of Drawing on you for forty five pounds Sterling, not exactly knowing the amount of Expences attending or that might attend the Business. Capt. Pierce was to have carried them but unfortunately Left them. I afterward sent the Box to Boston to the Care of Mr. De la Tombe and am informed that it is now on...
15608To Thomas Jefferson from Miguel de Lardizábel y Uribe, 30 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Madrid, 30 May 1787 . Since he has received no reply to the letter he wrote on his arrival in Spain, he writes again to inquire about TJ’s health, and to express appreciation for his many courtesies. His earlier letter mentioned that he had put the copying press into Carmichael’s hands; has been almost constantly at court, and so unable to procure the books TJ desired, but promises to do his...
15609To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 30 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
It has so happened, that the letter which you did me the honor of writing to me the 14th. of November last, did not come to my hands till the first of the present month ; and at a time when I was about to set off for the Convention of the States appointed to be holden in this City the 14th. Instt. Consequently, it has not been in my power, at an earlier period, to reply to the important...
15610To Thomas Jefferson from Jeudy de l’Hommande, 31 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Le Commerce des Farines, étant une branche de la plus grande importance pour Les Treize Etats unis, Votre Patrie, et le défaut qu’elles ont de ne pas se Conserver dans les Colonies Françoises, Angloises et Espagnolles, étant on ne peut plus prejuciable aux habitans ou Négocians qui en font Commerce: Pourois-Je avoir L’honneur de vous demander, Si vous seriez dans le cas de traiter avec moi du...
15611To Thomas Jefferson from Anne Willing Bingham, [1 June 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
I am too much flattered by the Honor of your letter from Paris, not to acknowledge it by the earliest opportunity, and to assure you that I am very sensible of your attentions. The Candor with which you express your sentiments, merits a sincere declaration of mine. I agree with you that many of the fashionable pursuits of the Parisian Ladies are rather frivolous, and become uninteresting to a...
15612To Thomas Jefferson from J. P. P. Derieux, 1 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Collé, Albemarle co., 1 June 1787 . Although unknown to TJ, he hopes TJ will forgive his presumption in enclosing some letters to be posted, for the province and for Paris. He asks that if necessary the letter for Philip Mazzei, his father-in-law, be forwarded or put into the hands of Favi, chargé d’affaires for Tuscany, who is generally in communication with him; that TJ deliver himself those...
15613From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson, 1 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of May 3. came to me at this place. Since this I hear nothing from you; but I hope your health is reestablished. I have received letters from America as late as March assuring me that your sister shall be sent this summer. At that time however they did not know certainly by what occasion she could come. There was a hope of getting her under care of the French Consul and his lady,...
15614From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 8. which had arrived at Aix after I had passed that place, followed me here where I have received it, as also that of May 21. The one by Colo. Smith I received at Bourdeaux . He had left that place a week before I reached it. I wrote to him to the care of Mr. Carmichael. I left Mr. Barclay at Bourdeaux. He waited only the post of the day before yesterday to set out for Paris....
15615To Thomas Jefferson from Feger, Gramont & Cie., 2 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Nous sommes bien impatients d’apprendre vôtre heureux retour dans la capitale, et nous vous renouvellons bien sincèrement nos regrets de n’avoir pas eu le bonheur de vous posseder plus longtems. Il nous est venu, depuis votre départ, une lettre pour vous que nous adressons aujourdhui à Mr. Grand en le remerciant de son attention à nous procurer votre Connoissance. Nous avons chargé, suivant...
15616To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 5 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The Hague, 5 June 1787 . Short’s last letter causes him to hope that TJ has returned to Paris in good health and particularly that he has recovered “ la libre usage d’une main si bien faisante et si utile à la patrie et à l’humanité .” In Holland everyone lives in readiness, and in anxiety too, for a civil war. The crisis is to come this month: “ Il est question de tout sauver ou de tout...
15617To Thomas Jefferson from John Churchman, with a Memorial on Magnetic Declinations, 6 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of Writing on a subject which as it is interesting to Society I hope will require but little apology. And yet I must be ingenious enough to confess that in my pursuits of this subject I have not been without a view to my own emolument, in which I have done nothing more than to accept of the invitation held out by many Governments of Europe to engage in the public service...
15618To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 6 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
It would Be almost as easy to shoot one of the flying Geniuses of the Arabian Nights as to direct a letter to the place where it Has the Best chance to Hit You. I Have Been dilatory in My Answer, which must be imputed to the public Hurry of National Affairs. But as I Now Hope for Your Speedy Return, I shall Make this letter the Shorter Because I Have thousand things to tell you. Our Assembly...
