701From Thomas Jefferson to J. A. Gautier, 24 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter last night and meant to have answered it this morning, but it escaped me. I really am at a loss what to say. I do not consider myself as having any authority to direct the application of the public money except where it relates immediately to my own transactions. My private opinion is that the present bill should be governed by what has been the usual proceeding between...
702From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Elder, 25 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter by Doctor Lyons has been safely delivered me. Mr. Short on his arrival here from Virginia had informed me that the young Mr. Randolphs were either gone or going to Edinburgh and since that I have received the same information from Doctor Currie in a letter. I consider that really as the best position in Europe for the acquisition of real science: and that it will be very...
703From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 25 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I received the day before yesterday your favor of the 21st. and thank you for your care of my letter to the Mr. Fitzhughs. In mine of Nov. 11. addressed to you I took the liberty of asking you to furnish them with four hundred livres and to draw on me for the money. Instead of this you will be pleased to consider the twenty guineas (mentioned in your letter) as advanced at my request and to...
704From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr., 25 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to hear, by letter from Mr. Elder, that your health is infirm, and that it is likely to become necessary on that account for yourself, your brother and cousin to remove to the continent of Europe. Edinburgh had the two advantages of possessing science in as high a degree as any place in the world, and of conveying it in your native tongue. Places may be found on the continent which...
705From Thomas Jefferson to Jean-Armand Tronchin, [ca. 25 November 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Jefferson, ministre plenipotentiaire des etats-unis d’Amerique, est venu pour avoir l’honneur de voir Monsieur Tronchin et lui faire son compliment sur ce qu’il a eté presenté à leur Majestés et à la famille royale en qualité de Ministre de la republique de Geneve. Dft ( DLC ); undated. The date has been assigned from Tronchin’s announcement of his accreditation on 22 Nov. 1785,...
706To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 27 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 5 th. came to hand yesterday, and Col o. Smith & Col o. Humphries (by whom you will receive one of the 19 th. from me) being to set out tomorrow, I hasten to answer it. I sincerely rejoice that Portugal is stepping forward in the business of treaty, and that there is a probability that we may at length do something under our commissions which may produce a solid benefit to...
707Jefferson’s Account of the Stanhope Affair, [1 November 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
The assault committed in Boston on Capt. Stanhope commander of the British frigate Mercury having been given in several European papers according to the London state of it , candour obliges us to present to the eye of our readers, the same transaction as stated in depositions on oath taken by the order of that government in which it happened. Two citizens of Massachusets, of the names of...
708From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 27 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. came to hand yesterday, and Colo. Smith and Colo. Humphries (by whom you will receive one of the 19th. from me) being to set out tomorrow, I hasten to answer it. I sincerely rejoice that Portugal is stepping forward in the business of treaty, and that there is a probability that we may at length do something under our commissions which may produce a solid benefit to our...
709From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Henley, 27 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I receive this moment your kind letter of the 16th. and a private opportunity to London offering tomorrow morning, I avail myself of it to acknowledge the receipt. Mr. Johnson’s draught of which you advise me shall be punctually honoured. The fears you are so kind as to express on the subject of my family, are but too well founded. The domestic loss I sustained was the only circumstance which...
710[From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 28 November 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 28 Nov. 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “Limozin. For Mazzei’s trunk.” Not found.]
711Queries Concerning Trade with the French Colonies, [ca. December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
Eclaircissements à Tirer Des Amériquains MS ( DLC ); in clerk’s hand; endorsed by TJ: “Commerce with France—French islds. Queries on”; undated, evidently written in late Nov. or early Dec., for on 2 Jan. 1786 TJ wrote Jay that “certain Questions … proposed … by an Individual” were submitted to him “very soon after” his own letter of 20 Nov. 1785 to Vergennes. Tr ( DNA : PCC , No. 87); in...
712Enclosure: Jefferson’s Report on Conversations with Vergennes, [December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
Hearing frequent Complaints in this Country that little of our Commerce came to it, that while our Flag covered the Thames it was rarely to be seen in a Port of France, and that this proceeded from national Prejudices, and observing that this Complaint was often repeated and particularly relied on by those who had opposed our Admission into the French Islands, I thought it necessary on every...
