2491From Thomas Jefferson to Reuben Lewis, 4 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night the inclosed letter for Capt Lewis; and at the same time information from St. Louis that on the 19th. of August he was 850. miles up the Missouri. no accident had happened & he had been well recieved by all the Indians on his way. it was expected he would winter with the Mandans, 1300. miles up the river, about Lat. 48.° from whence he would have about 1000. miles to the...
2492From Thomas Jefferson to John Lithgow, 4 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 4 . has been duly recieved. mr Duane informed me that he meant to publish a new edition of the Notes on Virginia, and I had in contemplation some particular alterations which would require little time to make. my occupations by no means permit me at this time to revise the text, and make those changes in it which I should now do. I should in that case certainly qualify...
2493From Thomas Jefferson to João F. Oliveira Fernandes, 4 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Newton having been so kind as to furnish me with a sample of your Port wine, and informed me that you have also some Bucellas, old, & of first quality, I presume to ask the favor of you to furnish me a quarter cask of each, to be forwarded in double cases to Richmond to the care of Gibson & Jefferson, merchants there. they will forward it to Monticello, where it will be wanting on my...
2494From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 4 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. T. M. Randolph being desirous of perusing the work of Faujas which I sent you some time ago, if you are done with it, I will ask the favor of you to inclose it to me by post: but if you have any further use for it, he will wait your convenience. have you seen a work of Morveau’s Sur les moyens de desinfecter l’air &c? it is a work of great interest to cities subject to infection, to...
2495From Thomas Jefferson to Littleton W. Tazewell, 5 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of December 24. never came to my hands till last night. it’s importance induces me to hasten the answer. no one can be more rejoiced at the information that the legislature of Virginia are likely at length to institute an University on a liberal plan. convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, & that they are not safe unless enlightened to a...
2496From Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 6 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Cary and will thank him if he can advise him of the address of his brother John Cary, whom he presumes to be still in London PoC ( MHi ); endorsed by TJ.
2497From Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 6 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 26. has been duly recieved, and was recieved as a proof of your friendly partialities to me of which I have so often had reason to be sensible. my opinion originally was that the President of the US. should have been elected for 7. years, & for ever ineligible afterwards. I have since become sensible that 7. years is too long to be unremoveable, and that there should be a...
2498From Thomas Jefferson to Lewis Waugh, 6 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your letter of Dec. 18. I have to inform you that no land office being as yet opened in upper Louisiana, no one is permitted to settle on the public lands there, and that the military is specially charged with preventing it. but the country of Kaskaskian on the opposite side of the river is open to acquisition, yields to the other side in no single circumstance, and is far...
2499From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 7 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of Dec. 2. since which I have recieved yours of Octr 27. Nov. 1. 4. 10. 19. & 25. in mine went two blank commissions for the legislative council, and the Secretary of state will by this mail send you two others. you will fill them up at your discretion as nearly as you can on the principles before explained. this of course includes my approbation of the appointments...
2500From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 7 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter from mr Randolph to mr Coles informs him he shall bring you here, but does not say if with or without the family. I shall rejoice my dear to receive you here, and them, or as many of them as you can bring. I feel much for what you will suffer on the road for such a spell of severe weather we have not known for years. the thermometer has been down, of mornings at 14. 12. 10. and once...
2501From Thomas Jefferson to James Bringhurst, 9 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his salutations to his antient acquaintance and friend mr Bringhurst, and thanks him for the book he has been so kind as to send him , which will occupy some of his leisure moments agreeably and usefully. he prays mr Bringhurst to recieve the assurance of his constant esteem & respect. PoC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ. so kind as to send him : Bringhurst to TJ, 3 Jan.
2502From Thomas Jefferson to Mr. Grillette, 9 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his salutations to mr Grillette and incloses him the statement of the Secretary at war as to the case of Made. Conway , which will let him see that it is not in the power of the executive government to give any relief. if he shall be so kind as to convey this information to Made. Conway he prays him to convey also the expressions of the regrets of Th:J. that the case...
2503From Thomas Jefferson to John Langdon, 9 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I congratulate you, my dear & antient friend, on the wonderful things which have come to pass in our time. we entered young into the first revolution & saw it terminate happily. we had to engage when old in a second more perilous, because our people were divided. but we have weathered this too & seen all come round & to rights. when we parted last, you had to go home and work against wind &...
