651From Thomas Jefferson to Fanny Delagarde, 3 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I this moment receive your letter, inclosing those which you wish to have sent to America. I will put them under cover to the Delegates of Massachusets in Congress and will send them by the packet which sails the 25th. of this month, so that you may be assured of their going safe. A packet goes to New York from Havre every six weeks. Whenever you chuse to write to your friends therefore, send...
652[From Thomas Jefferson to Guillaume Delahaye, 7 July 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 7 July 1787 . Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found.]
653From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Delaire, 25 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very sensible of the humanity and generosity which the merchants of Rochelle were so good as to interpose in behalf of the crew of the Clementina, and am very grateful for the aids they afforded. Congress have not been able as yet to make a regular appointment of Agents in the several ports of France because it is not till very lately that a Convention has been arranged for that purpose...
654V. To Jean Nicolas Démeunier, [26 June 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson presents his compliments to M. de Meusnier and sends him copies of the 13th. 23d. and 24th. articles of the treaty between the K. of Prussia and the United States. In the negociation with the minister of Portugal at London, the latter objected to the 13th. article. The observations which were made in answer to his objections, Mr. Jefferson incloses. They are a commentary on the...
655From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Nicolas Démeunier, 15 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Mazzei having asked of me information on the subject of the United States, I lent him the notes I had written for you. I saw in his manuscript afterwards things respecting you which I could not approve, and expressed to him strongly my desire that he should change them. I thought he would do it; but have not had time to look into his work since it’s publication. I beg you to be assured...
656II. Additional Queries, with Jefferson’s Answers, [ca. January–February 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Additional questions of M. de Meusnier, and answers 1. What has led Congress to determine that the concurrence of seven votes is requisite in questions which by the Confederation are submitted to the decision of a Majority of the U.S. in Congress Assembled? The IXth. article of Confederation, §. 6. evidently establishes three orders of questions in Congress. 1. The greater ones, which relate...
657IV. Jefferson’s Observations on DéMeunier’s Manuscript, 22 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Observations on the article Etats-unis prepared for the Encyclopedie Pa. 8. The Malefactors sent to America were not in sufficient number to merit enumeration as one class out of three which peopled America. It was at a late period of their history that this practice began. I have no book by me which enables me to point out the date of it’s commencement. But I do not think the whole number...
658I. Answers to DéMeunier’s First Queries, 24 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
1. On the original establishment of the several states, the civil code of England, from whence they had emigrated, was adopted. This of course could extend only to general laws, and not to those which were particular to certain places in England only. The circumstances of the new states obliged them to add some new laws which their special situation required, and even to change some of the...
659From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. P. Derieux, 16 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I availed myself of the letter of June 1 with which you were pleased to honor me to wait on Madame Bellenger, and to begin an acquaintance which I have found perfectly agreeable, and the more so as it has enabled me to be useful to you. I found in her all the good dispositions possible towards you, but not seeing clearly in what way her bounties would relieve you. I made her sensible that by...
660From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. P. Derieux, 25 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 8th. of April , and am very happy that you have been able, with the succours of your relation here, to put yourself in so good a way. I have no right to take to myself any part of the merits. She was so well disposed that nothing was wanting but an explanation of your situation, and of the manner in which even a small aid would operate a great relief to...
661From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. P. Derieux, 16 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Madame de Bellanger having informed me that she has authorized you to draw on her for fifteen thousand livres Tournois, the purpose of the present letter is to assure those who may be disposed to purchase your bills to that amount that they will be certainly and punctually paid, and, as a further satisfaction to the purchaser, to authorize Colo. Nicholas Lewis to write my name on the back of...
662From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Dessin, 17 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now to return you many thanks for your attention to the several cases I left with you to be expedited to this place. They all came safe to hand. The Acquit à caution for the parcel which I brought myself, is herein inclosed. I should sooner have sent this, but that I awaited the arrival of the second parcel, meaning to return to you both acquits à caution together. But on asking for the...
663From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Dessin, 24 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
On the receipt of your letter I sent to the Douane to inquire for your other acquit à caution, and I this moment receive from thence the inclosed paper which they assure me will indemnify you. I should not have failed to have sent you both as soon as I arrived here, but the person who had brought the other articles said he was responsible for the return of the acquit à caution and would not...
