1William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 30 August 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I had last Night the honor of your Letter of the 24 th Inst t and am much gratified by any opportunity of testifying in the smallest degree my high esteem & respect. I am exceedingly obliged by your kind wish to have seen me with the President & his Lady , and M r & M rs Gallatin . To see you, and your amiable & excellent Family would at all times be sufficient Inducement, but if any...
2William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 16 November 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of your very friendly Letter of the 11 th Ultimo , and am much pleased with your wishes to colonize so many Objects of utility and delight. In this Country we have every climate & soil, and certainly whatever will flourish on Earth will flourish with us. I am glad the pair of Sheep got safe, & I will with great pleasure send some more Fig trees in the way you mention, or by...
3Account with William Thornton, [5 December] 1809 (Madison Papers)
Account between the Honble. James Madison—and Mr. Thornton. William Thornton Dr: 1806 Augst. 4. To a Loan of one hundred and fifty Dollars $150.— 1807— To Interest one year on the above 9.— To Interest on fifty Dollars till 1809 from Augst. 4th: 1807 till Decr. 1809. 2 yrs: 3 months 7.50 1805 Octr. To 120 Bushels of Coals at 28 Cts. ⅌r: Bushell 33.60 March 18. To 196 Bushs: of Coal at 28 Cts....
4William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 7 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
We came here to spend two or three Days, for the first time these six months, so closely have I been confined by my Duties, which have encreased to six fold, and I am yet without any Assistant, except when I hire, one at my own expense.—The Patents amounted last year to 219! Among them are Inventions that do honor to our Country. I think the coming Season will be the most abundant in fruit...
5William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival in Town on monday Even g last I found the Post had departed that Day, & I therefore buried the Figtrees. I was obliged to take very small ones as you had requested me to send them by the Post as the safest way.— On my return I heard that some merinos had arrived, among which there were a male & Female for you, & a pair also for the President . I went to Alexandria to see them, &...
6William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 8 June 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very glad that the young Fig trees arrived safe, and also that the former ones were still alive. I am much obliged by your kindness in reserving one of the Sheep dogs for me, and if not yet disposed of in consequence of not meeting with a good conveyance hither I must request your further kindness in sending them by the messenger you will despatch for your Merinos to the President’s ,...
7To James Madison from William Thornton, 27 July 1810 (Madison Papers)
I had the honor of your Note acknowledging the receipt of the Medallion, and shall take the earliest opportunity of forwarding your Letter to England. I am very unwilling to trouble you, but I have received two Letters from Mr. Joseph Cerneau a French Citizen of the U. States, resident in New York, who wishes to send a Vessel to France but is afraid of the Rambouillet Decree; and solicits any...
8William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 4 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have so long delayed to write a few Lines to acknowledge your last favour , with an intention of making my Ans r more acceptable, by giving you news &c, that I am really ashamed of an appearance of forgetfulness; and, at this time, when exceedingly pressed by Business, I write, lest I may be still more engaged hereafter. I am exceedingly indebted to you for the very kind present you made me...
9To James Madison from William Thornton, 20 December 1810 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 December 1810, Washington. Encloses a letter from Mr. Eccleston that arrived in the U.S. some time ago. Has heard rumors of a change “in the Situation of the Post Master General” and mentions that his friend Mr. Fairfax, a gentleman of integrity and “firmly attached to the Government,” would be gratified to receive the appointment. RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1809–17, filed under “Fairfax”). 1...
10To James Madison from William Thornton, 3 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
I lie still so very sick in bed I am obliged to get Mr. Lyon to write a few lines for me, we were exceedingly obliged by the kind attention of your amiable Lady and self, at the time of your departure, and if your good wishes could have reinstated me I should not be now lieing in the low situation I am in. Since I had the pleasure of seeing you Major White was here, who has trained some of my...