713From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 2 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honour of receiving your Excellency’s letter of November the 30th. in which you are pleased to inform me of the late abatement of the duties on all fish oils, made from fish taken by citizens of the United States and brought into this kingdom, in French or in American bottoms: and I am now to return thanks for this relief given to so important a branch of our commerce. I shall...
714From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 4 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from Gatteaux observing that there will be an anachronism, if, in making a medal to commemorate the victory of Saratoga, he puts on General Gates the insignia of the Cincinnati which did not exist at that date. I wrote him in answer that I thought so too: but that you had the direction of that business, that you were now in London, that I would write to you and probably...
715From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 8 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a copy of a letter of mine to Mr. Grand which will explain to you a difficulty which arose as to a bill of exchange to which your name was subscribed. Considering myself as no ways authorized to direct the funds of the U.S. in France I had originally refused to intermeddle at all. But Mr. Grand would not pay at all then. I thereupon have undertaken to advise him till I can...
716[From Thomas Jefferson to Gazaigner de Boyer, 8 December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 8 Dec. 1785 . Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found. ]
717[From Thomas Jefferson to P. Tourtille Sangrain, 8 December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 8 Dec. 1785 . 1785. Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found.]
718To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
On the arrival of mr̃ Boylston I carried him to the Marquis de la Fayette, and received from him communications of his object. this was to get a remission of the duties on his cargo of oil, & he was willing to propose a future contract. I proposed however to the Marquis, when we were alone, that instead of wasting our efforts on individual applications, we had better take it up on general...
719From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 10 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
On the arrival of Mr. Boylston I carried him to the Marquis de la Fayette, and received from him communications of his object. This was to get a remission of the duties on his cargo of oil, and he was willing to propose a future contract. I proposed however to the Marquis, when we were alone, that instead of wasting our efforts on individual applications, we had better take it up on general...
720Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 11 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
Expecting Baron Polnitz to call every moment, I have only time to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Nov. 24. and to answer you on the subject of the bill for 319 livres drawn by Mr. Adams in favor of Mr. Bonfeild. I had never heard of it before, and Mr. Barclay calling on me this morning I asked of him if he knew any thing of it. He says that such a bill was presented to him, and he...
721From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 11 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Expecting Baron Polnitz to call every moment, I have only time to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Nov. 24. and to answer you on the subject of the bill for 319 livres drawn by Mr. Adams in favor of Mr. Bonfeild. I had never heard of it before, and Mr. Barclay calling on me this morning I asked of him if he knew any thing of it. He says that such a bill was presented to him, and he...
722From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 11 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Baron Polnitz not going off till today enables me to add some information which I receive from Mr. Barclay this morning. You know the immense amount of Beaumarchais’ accounts with the U.S. and that Mr. Barclay was authorized to settle them. Beaumarchais had pertinaciously insisted on settling them with Congress. Probably he received from them a denial: for just as Mr. Barclay was about to set...
723From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 11 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you by the Mr. Fitzhughs Aug. 30. and to Mrs. Eppes by the same conveiance Sep. 22. In those as in my former letters I had troubled you on the subject of sending my daughter to me. To the cautions then suggested I am obliged to add another, which our situation with respect to the Barbary powers calls for. You have doubtless heard loose stories as to their captures on us, without being...
724From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 11 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you by the Mr. Fitzhughs on the 28th. of August, and since that have received yours of Aug. 15. and 25. This intermission on my part has been owing to your information that you would not return to Congress till about Christmas: to which must be added the want of opportunity since the derangement of the French packets. Be so good as to inform Mr. Jay that the last is the cause he has...
725Jefferson’s Amplification of Subjects Discussed with Vergennes, [ca. 20 December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
Explanations on some of the Subjects of the Conversation which I had the Honor of having with his Excellency the Count de Vergennes when I was last at Versailles. The principal Design of that Conversation was to discuss those Articles of Commerce which the United States could spare, which are wanted in France, and if recieved there on a convenient footing would be exchanged for the Productions...
