1From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 30 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
To the best of my recollection, Dr. Barton, Doctr. Wistar and yourself are the Vicepresidents of the Philosophical society; but not being entirely confident in my memory and still less as to the order of the names, I take the liberty of putting the inclosed under a private cover to you, with a request that you will communicate it to your colleagues. I salute you with great friendship and...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 13 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by my grandson Th: Jefferson Randolph, who goes to Philadelphia to attend a course in Natural history, Botany, & anatomy. mr Peale’s museum, mr Hamilton’s garden & the anatomical preparations & dissections give to Philadelphia advantages in those branches of science which are to be had no where else in America. other branches being well taught in Williamsburg he will go...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 18 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Two men have been taken up in Kentucky and are confined, on suspicion, merely because they cannot make known who they are, not speaking a word of any language understood there. the inclosed letter from a mr Nash contains all I know of them: but the writings in Arabic characters are supposed to contain their history, as stated by themselves. here we have nobody who understands either the...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 29 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your letter of the 25th. proposing the appointment of an Assistant engraver to the mint at a salary of 600. D. and that mr Reich should be the assistant. you are so exclusively competent to decide on the want of such an officer, that I approve the proposition on the faith of your opinion. with respect to the person to be appointed, my knolege of the superior talents of mr...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 5 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I am obliged to return you the inclosed with a request to send me duplicates of them; because I have to lay them before each house of Congress, and they must be equally original . would a copy have sufficed without a failure of respect to either house, I would not have given you this trouble. I salute you with affection & respect ICN .
6From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 5 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the Nautical almanacs, and for the two small tracts sent me since. it is only when science is contracted into the volume of a nutshell, as in these tracts, that I can indulge myself with a look into it. having no means of sending the fractional sum of 2. D 50 c the cost of the Nautical almanacs, I inclose a 5. D. bill which will pay for them & for those of the years 9. & 10....
7From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 17 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 14th. was recieved last night. as to the salaries at the mint which are to be fixed by yourself with the approbation of the President, you are so much the best acquainted with what is proper, and my confidence in you so entire, that I shall approve whatever you advise, and I consequently approve of the addition of 200. D. to the salary of mr Eckfeldt as you propose. I am glad...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 29 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
A pressure of business has put it out of my power sooner to answer your letter of the 14th. I entirely approve of your taking measures for executing the wishes of the banks by the coinage of small silver. but mr Gallatin observes that you should immediately furnish him an estimate of the expence you will incur for that purpose that he may have the necessary appropriations provided. Lest you...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 16 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
When Capt Lewis’s mission was under contemplation, and it’s principal object the obtaining a correct map of the Missouri, I recommended to him the making himself thoroughly acquainted with the practice of the Lunar observations for the longitude. but fearful that the loss or derangement of his watch, on which these were to depend, might lose us this great object of his journey, I endeavored to...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 2 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The failure to send your commission has been an act of forgetfulness of my own, as it should have been with you in time I have directed it to be made out to-day & sent by this evening’s post, under date of the 1st. inst. so that you will recieve it by the mail which carries this letter. Accept friendly salutations and assurances of great esteem & respect. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.