751From Thomas Jefferson to Ferdinand Grand, 22 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
You spoke to me some days ago on the subject of the bills which Mr. Barclay might have occasion to draw on Mr. Adams. I informed you they were good and would assuredly be paid. I ought to have added that a Mr. Lambe would have bills to negociate on Mr. Adams which would be drawn in the name of a Mr. Randall. These will be equally good, the whole being for the service of the United states in a...
752From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 25 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I did myself the honour of writing to you on the 18th. inst. Since that date it has become probable that Mr. Lamb and Mr. Randall will set out for Madrid before Mr. Barclay will be ready. You will probably see them between the middle and last of November. I took the liberty of solliciting Count d’Aranda for passports for these gentlemen, which might protect their baggage from being searched....
753From Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas & Jacob van Staphorst, 25 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of the 20th. inst. In order to give you the information you desire on the subject of the Liquidated debts of the United states, and the comparative footing on which they stand, I must observe to you that the first and great division of our federal debt is into 1. Foreign, and 2. Domestic. The Foreign debt comprehends 1. The loan from the government of Spain. 2....
754From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 28 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Seven o’clock, and retired to my fireside, I have determined to enter into conversation with you; this is a village of about 5,000 inhabitants when the court is not here and 20,000 when they are, occupying a valley thro’ which runs a brook, and on each side of it a ridge of small mountains most of which are naked rock. The king comes here in the fall always, to hunt. His court attend him, as...
755Jefferson’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...
756From Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, 4 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of writing you on the 18th. of October and again on the 25th. of the same month. Both letters, being to pass through the post offices, were confined to particular subjects. The first of them acknoleged the receipt of yours of Sep. 29. At length a confidential opportunity arrives for conveying to you a cypher ; it will be handed you by the bearer Mr. Lambe. Copies of it are in...
757From Thomas Jefferson to Richard O’Bryen, 4 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you a short letter on the 29th. of September acknowleging the receipt of yours of Aug. 24. from Algiers, and promising that you should hear further from me soon. Mr. Adams the American minister at London, and myself have agreed to authorise the bearer hereof Mr. Lamb to treat for your redemption and that of your companions taken in American vessels, and, if it can be obtained for sums...
758From Thomas Jefferson to Castries, 5 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honor of receiving your Excellency[’s] letter of October the 28th. inclosing copies of Captain Jones receipts of an hundred and five thousand one hundred and eighty five livres, three sols, six deniers, and seventy five thousand eight hundred and fifty three livres eighteen sols four deniers prize money of the Bon homme Richard and the Pallas, which I shall take the first...
759From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 5 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The resolution of Congress of Oct. 29. 1783. is the only one I have seen on the subject of the Danish business. That is directed expressly to ‘the Ministers plenipotentiary of the U.S. at the court of Versailles empowered to negociate a peace.’ It is true that I had the honour of being named in that commission and was preparing to come when we received news of the signature of the preliminary...
760From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel and Theodorick Fitzhugh, 11 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I received last night your favour of the 7th. and put this under cover to Monsr. Limouzin desiring him to furnish you with four hundred livres which I will pay to his order on sight. I trouble you with some other letters, and would be obliged to you to inform me when you think you shall probably sail as I would still wish to write to Mr. Jay. I really condole with you on your delay, which the...
761From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 11 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I received last night a letter from the Mr. Fitzhughs informing me that the delay of their departure occasioned them to be in want of money. If you will be so good as to furnish them with four hundred livres I will repay it to your bill on me on sight. Be pleased to mention in the bill that it is for so much paid to them by my order. I pray of you the further trouble of delivering them the...
762From Thomas Jefferson to William Wenman Seward, 12 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I received the honor of your letter of the 25th. Ult. written by desire of the Associated company of Irish merchants in London and return you thanks for the kind congratulations you express therein. The freedom of commerce between Ireland and America is undoubtedly very interesting to both countries. If fair play be given to the natural advantages of Ireland she must come in for a...
