331From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 9 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have but a single moment to announce to you the death of Trist at N. Orleans. one letter brought us news of his extreme illness, and another, by the same post, of his death. the situation of his family is to be deplored indeed; and I am afraid they will expect what the public mind will not admit. God bless you all. RC ( DLC ); endorsed by Randolph. PoC ( MHi ); endorsed by TJ.
332From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Thomson, 11 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I see by the newspapers your translation of the Septuagint is now to be printed, & I write this to pray to be admitted as a Subscriber. I wish it may not be too late for you to reconsider the size in which it is to be published. folios & Quartos are now laid aside because of their inconvenience. every thing is now printed in 8vo. 12mo. or petit format. the English booksellers print their first...
333Notes and Instructions to Armed Vessels for Protection of Commerce on Coasts, 4 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes for consideration & for instructions to any armed vessels which may be sent out to protect our commerce on our coasts. Preliminary questions. Do the laws authorise the putting vessels in commission for the protection of our commerce other than against Tripoli? if they do not, should we not do it at our risk & ask an act of indemnity from Congress? What vessels? the Adams & Baltimore brig...
334From Thomas Jefferson to John Rea, 6 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The window draperies you were so kind as to forward to Monticello came safely to hand & in good condition, and I now inclose you an order of the bank of this place on that of the US. in Philadelphia for 352.D 67 ½ the amount of the account you forwarded me. I salute you with my best wishes. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
335Memorandum Books, 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 1. Paid D. Carr for copy of act concerning Norfolk 1.D. 3. Lemaire’s accounts Dec. 26.—Jan. 1. Stores of Provisions Philada. 125. 52 meat vegetab. butter eggs Provisions £38–8–6½ 102. 46 339 ℔ 4.65
336From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 6 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
On the subject of the Western road, our first error was the admitting a deviation to Brownsville, and thus suffering a first encroachment on it’s principle. this is made a point d’appui to force a second, and I am told a third holds itself in reserve. so that a few towns in that quarter seem to consider all this expence as undertaken merely for their benefit. I should have listened to these...
337From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 17 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The act concerning duties &c where it says that ‘the President is authorised to establish such place at or near Michillimakinac to be the port of entry,’ might have been construed to leave it discretionary in him to do it or not, had it not been followed by the imperative words ‘a collector shall be appointed.’ this seems to remove the ambiguity of the former words, and to make it a duty to...
338From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 5 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of Aug. 18. is this moment recieved, & I forward you a letter of July 16. from Govr. Lewis from which you will percieve that the cloud between us, the Iowas, Foxes & Sacs is cleared up. he says nothing of the Osages; but I presume their enemies have taken advantage of the withdrawing our protection from them. should you not have issued orders for the 100,000 men, I believe it may rest...
339From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 18 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter recieved this morning has given me a pang under which I am overwhelmed. I take up my pen to express some of my thoughts, but thousands will remain which are inexpressible. I had for some days percieved in you a gloom which gave me uneasiness. I knew there was a difference between mr Eppes & yourself, but had no idea it was as deep seated as your letter shews it to be. I never knew...
340From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Munroe, 6 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you mr Latrobe’s account for the glass I purchased at the Capitol & President’s house. he has charged it at what it cost the public, 10. cents the square foot. but on the back I have calculated it at 12 ½ cents, for which he says I might have bought it, by the box, from the merchants. the amount at this last price is 150 7/100 D for which I inclose you a check on the bank US. will...
341From Thomas Jefferson to Victor Marie du Pont, 12 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Dupont and incloses him a letter just recieved under cover from his father. RC ( DeGH ); addressed: “Mr. Victor Dupont New York”; franked; endorsed by du Pont. Enclosure: probably Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours to his sons, Victor and Éleuthère Irénée, 4 Apr. (see Vol. 43:394n ).
342From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 17 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
In my message of this day to both houses of Congress, I explained the circumstances which had led to the conclusion of conventions with France, for the cession of the province of Louisiana to the United States. those Conventions are now laid before you , with such communications relating to them as may assist in deciding whether you will advise and consent to their ratification. The...