2504From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe Reibelt, 9 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Manuel of the Museum & Aldini with the engraving of the K. of Prussia & the map of the US. came safe to hand. as the Annals of the Museum & the Gallery will probably cover most of the same subjects, I decline taking the Manuel, as also Aldini. the engraving is not in a line in which I meddle. the Secretary of state keeps the map and will direct paiment. the other objects are delivered to...
2505From Thomas Jefferson to John P. Van Ness, 9 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had under consideration and consultation the petition praying that the legal prosecution against mr Peacock may be arrested by a Nolle prosequi. were I to yield to my own feelings on behalf of his family & friends, or were I free to consider only what would be due to so many respectable persons as have signed the petition, my path would be easy. but on mature consideration the opinion...
2506From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 10 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof mr Cosa is an Italian Physico-mechanic. he employs himself chiefly in instruments of glass, and executes ingenious things in that line. he has been here about a month, during which time, as far as I have learnt, he has conducted himself correctly. being desirous to go to Philadelphia where he expects to find more employment, he has asked to be made known to some one who might...
2507From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas C. James, 12 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your letter of the 4th. inst informing me that at a meeting of the American Philosophical society of that day for the annual election of officers, they had been pleased to reelect me as their president. I beg leave, through you Sir, to return my sincere thanks to the Society for these repeated proofs of their favor to me, and to express the particular satisfaction derived...
2508From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 14 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I nominate the several persons named in the inclosed letter from the Secretary at War for the promotions and appointments in the army of the United States therein proposed for them respectively. PoC ( DLC ). Recorded in SJL with notation “Military nominations.” Enclosure: Dearborn to TJ, [11] Jan. I nominate : on the same day, Isaac A. Coles delivered TJ’s message to the Senate, where it was...
2509From Thomas Jefferson to William Keteltas, 15 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favour of Mr. Keteltas to dine with him on Tuesday 15th at half after three, The favour of an answer is asked. RC (Donald A. Heald Rare Books, New York, 2018); undated, but see below; printed form, with blanks filled by Isaac A. Coles reproduced in italics; notation by Coles in lower right corner: “Wm Keteltas Counsellor at Law.” Tuesday 15th : although New Yorker...
2510From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 15 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 1st. instant came to hand on the 7th. the present state of things in St. Domingo is certainly very interesting to the US. but to intermeddle in it requires great caution. so many interests are in opposition that it is difficult to move without shocking some of them. with what temper France will hear a proposition for a modified liberty in that island, is unknown, and especially...
2511From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 16 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you the bill appropriating 110,000. D. for the South wing of the capitol & 20,000. for the North wing & other public buildings as it has past the H. of R. with only 17. dissenting votes. I have no reason to suppose it will fare worse with the Senate: but till it passes them it will not be safe to take any positive steps. I will endeavor to have it hurried there, and as soon as it...
2512From Thomas Jefferson to William Lambert, 17 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Lambert & returns him his paper on the longitude & latitude of Washington, he has gone over it with as much attention as his time and familiarity with the subject would admit: but he has been too long abstracted from the process of calculation in this line, to undertake to review it critically. he is satisfied at the same time it does not need it....
2513From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Brown, 18 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I was told last fall that the road to and from Lacey’s ford on Bull run was so destroyed by the rains of last summer that a carriage could not pass there, and that they had not been repaired. will you be so good as to write me word whether a carriage can pass them now, as I shall be going that way the first week in March, and shall be unwilling to attempt the Centreville road, which at that...
2514From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 18 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
See the stat. 24. G. 3. (1784.) c. 47. made against smuggling- armed vessels and forfieting the vessels. the 7th. sectn. latter part provides that it shall not extend to vessels having arms or ammunition put on board for the necessary use & defence of such vessel, by license from the Lord High Admiral of G.B. or the commissioners of the admiralty.’ this shews that English vessels cannot arm...
2515From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe Reibelt, 18 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
La continuation de Landon vols 4. & 5. except some livraisons of the 5th. and Les promenades au jardin par Poujoulx came to hand, and I shall keep them. I have not recieved Piranesi. having obtained consent at the stage office to have your two boxes forwarded one at a time when they should have small loads, I had them brought back from the navy yard, & deposited last night at the stage office....
2516From Thomas Jefferson to James Oldham, 19 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your letter, of the 11th. and observe you are fitting up a Corinthian room for mr Gallego. I am glad to learn it, because a single example of chaste architecture may guide the taste of the city and especially when they find that that system of architecture which has now been the delight of the world for three thousand years costs no more than the barbarous & tawdry fancies...
