1To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 28 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
A friend of mine hearing that you propose to collect documents relative to the Antiquities of North America, has requested me to inform you that he empowers me to send you Colonel Byrd’s Manuscript Journal, should you wish it. The M.S. contains 260 p.p. and is very fairly written in the Colonel’s own autography: The object of his Expedition was to determine the boundary line between North...
2To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 20 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
My experience of your humanity & condescension emboldens me to entreat your Subscription to my second Indian Tale, for the publication of which I have issued Proposals. I am, Sir, With perfect respect, Your most obedient Servant, DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
3To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 18 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
You do me unspeakable honour in finding time to acknowledge having received the Pamphlet which I took the liberty to send you. Accept, I entreat you, my thanks. I should trespass against the public were I to write more, Cum tot sustineas et tanta negotia solus. I am, with perfect respect, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
4To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 1 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to send you a Latin Pamphlet which I have lately published, partly borrowed, & partly original. I am now cultivating the Greek language day & night. Of Greek letters says that benefactor Professor Dalzel, quibus apud nos deficientibus, citò deficiet omnis doctrina politior; iisdem vigentibus, omnes etiam artes, quae ad humanitatem pertinent, unà vigebunt. I love this...
5To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 11 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I entreat you will do me the honour to accept the enclosed volume. I have taken the liberty to prefix to it your sanction of my undertaking, and am with the liveliest gratitude, Sir, your most obedient, most humble Servant, DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
6To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 1 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to send you my second pamphlet. I shall be enabled the middle of this month to send you Captain Smith & the Princess Pocahontas. My Notice of it is so popular in Virginia that, even from Williamsburgh, there have been sent me the names of 50 Subscribers. I believe I shall be favoured by the “Philosophical Society” of this City with the transcript of a Manuscript intitiled...
7To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 13 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Amidst the important multiplied engagements that necessarily employ your thoughts, I congratulate myself with the most lively satisfaction that you could spare one moment to my importunity for the patronage of your name to my Indian Tale. It is now in the press, a plate is engraving for it, & it will be published with every allurement of paper & type. That it may deserve to be in the hands of...
8To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 1 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose a Satirical Poem which I have just published. To encrease its sale I have written under a feigned name, but I make no scruple vivâ voce to avow myself its author. I know not, Sir, whether you ever before heard of Mr Dennie, but he is looked upon in this City, by some strange agency, a writer of transcendant merit. I purpose to continue the Pamphlet, & drive, if I...
9To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 16 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In consulting the annals of the world for a character, who, while he gives incitement by his renown, may afford instruction by his example, I know none more deserving of celebration than that of Captain John Smith; and if, in tracing the progress of the Colony he settled on James River, there be superadded the adventures he was involved in, History, without losing its dignity, will acquire new...
10To John Adams from John Davis, 28 September 1804 (Adams Papers)
It has again become my duty to address you on a melancholly subject. The excellent President Willard , whose discourse we so lately heard at the funeral of the lamented Howard is now no more. I am In making arrangements, yesterday, for the funeral, the family requested the Corporation to name the Pall Holders. It is the wish of the Corporation, that you would consent to be one, if you it...
11To John Adams from John Davis, 9 April 1804 (Adams Papers)
You may probably recollect a paper communicated to the Academy, some years since, demonstrating the falsity of a mathematical Problem by Mr Winthrop, which was published in the 1st. part of the IId. Volume of the Memoirs. The communication referred to was by Mr. George Baron , an Englishman then residing at Hallowell, now at New-York. It was committed to President Willard and Professor Webber...
12To John Adams from John Davis, 11 November 1802 (Adams Papers)
It had been impressed on my mind, that the next meeting of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences would be on the third Wednesday of the present month, and I did not discover my errer until it was too late to give the usual notice. It ought, by statute, to have been held yesterday (the 2d. Wednesday) at Cambridge. I request this in advertence, and would wish to know whether you will authorize...
13To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 28 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I receive your polite Letter , dated Monticello, at the moment I am about to usher into the World a pamphlet of my production, which I beg permission to present you with. I shall be pardoned, I hope, for having taken a slice from a corner of the Massachusetts’ Cheese, when I observe that it has filled my purse, & enabled me to prosecute my studies more uninterruptedly.—Such productions are...
14To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 31 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Having lately visited that Scene which you have pronounced one of the most stupendous in Nature, & purposing to return to Philadelphia in a Month, where I shall publish my Travels under the title of A Journey from New York to the Passage of the Potomac through the Blue Ridge Mountains,—I take the liberty to entreat permission to dedicate my Work to you. If Gadienus travelled from the remote...