343From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Hawkins, 30 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Business and indisposition have prevented my sooner acknoleging the recipt of your letter of the 3d. instant, which came to hand on the 10th. mr Granger, before that, had sent here the very elegant ivory staff of which you wished my acceptance. the motives of your wish are honorable to me, and gratifying, as they evidence the approbation of my public conduct by a stranger who has not viewed it...
344From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 18 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Having had time since writing to you this day, to write the letter to mr Nicholas, & to have it copied, I inclose you the copy. PHi : Daniel Parker Papers.
345From Thomas Jefferson to Marc Auguste Pictet, 5 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
It is long since I ought to have acknoleged your favor of May 20. 1801 which however I did not recieve till January 1802. my incessant occupations on matters which will not bear delay occasion those which can be put off to lie often for a considerable time. I rejoice that the opinion which I gave you on the removal hither proved useful. I knew it was not safe for you to take such a step until...
346From Thomas Jefferson to Randolph Harrison, 20 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 10th. about the years 1774. or 5. when passing a winter at Elk-hill & having leisure, I took a great deal of pains, with the assistance of Anderson Bryan as surveyor, to ascertain the lines of Elkhill with accuracy, and noted I believe every line tree then existing precisely in the plat we made. and I think there were then 2 or 3 line trees about an...
347From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 6 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have made some slight alterations with a view to perspicuity in order to confine Article Ist. to those breaches of the peace & of the law of nations which are subjected to the discretion of the Governors acting under standing instructions from this government. IId. to cases of piracy which are left to the discretion of the officer himself who commands the boat. IIId. to those offences...
348From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 3 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 17th. of April accepting 7. D. for my tobo. by return of the post which brought the offer: and on the 21st. I inclosed you the manifests of the Albemarle part of it. those of Bedford you had before. I have not heard whether you closed the sale. I expect that fine hams for table use can be obtained in Richmond & it’s vicinities; by which I do not mean large, but rather small...
349From Thomas Jefferson to John Holmes Freeman, 7 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson will thank mr Freeman to send the inclosed by a special messenger to mr Brand. Th:J. will in the ensuing week make remittances to mr Freeman for several persons in the neighborhood CtY .
350From Thomas Jefferson to Michael Leib, 23 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor covering a copy of the talk to the Tammany society, for which I thank you, & particularly for the favorable sentiments expressed towards myself. certainly nothing will so much sweeten the tranquility and comfort of retirement as the knolege that I carry with me the good will & approbation of my republican fellow citizens, and especially of the individuals in...
351From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 1 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a pamphlet giving some account of the new operation of making cloths &c. waterproof; as also a piece of paper, one half of which is waterproof. I have recieved cloth for a surtout coat, which I find, on wearing it in rain, to answer perfectly. the prices for making cloathes waterproof are so moderate, that if it does not injure the quality of the stuff, it will become extensively...
352From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 13 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your account came to hand before I left Washington but it was in the hurry of preparation for departure which prevented my attending to it’s contents. observing now that there is a balance against me, I this day desire mr Barnes to remit you 250. D. to cover it. if you can send me a cheese or cheeses to the amount of 20. or 30. 1b. I will thank you. the poorest quality will suit best, as it is...
353From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 2 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return mr Clarke’s & Shee’s letters inclosed in your’s of yesterday. mr Clarke’s object is to save 6. cents a stock. this is proper for him as an economical manager. but you & I must see of what other aspects it is susceptible. the US. have gun stocks for sale . they are to suspend the sale & lend them to the state of Virginia, that she may return them in kind afterwards with a saving to...
354From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph H. Nicholson, 6 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favour of Mr Nicholson to dine with him on Monday the 9th. instant. dinner will be on the table precisely at sun–set— Dec 6th. 1805. The favour of an answer is asked. MoSHi : Bixby Collection.
355From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 27 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 30th. of March I informed you, my dear friend, that Congress had permitted the location of your lands in the new state called Orleans (formerly Lower Louisiana) and that I had on the same day written to Governor Claiborne to look out for the best possible location. I have just recieved a letter from him dated New Orleans May 3. in which is the following passage. ‘I was last evening...
