2651To Thomas Jefferson from John Banister, 9 February 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
9 Feb. 1785 . Wrote the preceding day recommending his son, who, after a long illness, has been advised by Dr. McClurg to take a sea voyage and “terminate his Journey in the South of France” for his health. Banister hopes he will there learn the language and that TJ will introduce him to “the best Person … with whom to associate and study.” RC ( MHi );2 p.; endorsed by TJ: “Bannister John...
2652To Thomas Jefferson from John Paul Jones, 17 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I am still waiting for a decision respecting the claim of M. Puchilberg. But I think it my duty to inform you that one or two of the common sailors that served on board the Alliance, when that frigate was under my orders, are now here in a merchant vessel, and, as I am this moment informed, they have been persuaded to write to M. Puchilberg, desiring that their share in the prizes may not be...
2653To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 14 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed Phial contains some of my Essence L’Orient but very imperfectly prepared. I heard only this Morning that Mr. Paine would set off Tomorrow. I had to buy the Fish and prepare the Essence. It should be three or four Days in settling and the water then poured off but I have had only as many Hours for the Purpose, so that great allowances must be made. I have put some volat Spt. Sal...
2654To Thomas Jefferson from Jean François Lesparat, 11 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris ] 11 Sep. 1787. Sends a copy of his Réflexions; hopes the United States will avoid the abyss into which the principal powers of Europe have fallen because of their accumulation of a permanent debt; if the advice in his pamphlet will be of use to the citizens of the United States, as he hopes it will, now or later, be of use in France, his labors will not have been in vain. RC ( ViWC );...
2655To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 23 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Votre Excellence verra dans la Dépeche ci-jointe, tout ce qu’un Anachorette comme moi peut avoir oui dire de ce qui se passe.—Je saisis cette occasion pour Lui témoigner mon desir, de savoir si les dernieres Lettres, jusqu’ici au nombre de 5 , que j’ai fait insérer successivement dans les supplémens de Leide et qui seront suivies de quelques autres encore, ont mérité l’approbation de V. E....
2656From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 20 September 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Many years later, after the return of the letter to him, JM wrote “Sepr. 20. 1783” at the top of the last page. Your favor of the 31 ult: came to hand yesterday. As the reason which chiefly urged my departure for Virga. has ceased I have been led to protract my attendance on Congress by the interest I felt in some measures on foot, and the particular...
2657To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Thomson, 19 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
The papers are found about which I wrote you in my last. I wish there had been found at the same time a concillating temper and a disposition to do the business of the continent and promote the general interests of the U.S. Unless a different spirit prevail from what has of late appeared there is reason to apprehend a dissolution of the Confederacy. The claim of the Massachusetts on the state...
2658To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 15 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Paine not setting off to Day, as I expected, gives me an Opportunity of sending another Phial of Essence L’Orient which has had the Advantage of standing all Night to depurate and is richer than that I gave Mr. Paine yesterday. Besides this, I put some Spirit of Wine in the Phial of yesterday, which I observe curdles and discolours the Essence. In this there is nothing but a little Volat....
2659To Thomas Jefferson from Le Mesurier & Cie., 14 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
We have the honor to acquaint you that the Brig Jenny Captn. David Peoples arrived here with a Cargo of Two Hundred and Thirty five Hogsheads of Tobacco belonging to Messrs. Willing Morris & Swanwick of Philadelphia, which those gentlemen trusted would be sold to the Farmers General at the price which they had fixed for Tobaccos of the same quality; but after getting the quality ascertained by...
2660To Thomas Jefferson from Lanchon Frères & Cie., 4 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
L’Orient, 4 July 1787 . Enclose a letter for TJ brought from Charlestown, S.C., by Capt. Jacobs of the Union . They and Richard Harrison of Alexandria were sorry to have missed TJ when he was in L’Orient; offer their services for themselves and their house at Le Havre, “Mangon La Forest & Compy‥‥ in receiving or Conveying packetts or any thing you may think proper from or to America.” RC ( MHi...
2661To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Barclay, 24 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of sending you a Copy of my letter to Mr. Osgood and Mr. Livingston, with my accounts Current which you will please to forward. The Originals go by the Packet from L’Orient. You will, I hope, Excuse my having mentioned your name. My meaning was, if you had occasion to write to them, I hoped you woud freely give your opinion of such of my Transactions as have fallen within...