664From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Dessin, 28 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson presents his compliments to Monsieur Dessin and returns him the acquit à caution that he was so kind as to give for his carriage, with many thanks for this mark of his confidence. He begs him to be assured that should any occasion arise again for him to repeat the same favor, the most exact attention shall be shewn to prevent him from experiencing any inconvenience from it. PrC (...
665From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Dessin, 9 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Having desired my friend Colo. Smith in London to procure me some chariot harness, plated, and to send them on to Paris by the Diligence, I have taken the liberty of desiring him, in case that the master of the Diligence cannot send them on to the Douane at Paris, to direct an application to be made to you at Calais. I take the liberty of asking you, in case of any difficulty, to be so good as...
666From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Digges, 19 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of May 12. as well as that of the person who desires information on the state of Cotton manufactures in America, and for his interest and safety, I beg leave to address to you the answer to his queries, without naming him. In general it is impossible that manufactures should succeed in America from the high price of labour. This is occasioned by the great demand...
667[From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Dilly, 26 January 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 26 Jan. 1786 . Entry in SJL under this date: “Chas. Dilly. Book seller of Lond. To send Dr. R’s books by Col. Humphreys.” Letter not found, but see David Ramsay to TJ, 10 Dec. 1785, and TJ’s reply, 26 Jan. 1786.]
668From Thomas Jefferson to Diodati, 20 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Jefferson a eté tres affligé de n’avoir pas eté rendre ses devoirs a Monsieur le comte et Madame la Comtesse Diodati: mais ç’a eté causé par une autre affliction qui a manqué d’etre bien grave. Son enfant, qui a eu la fievre depuis deux mois (avec une courte intermission seulement) l’a eu très dangereusement les dernieres semaines. Depuis trois ou quatre jours pourtant un mieux s’est...
669From Thomas Jefferson to Jacob Gerrit Diriks, 2 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
As a private individual and citizen of America I can with propriety and truth deliver it to you as my firm belief that the loan office certificate you shewed me, and all others of the same kind will be paid, principal and interest, as soon as the circumstances of the United states will permit: that I do not consider this as a distant epoch, nor suppose there is a publick debt on earth less...
670From Thomas Jefferson to Rigoley d’Ogny, 3 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Je viens de recevoir içi, Monsieur le Baron, à mon retour d’une petite voiage au-delà des Alpes la lettre, en date 6me. Avril, dont vous avez bien voulu m’honorer. Agreez, je vous en prie mes remercimens pour votre bonté en faisant remettre en franchise le paquet de gazettes qui m’avoit eté adressé de New York par la voye des paquebots français. Il y a longtems que j’ai vu avec regret les...
671From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 18 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Often sollicited by persons on this side the water to enquire for their friends in America about whose fate they are incertain, I can only hand on their requests to my friends in America. The inclosed letter from the Chevalier de Sigougne desires some enquiry after his brother whom he supposes to have settled at Todd’s bridge. As this is within your reach, I must refer the request to your...
672From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 17 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you on the 28th. of July, when appearan[ces] rather threatened a war in Europe from the quarter of Holland. Since that the affairs of that country have continued to become more and more incapable of reconciliation. In the mean time a war has actually broken out between the Turks and Russians. It has been formally declared by the former against the latter, and...
673From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 7 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I received duly your friendly letter of Nov. 12. By this time you will have seen published by Congress the new regulation obtained from this court in favor of our commerce. I should have made them known to you at the same time but that there is a sort of decency which requires that first communications should be made to government. You will observe that the arrangement relative to tobacco is a...
674From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 28 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with infinite satisfaction your letter of the 1st. of March. It was the first information I had of your being in America. There is no person whom I shall see again with more cordial joy whenever it shall be my lot to return to my native country; nor any one whose prosperity in the mean time will be more interesting to me. I find as I grow older that I set a higher value on the...
675From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 15 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of Dec. 15. two days after I had written my letter of the 7th. inst. and at the same time with one from Callow Carmichael & co. informing me that your vessel would sail from Havre about the 19th. instant. The shortness of warning not admitting time to order claret for you from Bordeaux early enough to go either by the Bowman or by your next ship, I send you two hampers...
676[From Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Doradour, 11 February 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 11 Feb. 1787 Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found.]