356From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph de Mendoza Rios, 4 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved the copy of your tables of navigation and nautical astronomy which you have been so kind as to send me, and I pray you to accept my thanks for them. their utility to the nautical world in general, the industry & accuracy with which they have been composed & the advantages they offer in ascertaining longitude by Lunar distances are worthy of high estimation; but still more...
357Proclamation re Military Expeditions against Spain, 27 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas information has been recieved that sundry persons, citizens of the US. or residents within the same, are conspiring & confederating together to begin & set on foot, provide & prepare the means for a military expedition or enterprize against the dominions of Spain, against which nation war has not been declared by the constitutional authority of the US that for this purpose they are...
358From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 23 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved the memorial and petition of the House of Representatives of the Missisipi territory, praying that measures may be adopted for procuring to the citizens of the US. settled on the navigable rivers running into the bay of Mexico the free navigation of those rivers to & from the ocean. early in the last year, having recieved an application from the inhabitants themselves,...
359From Thomas Jefferson to John Smith, 13 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ the subject of the inclosed letter is at a distance from your local position, yet you may have opportunities of making enquiry from your colleagues & others, so indirectly as not to have it’s drift observed, how far it is expedient to make the removals proposed . the present state of parties in New York increases much the difficulty of obtaining and estimating information as to...
360From Thomas Jefferson to Gerard T. Hopkins, 13 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the Address you have kindly presented me, on behalf of that portion of the society of friends, of which you are the representatives: & I learn with satisfaction their approbation of the principles which have influenced the councils of the General government, in their decisions on several important subjects confided to them. The desire to preserve our country from the calamities...
361From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 6 September 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to send me immediately 3. dozen bottles of Syrup of punch? if boats are coming it will come safer tho’ slower by them. if not, let it be sent by the stage; or one half by the stage & the other by the boats as you think best. accept affectionate salutations P.S. I drew on you Aug. 18. in favr. Wm. Short for 500. D. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
362From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 14 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday mr Thomas’s favor covering the list of warrants for the week, and your’s of the 7th. inst. I am very glad to learn your opinion on the question of admitting French & English prizes into our ports, & that it coincides with my own. indeed it is the opinion of every member of the administration. I consider that we are free to recieve, or to refuse the prizes of both nations,...
363From Thomas Jefferson to John Pittman, 27 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
On the receipt of your former letter, I referred it to the Secretary at war, who soon afterwards reported on it. the constant pressure of business during a session of Congress prevented my answering it during that term, and indeed occasioned it to be mislaid so that I cannot now lay my hand on the report. it’s substance however was that the law having provided suitable tribunals for the trial...
364From Thomas Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis, 22 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
My letters since your departure have been of July 11. & 15. Nov. 16. and Jan. 13. yours recieved are of July 8. 15. 22. 25. Sep. 25. 30. & Oct. 3. since the date of the last we have no certain information of your movements. with mine of Nov. 16. I sent you some extracts made by myself from the journal of an agent of the trading company of St. Louis up the Missouri. I now inclose a translation...
365From Thomas Jefferson to New York Legislature, 10 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in due season the Address of the Legislature of bearing date the of in which, with their approbation of the general course of my administration, they were so good as to express their desire that I would consent to be proposed again, to the public voice, on the expiration of my present term of office. entertaining, as I do, for the legislature of those sentiments of high...
366From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 25 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 10th. inst. I desired you to send back to Baltimore a box or boxes containing a marble bust & pedestal. should that not have been done, be so good as to forward them to Monticello, a satisfactory arrangement respecting them having since been made. Your letter containing our last Quarterly account has been recieved. the balance against me is larger than I had been aware of....
367From Thomas Jefferson to Czar of Russia Alexander I, 29 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Desirous of promoting useful intercourse & good understanding between Your Majesty’s subjects and the citizens of the United States, I have appointed William Short, one of our distinguished citizens, to be, in quality of Minister Plenipotentiary of these United States, the bearer to you of assurances of their sincere friendship, and of their desire to maintain with Your Majesty and your...
