451From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Bailey, 9 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
A friend of mine in France has asked of me to procure the seeds and plants below mentioned. as this may not be out of your line, and the plants abound in this neighborhood, I will ask the favor of you to make the collection, and pack them well and properly for the sea, labelling each article so substantially as not to be erased. the sooner they are ready the better. should you not have the...
452From Thomas Jefferson to Dwight Foster, 1 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favour of The Honble Mr. Dwight Foster to dine with him the day after tomorrow —at half after three, or at whatever later hour the house may rise. Monday Feb 1st. 1802. The favour of an answer is asked. RC ( PPAmP ); printed form, with blanks filled by Meriwether Lewis reproduced in italics; addressed by Lewis: “The Honble Mr. Dwight Foster”; endorsed by Foster. See...
453From Thomas Jefferson to Anthony Haswell, 13 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Immediately on the reciept of your letter of Sep. 16. stating the enlistment of Jeremiah Battels, an infant, against the will of his father, directions were sent to the proper officer to enquire into the fact and, if true, to discharge him. perhaps however the officer may not be in a situation to obtain evidence, and the order fail from that cause. in such case it is proper the father should...
454From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Munroe, 7 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter from the committee of subscribers to the theatre which I recieved from you on the 18th. Ult. has been the subject of enquiry & consideration since my return to this place. the theatre is proposed to be built by private individuals, it is to be their private property, for their own emolument, & may be conveyed to any other private individual. to cede to them public grounds for such a...
455From Thomas Jefferson to Aaron Burr, 21 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed was by mistake at the post office put into my packet of letters recieved last night from the post office, and was broke open without particular examination of the superscription. in the moment of opening it, seeing your name on a paper inclosed in it, I looked to the superscription and instantly closed the letter without having read one single word in it. the truth of this...
456From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar A. Rodney, 24 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 19th. & 21st. was recieved last night. the contents of it shall be inviolably kept to myself. I shall advise with my constitutional counsellors on the application relative to mr Mc.lane. some considerations occur at once, that a trial & acquittal, where both parties are fully heard, should be deemed conclusive; that on any subsequent complaint it cannot be regular to look to...
457From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 5 December 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the satisfaction to inform you that the act of hostility , mentioned in my message of the 4th. of November to have been committed by a cruiser of the Emperor of Marocco on a vessel of the United States, has been disavowed by the Emperor. all differences in consequence thereof have been amicably adjusted, and the treaty of 1786. between this country and that has been recognised and...
458From Thomas Jefferson to Elias Boudinot, 23 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
You know the dispositions of the legislature to discontinue the establishment of the Mint on account of it’s expence, and that there is a possibility, not to say more that the design will be resumed. mr Leslie, the bearer of this, has explained to me a mode of performing the operation of coining which would prodigiously abridge it’s expences, if it answers; the proposition looks well, it rests...
459From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, 4 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
No one would more willingly than myself pay the just tribute due to the services of Capt Barry , by writing a letter of condolance to his widow as you suggest. but when one undertakes to administer justice it must be with an even hand, & by rule, what is done for one, must be done for every one in equal degree. to what a train of attentions would this draw a President? how difficult would it...
460From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 3 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 31st. of Jan. I now inclose you one for Maria. the H. of R. decided the great question on the repeal of the late judiciary bill, the night before last, by 60. against 31. it was yesterday past to the 3d. reading, and I expect it will be finally passed this day. this done, I am in hopes they will press forward the other important matters, as the season is now advancing...
461From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 18 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 10th. inst. I wrote you on the subject of Louisiana, and mentioned the question of a supplement to the constitution on that account. a letter recieved yesterday renders it prudent to say nothing on that subject, but to do sub silentio what shall be found necessary. that part of my letter therefore be so good as to consider as confidential. Accept my friendly salutations & assurances of...
462From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 20 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 7th. inclosing the work of your mathematical friend mr Garnet. I should once have been better able to estimate it’s merit and accuracy than I am now. many years of constant application to matters of a very different kind have lessened my familiarity with mathematical operations. the paper however sufficiently proves that your friend is an adept in this...
463From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 29 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 12th. since that I have recieved yours of the 9th. 18th. & two of the 23d. and one from mr Duval of the 26th. I had before the last dates recieved a letter from Peter Freneau informing me that mr Neufville the father was dangerously ill, and solliciting the succession to his office for Isaac Neufville his son, who has in fact long done all the business of the office....
