51To Thomas Jefferson from Pierpont Edwards, 25 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr George Wolcott of Windsor in Hartford county, in this state, brother of Alexander Wolcott Esqr., is desirous of being appointed surveyor of the port of Saybrook, in the district of Middletown, should Mr Dickinson , the present holder of that office be displaced, an event which I presume must soon take place. George Wolcott has been as essentially injured by the persecution of the...
52To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 27 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to request your signature to the enclosed Commissions which are required for the Officers mentioned in the list accompanying my letter to you of the 7t ultimo & whose appointments have since been confirmed by the Senate.— I am very respectfully Sir, Your most ob Serv. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
53To Thomas Jefferson from Meriwether Lewis, 21 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Having acquired information & provisions of the Mandans On the evening of the 7th of Apl. 1805 we embarked with our baggage on board 2 large perogues and six small canoes at Fort Mandan—on a Voyage of Discovery to the Pacific Ocean. The party consisted of the following persons my friend and Colleague Capt. Wm Clark, Interpreters George Drewyer and Touasant Charbono, Sergts. John Ordway...
54To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Moore, with Jefferson’s Note, 21 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Thomas Moore respectfully invites the President of the United States to examine the condition of Butter in a newly invented Refrigiratory , put in the 21st Inst. at 6 OClock P.M. 20 miles distant from Washington— [ Diagram and note by TJ: ] the oval was cooper’s work the inner parallelogram was a box of tin turned down on the top and trimmed to the oval: a. and b. were 2 square holes at which...
55To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund P. Gaines, 25 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The delicate nature of a communication which a sense of duty impels me to make—recommends its being made direct to you —so that if there should appear no cause of suspicion or inquiry; the subject may be permitted to rest,—and not be turned to the injury of the innocent. I will beg leave to premise, that I have been for several years acquainted with General Wilkinson;—have served for some time...
56To Thomas Jefferson from John Baylis Earle, 21 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Although I have never had the Honor either of corresponding or a very intimate acquaintance with you; the few hours I have so agreably spent in your company will long be a source of pleasing reflection and warrants the belief, that in addressing You upon a subject in which I concieve my country’s interest is involved, I shall neither be thought presuming or to exceed the limits of a citizens...
57To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Newton, 1 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. James Taylor Jr informd me he had sent by Capt Stephen Moore two pipes of Brasil wine & had reserved two more for you to be sent by some other oppertunity; Capt. Moore has promised his particular care of them & to forward them to you from Alexandria.—The Frigates I expect will sail this day, the French Frigate Semilante is in Hampton road I beleive ready for sailing & it is said here that...
58To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Yznardi, Sr., 8 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Being still deprived of Your Excellency’s gracious favors, or having merited an answer from the Secretary of State approving or dis’approving my Conduct I have been waiting a long time for the arrival of Mr. Hackley hoping that he would be bearer of such Satisfactions, but alltho’ the first is verified, to my grief I am disappointed in the latter; the particulars that I took the liberty to...
59To Thomas Jefferson from Coale & Thomas, 18 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
We take the liberty to enclose to you a copy of a catalogue of our books and to assure you, that we will take pleasure in executing, with promptitude, any order with which you may honour us We have the honour to be Respectfully Yr. Obt. Servts MHi : Coolidge Collection.
60To Thomas Jefferson from John Alexander, 8 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have taken the liberty of writing to you, on a subject which I deem will be of use to the Citizens of America in general, and to the American youth in particular. Having been for many years employed in the Study & instruction of the Mathematics, I have found great inconvenience, as well as expense, arising to Students, in procuring books on the different branches in which they have been...
61To Thomas Jefferson from Jacob Brown, 20 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
By Order of a very numerous and respectable Meeting of the Inhabitants of Jefferson County, I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency the enclosed Address— Most respectfully I am Sir your Excellencies Humbl. Servt. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
62To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 25 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
My letters to Mr. Madison are so full on what concerns us, as to leave me little to add to you. I never experienc’d more difficulty in any case, than in deciding whether to hasten the negotiation with this govt. to a conclusion, & set out immediately in pursuit of the other object, or to let it take its natural course and consume a couple of months more, and pursue that object afterwards. The...
63To Thomas Jefferson from William Adamson, 29 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg to be permitted the liberty of congratulating thee on the late happy event which placed thee at the head of the federal Goverment, & gave thy Country a chief Majestrate, whose republican virtues, & political wisdom, cannot fail of consolidating her Liberty, & securing her happiness, not only for the present generation, but for ages yet remote!—May the great ruler of the universe who...
