1961Instructions for Arkansas River and Red River Expedition, 14 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The government of the US. being desirous of informing itself of the extent of the country lately ceded to them under the name of Louisiana, to have the same, with it’s principal rivers, geographically delineated, to learn the character of it’s soil, climate, productions, & inhabitants, you are appointed to explore , for these purposes, the interesting portion of it which lies on the Arkansa...
1962From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 14 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved a letter from mr Barnes by which I learn he will be in great distress if he does not recieve, by the day he has fixed the remittance I had provided for in your hands. be so good as to make it 2500. D. which will be about the amount of the first parcel of tobo. probably and the second parcel will pay your advances for me, and answer other purposes. if you can let mr Barnes...
1963From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
As soon as I possibly could after my arrival here, I prepared the general instructions for our mission up the Arkansa & Red rivers, but could not make a fair copy of them in time for the last post. they are inclosed in the letter to mr Dunbar which I send open for your perusal, and then to be forwarded to him. it will enable you to see and to supply what is deficient, and to alter whatever on...
1964From Thomas Jefferson to William Dunbar, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last letter I informed you that I expected Congress would authorise me to take measures for exploring the principal Western waters of the Missisipi & Missouri. this measure was however neglected till near the close of the session, and then very inadequately provided for in a bill on it’s passage, from a want of previous enquiry & consideration of the sum necessary. 3000. D. only were...
1965From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
According to the letter of mr Wagner inclosed in your’s of the 7th. inst. on the subject of the misnomer of the Inspector for Indian town. a commission should have been inclosed, but none came. neither of those letters mention either the real or mistaken name, nor does my memory help me to either, & I have no papers here which can recall the case to my mind. I can only observe generally...
1966From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment recieved by express from the Govr. of Virginia the inclosed letter giving an account of a combination to injure the public by the fabrication & circulation of counterfiet notes of the branch banks of the US. as it alledges a cooperation of a person in trust in Washington, and an explosion of the confederacy will immediately follow the arrests here & in Kentucky, I doubt not...
1967From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. was recieved on the 13th. and can only be answered by tomorrow’s post, the ordinary course requiring 9. or 10. days from writing a letter to the reciept of it’s answer. I return you the exequatur unsigned, but have signed a blank paper to submit to your consideration the port which shall be inserted in it. the one filled up with Natchez admits that a consulship for...
1968From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 15 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment recieved your letter of the 12th. instant giving information of the combination formed for counterfieting & circulating forged notes of the Branch banks of the United States, and will immediately take such measures, within the limits of the authority of the General government, as may most effectually cooperate with your endeavors to arrest and punish this practice so...
1969From Thomas Jefferson to Gideon Granger, 16 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 8th. came to hand on the 13th. and will suggest, by the date of your recieving this, a subject of consultation when we meet again. that is to say how to incorporate into your general arrangement such a course between Washington & Charlottesville, as giving 2. posts a week at intervals of 3. & 4. days, shall make the mail pass, viâ Fredericksburg, from the one place to the...
1970From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
As before you recieve this, you will have seen the act for the government of Louisiana, I need give no account of it. altho’ it is not to come into force ’till Oct. 1. yet it will be necessary for us to have every thing prepared to go into action on that day, and as the legislative council is to be appointed by me, it is necessary I should be informed beforehand who will be the proper persons...
1971From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 17 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 12th. the duties proposed to be levied on us by the Spanish Government at Mobille, require certainly very serious attention. their bearings on what we had determined to do at Baton rouge, must come into consideration at the same time. the want of papers here to remind me exactly of the regulations we had established, and the distressing situation of my...
1972From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 17 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 12th. and have this day recommended to mr Madison to apprise Govr. Claiborne of the nullity of the charter for a bank granted by him, on the ground of it’s being opposed by a law of Congress, and that it should be revoked. I happened to be writing to Govr. Claiborne on another subject, & informally stated to him this also, in order to induce him to...
1973From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your letter of the 12th. and now return the letters it covered. I recieved also thro’ mr Gallatin, Govr. Claiborne’s information to you that he had chartered a state bank at N. Orleans. as the act of Congress for a bank there, & the Charter of the Bank of the US. renders Claiborne’s charter a nullity, he should revoke it on that ground, as given before information was...
