1Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 8 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with much concern I inform you that the Senate has negatived your appointment. we thought it best to keep back the nomination to the close of the session, that the mission might remain secret as long as possible, which you know was our purpose from the beginning. it was then sent in with an explanation of it’s object & motives. we took for granted, if any hesitation should arise, that...
2Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 21 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Aug. 30 . arrived while I was absent in Bedford , to which place I now go several times in the year & stay there from a fortnight to a month. I congratulate you on your safe arrival in the US. and should have done it with more pleasure in person had your perambulations for health led you this way. your former letter by mr Irving was immediately complied with, the business executed to...
3Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 8 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I now make frequent journies to Bedford , and make long stays there , having a good house and accomodations there. I am just returned thence, after an absence of five weeks, and find here your letter of Jan. 30 . I had left this on the 27 th . to this you must sometimes ascribe the not recieving timely answers from me, & sometimes to my the repugnance with which I go to my writing table. my...
4Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 17 May 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of April 11 . was recieved in due time; but as you expressed a wish that your lands should be offered to mr Bankhead & he was gone on a visit to his father & family at Portroyal , I awaited his return. I knew indeed that he had just made a purchase for himself, of the land which was Col o N. Lewis’s , extending from Charlottesville to Monticello
5Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 26 July 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
On the reciept of your letters of May 29 . & June 18 . I wrote to mr Bankhead , then with his family in Port-royal , offering your lands to him at 12.D. for altho I had seen no reason for a great sudden rise in the price of our lands, yet two sales had been made as I formerly wrote you, far above what had been deemed the neighborhood price. himself had been one of the purchasers. I therefore...
6Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 15 October 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Aug. 10. from Portland Portsmouth came duly to hand. according to promise I have made exact research into the situation of your land . I rode to Price’s and enquired of him with respect to the leases, to whom, on what conditions, and for what terms they were made? I found them to be as follows. Richard Shackleford 100. a s rent 50.D. } written leases for 3. years from the...
7Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 26 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 19 th was recieved yesterday. those of Feb. 20. & Mar. 5. had come to hand before, and were still in my Carton of ‘letters to be answered.’ the only circumstance in those which pressed for an answer had escaped my memory, until your last reminded me of it, that is to say, the visit proposed by General Moreau . and first I must set to rights the idea that a visit while at...
8Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 30 September 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have at length recieved an offer for your lands, which tho not coming entirely up to your terms, is so nearly so as to make it my duty to communicate it for your consideration. it is from mr Higginbotham , who had applied to yourself by letter with a very different proposition. he is a merchant of Milton , who in the course of many years of snug & safe business has made a handsome provision...
9Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 17 October 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have communicated to mr Higginbotham the substance of your letter of the 7 th and can now give you specific answers from him to your several queries. 1. the price 10. D. an acre paiable at Christmas of the years 1813. 14. 15. in equal instalments, with an understanding that if these paiments are delayed to & through April, paying interest on that delay, it shall not be deemed a breach of...
10Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 6 November 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Oct. 29. finds me still here. tho’ the effects of my fall have not been quite removed, I shall set out for Bedford in 2. or 3. days. the doubt as to the security proposed for that portion of the debt for which mr Higginbotham & another were to give joint bonds, was not unexpected because it was reasonable. I had suggested it to him as possible & even probable, & he was therefore...