64To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 12 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose two letters from the collectors of Delaware, & Barnstable respectively with the intended answers. Are they correct? Respectfully Your obedt. Servt. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
65To Thomas Jefferson from Ebenezer Kellogg, 16 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had a great desire, & for many years, of Improving in the Arts, & Sciences.—& Espiscally in those arts, that I was bred up in, which was that of Fulling, Dying, & Dressing Woolen goods.—This desire I have Instill’d into four Sons of mine; one of which, has Invented a Shearing Machine, & Recd. Letters Patent.—Two others, older then Friend the Patentee has purchas’d half of that Patent, &...
66To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 23 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The fall of the arch or Vault of the Court room in the North Wing of the Capitol on Monday last, & the death of Mr. Lenthall who was buried in its ruins, must be known to you through the medium of the National Intelligencer & the Monitor in all its circumstances. Among the multitude of vexations, regrets, & business which this unfortunate event has thrown upon me, I feel extremely mortified...
67To Thomas Jefferson from James Bankhead, 15 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
This opportunity by Mr. Jos. Monroe, enables me to make a request, so early, that no other can have anticipated me in it; which may secure what I request should there be no other considerations—I have presumed, from report and other circumstances, that Mr. James Monroe will continue in Europe as resident Embassador, and should I be correct in the presumption, it is my ardent wish, to be placed...
68To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Newton, 26 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 2d. no wine having yet arived I hardly beleive any will, but should any arive, you can have what you please of it, tho if you should want, I can procure at any time for you, what you shall order, of as good wine & same kind, shpped by the house in Madeira, that in London & those in Madeira, I have heard have disagreed. I am glad to hear of other wines being...
69To Thomas Jefferson from Bishop James Madison, 16 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recd. your Favr. by the Son of Dr Logan; & tho’ I cannot take him into my Family, at present, yet I will, with great Satisfaction, make a Point of having him established in a Manner which cannot fail of being agreable. I will also superintend his Education with Zeal; & I trust, with that Success which will neither disappoint the Solicitude of a Parent, nor be unworthy of your Recommendation....
70To Thomas Jefferson from George Clinton, 7 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the pleasure to inform you that from the Returns I have seen from several Counties of this State and accurate information received from others our republican Candidates for Governor and Lt Governor, to wit, Chief Justice Lewis and Mr. Broome, will be elected by a majority of at least 8000, notwithstanding their Opponents were supported by the united and vigorous Exertions of the...
71To Thomas Jefferson from Williamson & Cowling, 25 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
At the request of our friend the Honbl John Milledge, we have Shipped to your address, to the Care of Messrs. Falls & Brown Merchants in Baltimore, Two tierces containing each two Bushels Cotton Seed—the one of Green Seed, the other of the Sea Island black seed—which we hope will get Speedily & Safely to hand, and, upon trial, equal your expectations. The Said Seed is shipped on board the...
72To Thomas Jefferson from Pierre Auguste Adet, 24 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
permettés moi de vous Remercier de La lettre pleine d’obligeance et d’amitié que vous avez daigné m’ecrire par M. Monroe. je ne saurois vous exprimer avec quel plaisir je l’ai lu avec quel plaisir je la relis encore, avec quel soin je la conserve. c’est pour moi un Thrésor dont je ne pourrois me séparer. vous devez être convaincu combien je regrette que les destins n’aient pas reglé ma...
73To Thomas Jefferson from Gouverneur Morris, 20 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your Favor of the eighth Instant and am looking out for an Opportunity to send on the Plate, concluding you will some how or other take the whole Set. You say you have Forks and Spoons enough. In that Case it will be better to sell them, which can always be done to Advantage, and take those belonging to the Set which if I remember right are made of a Pattern to suit the Rest....
74To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 24 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
(a) after ‘others’—the insertion of “with commissions”—seems necessary, as others refers to the armed vessels—not to commissns. (b) Instead of “under the controul”it may be well to insert some such phrase as “unreached by any controul” in order not to sanction a plea agst. indemnification, drawn from an acknowledgment on our part that the enenormities were uncontroulable. (c) “as unprofitable...
75To Thomas Jefferson from George Helmbold, 25 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
You will confer a favor on me by giving me an answer to my request of Thursday last . I hope you will comply with it, as it will enable me to recover that station, in point of property, I once held. I enclose a note, by way of memorandum. I remain, With respect, Your humble Sevt. RC ( MHi ); with note by TJ adjacent to closing: “I returned the note to him without answer. Th :J.”; at foot of...
76To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 26 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Donaldson, Penrose & Lucas appointed commissioners for upper Louisiana, and Thompson, Trimble & Vacher appointed for the western district of the Orleans territory have all accepted. Of the three appointd for New Orleans, we have received no answers from Gurley or Coburn, and Sebastian declines. His letter is now enclosed together with sundry recommendations received after the appointments had...
