2491From Thomas Jefferson to the House of Representatives, 22 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I now transmit a report from the Secretary of state with the information requested in your resolution of the 17th. instant. In making this communication , I deem it proper to observe that I was led by the regard due to the rights and interests of the United States and to the just sensibility of the portion of our fellow citizens more immediately affected by the irregular proceeding at New...
2492From Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 11 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by Genl. Armstrong appointed the successor of Chancellor Livingston at Paris. being the brother in law of the Chancellor, between whom & yourself he learns there has been some misunderstanding, he expressed to me apprehensions lest you should imagine he succeeded to the animosities of the Chancellor as well as to his office. I undertook therefore to remove that fear by...
2493From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 12 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have barely time to tell you that mrs Madison has executed your desires and I dare say to your mind. the commission to me has given me the greatest pleasure, as it always would that you would say to me freely at all times what want you have which I could gratify. my wishes are always to do what would be pleasing to you; but knowing nothing of what would be proper or acceptable, I do nothing....
2494From Thomas Jefferson to Jacob Wagner, 16 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I must ask the favor of you to send me immediately the following commissions, ready sealed & filled up, except as to the names and dates. to wit a commission appointing [blank] Governor of the territory of Orleans, to hold the said office during the term of 3. years from the 1st. day of Oct. next unless sooner removed by the President of the U.S. 1 do. appointg. [blank] Secretary of the...
2495From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 26 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10th was recieved only the last night. I now return you the letter to Colo. Newton, which I will pray you to deliver & use your influence to induce an acceptance. it is in truth only asking him to become responsible for his son, which he would of course do were the office given to his son directly: & it will relieve me from a painful dilemma. shou’d he however refuse, be so...
2496From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 22 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Francis Mitchill of Richmond in Virginia has been recommended for a midshipman’s place by Colo. John Harvie of that place and mr George Divers, gentlemen worthy of all confidence . I saw him myself, & found from his own statement that he had proceeded in geometry as far as the 6. first books of Euclid. William G. Stewart of Philadelphia applies for a place of midshipman. I am personally...
2497From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 24 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
If we can do any thing ourselves in the case of the from the Missisipi, let us do it. but if any thing has to be done by Congress I think the merchants had better be left to get it brought forward in their own way, and leave us free to modify. it is a question of some nicety whether in the seasons when exportations are strong, we might moor a in the river opposite or near N. Orleans, and keep...
2498From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 21 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Judging by Price’s survey of Ocracock, the only position for the custom house which seems to come into competition with the point B recommended by mr Taylor, is that part of Beacon island opposite to the point marked a . but perhaps Wallace’s channel may be the most used. the form you propose No. 1. would include Beacon’s island, and on that account would be preferable, as it would give us...
2499From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 31 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having appropriated another sum of 50,000. D. for the public buildings it becomes necessary to settle the plan of operations for the summer. the following are my ideas on the subject. Capitol. The walls to be completely finished this summer. for ensuring this every effort must be exerted from this day forward, the supplies of stone pushed with all the energy possible, and the cutting...
2500From Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas Gouin Dufief, 1 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicated your manuscript catalogue to the member of Congress charged with the purchase of books, and they have returned it to me with information that they had already exhausted their funds, and that therefore it was unnecessary for them to take the subject into consideration. it is now reinclosed to you with assurances of my esteem & respect. PrC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “M. Dufief”;...
2501From Thomas Jefferson to James Currie, 29 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof is mr Thomas Main whom I have spoken of to you as the person who has been so succesfully engaged here in raising the thorn hedge & whom you were so kind as to say you would patronize should he be willing to undertake the same business at Richmond. indeed for his integrity sobriety industry & skill I can safely recommend him as worthy general patronage; and I am persuaded that...
2502From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Purviance, 8 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I learn by a letter from mr Appleton at Leghorn that he has shipped for me by the ship Cora, Capt. Jones, bound to Baltimore, a case containing 30. flasks & a small box of two bottles of the wines of Tuscany, to your care. I presume they came by the same conveyance with the letter & are consequently arrived. I have to ask the favor of you to let me know the amount of duty & other charges which...
2503From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 30 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Commissions to be made out Christopher Ellery of Rh odei sland to be Commissioner of loans for the state of Rhodeisland. Augustus Sacket of New York, to be Collector & Inspector of revenue for the port of Sacket harbour. Gideon D. Cobbs of Indiana to be Collector at Massac. Benjamin Sebastan of Kentucky } Comrs. for land titles in the Eastern district of Orleans John Coburn of Kentucky
2504From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 1 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to consider & direct how the 3000. D. may be apportioned in the details of the Arcansa expedition ? to wit how much for pay, for instruments & other articles of outfit which cannot be furnished from the military fund, & how much may be laid out in light articles for barter & presents to the Indians. this last article should be made as large as the fund will admit....
2505From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 22 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Did I lend you the Pensylvania act permitting our Western road to cross through that state? if I did, or if you have a copy of it I shall be very glad to see it. mr Hoge gave me notice yesterday that there would be legal opposition to that road’s passing in any other direction than through Washington, their construction being that if in fact a good road can be got by Washington the law obliges...
