1From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 6 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from the Secretary of the Navy on the subject of Tarleton Webb. at the next appointment of midshipmen he can probably come in; but mr Smith cannot say when that may take place. Martha informs me that your own affairs are so arranged as to permit you to direct the repairs of my mill dam. this will indeed be rendering me a great service. Bacon is so little acquainted with...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 14 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I take up my pen merely because I have not written to you since my arrival here, and simply to inform you I am well. I shall be happy to hear the same from you; and hope this day’s post may bring me that information, or that Fontrees’s waggon will do it which I expect will arrive tomorrow or next day. we are selling off all our vessels except the 13. frigates established by law; bringing 7 of...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 22 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a midshipman’s warrant for young Webb, but I wish there may not be a misnomer in it. Patsy named him to me as Tarlton Webb, but through another channel an application came to the Navy office for a Thomas T. Webb. is it the same person? if not, be so good as to return the inclosed to me because it is intended for Tarlton Webb. if right, you can forward it to him. The papers give...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 26 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 22d. is at hand. there has been not only no new appointment of Consul at Bordeaux, but no idea that there will be a vacancy there. we know that mr Lee has given mortal offence to several of our merchants by refusing to cover foreign vessels under our flag, which he and all the other Consuls are instructed to be particularly vigilant in. he has been very meritoriously so, and his...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 9 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have but a single moment to announce to you the death of Trist at N. Orleans. one letter brought us news of his extreme illness, and another, by the same post, of his death. the situation of his family is to be deplored indeed; and I am afraid they will expect what the public mind will not admit. God bless you all. RC ( DLC ); endorsed by Randolph. PoC ( MHi ); endorsed by TJ.
6From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 18 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter recieved this morning has given me a pang under which I am overwhelmed. I take up my pen to express some of my thoughts, but thousands will remain which are inexpressible. I had for some days percieved in you a gloom which gave me uneasiness. I knew there was a difference between mr Eppes & yourself, but had no idea it was as deep seated as your letter shews it to be. I never knew...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 1 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a pamphlet giving some account of the new operation of making cloths &c. waterproof; as also a piece of paper, one half of which is waterproof. I have recieved cloth for a surtout coat, which I find, on wearing it in rain, to answer perfectly. the prices for making cloathes waterproof are so moderate, that if it does not injure the quality of the stuff, it will become extensively...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 2 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot this was post day till the moment of the mail’s being made up. I have only time therefore to say Congress rises tomorrow. mr Milledge & mr Clarke will probably set out in the evening, be at Orange courthouse on Wednesday evening & go thence to dine with you on Thursday. I shall be two or three days after them. tender love to my dear Martha & the young people & affectionate attachment...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 3 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
My previous letter of this day’s date (now gone to the post office) gave you information of mr Carr’s situation to June 1. 6 aclock P.M. a letter from mr Hollins , 12 hours later, (yesterday morning) who had sat up with him the preceding night, says he was better, & he began to have hopes he might recover. Adieu. RC ( PW Wilbur S. Howell, ed., Jefferson’s Parliamentary Writings, Princeton,...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 2 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. John D. Burke who is writing the history of Virginia, sollicits very strongly the opportunity of examining so much of the collection of laws and newspapers at Monticello as relates to the period between Bacon’s rebellion & 1752. I must therefore get the favor of you to take from the library at Monticello the vols of newspapers from the beginning (1744) to 1752. also that volume of the...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 23 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclosed a packet to you for Tarlton Webb yesterday by the mail stage, because no printed papers can go by the horse mail which leaves this a day later with letters only. I recieved a letter from mr Bacon last night which obliges me to ask you to take a ride to Monticello to advise him in his operations on the garden. he has done 250. feet. should he go on in the same level we assumed at...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 18 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday came to hand your favor of the 13th. with the pleasing information of the health of the family. I recieved at the same time a letter of June 12. from mr Eppes informing me of his & Maria’s health, that he was then engaged in his harvest, and as soon as that should be over he proposed to go up to Monticello with Maria. he expressed great regret at not having removed her there sooner....
