5221Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of yesterday was recieved last night. the M c Gehee who is the subject of it, is an overseer of mine at a place, which on account of it’s importance to me, mr Randolph takes care of. he employed M c Gehee , & solely superintends him. We consider him as an extremely industrious, active, attentive, and skilful in the old practices, but prejudiced against any thing he is not used to. we...
5222Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Wirt having suggested to me that he thought the explanations, of in my case of the Batture , respecting the Nile & Missisipi not sufficiently clear, and that the authority cited respecting the Nile might be urged against me, I have endeavored, by a Note, to state their analogies more clearly. being a shred of the argument I put into your hands I inclose it to you with a request, after...
5223Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 10 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned yesterday from Bedford , and according to my letter written just before my departure, I take the liberty of informing you of it in the hope of seeing mrs Madison & yourself here. and I do it with the less delay as I shall ere long be obliged to return to that place.— by a letter of Aug. 15. from Gen l Dearborn he sais in a P.S. that he has just recieved information that Bidwell had...
5224Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 October 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Tho late, I congratulate you on the revocation of the French decrees, & Congress still more; for without something new from the belligerents, I know not what ground they could have taken for their next move. Britain will revoke her orders of council, but continue their effect by new paper blockades, doing in detail what the orders did in the lump. the exclusive right to the sea by conquest is...
5225Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I found among my papers the inclosed survey of La Fayette’s lands adjacent to N. Orleans . whether it be the legal survey or not I do not know. if it is, it gives a prospect of something considerable after the 600. yards laid off round the ramparts. I inclose it to you as it may possibly be of use. with me it can be of none. I inclose you also a piece in MS. from Dupont on the subject of our...
5226Enclosure: John Melish to James Madison, 7 February 181[1] (Jefferson Papers)
Having had occasion to study the Trade of the United States with Europe for a series of years past, I am now of opinion that it has reached a Crisis which calls for a new system of Political Economy in this Country: and a few general ideas have occurred to me on the subject, which I shall do myself the honour of stating to you.— My determination is accelerated by a consideration of the Pecul i...
5227Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return from a journey of 5 weeks to Bedford I found here the two letters now inclosed, which tho’ directed to me, belong in their matter to you. I never before heard of either writer and therefore leave them to stand on their own ground. I congratulate you on the close of your campaign . altho it has not conquered your difficulties, it leaves you more at leisure to examine consider &...
5228Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Mar. 18. and Apr. 1. have been duly recieved. the extract from Armstrong’s letter of July 28. 08. which you desire is in these words. ‘my poor friend Warden writes to you, & asks from you the appointment of Consul for this place. I could not promise to do more than send his letter. he is an honest and amiable man, with as much Greek & Latin, & chemistry & theology, as would do...
5229Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 19 th is recieved. I have carefully examined my letter files from July 1808. to this day, & find among them no such anonymous letter as you mention. indeed the strong impression on my memory is that I never recieved an Anonymous letter from England , or from any other country than our own. Certain newspapers are taking a turn which gives me uneasiness. before I was aware of it, I...
5230Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 May 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
As I sent you my first effort to keep Duane right, so I communicate the second , which the failure of our efforts measures to help him obliged me to write. it probably closes our correspondence as I have not heard a word from him on the subject. Ritchie is correct as to the administration generally. I have written to a friend there what I am in hopes will put him right as to mr Gallatin ,...
5231Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 July 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I have seen with very great concern the late Address of mr Smith to the public. he has been very ill advised both personally and publicly. as far as I can judge from what I hear, the impression made is entirely unfavorable to him. every man’s own understanding readily answers all the facts and insinuations , one only excepted, and for that they look for explanations without any doubt that they...
5232Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 10 October 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
M rs Lewis , the widow of Col o Nich Lewis , has requested me to mention to yourself the name of a mr Wood , an applicant for a commission in the army . on recieving the request I rode to her house to ask something about him, observing to her that something more than his name would be necessary. she candidly told me at once that he was a very capable young man, connected with her only as being...