1974Notes on Lease to Richard Gamble, 22 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Heads of a lease to Richard Gamble. 5. fields North of the road, of 40 acres each. to wit 4. on the Shadwell tract now leased to J. Perry, and one on the Lego tract, adjoining to the Upper field of Shadwell, including the ground already open there & about Reynolds’s house, & as much more to be opened adjacent as will make up 40. acres. the lease to commence Oct. 15. 1804. (being John Perry’s...
1975From Thomas Jefferson to Gideon Granger, 23 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor at the General post office at Washington, that all letters & papers recieved there for him after the 26th. inst. may be retained there, till his return to that place. PrC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ in ink on verso: “Postmaster Genl.”
1976From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I return by this mail the letters &c recieved with yours of the 15th. I think with you that a cordial answer should be given to mr Merry on the orders he communicated, altho’ they were merely the correction of an injustice. would to god that nation would so far be just in her conduct; as that we might with honor give her that friendship it is so much our interest to bear her. she is now a...
1977From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 23 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Polygraph gave me so much satisfaction that I thought it worth while to bestow some time in contriving one entirely suited to my own convenience: it was therefore the subject of my meditations on the road, and on my arrival here I made the drawings which I now send you. I have adopted your idea of having it in the form of a desk to sit on one’s writing table, & not that of a box to shut...
1978From Thomas Jefferson to James Lindsay, 25 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I must apologise for an error of mine in weighing some money delivered me by mr Lilly as recieved from you; and which I made to weigh less than you had done. you were right and I was wrong. I inattentively weighed it as Spanish gold, and it was not, till going to weigh some of it out again to another person, I adverted to it’s being all in Portuguese half joes & Moedas : and calculating anew,...
1979From Thomas Jefferson to Paul Alliot, 27 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved on a short visit to this place your letter of the 14th. and the papers it covered, and have perused with satisfaction that containing your historical and political reflections on Louisiana. they are replete with views which are benevolent, and which appear to me to be just, altho’, for want of local knolege, I am unable to decide on them competently. in the present stage of...
1980From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 27 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from Capt Barron at Westpoint, on which be pleased to do what you think right. The object of the kind enquiries in your letter of the 19th. is no more. she left us on the day of the date of my last letter to you. this event will occasion my stay here to be about a week longer than I had originally intended. I suppose it will still be a fortnight before I shall be with...
1981From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 27 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers concerning the duties payable in the Western ports, and consider the opinion you have given as a sound one. the case of the Louisiana squatters is a serious one from it’s magnitude, yet to be touched with a hand as careful as firm. a proclamation must doubtless precede any act of force. the cases may be analysed in the following gradation. 1. Squatters since notice of...
1982From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 27 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 19th. is recieved and the papers accompanying it are returned. I am sorry that Russell declines the Consulship of Tunis, for, as declining it, we must consider the acquiescence under our wishes on the grounds & for the short time he has expressed. whom shall we send? it will be a pity to lose the opportunity of his passage in the frigates; & yet I fear we shall. with respect to...
1983From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 27 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter of Apr. 15. I informed mr Gallatin of what had passed between us here, and desired him to take measures for winding up the commission at Norfolk with as little delay as should be consistent with a resignation. he says in an answer of the 19th. ‘no previous movement here, nor time is wanted for winding up mr Davies’s business; but on being informed of mr N’s intention to accept, I...
1984From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 27 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the sentence of the court of enquiry in Morris’s case. what is the next step? I am not military jurist enough to say. but if it be a court marshal to try and pass the proper sentence on him, pray let it be done without delay, while our captains are here. this opportunity of having a court should not be lost. I have never been so mortified as at the conduct of our foreign...
1985From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 28 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 18th. with Doctr. Moore’s letter inclosed. by a mistake of the member of Congress who proposed the appropriation for the missions to explore Louisiana, 3000. D. only were given instead of 10, or 12,000. which were deemed necessary. for I had proposed to send two such missions. this error reduced me to a single one, & I fixed on that of the Red and Arkansa...
1986From Thomas Jefferson to Michael Krafft, 29 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your letter of the 24th. and therein the expression of a desire which is acceptable inasmuch as it is a manifestation of your dispositions towards me. I see too with great satisfaction every example of bending science to the useful purposes of life. hitherto Chemistry has scarcely deigned to look to the occupations of domestic life. when she shall have made intelligible to the...
1987From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 30 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved from mr D. Carr copies of the papers in court respecting your injunction against Henderson. they give a serious aspect to the case, and render it indispensable that the whole subject should be thrown into a single bill in Chancery before the Chancellor at Richmond. there would be no end of changes to the suits which detached parts of the subject would give rise to. the bill...