368From 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...
369From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 20 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am giving in my last nominations to the Senate. the place of Surveyor at Richmond having become vacant during their session must be filled during the same. two persons are proposed, William Wardlaw, & Ryland Randolph, both excellent men & republicans, well known to me personally: the former a Medical man, at his ease, the latter in want, of higher standing, and probably would be quite...
370From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Read, 3 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received the address of that portion of the citizens of Lewiston who have declared their approbation of the present suspension of our commerce, and their dissent from the representation of those of the same place who wished its removal. A division of sentiment was not unexpected. On no question can a perfect unanimity be hoped, or certainly it would have been on that between war...
371From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 5 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The draughts heretofore made on you, and which now ought to be covered, have been as follows. Magruder 104.54 Griffin 79.69 R. Jefferson 60. Yancey 321.09 Taliaferro 309.40 Isaacs 48.81 923.53 now drawn. Benj. Brown 285.83 Thos.
372From Thomas Jefferson to John Sevier, 31 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The extraordinary & critical situation of our foreign relations rendering it necessary, in the opinion of the National legislature, that their next recess should be short. they have passed an act for a meeting on the 4th. Monday of May, of which I inclose you a copy. as the election of representatives for the state of Tenissee would not, in the ordinary course, be in time for this meeting, I...
373From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 26 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
My friend mr Thomas Digges of Warburton whom you met here the first evening I had the pleasure of seeing you here, being about to send his two nephews, mr Fitzgerald & mr Carroll to Philadelphia for the study of medecine, wishes for the benefit of some information or counsel from you on their subject. apprehensive that the momentary view you had of him here may not sufficiently justify his...
374From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 10 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you 620. D. to be applied as follows. to John Perry 200. D. James Walker 100. D. Dabney Minor 266. 67 to discharge a debt from G. Lilly, take in the bond yourself, on account 53. 33 for fodder &c.
375From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Williams, 23 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by mr Beverley Randolph a Cadet, who goes on to take his place under you. he is the son of a friend of mine in Virginia, born to independant expectations, but by the entire reduction of his father’s circumstances, left without any resource but in himself. my concern for the family induces me to sollicit on his behalf your friendly counsel & tutelage on all occasions;...
376From Thomas Jefferson to Peregrine Williamson, 22 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been so much engaged lately that it has not been in my power sooner to write this short letter. The 4. calendar pens arrived safely, and I now inclose you a bank draught for 25. D. for those & what was furnished before. I find them answer perfectly and now indeed use no other kind. always willing to render service to any useful advance in the arts, I have no objection to your using the...
377From Thomas Jefferson to Gibson & Jefferson, 13 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Two days ago the Schooner Dolphin, Sprogell, sailed from hence having on board 9. boxes marked T. Jefferson No. 1. to 9. 1. Trunk. No. 10. a basket 4. barrels T.I. No. 7. 12. 13. 14. one box 12. barrels fish for myself 3. barrels do. for Sam. Carr. with other articles in the same bill for him. as by the three bills of lading inclosed you will see. they are on arrival to be forwarded by water...
378From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 22 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter, which I have left open for your perusal, will sufficiently explain it’s object, and the favor I ask respecting it. I do not know the Christian name of the person to whom it is addressed, nor with certainty his residence. but he is brother to the mr Clarke who superintends the manufactory of arms at Richmond. I must ask the favor of you to send me 500. bushels of coal, by...
379From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 15 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 7th. was recieved yesterday; and I have this day inclosed mr Sandford’s letter to mr Madison for perusal and to be forwarded by him to you. the skill & spirit with which mr Sandford and mr Edwards conducted the prosecution gives perfect satisfaction. nor am I dissatisfied with the result; I had no wish to see Smith imprisoned: he has been a man of integrity & honor, led astray by...
380From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Miller, 23 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 18th and am thankful to you for having written it, because it is more agreeable to prevent than to refuse what I do not think myself authorised to comply with. I consider the government of the US. as interdicted by the constitution from intermedling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. this results not only from the...