5233Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 31 December 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
It is long since I have had occasion to address a line to you, and the present is an irksome one. with all the discouragements I can oppose to those who wish to make me the channel of their wishes for office, some will force themselves on me. I inclose you the letters of several merely to be placed on the file of candidates & to stand on their own ground, for I do not know one of them...
5234Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 February 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 12 th has been duly recieved. I have much doubted whether, in case of a war, Congress would find it practicable to do their part of the business. that a body containing 100. lawyers in it, should direct the measures of a war is, I fear, impossible; and that thus that member of our constitution, which is it’s bulwark, will prove to be an impracticable one from it’s cacoethes...
5235Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 March 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 6 th was duly recieved. the double treachery of Henry will do lasting good both here & in England . it prostrates the party here, and will prove to the people of England , beyond the power of palliation by the ministry, that the war is caused by the wrongs of their own nation. The case of the Batture not having been explained by a trial at bar as had been expected, I have...
5236Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed papers will explain themselves. their coming to me is the only thing not sufficiently explained. Your favor of the 3 d came duly to hand. altho’ something of the kind had been apprehended, the embargo found the farmers and plinters planters only getting their produce to market and selling as fast as they could get it there. yet I think it caught them in this part of the state with...
5237Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
It is a grievous thing to be pressed, as I am, into the service of those who want to get into service themselves. the great mass of those sollicitations I decline: but some come forward on such grounds as controul compliance. M r Archibald C. Randolph , an applicant for command in the new army, is my near relation, which in his own eye and that of our common friends gives him a claim to my...
5238Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The difference between a communication & sollicitation is too obvious to need suggestion. while the latter embarras adds to embarrasments, the former only enlarges the field of choice. the inclosed letters are merely communications. of Stewart I know nothing. Price who recommends him is I believe a good man, not otherwise known to me than as a partner of B. Morgan of N. O. and as having...
5239Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Another communication is inclosed , and the letter of the applicant is the only information I have of his qualifications. I barely remember such a person as the Secretary of mr Adams & messenger to the Senate while I was of that body. it enlarges the sphere of choice by adding to it a strong federalist. The triangular war must be the idea of the Anglomen, and malcontents, in other words the...
5240Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have taken the liberty of drawing the attention of the Secretary at War to a small depot of military stores at N. London , and leave the letter open for your perusal. be so good as to seal it before delivery. I really thought that Gen l Dearborne had removed them to Lynchburg , undoubtedly a safer and more convenient deposit. Our county is the only one I have heard of which has required a...
5241Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved your favor of the 29 th 22 d covering the declaration of war. it is entirely popular here, the only opinion being that it should have been issued the moment the season admitted the militia to enter Canada . the federalists indeed are open mouthed against the declaration . but they are poor devils here, not worthy of notice. a barrel of tar to each state South of the Patomac...
5242Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 August 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter of May 6. from Foronda is this passage. ‘No remito a Vm exemplares de mis papelitos para el ilustrado y sabio Madison, aunque le tributo todos mis respetos: pero es Presidente, y las viles almas, lexos de conocer que esto seria un acto de Cortesania que no tiene relacion con la presidencia, me tacharian tal vez de poco afecto à la patria, alegando que tenia consideraciones con...
5243Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 10 August 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The death of my much valued friend & relation George Jefferson will doubtless produce many competitors for the office of Consul at Lisbon . among these a neighbor of mine, mr David Higginbotham wishes to be considered. he is a merchant of Milton , of very fair character, steady application to business, sound in his circumstances, and perfectly correct in all his conduct. he is a native of this...
5244Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 10 August 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter within which this is inclosed contains the truth: there is not a word in it that is not so. but duty while the sollicitations of a friend have obliged me to present his case, duty to yourself & the public oblige me to say it does not contain the whole truth. one single circumstance is to be added. this candidate for the office of Consul at Lisbon , who often has to transact...
5245Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 August 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The mail of yesterday does not tell us whether you have left Washington . I am this moment setting out for Bedford , & shall be absent 3. or 4. weeks. should you be at Monpelier when I return I shall certainly have the pleasure of paying my respects to mrs Madison & yourself. in the mean time accept the assurance of my affectionate esteem & respect RC ( MH : Hemenway Collection); at foot of...
