2461From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have attended to the letter of Aaron Powers , who claims lands at St. Anthony’s falls under an Indian grant to Carver the traveller. these lands being within the former limits of Virginia, were subject to the laws of Virginia till her cession of them to the US. and then to the conditions of the cession. by the laws of Virginia Indian grants were nullities except when made to the government:...
2462From Thomas Jefferson to Constantine S. Rafinesque, 15 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Nov. 27. I have it in contemplation to send in the ensuing spring a party up the Red river to it’s source, thence to the head of the Arkansa & down it to it’s mouth: principally to ascertain the geography of these rivers, and incidentally only to know the productions of the country—but it depends on the legislature whether they will authorise...
2463From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 16 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of the Little Turtle to Genl. Wilkinson is so serious, that I suppose it should be answered. among other things I imagine it will be proper to have said to him that tho’ the US. will always protect the Indians in the right to their lands so long as they chuse to keep them, yet they have also always professed themselves ready to buy whenever the Indians chuse to sell. that it will...
2464From Thomas Jefferson to Sylvanus Bourne, 17 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of mr Winkelblech of Basle which you were pleased to inclose to me, containing enquiries as to the terms on which lands would be granted here to the emigrants he spoke of, I put into the hands of mr Gallatin the Secretary of the treasury with a request that he would give me such a statement as might serve as an answer to the letter, the disposal of the public lands being within his...
2465From Thomas Jefferson to Isaac Briggs, 17 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. John H. Smith, a native of Virginia, now resident in Kentucky, wishes to be employed as a Surveyor in the South Western department. I am not personally acquainted with him, but he is recommended by a friend , on whose testimony I rely, as having had a tolerably good education, of modesty & merit, capable of application to business, and one whose zeal & fidelity may be relied on in any...
2466From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Meriwether Lewis, 17 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Oct. 26. has been duly recieved. the superintendance of surveying the lands of the US. is in the hands of their Surveyor general. this office in the Northern department is held by Capt Jared Mansfield who, I believe, resides in Indiana. he has the appointment of all the Surveyors. all I can do therefore to promote the wishes expressed in your letter is to give you a letter to...
2467From Thomas Jefferson to Jared Mansfield, 17 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Nicholas M. Lewis who lives near Louisville in Kentucky is desirous of being employed as a surveyor in the country lately acquired from the Delawares on the Ohio, whenever the surveying of that shall be begun. knowing how important it is to a person in public employ to have assistants in whom he may place unlimited confidence, I with pleasure recommend mr Lewis to you as such an one. he...
2468From Thomas Jefferson to Philip Turpin, 17 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 6th. covering mr Smith’s letter to you has been duly recieved. the Registers both at Vincennes & Kaskaskia were commissioned in April last, and the Recievers, altho not actually commissioned were notified about the same date that they would recieve their commissions as soon as their duties could commence, which has accordingly taken place. nothing remained therefore for mr...
2469From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 19 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I put under your cover a letter to Wm. Brown & co. inclosing a draught on you for 416. D. payable Feb. 14. this form of making the paiment was forced on me by a contract of mr Lilly’s who did not know the difference of effect, as to yourselves, between this and my simply giving my own note. however the money shall be in your hands on the 9th. of February. I have sent the letter through you to...
2470From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 19 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 14th. is this moment put into my hands. the letters which have passed between us on this subject are uncommunicated to any mortal but ourselves, and every thing therefore will be as if they never had been written until you chuse to give them effect. I have but one desire, which is to accomodate to your convenience, knowing that the public interest cannot be better promoted...
2471Proclamation Extending Building Regulations in the City of Washington, 20 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas by the first article of the terms and conditions declared by the President of the United States on the 17th. day of October 1791 for regulating the materials and manner of buildings and improvements on the Lots in the City of Washington it is provided “that the outer and party walls of all houses in the said City shall be built of brick or stone,” and by the third article of the same...
2472From Thomas Jefferson to Michael Krafft, 21 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Krafft and his thanks for the volume on distilling which he has been so kind as to send him. he owes him particular acknolegements for the obliging terms in his dedication: but is sensible that the book possesses, in it’s own merits, the best of all titles to the public esteem. PoC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ. volume on distilling : see Krafft to TJ, 24...
2473From Thomas Jefferson to William Lambert, 22 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the inclosed paper with thanks for the communication of it. I have taken the liberty of copying the result, to wit, the longitude of our place. the method of finding the longitude by observing the occultation of a star has the merit of precision in the moments of immersion & emersion in proportion to the sensibility of the eye of the observer. but the calculations are lengthy and...
2474From Thomas Jefferson to James Oldham, 24 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your’s of the 17th. desiring me to procure a Palladio for you either here or at Philadelphia, there never was a Palladio here even in private hands till I brought one: and I scarcely expect it is to be had in Philadelphia; but I will try both there and at Baltimore. the late mr Ryland Randolph of Turkey island had one, which is probably in the hands of whoever has his books, and...
2475From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe Reibelt, 24 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Before the reciept of your last letter, the Secretary of state having compleated his selection from your books, I had repacked the residue in two of the boxes, which indeed could not be made to contain them but by putting some of the cahiers in separate places, wherever space could be found. you will therefore find some dissortment from this cause: but you will certainly find every volume...