2506From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 26 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The substance of what was agreed on yesterday, was I think as follows. I. the 2. bomb-vessels & 2. gunboats built by Commodore Preble are to go immediately to Charleston, there to take gunboat No. 1. & proceed, the 3. gunboats into L. Pontchartrain, & the 2. bomb vessels to N. Orleans. to these are to be added other gunboats from the Ohio, or the Mediterranean so as to keep a force of 6. boats...
2507From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 9 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
E. Randolph has offered to mr Short to give him personal security, such as he will be satisfied with, for the whole sum & interest due to mr Short. mr Short will not accept it, viewing the public as his debtor, but is willing to endeavor to obtain the security, on condition it shall not prejudice his right against the public, considering it as so much saved to the public which may otherwise be...
2508From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel D. Tompkins, 24 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I received a few days ago your Excellency’s favor of the 9th. inst: covering the patriotic Resolutions of the Legislature of New York of the 3d. the times do certainly render it incumbent on all good citizens, attached to the rights & honor of their country to bury in oblivion all internal differences, and rally round the standard of their country in opposition to the outrages of foreign...
2509From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 14 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Rodney not being at Washington I send you the inclosed because it requires to be acted on immediately. I remember it was concluded that witnesses who should be brought from great distances, and carried from one scene of trial to another must have a reasonable allowance made for their expences & the money advanced. I expect it will be thought proper that the witnesses proving White’s...
2510From 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...
2511From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 21 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The period preceding & during the session of Congress is so occupied by an accumulation of business that it has not been in my power to acknolege earlier the reciept of some sheets of your publication on the authenticity of Logan’s speech. I certainly do not know myself that it is authentic; that is, I did not hear Logan deliver it, but I had it from him who recieved it from Logan & translated...
2512From Thomas Jefferson to William Pennock, 25 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 19th. instant is recieved, covering three bills drawn on me by Philip Mazzei for 500. D. each paiable at 60. 90. & 120. days sight. I now return them inclosed with acceptances, modified a few days from their exact tenor, in order to accomodate them to certain arrangements. devoting one day in the first week of every month to the settlement of my pecuniary affairs, I have dated the...
2513From Thomas Jefferson to James Ogilvie, 21 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his salutations to mr Ogilvie and observes that his acquaintances in the great cities being mostly political, he has reviewed the list of those in Baltimore, which indeed is a short one, with care in order to select one who might be useful to mr Ogilvie. under this view he incloses him a letter to the revd. mr Glendye, formerly of Staunton in Virginia, distinguished for...
2514From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 29 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I now communicate an Appendix to the information heretofore given on the subject of Louisiana. you will be sensible from the face of these papers, as well as of those to which they are a sequel, that they are not, and could not be, official, but are furnished by different individuals as the result of the best enquiries they had been able to make, and now given, as recieved from them, only...
2515From Thomas Jefferson to William Henry Harrison, 16 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your several unacknoleged letters of June 18. Aug. 29. Nov. 12. & 20. prove me an unpunctual correspondent. it is not because I do less than I might do, but that there is more than I can do. I will now summarily reply to their several articles. and first I pray you to deliver to the legislature the inclosed letter in answer to the Address they favored me with. of the two persons chosen to...
2516From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 8 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
By the inclosed which I recieved last night, you will percieve that mr Chisman, Collector of Hampton is dead. the writer, mr Booker, who is unknown to me, recommends Robt. Armistead, also unknown. he says nothing of the politics of the candidate which generally authorises a presumption that they are not with the government. can you, from your present knolege, recommend a successor, and if not,...
2517From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 31 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Our Attorney general being absent, and none of the other members of the administration being professional lawyers, I am obliged to decide for myself in a case of law, which, in whatever way I decide, will make a great deal of noise. in this situation I ask the favor of you as a friend , and as a lawyer still in the habits of law reading, which I have not been for 30. years, to tell me what you...
2518From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 15 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 12th. is recieved. the circumstance which has guided us in fixing on the subjects of study for my grandson has been the exclusive possession of Philadelphia of your Museum, the Anatomical dissections & mr Hamilton’s garden. add the Surgical operations at the hospital. I thought these would fill up his whole time; but as it is thought they will leave him time to attend the...
2519From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 29 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I send the inclosed letter under the benefit of your cover, & open, because I wish you to know it’s contents. I thought the person to whom it is addressed a very good man when here. he is certainly a very learned & able one. I thought him peculiarly qualified to be useful with you, but in the present state of my information I can say no more than I have to him. when you shall have read the...
2520From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 17 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 14th. I continue extremely satisfied with the facility of writing with the new Polygraph. mr. Hawkins’s box may be considerably improved in it’s form. instead of having it in the form Fig. 1. the upper lid should on the hinge side be bevilled off at a.b. thro’ it’s whole length (from West to East.) then when you wish to use it, not for copying, but as a...