5246Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 October 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of inclosing to you a letter from mr Meigs , heretofore President of the University of Georgia . this has been delayed by my the same absence from home which prevented my having the pleasure of delivering it to you personally at Monpelier . I do not know mr Meigs personally, but have always heard him highly spoken of as a man of science. he was selected for the university of...
5247Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 31 October 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by Mons r de Neufville a person of distinction from France who came over to this country with his family some years ago, & is established as an Agricultural citizen near New Brunswick in Jersey . he brought recommendations from some friends of mine which established his merit, as well as his right to any service I could render him. since his settlement in Jersey I have...
5248Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 November 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from Col o Gibson Secretary under Governor Harrison . I suppose he has addressed it to me on the footing of a very old acquaintance. he is a very honest man, very old in public service & much esteemed by all who know him. all this I believe however is known to yourself, & possibly he may be personally known to you. The seeing whether our untried Generals will stand proof...
5249Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 February 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 27 th Ult. has been duly recieved. you have had a long holiday from my intrusions. in truth I have had nothing to write about; and your time should not be consumed by letters about nothing. the inclosed paper however makes it a duty to give you the trouble of reading it. you know the handwriting and the faith due to it. our intimacy with the writer leaves no doubt about his...
5250Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 February 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
On the occasion of your separation from mr Robert Smith , I recollect your mentioning in one of your letters to me that among the circumstances which afflicted you, was the impression it might make on his connections in this quarter , for whom you entertained so much friendship & esteem. it was soon discernable that on one of them whom I had the most frequent opportunities of seeing, no other...
5251Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 10 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
The writer of the inclosed letter being as well known to yourself as to me, I forward it merely because he has wished me to mention his sollicitation to you. I should in like manner inclose you a letter from D r Barton but that it would take you more time to decypher than you ought to give to it. the object of it is to be appointed to the Medical department of the army. his reputation is as...
5252Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from Whit was unquestionably intended for you. the subject, the address both of title and place prove it, and the mistake of the name only shews the writer to be a very uninquisitive statesman. Doct r Waterhouse’s letter too was intended for your eye; and altho’ the immediate object fails by previous appointment, yet he seems to entertain further wishes. I inclose too the...
5253Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 June 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
your favor of the 6 th has been recieved, and I will beg leave to add a few supplementory observations on the subject of my former letter. I am not a judge of the best forms which may be given to the gunboat; and indeed I suppose they should be of various forms suited to the varied circumstances to which they would be applied. among these no doubt Commodore Barney’s would find their place....
5254Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 13 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I was so unlucky as to write you a long letter of business , when, as I learned soon afterwards, you were too ill to be troubled with any matter of business. my comfort has been in the confidence that care would of course be taken not to disturb you with letters. my hope in writing the present is of a pleasanter kind, the flattering one that you are entirely recovered. if the prayers of...
5255Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I congratulate you on your release from the corvée of a session of Congress , and on the pleasure of revisiting your own fields & friends: and I hope your fields have been more fortunate than ours which have been wet but once since the 14 th of April , and present an aspect never seen since the year 1755. when we lost so many people by famine. but the present drought is only partial; that was...
5256Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been prevented setting out to Bedford as early as I had counted. I depart tomorrow. in the mean time I have consulted with as many as I could of the leading men of our county on the subject of the Principal assessor, as I proposed to yourself in my letter of the 15 th . of those consulted who are known to yourself were mr Divers , the mr Carrs , mr Randolph , Bankhead E t c. one...
5257Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 February 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter from Col o Earle of S. C. induces me to apprehend that the government is called on to reimburse expences to which I am persuaded it is no wise liable either in justice or liberality. I inclose you a copy of my answer to him , as it may induce further enquiry, & particularly of Gen l Dearborn . the Tennisee Senators of that day can also give some information. We have not yet seen the...
