1681From Thomas Jefferson to William Henry Harrison, 22 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
By the treaty of 1803, we obtained from the Kaskaskias the country as far as the ridge dividing the waters of the Kaskaskias, from those of the Illinois river. by the treaty of 1804, with the Sacs & Foxes they ceded to us from the Illinois to the Ouisconsin. between these two cessions is a gore of country, to wit, between the Illinois river & Kaskaskia line, which I understand to have belonged...
1682To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 20 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
I observe a great number of contracts for carrying the mails are advertised to be made within a short time hence, & for 4. years. I suppose the principal reason for making such long contracts is the trouble which would be so often recurring to the post office, if they were shorter. This should have it’s just weight: but it may be doubted whether contracts for so long a time as 4. years do not...
1683From Thomas Jefferson to Justus Erich Bollmann, 6 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Olsen, the Danish minister here, was so kind as to send me some specimens of Hungarian wines for [trial?]. among these were two kinds in long necked quart bottles, one of which was quite a sweet wine; the other he called a dry wine, but I considered it as rather sweetish, or what we call silky. the bottle in which this was is stamped he informed me he recieved them from you, and that you...
1684From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith, 20 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you my thanks for the communication by your letter of Apr. 19. of the resolutions of the Grand jury of Brunswick, approving of the embargo. could the alternative of war or embargo have been presented to the whole nation, as it occurred to their representatives, there could have been but the one opinion that it was better to take the chance of one year by the embargo, within which the...
1685From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 9 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The 8vo. Polygraph arrived in good condition, and gives me entire satisfaction. your son’s improvement of throwing the pen to the left gives me the command of the 4to. page, as you see by this letter written with the 8vo. machine; and when I have written down the page as far as it commands, by taking a reef in the top, that is, by giving the letter the first fold it is to have when folded up,...
1686From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 13 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to satisfy yourself and advise me on the following persons? Samuel Whittermore Surveyor & Inspector of Gloster to be removed and Zachariah Stevens to be put in his place. he is recommended by Capt Crowninshield. Nath. F. Fosdick Collector of Portland to be removed, and who to be put in his place? Would it do good or harm at Boston for mr Bradford the marshal of...
1687From Thomas Jefferson to John Hamilton Moore, 4 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved the new charts of the US. & of the West Indies which you have been so kind as to send me. the labors which tend to render navigation secure, to promote the intercourse & commerce of nations, & to save the lives of the numberless individuals who are committed to the perils of the ocean, cannot but be approved by the friends of humanity. the particular charts in question are...
1688From Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Macon, 18 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I think the gentlemen of Congress from your state undertook on their return home to recommend to me proper persons as Commissioners of bankruptcy for the state. not having recieved any recommendation, I take the liberty of asking you to name either from your own knolege, or on such information as you can, four persons who may be proper for that appointment. it would be desireable there should...
1689From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 20 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to your notice the bearer hereof, mr Olsen, minister of his Danish majesty residing here. his public and diplomatic character would of course mark him to you as an object of deserved respect and attention wheresoever he may present himself; but his personal character authorises me to assure you you will find him a person entitled to more than formal...
1690From Thomas Jefferson to John Hargrove, 9 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to return you my thanks, & through you to the acting committee of the New Jerusalem church in the city of Baltimore, for your friendly congratulations . I deplore, with you, the present sanguinary & turbulent state of things in the Eastern world, & look forward to the restoration of peace & progress of information for the promotion of genuine charity, liberality and brotherly...
1691To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 7th. was recieved yesterday, but the post was so late, and arriving with his portmanteau open threw me into great alarm, as I expected a large sum of money in the mail. I was relieved by finding it safe. I return you Pinckney’s, Joy’s, Claiborne’s, Foronda’s and Bailey’s letters. Would it not be worth while to send Erskine a copy of Bailey’s letter, to observe to him that this...
1692From Thomas Jefferson to James Oldham, 2 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 26th came to hand two days ago. I immediately engaged mr Barnes to remit ten dollars for you to mr Trump . I shall be glad to hear from you from time to time, informing me of your progress, what work you have prepared, what you have put up and what you are engaged in at the time, as it is interesting to me to know how we advance. accept my best wishes. RC ( PWacD : Feinstone...
1693From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 23 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Feb. 1 did not reach me until Feb. 28. and a press of business has retarded my acknoleging it. I sincerely thank you for your congratulations on my election, but this is only the first verse of the chapter. what the last may be nobody can tell. a consciousness that I feel no wish but to do what is best, without passion or predilection, encourages me to hope for an indulgent...
1694From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 18 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his friendly salutations to mr Short sends him by his servant the bundle of papers relative to his affairs which Th:J. had kept with him at the seat of government, because they have been written or recieved there. this with the bundle communicated to him at Monticello contains every thing relative to mr Short’s affairs which are in the hands of Th:J. in this bundle...
1695From Thomas Jefferson to Jones & Howell, 14 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two last bills for iron furnished were for 278. Dollars falling due this month, & 47. D 45c due the next month, I now inclose you the amount of both, towit a 50. dollar Pensva bank bill and a check of the branch bank here on the bank of the US. for 275.45 D. making in the whole 325. D 45c which I hope will get safe to hand. In the first week of the ensuing month be pleased to ship to the...