2517From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 21 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 11th . was recieved and gave me the first intimation of your illness. it has filled me with anxiety respecting you, and this is increased by your not having communicated it to me. because in endeavoring to spare my feelings on your real situation it gives me the pain of fearing every thing imaginable; even that the statement of your recovery may not be exact. let me pray you...
2518From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe Reibelt, 23 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Piranesi has been recieved, as also a box of books directed to me as I presume from you altho’ not noted in any of your letters. from these I have selected the following. Correspondence de Rousseau . 3. v. p.f 2. Hist. nat. des Mineraux. Patrin 5. v. p.f. 6. 64 Hist. de Catharine II. par Austera. 3. v. 8vo. 6. 78 Recueil sur les salines par Struve 12mo. . 75 Voyage de Terracine a Naples 12mo....
2519From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 23 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Reibelt, bookseller, St. Patricks’s row, Baltimore having sent me a box of books to select such as I should chuse, I observe one which I think would be useful for your office or for our young eleves. tho the French are behind the English in the practice of the Nautical art, they are, from the excellence of their institutions, far before them in the theory. The price of the book is 10 D. 8....
2520From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe Reibelt, 25 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter inclosing the two notes on the bank of deposit at Baltimore came safely to hand. I am sorry my error in putting my endorsement on the wrong note should have prevented their paiment. the bills are now re-inclosed with that error corrected. I inclose you also the invoice of the books last forwarded in a box, that you may test by it my statement in my last. the Secretary of state...
2521From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 25 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicate for the information of Congress the Report of the Director of the Mint of the operations of that Institution during the last year. RC ( DNA : RG 233, PM , 8th Cong., 2d sess.); endorsed by a House clerk. PoC ( DLC ). RC ( DNA : RG 46, LPPM , 8th Cong., 2d sess.); endorsed by a Senate clerk. Notation in SJL : “Mint.”
2522From Thomas Jefferson to Jacob Crowninshield, 26 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Crowninshield and returns him the letter he was so kind as to send him. he percieves it comes from a mind sensible to the feelings of domestic life, but capable of resolving on what is proper. he asks the favor of an interview with mr Crownenshield. RC (Mrs. Charles L. Hoskins, Seneca Falls, New York, 1950). Not recorded in SJL . Enclosure not...
2523From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 26 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The question arising on Mr Simons’ letter of Jan. 10. is Whether sea-letters shall be given to the vessels of citizens neither born nor residing in the US? Sea-letters are the creatures of treaties. no act of the ordinary legislature requires them. the only treaties now existing with us, & calling for them are those with Holland, Spain, Prussia & France. in the two former we have stipulated...
2524From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 26 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The bill appropriating 110,000. D. for the South wing & 20,000. for the other public buildings is passed—it would be well therefore to contract for the materials immediately, and to begin at once all the branches of the wooden work which can be done independantly of the walls. also to order the paving tile from Bourdeaux, Havre being blockaded. mr Lee our Consul there will do any thing in that...
2525From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Wood, 26 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
On reciept of your letter of the 21st . I had the necessary enquiry made in the department of the treasury, from which I recieved the inclosed correspondence. this is so full & explicit that I need do nothing more than inclose it for your information. I tender you my salutations & respects. PoC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “Mr. Alexander Wood”; endorsed by TJ. Enclosure: see Gallatin to TJ, [25...
2526From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 27 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
On the question who are to pay the petty jurors in the courts of the US. in private cases? it must be admitted there is room for doubt. the act of 1792 c. 36. § 3. says ‘the compensations shall be to each grand & petit juror so much to witnesses summoned in any of the courts of the US. so much’ etc. without saying who should pay either; whether the US. should pay all the jurors & witnesses or...
2527From Thomas Jefferson to William A. Burwell, 28 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 18th. has been duly recieved and mr Coles consents to remain here till the 4th. of March, when I shall leave this place for Monticello and pass a month there. consequently if you can join me here the second week in April it will be as early as your absence could affect my convenience. I have long since given up the expectation of any early provision for the extinguishment...
2528From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 28 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 11th. recieved here on the 15th. is the last news I have of you. mr Randolph having written to mr Coles that he should be here on the 15th. & not having come, & no letter from you by that post, I was thrown into inexpressible anxiety lest a relapse into your complaint should have called him to Edgehill. from this I was not relieved till three days ago when a letter from mr...