5258Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 February 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of yesterday I forgot to put the inclosed one from mr Mill s , which I now send merely to inform you of his wishes, and to do on it what you find right. he is an excellent young man, modest, cautious & very manageable. his skill in architecture will be proved by his drawings & he has had a good deal of experience. he married a daughter of Col o Smith of Winchester formerly...
5259Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 10 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 7. was duly recieved. that which it gave me reason to expect from mr G. did not come till the 4 th inst. he mentioned in it that a state of things existed which probably would oblige him to make a solemn appeal to the public, and he asked my testimony to certain specific facts which he stated. these related solely to charges against him as a Burrite, and to his agency in...
5260Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you two letters from mr Burrall , postmaster of Baltimore . you will percieve by them that the removal of mr Granger has spread some dismay in the ranks. I lodged in the same house with him (Francis’s) during the sessions of Congress of 97. 98. 99. we breakfasted, dined E t c at the same table. he classed himself with the federalists, but I did not know why, for he scarcely ever...
5261Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 March 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed from D r Brown is this moment come to hand, and supposing it may possibly be of some importance I send it off immediately to the post office in on the bare possibility it may get there in time for the mail of this morning. if it fails it will have to wait there 4. days longer. ever affect ly yours PoC ( MHi ); at foot of text: “The Pres. US.”; endorsed by TJ. The
5262Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 May 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed paper came to me for I know not what purpose; as it came, just as you see it, without a scrip of a pen: perhaps that I might join in the sollicitation. Augustus Chouteau , the first signer, I always considered as the most respectable man of the territory , and the more valuable as he is a native. of the other signers I know nothing; and I know how easy it is to get signers to such...
5263Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
It is very long since I troubled you with a letter, which has proceeded from discretion, & not want of inclination, because I have really had nothing to write which ought to have occupied your time. but in the late events at Washington I have felt so much for you that I cannot withold the expression of my sympathies. for altho’ every reasonable man must be sensible that all you can do is to...
5264Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 13 October 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
It seems as if we should never find men for our public agencies with mind enough to rise above the little motives of pride & jealousy, & to do their duties in harmony, as the good of their country, & their own happiness would require. poor Warden , I find, has been thought an object of jealousy to Crawford , and the scenes of D r Franklin and mr Adams , D r Franklin & Lee , D r
5265Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 October 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the information of your letter of the 10 th . it gives at length a fixed character to our prospects. the war undertaken, on both sides, to settle the questions of impressment & the Orders of Council, when now that these are done away by events, is now declared by Great Britain to have changed it’s object, and to have become a war of Conquest, to be waged until she conquers from...
5266Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved your favor of the 12 th and with it the pamphlet on the causes and conduct of the war, which I now return. I have read it with great pleasure, but with irresistable desire that it should be published. the reasons in favor of this are so strong, and those against it are so easily gotten over, that there appears to me no balance between them. 1. we need it in Europe . they have...
5267Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I had written the inclosed letter but had not yet sent it to the post office when mr Nelson calling, informed me you were to leave Washington on Tuesday last (the 20 th ) I have thought it better therefore to inclose it to you at Montpelier . I am laboriously employed in arranging the library, to be ready for it’s delivery. and as soon as I can name the day on which I shall have finished I...
5268Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
After I had sent my letters of yesterday and the day before to the post office the return of the messenger brought me a letter from Sam l H. Smith informing me you had directed Milligan to come on whenever I should call for him. I mention this to save you the trouble of further writing on that subject. the same mail brought me the Aurora, beginning the publication of the Causes and Conduct of...
5269Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 May 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I have totally forgotten the writer of the letter I forward to you , and every circumstance of his case. I leave it therefore on his own letter and that of the Marquis de la Fayette to you, which came inclosed, and is now forwarded with the other. I shall set out for Bedford within three days, and expect to be absent as many weeks. the newspapers have begun the war for the European powers; but...
5270Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
However firm my resolution has been not to torment the government, nor be harrassed my self with sollicitations for office, cases will now and then arise which cannot be denied. Charles Jouett formerly of this neighborhood , was appointed by Gen l Dearborne an Indian agent. this was on the sollicitations of W. C. Nicholas , mr Carr & every respectable person of this neighborhood , and indeed...