677The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
While M. hartley was here as Minister from the Court of Great Britain, we had the honour of mentioning to him that we were instructed by the Congress to treat on Some points distinct from any regulations of Commerce He Communicated this to his Court & the very Satisfactory answer which he received & made to us of its good disposition & willingness to receive & consider any propositions that...
678The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 28 October 1784 (Adams Papers)
The United States of america in Congress assembled judging that an intercourse between the Subjects of his Britannic Majesty & the Citizens of the Said States founded on the Principles of equality, reciprocity & friendship may be of mutual advantage to both nations, on the 12 th. day of may last, issued their Commission under the Seal of the Said States to the Subscribers as their Ministers...
679The American Commissioners to the Duke of Dorset, 9 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter which your grace did us the honour of writing us on the 24 th. day of Last month, and we received with much Satisfaction the assurances on the part of his Britannic Majesty’s Ministers of their readiness to take into consideration any proposals coming from the United States of america that Can tend to the establishing a System of mutual & permanent advantage, to the...
680From Thomas Jefferson to Katherine Sprowle Douglas, 10 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In your letter of June 21. you asked ‘my opinion whether yourself or your son might venture to go to Virginia to claim your possessions there’? I had the honour of writing you on the 5th. of July that you might safely go there, that your person would be sacredly safe and free from insult. I expressed my hopes too that they would in the end adopt the just and useful measure of restoring...
681From Thomas Jefferson to Katherine Sprowle Douglas, 5 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 21st. of June has come safely to hand. That which you had done me the honour of writing before has not yet been received. Having gone by Dr. Witherspoon to America, which I had left before his return to it, the delay is easily accounted for. I wish you may be rightly informed that the property of Mr. Sprowle is yet unsold. It was advertized for sale so long ago as to found a...
682From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 6 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 6th. of May last by Mr. McQuin, and of sending you by the same gentleman some seed of the Sulla, or Spanish St. foin. I hope it has succeeded, as some seeds of the same parcel which I sowed in my garden have vegetated well and gave me an opportunity of seeing that it is a most luxuriant grass. It’s success in the climate of Malta seems to ensure it...
683From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 13 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
By capt. Shewell, who is sailing about this time from Marseilles for Charleston I directed to be forwarded to you one of two couffes of rough rice which I had had brought from Egypt. The other came on to me here, and will be carried from Havre to New York addressed to you, to the care of the delegates of S. Carolina in Congress. I wish both may arrive in time for the approaching seed time, and...
684From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 17 July 178[8] (Jefferson Papers)
My letters of Jan. 13. and Feb. 6. informed you that I had sent to your address 1. a couffe of Egyptian rough rice by Capt. Shewell bound from Marseilles to Charleston. 2. another do. by the Juno capt. Jenkins bound from Havre to N. York. 3. a box with cork acorns and Sulla seed by the Packet from Havre to N. York. A letter from the delegates of S. Carolina dated New York Apr. 25. announced to...
685From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 30 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Having observed that the consumption of rice in this country, and particularly in this Capital was very great, I thought it my duty to inform myself from what markets they draw their supplies, in what proportion from ours, and whether it might not be practicable to increase that proportion. This city being little concerned in foreign commerce, it is difficult to obtain information on...
686From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 6 February 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter which I had the honor of addressing you on the 13th. of the last month informed you that I had forwarded to you a couffe of Egyptian rice by Capt. Shewell who was to sail from Marseilles directly to Charlestown, and another by the Juno, Capt. Jenkins sailing from Havre to New York. This last was addressed to the care of the S. Carolina delegates in Congress and bills of lading for...
687From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 6 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 23. came duly to hand. A call to England soon after it’s receipt has prevented my acknoleging it so soon as I should have done. I am very sensible of the honour done me by the South Carolina society for promoting and improving agriculture and other rural concerns; when they were pleased to elect me to be of their body; and I beg leave through you, Sir, to convey to them my...
688From Thomas Jefferson to Du Bois, 4 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Je crois, Monsieur, que Monsieur Paul Jones doit etre actuellement à Copenhague, ou sur son passage de la Nouvelle York à Copenhague; et qu’il recevra très surement des lettres addressées à luimeme à Copenhague poste restante, ou chez Monsieur le Baron de Houze à Copenhague. Il doit faire un séjour assez considerable dans cette ville pour solliciter des remboursements de la cour du Dannemarc...