1988III. Notes on Henderson Land Deeds, 30 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
✓ 1799. Dec. 28. James L. Henderson to Tucker Woodson. deed for ‘all his right &c in the lands of his father,’ to wit 1 10 & reversion of dower except his interest in the mill now standing, and the lot occupied by Henderson & Connard; but conveys all the other unsold lots in Milton, in considn of a negro man James or £110. & of the relinqmt of a debt of 152. D. due from sd James to Tucker....
1989From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 3 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have purchased from mr John Henderson a pair of five feet Burr millstones, every stone of which he represented to be of the first quality, and the price is to be ascertained by what mr Holloway of Richmond shall certify to be the proper price of such a pair at that place. will you be so good as to obtain from mr Holloway such a certificate & inclose it to mr Henderson, & to me a copy of it....
1990From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 3 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kind sympathies in my late loss are a mark of your great friendship to me, and of the interest you are so good as to take in my happiness. it is indeed an inexpressible loss, and which, at my years, can hardly wear away. it is the more felt as it leaves, whatever of comfort remains, hanging on the slender thread of a single life. in the affections of our friends there is always great...
1991Declaration of Trust with Craven Peyton, 4 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
This indenture made on the 4th. day of May 1804. between Craven Peyton of the one part and Thomas Jefferson of the other, both of the county of Albemarle, witnesseth that Whereas the said Craven hath, at various times, and by various contracts deeds & other instruments, purchased from the widow & representatives of the late Bennet Henderson all their rights & interests in a tract of land held...
1992From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 4 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved from mr Nicholas a letter in which is the following passage . ‘if mr Gallatin will write to mr Davis that he may resign, & send his letter, with a commission for me, under cover to my brother, I will be in Richmond on Friday or Saturday in the next week (the 11th. or 12th. inst.) and will go on from thence immediately for Norfolk. in a day or two my determination will be made....
1993IV. Draft Checklist of Preparations, 5 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
to be done here. a copy of the plat of partition to be made out & accompany the bill. a new deed to be prepared & executed by John R. Kerr & Sarah for her share as will descended from her father as from Wm. Charles Henderson’s ratificn to be recorded // done Kentucky. mrs Henderson’s deed to be proved or acknoleged // done James L’s mortgage do. // done Isham’s deed to be ratified // done mrs...
1994V. Checklist of Preparations, 5 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Pey ton Hender son’s lands in Albemarle. in Albemarle. Charles Henderson’s ratification to be proved & recorded. a new deed to be executed by John R and Sarah Kerr, for their part of lands descended from Bennet & Wm. Henderson a copy of the plat of partition to be made & to accompany the bill in Chancery. Mr. Hay is to be employed in aid of mr Stuart. to the last mr Peyton may observe by...
1995VI. Draft Bill in Chancery, 5 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
To George Wythe, judge of the High court of Chancery of the district of Richmond in the commonweatlth of Virginia. Humbly complaining sheweth unto your honor your orator Craven Peyton of the county of Albemarle that Bennet Henderson late of the same county being in his lifetime seized & possessed in feesimple of a tract of land therein on the Rivanna river surrounding & adjacent to the town...
1996VII. Bill in Chancery (Jefferson Papers)
To George Wythe, judge of the High court of Chancery of the district of Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Humbly complaining sheweth unto your honor your orator Craven Peyton of the county of Albemarle that Bennet Henderson late of the same county being in his lifetime siesed & possessed in feesimple of a tract of land therein on the Rivanna river, surrounding and adjacent to the town...
1997From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 8 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 25th. Apr. came to hand only yesterday. I am contented with the sale of my tobacco at 41/. but am uneasy at the account given me of it’s quality by mr Craven. if you think it’s quality was such as ought not to have commanded the price, I authorise you to make whatever abatement you think just to the purchaser. you are to place 19,000. ℔ of the tobacco made here by Craven at...
1998From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 8 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I had yesterday paid to mr Lilly every dollar I had, more than sufficient to carry me to Washington, to enable him to make some paiments he had engaged. the only resource in my power is to draw on Gibson & Jefferson. I send you therefore a draught on them for 50. Dollars for which I am in hopes you may be able to obtain money in Milton. in my opinion there can be little doubt that the property...