77To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, 21 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Receive my assurances of obligation for the politeness and punctuality with which you have answered my question .—Altho’ I conceived it proper, without any loss of time, to make such applications as might insure the preservation and advancement of the Museum, particularly as at the present moment many of the articles are piled in confusion on each other for want of Room; Yet I have determined...
78To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Cooper, 9 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter here on my return from the Court of Erors & Appeals at Philadelphia. I send you my Copy of the memoirs, with some [emendations] and marginal notes, which tho they do not ornament the pages, will serve to explain some passages which the errors of the press converted into nonsense. I laboured under a very dangerous, and very painful illness while I composed my part, and I...
79To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 14 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your friendly letter of the 4th instant I received yesterday—I should earlier have written to you had I followed only the impulse of my feelings. It was not however my wish to add to your other cares anxiety for my poor little Orphans. Francis was extremely ill two days after my arrrival here, and his situation was the more distressing because I had not the sympathy or aid of any friends, the...
80To Thomas Jefferson from Louis André Pichon, 2 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Le Cit. Pichon prend la liberté de prier Monsieur le Président des Etats Unis de vouloir bien agréer l’expression du regret qu’il a eprouvé d’apprendre le depart de cette ville de Monsieur le Prèsident avant d’avoir pu lui présenter ses devoirs. Le Cit. Pichon, avait cru entendre de la bouche de Monsieur le Secre. d’Etat que Mr. jefferson devait rester jusqu’a vendredi prochain; L’equivoque...
81To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Smith, 18 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honor to Enclose a Postcript of a letter received last night from One from your friends.—Is it not easy to Counter Order this intention—I have the honor to be/ your Obedt. Servt DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson. P.S. The Cotten Seed is the present federal Theme, however proper it might be for Mr Jefferson as Mr. Jefferson to comply with a Request from an Agricultural Society,...
82To Thomas Jefferson from John M. O’Harnett, 4 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
To your honr. and only you I Send my complaint, and Make my grieviance known—Be it known to you, O Man placed by Heaven to Rule a Gallant free People, that I am a fugitive from my Wife and five helpless Children, in the State of Delaware Owing to my attachment to the cause of freedom, and my being an avoud Enemy to Slavery and Tyranny. In the years 1799 and 1800, I left my employment, went...
83To Thomas Jefferson from William Esenbeck, 2 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States, will be pleased to pardon one of his faithfull Subjects: If his Pointer Dogs should leap over the higest part of the Wall in search of their proper Game If they should tress pass in killing any Sheep, or tame fowl. I will answer for all damages by Peril of being put to Jail, but if the contrary the sheep will follow them, the President will grant me this...
84To Thomas Jefferson from the Tennessee General Assembly, 8 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The Representatives of the people of Tennessee concieve it to be their duty to express their entire approbation of the Measures pursued by the Federal Government since the commencement of your administration and a full and complete confidence that such measures will be adopted as will maintain the respectability of the United States abroad—and promote the interest and harmony of our fellow...
85To Thomas Jefferson from Abijah Hart, 6 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Possessing but little self confidence, it is with great diffidence that I address you, with an offer of my services to the Public.—Some eight or nine years ago, I was solicited to accept a Consulate Office at some important Port among our commercial relations in foreign Countries—my engagements in Commercial pursuits then were such, that self-interest forbade my acceptance—but I have since...
86To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Winston, 31 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of seeing you last. I have made up my mind to remove to the Missisippi territory. and recollecting you were pleasd to Offer me the Appointment of receiver of public Monies in that quarter (I beleave East of pearl river, I now take the liberty of Soliciting that Appointment for the District West of Pearl river, the reason I name this District is because in the...
87To Thomas Jefferson from Nicolas Gouin Dufief, 9 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Il y a près de deux ans que j’eus l’honneur de vous entretenir de mon travail sur la vraie & unique methode d’enseigner les langues, que je crois avoir découverte—Je vous priais de vouloir bien être mon juge, touchant la maniere dont J’ai traité un sujet, toujours digne de l’attention du Philosophe, par l’influence qu’ont les Langues sur notre faculté de Penser, laquelle pour parler le langage...
88To Thomas Jefferson from John Stokely, 17 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson, at the request of a Gentm. from the Western Country and a Late occurrence I am urged at this particular time to address you. I am informed that a Bill is now Presented or about to be Presented to Your Excellency for Signing that contemplates Granting Mr. Oliver Evans a Second Patent for his inventions about Mills &c. I have no desire to Injure Mr Evans. I Showed him the Letter I...