689From Thomas Jefferson to Mantel Duchoqueltz, 18 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Immediately on the receipt of your favor of July 25. informing me that you had forwarded to me by the packet some boxes of plants &c. and that you had disbursed for me 23₶-12–6, I wrote to M. Limozin at Havre to repay this sum with the other charges which might have been incurred. I thank you for your attention, Sir, to those articles, and beg you to be assured that any disbursements you may...
690[From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Dudley, 7 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 7 May 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Dudley. That I have sent on 2d. pr. spectacles to Virga.-he may expect the 1st or the money in a fortnight.” Not found, but see TJ to Madison , this date, and Madison to TJ, 15 May . While TJ does not give the first name of Dudley in this entry or in the letter to Madison of this date, there can be little doubt that the maker of the spectacles was...
691From Thomas Jefferson to Dugnani, 11 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of sending your Excellency the second volume of the American Philosophical transactions which came to my hands yesterday. My correspondent writes me that the first volume cannot be bought at this moment, the depot in which they were kept having been destroyed during the war. But he adds that they propose to reprint the first volume and that he will take care to send me a copy...
692[From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel? Dulany, 22 February 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 22 Feb. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mr. Dulany to rent house.” TJ’s letter to Dulany has not been found nor can Dulany be positively identified, though as a famous lawyer, a leading public figure in Maryland, and a friend of TJ (see De la Serre to TJ, 13 May 1786 ), Daniel Dulany may well have been the landlord involved. On 25 Feb. TJ wrote in his Account Book: “Moved to Mr....
693From Thomas Jefferson to Duler, 17 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour of now returning to you the certificate of the Chevalier Danmours, in your favour. The testimony of that gentleman with whose worth I am well acquainted, would have satisfied me of yours, had any testimony been wanting. It adds another to the list of many worthy persons whom I am unable to assist; for I declare to you that I know no way on earth in which I can be useful to...
694From Thomas Jefferson to Duler, 8 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The circumstance had escaped me of my having had the honor of being made known to you by Mr. Walker at Charlottesville. However I should not have been the less ready, had it been in my power, to have aided you in procuring emploiment in some bureau here. But a stranger as I am, unconnected and unacquainted, my sollicitations on your behalf would be as ineffectual as improper. I should have...
695From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 8 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Dec. 11. Jan. 23. and Mar. 3. have been duly received. Your despatches for Mr. Jay always go by the first safe conveyance after they come. I have been long acknowleging the receipt of your former letters because during the winter a very sick family prevented my attending to any but the most indispensable business, and because I saw by your zealous and judicious publications in...
696From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 16 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you many thanks for your kind attention in forwarding my letters. I shall probably remain here till Thursday or Friday next, and will therefore pray you to forward hither any which may arrive before that time. None I believe will come after that, as I have let Mr. Short know I should be gone. Since my arrival here I have had some thought of making a tour up the Rhine instead of...
697From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 3 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had received your favor of the 23d. of September two days ago. That of the 28th. and 29th. was put into my hands this morning. I immediately waited on the Ambassadors , ordinary and extraordinary of the United Netherlands, and also on the Envoy of Prussia, and asked their good offices to have an efficacious protection extended to your person, your family, and your effects, observing that the...
698From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 15 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
My first moments after my return having been necessarily occupied by letters which had come during my absence and which required immediate answers, I have not till now been able to resume my correspondence with you, and to inform you of my safe arrival here after a very agreeable tour through Germany. Our news from America comes down to the 14th. of March. At that time the state of the new...
699From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 30 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 24th. has just come to hand, and that of the 20th. of June had never been acknoleged. I congratulate you on the news just received of the accession of New Hampshire to the new Constitution which suffices to establish it. I have the honor to inclose you details on that subject, as also on the reception of Mr. Adams, which you will be so good as to reduce to such a size as may...
700From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 9 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of inclosing to you a state of such articles of intelligence as I received by the last packet which may be interesting in Europe. I stated them for the publisher of an English and American gazette printed here in English once a week, which begins and deserves to be read. If you think any of these articles worth inserting in the Leyden gazette, you will be so good as to put...