726From Thomas Jefferson to William Robeson, 21 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter was delivered to me in the moment when I was going out under an appointment the day before yesterday, and I did not return home till late at night, and yesterday morning early I was obliged to go to Versailles. This has occasioned the delay of my answer. The multiplicity of expences with which I am unavoidably surrounded, and the multiplicity of applications under circumstances...
727From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 21 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I receive this moment a letter of which I have the honor to inclose your Excellency a copy. It is on the case of Asquith and others, citizens of the United States, on whose behalf I had taken the liberty of asking your interference. I understand by this letter that they have been condemned to lose their vessel and cargo, and to pay six thousand livres and the costs of the prosecution before...
728From Thomas Jefferson to the Governor of Georgia, 22 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The death of the late General Oglethorpe, who had considerable possessions in Georgia, has given rise, as we understand to questions whether those possessions have become the property of the state, or have been transferred by his will to the widow, or descended on the nearest heir capable in law of taking them. In the latter case, the Chevalier de Mezieres, a subject of France, stands...
729From Thomas Jefferson to Garreau, 22 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received the letter of the 17th. inst. with which you were pleased to honour me, proposing to sell to the United states of America a set of Anatomical paintings. But as objects of this nature are not comprehended among those allotted to me, I am unauthorized to treat on the subject. I may even add that they are foreign to the office of Congress, whose powers as defined by the Articles...
730From Thomas Jefferson to the Georgia Delegates in Congress, 22 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
By my dispatch to Mr. Jay which accompanies this , you will perceive that the claims of the Chevalier de Mezières, nephew to the late General Oglethorpe, to his possessions within your state have attracted the attention of the ministry here; and that considering them as protected by their treaty with us, they have viewed as derogatory of that the doubts which have been expressed on the...
731From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 24 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you, which were dated the 6th. and 11th. of October, I have been honoured with yours of the 1st. 14th. and 15th. of September . Since the departure of the Mr. Fitzhughs, who carried my last, no confidential opportunity of writing has offered. The present I send by the way of London, and being to pass thro’ the post offices of both countries, shall mention in it nothing but...
732Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 27 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I am this day honoured with your favor of the 20th. and an opportunity offering to acknolege it immediately, I do not fail to embrace it. I thank you for the intelligence it contains. You refered me to Mr. Adams for news; but he gives me none; so that I hope you will be so good as to keep that office in your own hands. I get little from any other quarter since the derangement of the French...
733To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 27 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your favors of the 13 th. & 20 th. were put into my hands today. this will be delivered you by mr̃ Dalrymple, secretary to the legation of mr̃ Craufurd. I do not know whether you were acquainted with him here. he is a young man of learning & candor, and exhibits a phaenomenon I never before met with, that is, a republican born on the North side of the Tweed. You have been consulted in the case...
734From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 27 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this day honoured with your favor of the 20th. and an opportunity offering to acknolege it immediately, I do not fail to embrace it. I thank you for the intelligence it contains. You refered me to Mr. Adams for news; but he gives me none; so that I hope you will be so good as to keep that office in your own hands. I get little from any other quarter since the derangement of the French...
735From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 27 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 13th. and 20th. were put into my hands today. This will be delivered you by Mr. Dalrymple, secretary to the legation of Mr. Craufurd. I do not know whether you were acquainted with him here. He is a young man of learning and candor, and exhibits a phaenomenon I never before met with, that is, a republican born on the North side of the Tweed . You have been consulted in the...
736Petition of an Impostor, with Jefferson’s Comments, [1786?] (Jefferson Papers)
To his Excll the Honorable Minister of the Unaited State of America The petition of Thos. Smith a Native of America, Humbly Sheweth That whereas Your Excellencys Petitioner, is in this City of Paris Coming from a Slavery, where I being Tuoo years, and a half, taken under, the American colours bound from Lisbon, to America, and remain a Prisoner, a Board an Algerin Galeotta during the...
737Memorandum Books, 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 1. wages etrennes ₶ ₶ ₶ Paid Marc
738From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, with Report on Conversations with Vergennes, 2 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Several Conferences and Letters having passed between the Count de Vergennes and myself on the Subject of the Commerce of this Country with the U.S. I think them sufficiently interesting to be communicated to Congress. They are stated in the Form of a Report and are herein inclosed. The Length of this Despatch perhaps needs Apology. Yet I have not been able to abridge it without omitting...