13From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 4 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
A gentleman here has occasion for a particular purpose to consult the Preliminary discourse written by Dalembert to the antient encyclopedia, which was in fact a developement of Bacon’s Arbor scientiae . it is in one of the volumes (the 1st. I believe) of the Melanges de literature in 5. vols. 12. mo. which you will find in the press on the right side of the cherry sash door in my cabinet. I...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 28 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Joseph informs me your fever still continues. I certainly would not urge any thing that would be strongly repugnent to your feelings, but I wish, my dear Sir, you could consent to return to your former room here. you would be so much more comfortable there, and could be so much better furnished with what would be proper & agreeable to you, that it would aid in shaking off your fever; &...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 13 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you some newspapers which I will ask the favor of you to keep & return to me when I come home. they will shew you that the best founded hopes of an advantageous accomodation with England may possibly be blasted by our own indiscretions. letters from Monroe to the 20th. of May shewed mr Fox still well disposed in himself, but embarrassed & betraying unexpected hesitations. these were...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 21 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am made happy by the regular accounts of the health of the inhabitants of Edgehill. here there has been an uncommon degree of sickness; ascribed of course to the mild winter, tho’ we cannot see why. The H. of R. have now been a week debating the judiciary law, and scarcely seem to be yet on the threshold of it. I begin to apprehend a long session: however I believe all material matters...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I mentioned to you in my letter by mr Nicholas that I should be able by this post to fix a day for the departure of Davy Bowles with my chair & horses, & that he should be in readiness. though it is impossible for me to say to a day when I can set out from hence, yet I expect it may be by the time you recieve this. I would therefore have him set off from Monticello on Saturday the 21st. inst....
18From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 5 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
On the evening of the 3d inst. we recieved a letter from mr King (arrived at N. York) covering one from Livingston & Monroe to him in which they informed him that on the 30th. of April they signed a treaty with France, ceding to us the island of N. Orleans and all Louisiana as it had been held by Spain. the price is not mentioned. we are in hourly expectation of the treaty by a special...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 3 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by mr Milledge who takes the route by Edgehill on purpose to give you information on the subject of Georgia. mr Clarke, a son of Genl. Clarke, of that state is with him. he is a sensible young man & has been studying the law here some time under John Thompson Mason. having before mentioned these gentlemen in my letters, nothing more need be added. I wrote to you by...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 9 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter from Edgehill was of the 6th. of Dec. I wrote you on the 1st. inst. the debate on the repeal of the last judiciary law was commenced in the Senate yesterday. it has also been touched on in the other house, where some members, generally sound, will have some qualms on this subject, because they are afraid to distinguish between a fraudulent use of the constitution, and a...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 16 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose a watchkey of Martha’s and an ear-ring of Anne’s returned by mrs Madison. we are now in a remarkable cold-spell of weather for the season. the thermometer the last three mornings has been at 22. 19. 22½, and very dry. the destruction of wheat by the Hessian fly is general through the states. the news detailed by Capt. Doane & the Star, which you will find in the papers now...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 2 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Oct. 29. has been recieved. the day after my last letter to you, say Oct. 23. I enquired of Doctr. Tucker as to the difficulty of getting your negroes across the state of S.C. he could give me no information but he wrote the next day to Govr. Drayton , & I think his answer & General Sumpter’s will be here about the time of your own arrival here. The favorable expressions in your...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 4 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here yesterday morning according to expectation. when at Songster’s the overnight, I learnt that Skinner, who lives at the cross roads near Fairfax C.H. had found your dirk. I called on him and asked to see it. both John & myself recognised it. but as he did not express a desire to give it up, I told him I would write to you & if you had lost yours thereabouts (a fact I had not heard...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 15 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Genl. Sumpter has arrived here and I have this morning had a conversaton with him on the subject of the law of S. Carolina against the transportation of slaves across that state. he says there would be no doubt of the success of an application to the legislature while in session for a special permission, & that he met large emigrations of slaves going on upon that assurance but the legislature...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 22 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment signed the bill for a general embargo on all American vessels. it passed by 82. against 44. the latter were one half Federalists, ¼ of the little band, the other fourth of republicans happening to take up mistaken views of the subject. my love to all our dear family & affectionate salutations to yourself. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
26From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 29 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter to Ellen will explain why I must be brief. a negociation between France & England is I believe certainly begun under the mediation of Austria. the Moniteur (a government paper) says France will not require from England to renounce her maritime principles. nothing need be said about them in the treaty, and each will retain their own. this stumbling block being removed, I suspect they...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 15 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