2529From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 28 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I nominate Charles Tenant Porter of East Tenissee to be Marshal of East Tenissee for four years from the expiration of his present commission of Marshal. Edward Scott of East Tenissee to be Attorney for the US. in the district of East Tenissee. Algernon Sidney Stanford of Maryland to be Collector & Inspector of the revenue for the port & district of Vienna in Maryland. Ormond Tuley of North...
2530From Thomas Jefferson to DeWitt Clinton, 29 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 18th. has been duly recieved and considered. it proposes that 4. forts, estimated at two millions of Dollars shall be erected for defence of the harbour of N. York. no body suffers more anxiety than I do on account of the present defenceless situation of our harbours. but there exists no law under which fortifications can be erected but that of 1798 . this permits the debtor...
2531From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph H. Nicholson, 29 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Eppes has this moment put into my hands your letter of yesterday asking information on the subject of the gunboats proposed to be built. I lose no time in communicating to you fully my whole views respecting them, promising a few words on the system of fortifications. considering the harbours which from their situation and importance are entitled to defence, and the estimates we have seen...
2532From Thomas Jefferson to the House of Representatives, 31 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with the desire of the House of representatives expressed in their resolution of yesterday , I have to inform them that by a letter of the 30th. of May last from the Secretary at War to Samuel Hammond a member of the house, it was proposed to him to accept a commission of Colonel Commandant for the District of Louisiana when the new government there should commence. by a letter...
2533From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe Reibelt, 31 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The books mentioned in your letter of Jan. 25. are safely recieved. in your Catalogue No. 3. pa. 25. I observe the following which be pleased to send. ✓ Arabia seu &c } edit. Elzevir in 32mo. ✓ Descriptio Africae ✓ Bohemiae ✓ Galliae ✓ Germaniae ✓ Hungariae ✓ Leudiens
2534From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 31 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
According to the desire expressed in your resolution of the 28th. instant, I now communicate a report of the Secretary of State with documents relative to complaints against arming the merchant ships & vessels of the US. & the conduct of the captains and crews of such as have been armed. RC ( DNA : RG 46, LPPM , 8th Cong., 2d sess.); endorsed by a Senate clerk. PoC ( DLC ). Notation in SJL :...
2535From Thomas Jefferson to the House of Representatives, 1 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
For some weeks past I have had reason to expect, by every mail from New Orleans, information which would have fully met the views of the House of Representatives, expressed in their resolution of Dec. 31. on the subject of a post-road from the city of Washington to New Orleans. but this being not yet recieved, I think it my duty, without further delay, to communicate to the House the...
2536From Thomas Jefferson to William Cushing and Hannah Phillips Cushing, 2 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favour of the honble Mr. & Mrs. Cushing to dine with him on Monday next at half after three, Feb. 2. 05. The favour of an answer is asked. RC ( NNPM ); printed form, with blanks filled in TJ’s hand reproduced in italics. William Cushing (ca. 1732-1810) was born in Scituate, Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard College, and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in...
2537From Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 3 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Cary; since speaking on the editions of the N. Testament, he has found that mr Reibelt of Baltimore has a French 12mo. edition for which he has accordingly written . he will therefore trouble mr Cary, only for the Greek & English editions which mr Cary said could be had in Philadelphia, and the 8vo. edition of the bible lately published in...
2538From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 4 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I am at a loss what to do in Gantz’s case . because people are poor and have families, they must not be lawless. judge Winchester thinks the forfeiture too heavy for the offence altho it is agreed he has committed it knowingly & intentionally. in these cases it has been usual for the judge, after the party has suffered so much as he thinks proportioned to his offence, to certify it, and the...
2539From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 4 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Jan. 3. was recieved in due time, and should have been sooner answered but that I wished some information from mr Randolph on the subject, who has but lately returned to this place. I do not want the inclination to purchase the shares of the warehouse, on the contrary it is desirable to me to consolidate that acquisition in all it’s parts: but it is scarcely in my power to make...
2540From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 5 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State has lately recieved a note from the Danish Chargé des affaires, claiming, in the name of his government , restitution, in the case of the brig Henrich , communicated to Congress at a former session; in which note were transmitted sundry documents, chiefly relating to the value and neutral character of the vessel, and to the question Whether the judicial proceedings were...