464From Thomas Jefferson to Jean Decout, 9 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your letter of Aug. 24. and have read with sensibility the details of sufferings which it presents. in truth those of the inhabitants of St. Domingo have exceeded every thing which the civilized nations have known in modern times. strangers arriving in the US. are apt to suppose the general government to be that which they are to look to for hospitable services, but that...
465From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waterhouse, 21 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his acknolegements to Doctr. Waterhouse for his letter of the lst. inst. & the book accompanying it, which he recieved & will have the pleasure of perusing here, where he is on a visit of a fortnight, engaged in the rural operations of the season. the small pox having got into a neighborhood about 30. miles from this, he was enabled yesterday, with some vaccine matter he...
466I. Draft Reply to the Danbury Baptist Association, [on or before 31 December 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
The affectionate sentiments of esteem & approbation which you are so good to express towards me on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction, my duties dictate a faithful & zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, and in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more & more pleasing. Believing...
467From Thomas Jefferson to Isaac Cox Barnet, 10 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have asked the favor of mr Skipwith, our Consul at Paris to procure & forward me some wines from Champagne & Burgundy which I have specially pointed out to him. I have desired him to dispatch those of Champagne immediately, because they will be pressingly wanting, but not to forward those of Burgundy till autumn because they cannot stand either the heat of a summer transportation or cold of...
468From Thomas Jefferson to Handsome Lake, 12 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your letter of January 18th. wherein you suppose that in my former answer to you of Nov. 3. I had not fully understood what you had communicated to me; and you repeat a complaint that the state of New York had purchased lands from your nation to which some part of the nation did not consent. this is exactly what I understood, and then answered so fully that I need here repeat...
469From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Tiffin, 20 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The resolution of the Genl. Assembly of Ohio expressing their satisfaction with the measures adopted by the National legislature, at their last session, in relation to the navigation of the Missisipi is a just tribute to the wisdom of those measures. it is worthy also the sound discernment with which that state disregarded the seductive suggestions of a supposed separate interest; and...
470From Thomas Jefferson to Amos Marsh, 20 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieve with great satisfaction the Address you have been pleased to inclose me from the House of Representatives of the Freemen of the state of Vermont. the friendly and favorable sentiments they are so good as to express towards myself personally are high encouragement to perseverance in duty, & call for my sincere thanks. With them I join cordially in admiring and revering the...
471From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 17th is recieved. I concur in your ideas that the request from the Bey of Tunis of a frigate of 36. guns should be complaisantly refused. I think the greatest dispatch should be used in sending either the guncarriages or money to Simpson for the emperor of Marocco, and the stores to Algiers; &, if you approve it, the powder on account : or perhaps it would be better to authorise...
472From Thomas Jefferson to William Jarvis, 10 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Aug. 10. & Oct. 25. were both recieved, the last not till Jan. 6. some time after which the two half pipes of Oeyras arrived at Baltimore, which you were so kind as to procure for me. they have been forwarded by messrs. Smith & Buchanan to Monticello at my desire. I percieve by the sample sent me, in the phial, the truth of your observation, that the wines of that name are no...
473From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 9 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
You will recieve, probably by this post, from the Secretary of State, the final instructions for your mission to France. we have not thought it necessary to say any thing in them on the great question of the Maritime law of nations, which at present agitates Europe, that is to say, Whether free ships shall make free goods? because we do not mean to take any side in it during the war. but, as I...
474From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 9 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
We have recieved information that the emperor of Marocco having asked, & been refused, passports for two vessels loaded with wheat to go to Tripoli, while blockaded by us, has ordered away our Consul. this demand of his is so palpably against reason & the usage of nations, as to bespeak a settled design of war against us, or a general determination to make common cause with any of the Barbary...
475From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin H. Latrobe, 13 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. is recieved as that of the 8th . had been the day before. on recieving that of the 8th. I was immediately sensible I had omitted in mine to say any thing on the subject of a just compensation for the preliminary business of a survey, estimate &c. I therefore referred your letter to the Secretary of the Navy (who was now returned, having been absent at the date of my...
476From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Savage 10 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Hearing that you have removed to New York and still carry on your business there, I take the liberty of applying to you for some print-frames with their glasses of the sizes mentioned below. my reason for troubling you particularly is that you know the style in which I like the frames to be made, having before made some for me by a model I furnished, and which I greatly prefer to those which...