15619To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 6 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The day fixed for the meeting of the Convention was the 14th. ult: on the 25th. and not before seven States were assembled. General Washington was placed unâ voce in the chair. The Secretaryship was given to Major Jackson. The members present are from Massachusetts Mr. Gherry, Mr. Ghorum, Mr. King, Mr. Strong. From Connecticut Mr. Sherman, Doct. S. Johnson, Mr. Elseworth. From N. York Judge...
15620To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Thomson, 6 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Having come to this place on account of some private business, I have been waited on by Mr. J. Churchman, a native of this commonwealth, who flatters himself that he has made a discovery which will be of great public utility, in short nothing less than an easy and certain mode of ascertaining the longitude by what is commonly called the variation of the compass. He offered to explain to me the...
15621To Thomas Jefferson from Eliza House Trist, 6 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I with much pleasure acknowledge the receipt of your very kind favors of Dec. 86. and Feby. 87. Tho the dates were at distant periods, they were presented to me nearly at the same time. However great the satisfaction which I ever experience when honord by such testimonials of friendship, I wou’d not wish to purchase it at the expence which I find it has cost you. The pain with which you wrote...
15622To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 7 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The Hague, 7 June 1787 . Encloses the dispatch relating to Sweden mentioned in his last; has nothing to add that TJ will not find in it. “L’apostume ici n’est pas crevé encore. Leurs Hautes Puissances ou plutôt celui dont elles sont les Marionettes et les pantins, témoignent un grand appétit d’être les Despotes de l’armée de la République, et de chaque Province. On met bon ordre à cela dans...
15623To Thomas Jefferson from John Rutledge, 7 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the Liberty of recommending to Your Countenance and Protection, my eldest son, who will have the Honour of presenting this Letter. It is my Wish, that he remain till december in France, then to go to England to attend the Courts and Houses of Parliament in Winter. I would have him to go also to Holland to visit the Hague, and some of the German Courts, and to bend his thoughts and...
15624To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 8 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Le soussigné croit devoir adresser l’incluse directement au Département militaire des Et. Unis, sans en embarrasser celui des affaires Etrangeres, et ajouter seulement ici, pour que S. E. Mr. Jefferson sache de quoi il s’agit, que l’on m’apprend que Mr. Fred. Werneck, Capitaine Prussien, s’étoit rendu en 1776 en Amérique, et y avoit débuté par servir les Et. Unis comme Ingénieur volontaire;...
15625To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Carrington, 9 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I did myself the honor to address you by favor of Mr. Payne, in answer to yours of the 16th. January. The proposed scheme of a convention has taken more general effect, and promises more solid advantages than was at first hoped for. All the States have elected representatives except Rhode Island, whose apostasy from every moral, as well as political, obligation, has placed her perfectly...
15626To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, with Enclosure, 9 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to trouble your Excellency on a subject which is of material consequence to me. Colonel Blackden, no doubt, informed you of my being the proprietor of Lands in the western country of Virginia; of which he had some for sale while he was in France, tho they turned out short of my expectations. I have therefore applied my thoughts to another system, which there is a greater certainty...
15627To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 9 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
By the june Packet I have the happiness of complying in a great measure with my promise of the eighth of march. Finding that I had lost most of my plants through the inattention or ignorance of the Captain who had the care of them from North Carolina although I made repeated trials and the last with giving particular directions on the proper method of treating them. And fearing that similar...
15628Notes of a Tour into the Southern Parts of France, &c., 3 March–10 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Memorandums taken on a journey from Paris into the Southern parts of France and Northern of Italy, in the year 1787 . Champagne . March 3. Sens to Vermanton . The face of the country is in large hills, not too steep for the plough, somewhat resembling the Elk hill and Beverdam hills of Virginia. The soil is generally a rich mulatto loam, with a mixture of coarse sand and some loose stone. The...
15629To Thomas Jefferson from Dr. Lambert, 11 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
L’ignorance oû j’ai été, jusqu’au moment de votre Depart, de L’honneur que vous me faisiés, et du bonheur que j’avois de vous posséder chez moi, a peutêtre été Cause de mon trop de Liberté, et de franchise à votre Egard. Daignez en aggréer mes très humbles Excuses, et Les sentiments de la plus Vive et de la plus Respectueuse Reconnoissance. Sans sçavoir avec qui j’avois l’honneur de me trouver...
15630To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Barclay, 12 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
After you left this place My Fever Encreased upon me and Confined me two Days to my Bed. I am Now pretty well and I think I shall proceed home tomorrow, But I have Not given Mrs. Barclay any hopes of seeing me soon lest I shou’d Disapoint her. I Never stood so much in Need of your advice as I Do at this Moment. The House of French & Nephew have Refused Every accommodation that I have had in My...