763From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, with Thomas Boylston’s Proposal, [ca. 13 November 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Boylston proposes to bring to France this next year from 100 to 500 tons of Spermaceti whale oil on the following terms. 1. Government to remit all duties on it to permit him to take freight back to the W. Indies and there to take sugar and molasses for the U.S. He will lay out half the price received in the productions and manufactures of France and will sell them at auction in America,...
764From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, with State of the Case of the William & Catherine, 14 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the Liberty of troubling your Excellency on Behalf of six Citizens of the United States who have been for some Time confined in the Prisons of St. Pol de Léon, and of referring for particulars to the inclosed State of their Case. Some of the material Facts therein mentioned are founded on the Bill of Sale for the Vessel, her Clearance from Baltimore and her Logbook. The Originals of the...
765From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 19 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you on the 11th. of Octob. by Mr. Preston and again on the 18th. of the same month by post. Since that yours of Sep. 25. by Mr. Boylston, Oct. 24. Nov. 1. and Nov. 4. have come safe to hand. I will take up their several subjects in order. Boylston’s object was first to dispose of a cargo of sperma ceti oyl which he brought to Havre. A secondary one was to obtain a contract for...
766From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 20 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your two letters of Octob. 19. and 25. by Mr. Fox and Doctor Rodgers since the date of my last. I am to thank you for your state of Stanhope’s case. It has enabled me to speak of that transaction with a confidence of which I should otherwise have been deprived by the different state of it in the public papers and the want of information from America. I have even...
767From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Baptiste Huron, 20 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I will endeavor to give you the best information I can on the subject of your enquiries about the 200,000 acres of land in the counties of Fayette, Montgomery and Ohio which Mr. Pentecost and his partner oblige themselves to have conveyed to you by patents or otherwise as a security for 8000£ Pennsylvania money, and which you are desired to sell. By the term ‘patent’ I presume they had not in...
768From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 20 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I found here on my return from Fontainebleau the letter of Octob. 30. which your excellency did me the honour there of informing me had been addressed to me at this place, and I shall avail myself of the first occasion of transmitting it to Congress, who will receive with great pleasure these new assurances of the friendly sentiments which his Majesty is pleased to continue towards the United...
769From Thomas Jefferson to Lister Asquith, 23 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your letter of the 14th. inst. It was not till the 8th. of this month that I could obtain information from any quarter, of the particular court in which your prosecution was instituted, and the ground on which it was founded. I then received it through the hands of Messrs. Desbordes at Brest. I have sent to the count de Vergennes a state of your case, of which the inclosed is a...
770From Thomas Jefferson to Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 24 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai eu l’honneur de recevoir, Messieurs, la lettre du 4me. Novembre que vous avez bien voulu m’adresser, et j’ai tardé de vous faire mes remerciments des soins dont vous avez la bonté de vous charger des prisonniers Americains, en esperant toujours de recevoir une ordre pour leur elargissement et de me profiter de votre adresse pour le faire passer avec certitude à leurs mains. Mais n’en...
771From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Diot & Cie., 24 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Octob. 26 . came safely to hand and should sooner have been acknowleged, but that I have wished at the same time to convey through your hands whatever indulgence the government would be pleased to grant to the American prisoners to whom you have been so kind as to extend your attention. Having as yet however been unable to procure any order in their favor I cannot longer delay...
772From 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...
773From 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...
774From 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...
775From 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...
776From 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,...
777From 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...
778From 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...
779[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.]
780From Thomas Jefferson to Philip Mazzei, November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
You desire me to give you an idea of the Origin and Object of our court of Chancery, the Limits of it’s jurisdiction, and it’s Tendency to render property and liberty more or less secure in a country where that security is infinitely valued. The purpose for which you require this obliges me to be concise, as indeed does my situation here, where, as you know, I am without books which might...
781From 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...
782From 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...
783From 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...
784[From Thomas Jefferson to Gazaigner de Boyer, 8 December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 8 Dec. 1785 . Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found. ]
785[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.]
786From 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...
787From 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...
788From 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...
789From 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...
790From 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...
791Jefferson’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...
792From 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...
793From 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...
794From 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...
795From 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...
796From 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...
797From 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...
798From 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...
799From 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...
800Queries 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...