2662To Thomas Jefferson from John Tyler, 20 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I receiv’d your Letter by the last Post and am much obliged to you for the printed paper which it enclosed. Our Assembly went into the consideration of the several matters therein contain’d and past some resolutions by way of Instructions to the Delegates in Congress from this State, which will be communicated by the Governor; also others on which Bills are order’d to be drawn, vesting your...
2663To 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...
2664To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 18 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was dated the 14th. of last Month, since which I have received and laid before Congress your several Letters of 12th. 22d. 23d. two of 27th. and one of 31st. May last, with the Papers enclosed with them. It has happened from various Circumstances, that several Reports on foreign Affairs still lay before Congress undecided upon. The want of an adequate Representation for long...
2665[To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander McCaul, 28 April 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Glasgow, 28 Apr. 1786 . Recorded in SJL as received 9 May 1786. Not found. See reference to “A letter received since from the first character among the American merchants in Scotland,” in TJ to James Monroe, 10 May 1786.]
2666To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 8 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know how long it is since I wrote to you, but am sure it is much longer since I heard from you. I am in daily expectations of a Letter in answer to some of mine. I send you another Packet of News Papers and enclose the Leg of a strange Bird which has nothing curious in it but a fine small toothed Comb annexed to one of its Toes, and three very beautiful Feathers (of which I send two)...
2667To Thomas Jefferson from William Carmichael, 16 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor to receive on the 29th. Ulto. the Letter of the 5th of that month which Your Excellency intrusted to the care of the Baron Waltersdorff, who sent it me the moment he arrived here. Your Excellencys journey to England occasioned varied conjectures and many questions have been put me here on that Subject. Some imagined that the Object of your voyage was to conclude a commercial...
2668From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 30 May 1787 (Washington 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 matters...
2669To Thomas Jefferson from H. & L. Bergasse, Frères, September 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Marseilles, Sep. 1788 . Introduce “Mr. Simon” who proposes to establish a business in America and wishes, therefore, to talk with TJ. RC ( DLC ); 2 p.; in French; endorsed by TJ: “Bergasse. Gave M. Simon lre. to T. Barclay.” The letter of introduction of Simon to Thomas Barclay is not recorded in SJL Index and has not been found, nor is the present letter recorded in SJL Index.
2670From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received three Letter of the Tenor and Date of the within— I cannot find in any Gazetteer or geographical Dictionary any Such Place as Roscoff, and I can make nothing of the Story. I hope you have more Skill in Divination. I have no Letters from Congress, nor any Answer from the Ministry. Pray what are the Sentiments in France upon the American Acts of Navigation? and what has been the...
2671Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 6 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
I cannot omit by this opportunity acquainting you that on sunday the August packet arrived in which came Mr. Church and brought us Letters from our Son to our no Small joy. He arrived the 17 of july after a very tedious passage. He was however in good Health and spirits. Mr. Adams has at Length received Some Letters from the President from Mr. Jay and a private Letter from Mr. Gerry, together...
2672To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Hall, Jr., 11 October 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 11 Oct. 1788. As requested, has sent TJ’s letter to Jay by the ship America, Capt. Goodwin, from L’Orient for Boston; could not send it sooner, “there not being a single vessel at any Port I have been at for America.” Vessels are daily expected at Bordeaux from Philadelphia and Baltimore, and he will inform TJ of their arrival.—If TJ has any business at Bordeaux, or dispatches to be...
2673To Thomas Jefferson from John Paradise, 10 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctor Burney has just this moment been with me to acquaint me that the harpsicord that was bespoken for you has been finished by Kirkman a considerable time, and is now in the hands of Mr. Walker, who is affixing to it his Celestini stop, upon a new construction, according to your Excellency’s wish and idea. The Doctor has been in daily expectation ever since his arrival in town, of hearing...
2674To Thomas Jefferson from Madame de Tott, 4 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai suivi Le conseil que Vous avez eu la bonté de me donner, Monsieur; J’ai été voir Le tableau de Mr. Drouai et J’en ai été Vraiment étonnée; mais puisque Vous Voulez absolument que je Vous dise Les Remarques que J’ai faites, quoique Vous Soyez parfaitement en étât de Le Juger Vous même, et par Le gout exquis que Vous avez sur tout, et par l’étendue de Vos connoissances, Je Vais Vous...
2675To Thomas Jefferson from James Currie, 5 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Novr. the 11th. 84. by Coll. Le Maire came safe to hand, with the 2 Pamphletts on the Animal Magnetism, and the one giving an account of the then last Aerial Voyage of Mssrs. Roberts, for both of which I thank you kindly, as an instance that I had the honor to be remembred by you, at so great a distance. I would have given a great deal to have seen their ascension, with the...