477From Thomas Jefferson to Catherine Church, 27 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I owe you a letter, my dear young friend. it is a debt I pay with pleasure, & therefore should not have so long delayed but for the importunity of others more urging & less indulgent. I thank you for your kind congratulations on the proof of public esteem lately bestowed on me. that you write in these sentiments renders them more dear to me. the post is not enviable, as it affords little...
478From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 13 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 8th. was recieved yesterday. I cannot [but consider?] the case of the French negroes at New York as substantially within the police of the state: and that [cases] of that kind will not be as well provided against by the General government as by the government of the place. our relations with it are only incidental, to wit, as it comes within the laws of contraband or...
479VI. Partial Draft, 8 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In the great mass of our country Middle Southern & Westward The progress towards a final consolidn of sentiment in matters of government has reached that ultimate term beyond which perhaps it is not desirable it should extend. that there should be some difference of opn, some opponents to the prevailing one is certainly wholsome. they are as watchmen over every department of the government,...
480From Thomas Jefferson to Rolfe Eldridge, 4 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
On the reciept of your favor of Feb. 26 . I had enquiry made at the clerk’s office of the Supreme court, & recieved information that no such suit as that of Ld. Granville v. Davie or any others is on their docquet, nor any papers relating to it in their possession. Accept assurances of my esteem & best wishes. PrC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “Mr. Eldridge”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso. your...
481From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 3 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Gallatin, on his arrival at his office, to call & accompany him to the Secretary of State’s office, where a matter of moment & urgency is to be considered. RC ( NHi : Gallatin Papers); addressed: “Mr. Gallatin.” Not recorded in SJL . matter of moment & urgency : on this day the State Department learned that on 17 Aug. a Moroccan cruiser had captured the brig...
482From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 30 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after my letter of the 16th. had gone off, your contract for corn occurred to me, which I had not recollected before. I saw at once that your draught must have been founded on that; and before the reciept of your letter of the 23d. which is only this moment come to hand, I returned the draught with an acceptance to mr Higginbotham & with explanations of the cause of delay, and assurances...
483X. To Robert Smith, 14 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to give the inclosed a strict revisal, and to suggest on a separate paper any alterations which occur to you as for the better. the sooner you can return it the more thankfully will the kindness be acknoleged. RC ( CtY , 1944); on verso of an address sheet with canceled “The President of the U. States” in Jacob Wagner’s hand; addressed: “The Secretary of the Navy.” Not...
484From Thomas Jefferson to Justus Erich Bollmann, 6 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I now enclose you a note of the US bank at this place on that at N. York for five hundred and forty six dollars forty three cents, the amount of the wines, with my thanks for your trouble in procuring them. they prove to be very good. that of the largest quantity answers in quality to what we had last year with only the difference which the circumstance of less age probably produces. the Tokay...
485From Thomas Jefferson to La Valette, 31 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved with very great pleasure, my dear Sir, your favor of September 11. forwarded by mr Wheaton. it was the first authentic information I had recieved of you since I left Paris in 1789. and since that epoch what a croud of events have we seen! what a necrology! what could assure me you were not involved in it? but you are alive, in good health, & happy, and it is from yourself I learn...
486From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 13 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The case of the Kentucky collection would be intolerable were we not bound to tolerate not only the law but the defects of the law, & the partialities of jurors in it’s execution. whether the law is defective will be seen on the appeal. what are the subtleties by which the lawyers contrive delays is not sufficiently stated to judge the judge ; but he is an honest man, and of reading &...
487From Thomas Jefferson to João F. Oliveira Fernandes, 4 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Newton having been so kind as to furnish me with a sample of your Port wine, and informed me that you have also some Bucellas, old, & of first quality, I presume to ask the favor of you to furnish me a quarter cask of each, to be forwarded in double cases to Richmond to the care of Gibson & Jefferson, merchants there. they will forward it to Monticello, where it will be wanting on my...
488From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. G. Muhlenberg, 6 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsr. d’Yrujo, the Spanish minister here, has been so kind as to spare me 200. bottles of Champagne , part of a larger parcel imported for his own use, & consequently privileged from duty. but it would be improper for me to take the benefit of that. I must therefore ask the favor of you to take the proper measures for paying the duty, for which purpose I inclose you a bank check for 22½...
