1From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 30 May 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
When I left public office I expected to be so much at leisure that I should keep up a very animated correspondence with my friends. On my return home I found my farms in a ruinous condition, which made it necessary for me to undertake their recovery and culture myself. Forced to make myself acquainted both with the theory and practice, I at length became so fascinated with the occupation that...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 11 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
This accompanies a duplicate of my letter of Oct. 11. troubling you with some small commissions, to which I must add the having some window sashes made for me agreeable to the inclosed directions, and the sending them to Virginia in the ensuing spring.—But there is another commission with which I trouble you with real reluctance. It is to procure for me from Glasgow or Edinburgh a mason...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, [8 June 1792] (Jefferson Papers)
I was going to acknolege th[e receipt of yours of Jany. 5th. and Feb.] 15. when I was seised with a yearning of [the heart, which] obliges me to stop till I could write the inclosed. He is a good man to whom it is addressed, and he is himself the bearer of it. I shall make it the subject of a conversation with him. I thought it would not be disagreeable to you to enter with him the claim we...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 13 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
My public occupations rarely permit me to take up the pen of private correspondence. I have still therefore to acknoledge the reciept of your favors of Oct. 5. 25. and Jan. 6. I find that at the date of the last you had not yet received mine of Nov. 25. covering a letter to Mr. Short. This I hope has fulfilled your wish as far as the unsettled state of things in France permitted. The farms...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 29 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 2. is now before me. The consulates of the W. Indies had been already filled. Mr. Braxton’s name however shall be kept on the list of candidates, and all shall be done for him which can be justly done, that is to say, between equal competitors your recommendation shall turn the scale in his favor as far as shall depend on me. The suggestion for your other friend was also too...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 11 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter by last post I forgot to inclose you the bill of exchange for £50. sterl. which you were so kind as to furnish me with, and for which I had no occasion. I now inclose it having first torn off the signature. Having been deprived by the snow of the use of my own carriage, which I left at Alexandria, obliged to come on in the stage, and still to have my horses brought on and a...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 11 October 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Having determined to try my Bedford tobacco this year at the London market, I could have no hesitation to whom to consign it. I have therefore ordered it to be very carefully handled, and in some degree sorted, to be got down to Richmond as early as possible and there delivered to Mr. Brown to be shipped to you on my account. According to arrangements taken with Mr. Brown as to the sum I might...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, [23 November 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved duly with yo[ur favor Lackington’s ca]talogue, and now in consequence thereof[, seize a moment by] Mr. Morris to send you the inclosed [list, with a prayer that] you will send it to Lackington, re[ceive the books, and forward] them to me at this place. He will [pack them. The amount] would be about 12 guineas, were he to [have the whole un]sold. But it has usually happened, e[ven...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 22 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have yet to acknolege your favors of Mar. 10. and Apr. 4. Just before their receipt I had heard of the calamity which had befallen you and which has since befallen so many on your side the water. I heard it with poignant distress, for however it may be with others, I find that my earliest affections are my strongest. I have delayed answering your letter because I wished to be able to say...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 8 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I was obliged, by the approaching departure of a ship for Europe which was to carry letters from me, to pass over the last post in answering your favors of the 16th. 18th. and 22d. Immediately on receipt of the first I waited on the Secretary of the treasury with your memorial, and said to him what I shall not repeat to you. He seemed very ready to suppose that passion might have mingled...