2676Samuel Hardy and John F. Mercer to Jefferson and James Monroe, April 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, April? 1784 .] Requesting “the favor of their Company to dine with them @ 4 oClock.” RC ( DLC ); without date or place; addressed: “Honble M[ess]rs. Jefferson & Monroe.” The blank verso of this note was subsequently used by TJ in his draft of an additional instruction to the Committee of States and therefore must have been received before 26 Apr. 1784; see Vol. 6: 529, note.
2677To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, with Enclosure, 8 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote a Letter last Winter acknowledging the Receipt of your Letter of last Sumer July 17, which I received latter End October, and afterwards the Packet of Books you was so obliging as to send me viz. Connoissance des Temps 5 Volumes and Bibliotheque Physico-Economique four Volumes, which at length came to my hand thro’ the hands of Dr. Johnson Member of Congress. They were a Feast to me,...
2678To Thomas Jefferson from Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 26 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Nous avons L’honneur de vous informer que Les malheureux prisonniers ont perdu Leur procés et ont été condamnés par défaut, Leur procureur n’ayant eu aucuns moyens de deffenses à produire. La Loi d’ailleurs est Contr’eux. Notre avocat que nous avons consulté, persuadé que vous obtiendrés L’addoucissement de Leur Sort, Nous a conseillé d’apeler cette affaire; nous avons en conséquence aprés...
2679To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Thomson, with Letter from Joseph Wharton, 26 October 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall not trouble you at this time with any thoughts on our southern boundary or the views and disposition of our southern Neighbours, as I imagine Mr. Madison whose letter I enclose has written fully on that subject; but it is possible he may not have known what I am told is a fact that the Sp: are strongly fortifying at the Natches. I am informed by some of our merchants trading to Lisbon,...
2680To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 2 October 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment arrived here, and the first thing I do is to announce it to you. I left this morning the Chateau de Laye and came by water diligence to this place. It is my first navigation in France and I am much pleased with it. We were from 10. o’clock to five en route of which one hour was spent in dining, the rest in passing through such a variety of pleasing and rich prospect as...
2681To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 3 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
You have undoubtedly hit upon, the true Word of the Riddle. Yet there was no riddle, nor any clear meaning. It is impossible for any Country to give to another, more decided Proofs of Preference, than our thoughtless Merchants have since the Peace given to this, in matters of Commerce. He had seen this Preference sufficiently prevail. This alone then could not be his Meaning. If he meant a...
2682To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, with Enclosure, 18 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Thus far I Have Come down from My Mountains, and Hope I will not Be sent Back without some decision or other Respecting American affairs. Inclosed is the Copy of a letter to M. Lambert which I Have writen as soon as I Knew His Appointement. I also inform M. de la Boulaïe that I will Be Ready to Meet Him Every day in the Next week, But that I am obliged to set out Again on the fifth of October...
2683To Thomas Jefferson from John Sullivan, with Memoranda on the Moose, 22 June 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I was some time since honored with your favor of the 27th of April and postponed my answer in order to obtain Mr. Dores answer to your Queries respecting the Moose. I now inclose you Mr. Hasseys answer to my Letter with answers to your Queries taken by him from Mr. Dore and the other Hunters in that Quarter. I also send you answers from Gilbert Warren a famous hunter in the province of Main....
2684To Thomas Jefferson from G. K. van Hogendorp, 2 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
As I am informed of your returning from London to Paris I venture to send you this letter, whose content any one at the Post house might know, for I care not the whole world’s knowing how much I do esteem and belove you. Your Friend, Mr. William Short, has a right to expect from me a letter respecting our Constitution, which on my word is ready, and that up in my writing-box these six months...
2685To Thomas Jefferson from Ralph Izard, 20 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favoured with your Letter of 1st. August, enclosing Messrs. Berard’s Proposals on the subject of Rice, which I have shewn to several Merchants, and am happy to find a general disposition among them to enter into Commercial Connexions with France. You know how they have been hitherto hampered by their engagements with the British Merchants, and their Trammels are not yet broken. Messieurs...
2686From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, with Enclosure, 2 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My last was of June 20. Your’s received since that date are May 15. and June 6. In mine I acknoleged the receipt of the Paccan nuts which came sealed up. I have reason to believe those in the box are arrived at Lorient. By the Mary Capt. Howland lately sailed from Havre to N. York I shipped three boxes of books one marked I.M. for yourself, one marked B.F. for Doctr. Franklin, and one marked...