489From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. G. Muhlenberg, 18 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be delivered to you by mr Barnes, who being personally unknown to you, has asked of me a letter of introduction, as he proposes before I return to the seat of government, to visit Philadelphia, with a view to his removal there. he has been so long an inhabitant of that place that he can hardly live elsewhere. as he has been the subject of two former letters , I will add only that he...
490From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 21 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed papers will so fully explain to you their object that I need add nothing more than ask the favor of you to state to me whatever you may recollect relative to the paiment made to Houdon in assignats, which may enable us to ascertain & pay what remains still justly due to him on account of the statue of Genl. Washington. Accept assurances of my respect and attachment. RC ( NjP );...
491From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan H. Nichols, 9 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The proposition you are pleased to make of dedicating to me your Dictionary of elegant essays cannot but be grateful to me as it is an additional testimony of the esteem of my fellow citizens, and of one in particular, who without a personal knowlege, has been able to raise his mind above the ocean of calumny under which it has been thought expedient to endeavor to overwhelm my name. I am far...
492From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, [5 March 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
I have been looking into the case which is the subject of Majr. Foreman’s letter from St. Mary’s , stating that the Govr. of E. Florida proposes to enlist souldiers within our territory for an expedition against the Creeks . the statute of June 14. 1797. is only against naval enterprizes. but that of Mar. 3. 1799 regulating intercourse with the Indians, comes perfectly up to this case in...
493From Thomas Jefferson to the House of Representatives, 8 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with your resolution of the 2d. inst. I have to inform you that, early in the preceding summer, I took measures for carrying into effect the act passed on the 19th. of Feb. 1799. chapter 115. and that of the 13th. of May 1800. mentioned in your resolution. the objects of these acts were understood to be, to purchase, from the Indians south of the Ohio , some portions of land...
494From Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 29 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am preparing to get a road established from this place to N. Orleans as nearly in the direct line as the mountains will permit, passing about 20 miles below the blue ridge & parallel with it to Franklin C.H. our last post office on the Southern confines of Georgia, & thence in a direct line (as nearly as localities will permit) to the mouth of Pearl river, & thence to N. Orleans. it is...
495From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 21 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you the manifests for my tobo. of the Milton inspection & growth of the last year, being 7. hhds weighing 10,028 th total. Mr. Eppes’s draughts on you on my account are now fixed to mr Bell 300. D. paiable June 16. Doctr. Shore 800. D. paiable July 12. mr. Haxhall 500. D. paiable July 16. for all of which I will make provision in your hands in time to prevent the inconvenience of...
496From Thomas Jefferson to William Henry Harrison, 28 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Dec. 28. written as President of the Convention at Vincennes, was recieved on the 23d. inst. by the hands of mr Parke : and I derive great satisfaction from it’s expressions of confidence in my attention to the interests of the territory of Indiana; attentions which my duties call for, and which certainly never will be intermitted on my part. Instructions which were sent you...
497From Thomas Jefferson to Jones & Howell, 15 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Having occasion for a supply of rod & hoop-iron, according to the invitation of your mr Jones, I address myself to you for two tons of rods of the sizes hitherto furnished me, that is to say from 6 d. to 20 d. and of a quarter of a ton of 4 d. hoops, which be pleased to ship immediately before the closing of your river, to the address of messrs. Gibson & Jefferson in Richmond, notifying me at...
498From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund J. Lee, Cuthbert Powell, and Archibald McClean, 15 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeably to the request in your letter of Dec. 30. when at Monticello the last month, I examined my collection of the Virginia laws and found in it those below mentioned which [related] to Alexandria & were not noted in your catalogue of those you possess. I delivered the volumes, with the list of the acts to a person who will copy them carefully & forward them to me. when recieved they shall...
499From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar A. Rodney, 30 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very happy to be able at length to return you at length the paper we sought so long and so vainly. sorting away a mass of papers the other day, I found it misplaced in a bundle where I should never have sought it. I return it with pleasure, and to congratulations on the addition to your family add my friendly salutations and assurances of great esteem P.S I leave this tomorrow for...
500From Thomas Jefferson to John Ponsonby, 14 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to thank you for the specimens of waterproof cotton and cloth which you were so good as to send me. the former was new to me. I had before recieved as much of the cloth as made me a great coat, which I have so fully tried as to be satisfied it is water proof except at the seams. I shall be glad when such supplies come over as will enable us to get our common clothes of them: & should...