10201Memorandum to Thomas Mann Randolph, [ca. 16–24 January 1794] (Jefferson Papers)
The price of wheat and whether it can be sold for the rise of the market? The price of molasses. Whether my things from Philadelphia addressed to Colo. Gamble are arrived? If they are, send them up by Henderson’s people of preference to the other things. Send by them the sugar &c for which I wrote to Colo. Gamble . After the things last expected from Philadelphia I would wish to receive the...
10202From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 18 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Commissioners of the Territory of the United States on the Potomac having, according to law, had the said Territory surveyed and defined by proper metes and bounds, and transmitted their report with a plat of the boundary, I have now the honor to lay them before you. As this work has been executed under the Authority of the Legislature, I presume it would be proper to communicate the...
10203From Thomas Jefferson to John Stuart, 14 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
You were chosen a member of the American philosophical society so long ago as 1797. and as I lived at a distance from Philadelphia, the Secretaries were advised how to address your diploma when it should be filled up. by some accident unexplained to me it seems it has never been forwarded. I did not know this till I recieved it a few days ago. I have the honour now to inclose it. the bones you...
10204Report on Negotiations with Spain, 22 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
THE SECRETARY OF STATE REPORTS to the President of the United States that one of the Commissioners of Spain, in the name of both, has lately communicated to him verbally, by order of his court, that his Catholic majesty, apprised of our sollicitude to have some arrangements made respecting our free navigation of the river Missisipi, and the use of a port thereon, is ready to enter into treaty...
10205Jefferson’s Draft of Items for the President’s Message to Congress, [3 December 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
The laws you have already passed for the establishment of a judiciary system have opened the doors of justice to all descriptions of persons. You will consider in your wisdom whether improvements in that system may yet be made; and particularly whether an uniform process of execution, on sentences issuing from the federal courts, be not desireable thro’ all the states. The patronage of our...
10206From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 14 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 10th. and am sincerely concerned at the disappointment at the bank of Columbia. this proves farther the propriety of my curtailing expences till I am within the rigorous limits of my own funds, which I will do. in the mean time I must leave to your judgment to marshall our funds for the most pressing demands, till I can be with you. mr Jefferson has sent...
10207From Thomas Jefferson to David Ross, 20 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Superintendance of the lead mines having been formerly in the Board of Trade devolves of Course on yourself as succeeding to their Duties. I mention this matter now particularly because our Stock of Lead being very low and the Demand great we wished the mines to be worked to their greatest extent. I must therefore beg the favor of you to endeavour to engage as many Hands immediately as may...
10208From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 16 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from Govr. Tatnall and petition from the inhabitants over the Cherokee boundary, on a subject which Colo. Wafford had before presented to us , renders it necessary to advert again to it. I think we have had some information from our Commissioners of the unsuccessful endeavors they used, according to our instructions, to obtain indulgence for these settlers, but I do not...
10209From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 6 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
We have never known so long an interval during which there has not been a single vessel going to Lisbon. Hence it is that I am so late in acknoleging the receipt of your letters from No. 54. to 58. inclusive, and that I am obliged to do it by the way of London, and consequently cannot send you the newspapers as usual. The summer has been chiefly past in endeavoring to bring the North-Western...
10210From Thomas Jefferson to DeWitt Clinton, 29 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 18th. has been duly recieved and considered. it proposes that 4. forts, estimated at two millions of Dollars shall be erected for defence of the harbour of N. York. no body suffers more anxiety than I do on account of the present defenceless situation of our harbours. but there exists no law under which fortifications can be erected but that of 1798 . this permits the debtor...
10211From Thomas Jefferson to Anthony Garvey, 14 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kind offers of service have encouraged me to trouble you with an enquiry whether a pair of Norman horses can be readily bought at or near Rouen, black, four feet eight or nine inches high French measure, between five and six years old, geldings, handsome, and ready broke to the carriage, and what such a pair would probably cost there? Your information on this subject will be obliging....
10212From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 26 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
We are waiting for your recommendation of Commissioners of bankruptcy for Norfolk. Moses Myers & Richd. Evers Lee have been proposed by some. mr Arthur Lee has been thought of. say frankly if any of them are proper or improper. Littleton W. Tazewell if he would accept would make an excellent one: but I believe he lives in or near Williamsburg.—I propose to be at Monticello during Aug. and...
10213From Thomas Jefferson to Ferdinand Grand, 28 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
This serves to advise you that I have taken the liberty of drawing on you for the following sums paiable at the dates and to the persons here mentioned. in favor of Petit 1450.₶ paiable immediately in favor of do. 600. paiable April 1st. in favor of do. 600. paiable Mayl 1st. in favor of the Ct. de Langeac 1875. paiable April 15. All those orders bear date this day. I expect that Mr....
10214From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 28 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I now lay before Congress a statement of the Militia of the United States, according to the returns last recieved from the several states. it will be percieved that some of these are not of recent dates, and that from the states of Maryland, Delaware & Tennissee no returns are stated. as far as appears from our records none were ever rendered from either of these states. RC ( DNA : RG 233, PM...
10215Notes of Witnesses’ Testimony concerning the Canadian Compaign, [1–27 July 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. John Blake. July. 1. 1776. He lives at Montreal. A merchant. Has lived there almost from the year 1760. Was a great scarcity hard cash, could not supply troops with clothes or food, wood. He lent 471–18–9 and 394–15–3 in January. If had been cash in Canada, provisions might have been had. He has lent individuals of army 130. half Joes. Continental bills would not have passed in Canada. A...
