1Horatio G. Spafford to Thomas Jefferson, 12 April 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose, herewith; a Small Novel, of which I ask thy acceptance. It is the first thing of the kind that I have written, & I do not wish to be known as the writer. If it do but amuse thee, I shall be glad, & should gladly learn that the composition is approved. I hope thou wilt find time to read it, & that many years of health & enjoyment may be indulged to thee by that dread Being who guides...
2Horatio G. Spafford to Thomas Jefferson, 18 April 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
If, from more important duties, & reading of greater interest, thou canst spare time to read my little Novel, I should be glad to learn how it is approved. RC ( MHi ); dateline adjacent to signature; addressed: “Hon. Thomas Jefferson, LL.D.”; endorsed by TJ as a letter from Spafford received 29 Apr. 1817 and so recorded in SJL .
3To John Adams from Horatio Gates Spafford, 28 June 1817 (Adams Papers)
Thou wast good enough to inform me that ‘no Book of mine would disturb thy peace,’ & I accordingly ordered my publisher to send thee a small volume, some time last winter. It is a little thing—but still as it is my youngest child, in this way, I feel some degree of anxiety about its fate. I speak of ‘The Mother-in-Law,’ published at Boston. I congratulate thee, & the country, on the return of...
4Horatio G. Spafford to Thomas Jefferson, 30 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Although I have not any thing to communicate that might Seem to excuse this Letter, yet, being about to remove from this State , & to abandon, for years, my late pursuits, I feel a desire to apprize thee of my intention & prospects. Weary of literary labors, I am Soon going to my farm, with an intention to devote 10 years to settling & improving my land, & my fortune. I own Some good land, in...
5Horatio G. Spafford to Thomas Jefferson, 29 May 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to enquire for thy health, & am anxious to learn if any of the seeds, with which I am stocking my Farms, would be acceptable on thine? I have lately obtained some very superior oats , from Russia , & some summer wheat & rye Summer rye ; th four or 5. varieties of wheat , from Europe & Africa
6To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 9 August 1818 (Madison Papers)
In these woods, constantly occupied in my new business, that of Farming, & forming a new Settlement on an extensive tract of wild land, I hold little intercourse with the literary world & Know little of what is going on. As my attention is most sedulously directed to Agricultural & Rural Economies, I could not long be unapprized of the publication of some extracts from a late Address of thine...
7Horatio G. Spafford to Thomas Jefferson, 5 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Thy evening of life is an object of general concern, amongst all those who are attached to Republican principles. I would not lightly obtrude upon its repose—for I feel towards thee a veneration I have never known towards any other person. But I desire permission to say, confidentially, that I have in contemplation, should I survive thee, to write a History of thy Life, on a scale of brevity,...
8Horatio G. Spafford to Thomas Jefferson, 5 October 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I was duly favored with thy reply to my last Letter , as, indeed, I have always been, by every friendly attention from thee, for which I pray thee to accept my most hearty acknowledgements. To be thus honored, is among the most considerable of the consolations of this life. now beg leave to trouble thee with one request:—and can assure thee I am exceedingly afflicted by the necessity that...
9Horatio G. Spafford to Thomas Jefferson, 28 February 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me again to recall thy recollection to the poor old literary drudge, who has constantly experienced the kindness of thy regard, & no small share of the ‘ Calamities of Authors . ’ After devoting 3 years to my new Lands in the Western part of Pennsylvania , expending as many thousand dollars, raising their value from 50 cents to 3 dollars an acre, an unfortunate difficulty about the...
10To James Madison from Horatio Gates Spafford, 15 March 1822 (Madison Papers)
I present a copy of my Proposals for a second edition of the Gazetteer of this State, & am in hopes I shall soon have the pleasure of sending the Book to thee. If it give thee no information, it will enable me to recall thy recollections of the poor old dandy of an Author, & to renew assurances of high regard. I do not recollect whether I have informed thee that I am preparing a sort of...