2476From Thomas Jefferson to John Clarke, 26 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 24th . came to my hands only last night. whether the ordinary business of this place would support additional ropeworks here, any inhabitant of the place can better advise you than myself. the public must have much to do here. but even as to that, the details of it being entirely under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, he alone could inform you what prospect of...
2477From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 26 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The character given us of the person who leased the Salines was so favorable, that this being the first complaint we have had of him, I should think it best not to act on it directly ourselves. but as the distance is so great, and our means of knowing what is going on very imperfect, so that abuses might be great before we should hear of & could remedy what would you think of communicating the...
2478From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Stanton, Jr., 26 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Genl. Stanton and his thanks for the communication of the letters which he now returns. an erroneous opinion seems to be entertained that Govr. Fenner has been misrepresented to me, and that my opinion has been affected by it. this is without foundation. my opinion of Govr. Fenner is respectful and full of confidence, and, altho’ my duty forbids me to...
2479From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 27 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Resuming the subject of the resolutions of the House of Delegates of Dec. 31. 1800. Jan. 16 1802. and Feb. 3. 1804. I have it not in my power to say that any change of circumstances has taken place which enables me yet to propose any specific asylum for the persons who are the subjects of our correspondence . the island of St. Domingo, our nearest and most convenient recourse, is too unsettled...
2480From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Priestley, Jr., 27 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 20th. came to hand last night and I shall recieve and read with great satisfaction the last work of your father as I have done whatever came from his pen. that he undertook the work at my request I have no objection to have known. my wish was confined to the suppression of the Syllabus I sent him, until the political passions which have been kindled against me shall be so far...
2481From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 28 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your letter of the 26th. proposing to resign your office, and I recived it with real affliction. it would have been my greatest happiness to have kept together, to the end of my term, our executive family: for our harmony & cordiality has really made us but as one family. believing too that another four years will consolidate the basis on which we are building the...
2482From Thomas Jefferson to David Gelston, 30 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter from Mr. Lee at Bordeaux I learn he has shipped for me to your address five cases of Bordeaux wines and 3. cases of preserves, the cost of the former 738.₶ of the latter not mentioned. I inclose you the bill of lading and will ask the favor of you to have the cases forwarded to this place by the first vessel, and to be so good as to inform me of the amount of duties & other charges...
2483From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 31 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Most of the Indians residing within our Northern boundary on this side the Missisipi recieving from us annual aids in money & necessaries, it was a subject of complaint with the Sacs that they recieved nothing and were connected with us by no treaty. as they owned the country in the neighborhood of our settlements of Kaskaskia & St. Louis it was thought expedient to engage their friendship; &...
2484From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 31 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter written from Malta by Richard Obrien our late Consul at Algiers, giving some details of transactions before Tripoli, is communicated for the information of Congress. RC ( DNA : RG 46, LPPM , 8th Cong., 2d sess.); endorsed by a Senate clerk. PoC ( DNA : RG 233, PM , 8th Cong., 2d sess.); endorsed by a House clerk. Enclosure: Richard O’Brien to John Gavino, Malta, 5 Sep.,...
2485Memorandum Books, 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 2. Gave to the Marine band 20.D. charity 5.D. 4. Pd. Frithey 5.D. 6. Gave J. Barnes ord. on bk. US. for 260.D. borrowed ante Dec. 23. Gave in charity 1.D. 7. Daugherty’s accts. forage 35.34 + contings. .81 = 36.15 gave ord. on bk. US. Lemaire’s accts. Dec. 2. to Jan. 4. 05
2486From Thomas Jefferson to Hannah Briggs, 2 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to mrs Briggs and has the pleasure to inform her that mr Briggs had on the 26th. of November compleated his journey to New Orleans, where he had arrived in good health. he had had a small attack of remittent fever on the road. RC ( PHi : Society Miscellaneous Collection); endorsed. Not recorded in SJL . pleasure to inform : see Isaac Briggs to TJ, 26 Nov. 1804 .
2487From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 3 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter shews the writer to be really a curiosity. I think he might be told that you had communicated to me the substance of his letter: that the information relative to the olives & to Genl. Gadsden was very gratifying to me. that as to the gunboats, (his 3d subject) that mode of defending our harbours would probably be pursued: that the boats will not all be on one model, but...
2488From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 3 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieve your letter of yesterday in the kind light in which you intended it, and as it suggests not a loss of you in our administration but only a change of position, I permit myself to consider whether it will lessen our difficulty. it brings the question to this point whether it is easier to find an Attorney general or a Secretary of the Navy? I apprehend it is easiest to find the former....
2489From Thomas Jefferson to Louis H. Girardin, 4 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns to mr Girardin the Prospectus of his work to which he becomes willingly a subscriber. his plan will enable him to embrace objects and circumstances certainly very interesting to the American reader; and the Prospectus itself evidences that the work will be well executed. he presents to mr Girardin his salutations & respects. PoC ( MHi ); endorsed by TJ. Enclosure not...
2490From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 4 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Messrs. Brown and co. returned to me Lilly’s draught . as their refusal to recieve paiment in bills of the US. states bank here would have subjected me to the necessity of procuring & remitting specie, or you to that of exchanging my bills for something which they would recieve, I applied to the Secy. of the Treasury to know how mr Gibbons makes his remittances here. he told me that for the...