1696From Thomas Jefferson to Leroy Anderson, 7 September 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of Aug. 27. covering the inclosed. nobody wishes it more success than I do, and, if it succeeds, it will certainly be of proportionable public utility. but I have thought it my duty to the public, as well as to myself, never to bring myself forward in any matter where it is not necessary. the cases in which my name has been used by private individuals have been...
1697From Thomas Jefferson to Larkin Smith, 26 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 10th. came to hand yesterday evening. it is written with frankness and independance, and will be answered in the same way. you complain that I did not answer your letters applying for office. but if you will reflect a moment you may judge whether this ought to be expected. to the succesful applicant for an office the commission is the answer. to the unsuccesful multitude, am...
1698From Thomas Jefferson to Oliver Evans, 28 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 21st. is recieved in which you mention that mr Clymer has concieved a means which would ensure victory over our enemies the Tripolitans, but not to be communicated until it be known whether it would be adopted. ever glad to recieve every information & hint which may be employed to the public good, it would yet be against my duty to do it on the previous condition of engaging...
1699From Thomas Jefferson to United States Congress, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
At the opening of the present session I informed the legislature that the measures which had been taken with the government of Great Britain for the settlement of our Neutral and National rights and of the conditions of commercial intercourse with that nation, had resulted in articles of a treaty which could not be acceded to on our part; that instructions had been consequently sent to our...
1700From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. G. Muhlenberg, 24 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to be obliged to return the inclosed without my signature. as soon as I came into the administration applications came to me from all parts of the states to become a contributor to the various buildings, establishments, institutions, & enterprizes undertaken in the different states, & I began by complying with them. but I very soon found that no resources whatever would be adequate...
1701From Thomas Jefferson to William A. Burwell, 9 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Harvie, my late Secretary having concluded to enter shortly on the practice of the law, and found it necessary to fix himself in the Study of a practising lawyer to learn the rules of pleading, I took the liberty, in the latter end of March, of addressing a letter to you , on the supposition that you might by possibility be willing to take his place & exchange your country residence for...
1702From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 18 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The 1st. of mr Nicholson’s resolutions was decided yesterday affirmatively by 87. republ. against 9. republ. and 26. feds. had all been present it would have been 104. do. against 11. do. and 27. do. the latter number comprehending every federalist in the house. mr R. withdrew before the question was put. this is considered as a decision of the main question. when they come to details the...
1703From Thomas Jefferson to Christopher Ellery, 5 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I must revoke my letter of the 2d. inst. mr Gallatin informs me the transfer of the office of Supervisor cannot wait, and that it will be much more proper to add it to the Marshal’s office, because he is already possessed of the principal materials for finishing it, which would cost much time, trouble & expence to any other. you will therefore be so good as to consider this only as a proof of...
1704From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 4 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose for your consideration several applications for military commissions. the recommendations of Doctr. Macaulay are very strong. he called on me, and one cannot help being influenced somewhat by the appearance of a man. he is quite a well looking subject, but not too much so for a Captain . altho’ a majority is mentioned, I presume less will be accepted. There is no man in South...
1705From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 22 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you the inclosed from O’Brien merely that you may read the upper half of the last page the rest is immaterial. it seems to me that his suggestion of Cagliari as our Naval head quarters is worthy of consideration. the circumstances of it’s neighborhood to Tunis (70. miles) cheapness of provision unconncesion with either England or France, and the probable welcome too from it’s impotent...
1706From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 12 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ this letter which goes by the carts, will not reach you till Monday evening, and that which I shall write you by the post of tomorrow evening will reach you on Monday morning, yet I cannot omit to drop you a line lest any accident should delay that by mail. mr Randolph continues well. eats with appetite sleeps tolerably, reads: and has not had the smallest return of fever since it left...
1707From Thomas Jefferson to Larkin Smith, 7 September 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Smith, has recieved his letter of the 3d. inst. and regrets that he could not have the pleasure of seeing him on his passage through the neighborhood. he hopes some future occasion may give him an opportunity of recieving him at Monticello & of expressing to him personally his esteem. he congratulates mr Smith on the happy termination of our...
1708From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 23 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
It is a maxim of our municipal law and I believe of universal law that he who permits the end , permits of course the means without which the end cannot be effected. the law permitting rum, molasses & sugar to be imported from countries which have not packages for them, would be construed in the most rigorous courts to permit them to be carried. they would consider the restriction to ballast &...
1709From Thomas Jefferson to United States Militia, 8 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
1807. Sep. 8. Capt. John R. Morris, Lt. Isaac Trump & Ensn. Florance Cotten & the vol. lt. inf. co. calld Washn. rangers } at Philad
1710From Thomas Jefferson to William Fleming, 19 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I am called on to answer Gilliam’s bill against mr Wayles’s [Exrs by] B. Skelton’s representatives. there are some facts to the recollection of which you can perhaps aid me. you remember we had a meeting in Richmond with M. Skelton , and I believe, J. Baker acting as his atty. when was it? did not J. Baker act for M. Skelton & in his presence? I have our account which I think he compared with...