1999From Thomas Jefferson to William A. Burwell, 9 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Harvie, my late Secretary having concluded to enter shortly on the practice of the law, and found it necessary to fix himself in the Study of a practising lawyer to learn the rules of pleading, I took the liberty, in the latter end of March, of addressing a letter to you , on the supposition that you might by possibility be willing to take his place & exchange your country residence for...
2000From Thomas Jefferson to John Lithgow, 10 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Lithgow and acknoleges with thanks the reciept of his pamphlet which he shall peruse with attention. the interests of the Agriculturalist, the manufacturer, the merchant & the navigator are so intimately blended together, that to keep them all in just balance, by giving encouragements to some which shall not be encouragements to them, requires a...
2001From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 14 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here last night after the most fatiguing journey I have experienced for a great many years. I got well enough to Orange C.H. the first day. the 2d. there was a constant heavy drizzle through the whole day, sufficient to soak my outer great coat twice, and the roads very dirty and in places deep. the third the roads became as deep as at any season, & as laborious to the horse. Castor...
2002From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 15 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here the night before last. mr Gallatin being absent I enquired of mr Madison as to the commission of Collector, & found it had been forwarded to you at Warren by mr Gallatin. I found it too late also to enjoin secrecy, as, mr Gallatin not having intimated that, it had not been attended to. I am afraid I omitted to recommend this myself, altho’ it’s expediency was so obvious that it...
2003From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Willson Peale, 15 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here the night before last, and yesterday recieved from the post office your favor of Apr. 29. with others which had been accumulating there for me. I hasten to answer it in order that the polygraph desk you have in hand for me may have the benefit of the improvements you mention. to wit the screw to move the stay pen. the improvement in the pen-bar. Hawkins’s improvement by a stay...
2004From Thomas Jefferson to James Taylor, Jr., 15 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 25th. of March I had the pleasure of acknoleging the receipt of the pipe of Madeira forwarded to me, as also the box of Champagne, and mentioning that the latter was found good, I asked the favor of you to send me eight cases of it, say 480. bottles, requesting at the same time as early information as convenient whether I could get that quantity. not having heard from you, and the...
2005Topics for Consultation with Heads of Departments, 15 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
May. 15. 04 State Judge Davies’s enquiries mr Merry’s case Pichon’s memorial he hazards general assertions neither proved nor true the law of nations does not make a nation responsible for acts of individuals out of it’s limits. yet friendly nations do watch to a certain degree. does France watch the atrocities of it’s privateers men with & without commissions it to be assurd. on our part of...
2006From Thomas Jefferson to John Beckley, 16 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to mr Beckley and incloses him a catalogue just recieved from mr Erving of some books shipped by him lately for the Congressional library, cost £68.2. sterling. mr Irving adds that there remains in his hand an unexpended balance of £63.1.1 sterl. Th:J. has recieved no account yet from mr Livingston of the balance remaining in his hands. perhaps...
2007From Thomas Jefferson to Jones & Howell, 16 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of April 13. came to hand in due time, and I have heard of the arrival of the two tons of nailrod at Richmond which are therein announced. the remittance for the same shall be made at it’s due time. on a late visit to Monticello I found that the manager of my nailery had so increased it’s activity as to call for a larger supply of rod quarterly than had heretofore been necessary. I...
2008Pardon of James Medcalfe, 16 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Washington, D.C., 16 May 1804 . TJ issues a “full free and entire pardon” of James Medcalfe of Pennsylvania, mariner, who was convicted by a U.S. Circuit Court in Pennsylvania of a misdemeanor violation of an act of Congress entitled “An Act in addition to the act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States.” Medcalfe had been sentenced to three months imprisonment and fined...
2009Topics for Consultation with the Secretary of War, 16 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
May 16. Deptmt War. Pichon’s complt of not returng salute to flag at N.O. Presents to Indns. at St. Louis. tobo. Whiskey. Capt. Lewis says 2000 D war between Kickapoos & oth. Indns. E. of Misipi, & Osages Homestubbe’s talk. Poutewatamies have killed the Indian murderers Capt Stoddart . barracks wanted at St. Louis a stone fort intended as only a bastion. gorge wants closing best to erect...
2010From Thomas Jefferson to John Vaughan, 18 May 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival here I found your favor of the 8th. instant, and now return you the Diplomas signed. I will thank you to subscribe for three copies of the volume of transactions now coming out. I am glad to learn they will in future be in 8vo. it is certainly the most convenient form, and pedantry alone ever introduced the folio and quarto formats. Accept my friendly salutations & assurances of...