89To Thomas Jefferson from Daniel Clark, 18 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Clark has the Honor of sending to the President of the U.S. a few Maps and Plans of remarkable Places in the Orleans Territory and adjoining Countries should any of them be thought sufficiently interesting by the War Department to be copied Mr Clark will spare them at any time for that purpose. Mr Clark likewise sends an Indian Axe found on his Plantation in the County of Acadia which he...
90To Thomas Jefferson from Louis Hue Girardin, 6 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous faire passer les deux excellentes brochures de Mengotti qui m’ont été confiées par Mr. Reibelt. Je vous remercie mille fois de la manière obligeante dont vous avez bien voulu vous en dessaisir en ma faveur; et, surtout, Je vous prie d’accepter les excuses que Je vous dois pour les avoir gardées si longtemps. J’avois commencé à traduire en Anglois une de ces brochures “Il...
91To Thomas Jefferson from G. C. Delacoste, 27 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Informed that your Excellency has the intention of forming a National Museum at the seat of Government, I am led to believe that the collections composing the cabinet of Natural History, which I have begun some time past in this city, may be deemed worthy to form a part thereof, and I take the liberty of informing him, that the want of sufficient support and patronage from the inhabitants of...
92To Thomas Jefferson from John Devereux DeLacy, 18 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Having shortly after I did myself the honour of writing to you last set out on a tour through the Creek or Muscogee nation of Indians I take the liberty of transmitting to you, Sir; an account of that Country together with the remarks that my short stay has enabled me to make some of which I flatter myself will not be unacceptable to you— The Land around Pensacola are extremely poor being a...
93Memorandum from Charles Pinckney, [ca. 17 March 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
MS ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 3:0377); undated; in Pinckney’s hand, except as noted below; endorsed by TJ: “S. Carolina. Mr. Pinckney’s 2d. memm.” Some of Pinckney’s recommendations on South Carolina appointments were incorporated into Burr’s memorandum of this date printed above. Pinckney probably left this memorandum with the president before he left for Charleston. In letters to Madison and TJ on...
94To Thomas Jefferson from David Ziegler, 14 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The citizens of Cincinnati, impressed with esteem and veneration for you, are encouraged by it to take the liberty of addressing you on a subject they have much at heart; they are aware that not a little of your valuable time is arrested by trivial and officious representations; but long convinced that the true interest of your country and the health of its members are the primary sources of...
95To Thomas Jefferson from John Drayton, 21 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Finding that arrangements are making by the Government of the United States, for the exchange of French prisoners ; I flatter myself, the public service may be promoted, by addressing you this letter. To this purpose, I enclose you a copy of a letter written to me, last year, by Mr. William Crafts Navy Agent of the United States; respecting French prisoners, now in custody in this State. This,...
96To Thomas Jefferson from William Duane, 26 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
My absence from home until this moment prevented my sending an answer to your note before. Young Coopers name is Thomas Cooper ,—he appears to be about 22 years old. Lacretelle’s book I have not here but have written for it by Mail to Philadelphia, and requested it to be sent by some private hand. Paine’s third letter gives me considerable uneasiness, he has in fact commenced the subject of...
97To Thomas Jefferson from the District of Columbia Commissioners, 22 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The term having expired , during which the first and third articles of the terms and conditions declared by the President of the United States on the 17th. October 1791 for regulating the materials and manner of building and improvements on the Lots in the City, of Washington, have been suspended, we have taken the subject into consideration, and are of opinion that it may be expedient to...
98To Thomas Jefferson from Pierre Chouteau, 11 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Le courier que nous attendions samedi dernier n’etant point arrivé, ma derniere lettre du deux mars partira avec celle cy. Je vous ai prevenu par elle du malheureux evenement qui a detruit la majeure partie de ma fortune et qui m’a été d’autant plus sensible que je crois pouvoir sans injustice L’imputer à la vengeance d’une de mes Esclaves que je n’ai pourtant point a me reprocher d’avoir...
99To Thomas Jefferson from Daniel Carroll, 28 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Since you did me the honor the other day to mention the subject of the Canal from the falls of Poto. to the Eastern branch, I have thought much on the subject, & satisfied you will excuse the liberty I am now takeing, have determined to address you a few lines—I see innumerable difficulties attending the plan you propose, one which you mentioned, the want of funds, The ground where you propose...
100To Thomas Jefferson from William C. Jenckes, 14 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
From being obliged to leave the City of Washington I fear I have delayed the communication which you had the goodness to promise me upon the subject of my dismission, from the service of the U. States, as a Lieutt of the Navy—Permit me to Observe that there can be no circumstance so likely to inflict a lasting wound upon the reputation of any man, as the one to which I have alluded and I am...