You will see in the public papers an account of proceedings of the legislature at Lancaster, which you will not understand without explanation. the members in Caucus have named electors of President & V. President without saying whom they are to vote for. the fact is this. the Democrats had more at heart the election of Snyder for Governor than any thing else. the Feds named Ross. the Quids...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 27 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I expect to leave this on Thursday; but unforeseen business may protract it. I expect consequently to be with you on Sunday or some early day after that. we have nothing to be depended on from Egypt. the Northern difference is probably settled. the K. of England has desired it to be notified to our government that, understanding we were about to send a squadron into the Mediterranean for the...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 4 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of May 30. came to hand yesterday. I wrote to Martha on the 28th. I have never heard from the Hundred since I left home. and indeed have been so pressed with business that I have never written but once .—two of our frigates are arrived here to be laid up . 3. more are expected. 2 others will remain where they are, the one to be repaired, the other to be sold as good for nothing if...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 5 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved a letter yesterday from Lilly which gives me great disquietude. he has hitherto been on wages of £ 50. and £ 10. additional for the nailery. he writes me that he cannot stay after the present year for less than £ 100. certainly I can never get a man who fulfills my purposes better than he does: and if a moderate advance, as from 60. to £ 75. would have sufficed, I would have given...
31From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 22 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
As possibly an authentic copy of the decree against Henderson may be wanted at the hearing of his & Peyton’s applications for an order of court for a mill, I have procured one from Richmond & inclose it to you. you will observe the level to which it restores & confirms my right is that at which the water stood at the confines between Henderson & myself , before the erection of his dam. that is...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 22 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose a letter from Jefferson to Ellen which I presume will inform the family of his health. I sent for your perusal last week a letter from Dr. Wistar strongly urging his attendance on the chemical lectures. we had supposed, you know, that it would be best for him to confine himself, while at Philadelphia, to those branches of science for which that place has peculiar advantages, that is...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 2 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The general mind of Congress seems now to be rallying to a certain course of proceeding. a bill will be brought in tomorrow for convening Congress about the middle of May. it will be of course that in the debate members will declare the intention to be then to take off the embargo & if the belligerent edicts be not repealed, to issue letters of marque & reprisal. this will let Europe see that...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 5 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 29th. came to hand last night only, so it has loitered a post somewhere. I am sorry you have succeeded by so small a majority in your election. the danger is that as in Albemarle you had 5 times as many good votes as your competitor, you may also have had 5. times as many bad ones; & the trial will be before judges ⅓ or ¼ of whom will be predetermined against you, so that a few...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 8 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of May 30. has been recieved. should Brown recover so that the law shall inflict no punishment on Cary, it will be necessary for me to make an example of him in terrorem to others, in order to maintain the police so rigorously necessary among the nailboys. there are generally negro purchasers from Georgia passing about the state, to one of whom I would rather he should be sold than to...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 19 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I snatch half a moment to inform you that a circumstance has occurred which will inevitably keep me a week longer or thereabouts. in the mean time my horses will wait I presume at Heron’s. my tender love to my dear Martha, & the little ones. Affectionate attachment to yourself. P.S. I do not know if there is any merit in the music inclosed. It has been sent to me. RC ( DLC ); endorsed by...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 3 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Prince Ruspoli, a Roman Noble proposing in a tour which he is taking to Rockbridge, to pass by Monticello, I take the liberty of addressing him to your attentions. he will probably pass one evening only at Milton or Charlottesville; and, if you could ride with him to Monticello, he would probably be gratified by it, and have his enquiries more satisfactorily answered, than by mr Dinsmore, to...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 20 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Our advices from Lynhaven (where we keep a person as a Look-out to inform us daily what passes) down to the 16th. are that two of the vessels of war were out of the capes on a cruise, and two others (two deckers) at anchor in Lynhaven bay. they had been in the habit of landing freely, and of getting water, &, as is believed, fresh provisions from secret customers. some negroes had gone off to...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 28 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a Mercantile Advertiser for the sake of the extraordinary fabrication in it’s Postscript by an arrival from Cork with London dates to the 9th. of May. the arrival of the Osage in England (which had been detained in France by Armstrong himself) furnishes the occasion of amusing that nation with the forgeries of fact which I have included in an inked line in the margin, within...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 28 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
All is well here, as I hope with you also, & I have not time to say more except that the question decisive of the bill repealing the late judiciary law in the H. of R. will not be taken till tomorrow or next day. my love to my dear Martha & the young ones. RC ( DLC ); address clipped: “Thomas Mann R[andolph] at […]”; franked and postmarked; endorsed by Randolph.