739From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 3 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 25th. of Sep. since that I have received yours of Oct. 25. inclosing a duplicate of the last invented tongue for the harpsichord. The letter inclosing another of them and accompanied by newspapers, which you mention in that of Oct. 25. has never come to hand. I will embrace the first opportunity of sending you the crayons. Perhaps they may come with this, which I think...
740To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 January 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of Sep. 26 which was delivered me by Mr Houdon, who is safely returned. he has brought with him the mould of the face only, having left the other parts of his work, with his workmen to come by some other conveiance. Doctor Franklin, who was joined with me in the superintendance of this just monument, having left us before what is called the costume of the...
741From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of Sep. 26. which was delivered me by Mr. Houdon, who is safely returned. He has brought with him the mould of the face only, having left the other parts of his work, with his workmen to come by some other conveiance. Doctor Franklin, who was joined with me in the superintendance of this just monument, having left us before what is called the costume of...
742From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 5 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter on the subject of the medals came duly to hand, but the workman has not applied to me since as I expected, and, if I ever had his address, I have mislaid it, so that I cannot send to him. However I am not afraid that any thing is going wrong, as I had desired him to leave the part in question for the last. I inclose you two letters which have lately come to hand for you. Our town...
743From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 5 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of inclosing to you a letter with which I am honoured from his Excellency the Marechal de Castries and a Memorial accompanying it, by which it appears that a certain Françoise Rippert claims to be paid 675₶ out of the portions of prize-money due to one Robinson, garde-marine and John Francfort pilot of the squadron which was under your command which sum she says they are...
744To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 January 1786 (Washington Papers)
A conversation with the Count de Rochambeau yesterday obliges me to write a supplementary letter to that of the 4th instant. he informs me that he has had applications for paiment from the person who furnished the badges for the Cincinnati, as well the Americans as French. that this person informed him they were not paid for, that he had furnished them indeed on the application of major...
745From Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Cary, 7 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
It will be a misfortune to the few of my countrymen (and very very few they are indeed) who happen to be punctual. Of this I shall give you a proof by the present application, which I should not make to you if I did not know you to be superior to the torpidity of our climate. In my conversations with the Count de Buffon on the subjects of Natural history, I find him absolutely unacquainted...
746From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 7 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 11th. of December, by the way of London. That conveiance being incertain, I write the present chiefly to repeat a prayer I urged in that, that you would confide my daughter only to a French or English vessel having a Mediterranean pass. This attention, tho’ of little consequence in matters of merchandize, is of weight in the mind of a parent which sees even...
747From Thomas Jefferson to John Sullivan, 7 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The readiness with which you undertook to endeavour to get for me the skin, the skeleton, and the horns of the Moose, the Caribou, and the Orignal or Elk, emboldens me to renew my application to you for those objects, which would be an acquisition here, more precious than you can imagine. Could I chuse the manner of preparing them, it should be to leave the hoof on, to leave the bones of the...
748From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 7 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
A conversation with the Count de Rochambeau yesterday obliges me to write a supplementary letter to that of the 4th. instant. He informs me that he has had applications for paiment from the person who furnished the badges for the Cincinnati, as well the Americans as French, that this person informed him they were not paid for, that he had furnished them indeed on the application of Major...
749From Thomas Jefferson to William Whipple, 7 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I am emboldened to renew my application to you on the subject of the Moose, the Caribou and the Orignal or elk, from the readiness with which you were so kind as to undertake to assist me with them while in America. The skin, the skeleton and the horns of each, would be an acquisition here more precious than you could conceive. Could I chuse the manner in which I would wish them to be...
750From Thomas Jefferson to Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 8 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai eu l’honneur, Messieurs, de reçevoir vos deux lettres du 26me. Xbre. et 2me. Janvier. Je ne cesse point de solliciter du ministre la grace de ces malheureux prisonniers. Vous sentirez bien que la sentence des juges qui les trouvent coupables auroit dû faire une impression defavorable sur le ministre. En consequence, j’ai été obligé de borner mes sollicitations à leur liberté personelle....