41From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 28 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 20th. has been duly recieved. my former letters will have informed you that the lands offered by Sibbald are real pine barrens & will not bring corn at all; but that the pine lands mixed with oak and a clay foundation bring good crops of corn & wheat. in a conversation which Capt Lewis had with mr Milledge the latter observed that after getting to the hilly country, some distance...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 31 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in due time your kind letter of the 20th. certainly I shall be much pleased to recieve your aid & counsel in the management of my farms, which will become so essential. my whole life has been past in occupations which kept me from any minute attention to them, and finds me now with only very general ideas of the theory of agriculture, without actual experience: at a time of life too...
43From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 3 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to have to inform you of the dangerous situation of our friend Peter Carr at mr Hollins’s at Baltimore. yesterday was sennight he was taken suddenly & violently ill. gravel entered certainly into the complaint, but whether something bilious was not also a part of it seems doubtful. on Tuesday I recieved from mr Hollins the first information of his illness & danger, & his wish to see...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 4 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you two letters yesterday by the direct post. in the evening I recieved the two now inclosed, and altho’ I do not know that sending them by Richmond they can get to you sooner than if sent by our next post of Wednesday, yet I take that chance, to lessen the anxiety of yesterday’s accounts. affectionate salutations RC ( DLC ); endorsed by Randolph as received 10 June. Recorded in SJL...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 13 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 5th. came to hand on the 7th. & at the same time the Enquirer of the 4th. from the two together I derived inexpressible consolation: because while the Enquirer contained a piece which shewed that the other party did not propose, for any thing which had yet past to remove the question from before the tribunal of the public, your letter gave me confidence that if that piece...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 19 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of yesterday convinces me I have been guilty of an error, for which I take just blame to myself. really loving you as I would a son (for I protest I know no difference) I took it too much for granted you were as sensible of it as myself. conscious of my feelings towards you, I supposed you had the same consciousness, & therefore have been less attentive to the expressions of it....
47From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 4 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have left a bundle of papers at home the want of which distresses me infinitely, and the more so as the forgetfulness which produced the omission, leaves me unable certainly to say where it will be found. but I think it must be in one of the cartoons in the Cabinet window near which I usually sit to write, that is to say near the red turning chair. the cartoon has a label with these words...
48From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 26 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I am still here, & not yet absolutely certain of the moment I can get off. I fear I shall this evening recieve a 4th. refusal of the Secretaryship of the Navy. should it take place, I have fixed on a temporary arrangement, & in any event expect to get away in the course of 3. or 4. days, so as to be with you by the time you recieve this or very soon after. it is the getting the Naval...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 20 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 13th. is recieved. I promised in my last I would make enquiry of mr Milledge of Augusta in Savanna on the subject of cotton, because he is a great cultivator of it, in fact the introducer of it there, very accurate & judicious. he says the blackseed cotton is cultivated in the country below Augusta, the green seed above. the former sells for 40. cents when the latter is at 20....
50From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 3 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday was sennight I wrote to Reuben Lewis, informing him he might hourly expect his brother there. I meant the next day which was the post day, to have written it to you also, but was in the intervening evening taken with the Autumnal fever so as to be unable to write. the attack was slight, & I am now perfectly recovered, and engaged in taking the repeating doses of bark. We have no...