10216From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson, 21 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of July 10. is the last news I have from Monticello. The time of my setting out for that place is now fixed to some time in the first week of September, so that I hope to be there between the 10th. and 15th. My horse is still in such a condition as to give little hopes of his living: so that I expect to be under a necessity of buying one when I come to Virginia as I informed Mr....
10217From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Cary, 13 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Mar. 21. and to correct a most unfortunate error in mine of Dec. 26. 1786. wherein I have written the word Lorient instead of Havre, praying you to send plants and seeds to Lorient only, to the care of M. Limozin, instead of Havre only to the care of M. Limozin, for it is at Havre he lives, and that is much the surest port for me. Plants...
10218From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 July 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you my No. 6. on the 3d inst. Since that I have received your No. 4. of June 29. The President sets out this afternoon, which being a day sooner than was expected, will enable me to set out a day sooner, to wit on Friday afternoon. This however will produce no other effect than to enable me to rest a day at George town and thereby ensure my being with you as I had mentioned on Saturday...
10219From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Stevens, 19 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 19 Nov. 1780. The first paragraph of this letter is identical with the first paragraph in TJ’s letter to Gates of this date. The second and last paragraph (except for the usual complimentary close) reads: “Since writing so far, your favour of the 10th comes to hand with the Letter from Genl. Gates and Genl. Morgan . Strange derangements indeed our Riders are got into to be comeing 9...
10220From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 8. which had arrived at Aix after I had passed that place, followed me here where I have received it, as also that of May 21. The one by Colo. Smith I received at Bourdeaux . He had left that place a week before I reached it. I wrote to him to the care of Mr. Carmichael. I left Mr. Barclay at Bourdeaux. He waited only the post of the day before yesterday to set out for Paris....
10221From Thomas Jefferson to Victor Dupont, 6 October 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honour of presenting his compliments to Monsieur Dupont le fils, and begs the favor of him to deliver the inclosed letter personally, to it’s address, as he would wish to make Monsieur Dupont acquainted with this gentleman whom he will find an agreeable and useful acquaintance. RC ( NN ); endorsed. Not recorded in SJL . Enclosure: TJ to Robert R. Livingston , same date.
10222[From Thomas Jefferson to Eliza House Trist, 5 December 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 5 Dec. 1783 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mrs. Tr.—Mad[ison].—Annap.—Mr. Tr [presumably Nicholas Trist, Mrs. Trist’s husband, who is listed in Ford, British Officers , as a lieutenant in 1775]. Mr. Hou.—Browse [Mrs. Trist’s son, Hore Browse Trist].” Not found. There are no further entries in SJL between this date and 11 Dec.]
10223From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 13 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Doctr. Wistar and incloses him a letter from the Vice President of the Agricultural society of N.Y. on the subject of uniting all the Agricultural societies of the United States by the link of a Central society at the Seat of the Genl. government: to be communicated to the American Philosophl. society. he has recieved Dr. Wistar’s letter of...
10224[From Thomas Jefferson to John Sullivan, 27 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 27 Apr. 1784. Entry in SJL reads: “Genl. Sullivan. Acknol. receipt his letters—glad of further information on Moose-correspondence—Western territory—adjournment Congr.” Not found. The letters of Sullivan acknowledged by this were those of 12 Mch. (received 13 Apr.) and 3 Apr. (received 23 Apr.).]
10225From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Bell, 25 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this day drawn an order on you in favor of Mr. Brown for £15–18–9. I have also desired Mr. Lewis if he should receive a debt of £10-14-5 from Lewis’s and Meriwether’s estates for which he is executor, to call on you for £1-12 to make up a sum of £12-6-4½ due to Henry Guy, and if Guy should come in before Mr. Lewis receives the £10-14-5 then to call on you for the whole £12-6-4½ and...
10226From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 15 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved several letters from you which have not been acknoleged. by the post I dare not, and one or two confidential opportunities have past me by surprise. I have regretted it the less, because I knew you could be more safely and fully informed by others. mr Tyler, the bearer of this, will give you a great deal more information personally than can be done by letter. four days of...
10227From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 23 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
As the conditions of our commerce with the French and British Dominions, are important, and a moment seems to be approaching when it may be useful that both should be accurately understood, I have thrown a representation of them into the form of a table, shewing at one view, how the principal articles interesting to our agriculture and navigation stand in the European and American Dominions of...
10228From Thomas Jefferson to Étienne Lemaire, 14 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your’s of the 10th. of May: and am not sorry for the departure of Kramer; as, tho’ he had several good qualities, he was awkward & ignorant. but I think it better not to take Edward. he is a very capable servant, but stands too much on etiquette. I like servants who will do every thing they are wanted to do. he is moreover so fickle that he has served all the masters in...
10229From Thomas Jefferson to John Kean, 16 November 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Kean and congratulates him sincerely on his and Mrs. Kean’s having escaped the dangers of the season. Thinking it possible that the members of Congress (retaining the horrors of the yellow fever which prevail at a distance) may remove to Lancaster, and on so short notice as to prevent Th:J. from settling his affairs in Philadelphia, he thinks it...
10230From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 31 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
We agree to employ Mr. Dunlap according to his proposals inclosed in your Letter of the 15th instant except that we must adhere to our requisition that a complete sheet of his weekly paper shall be kept clear of advertisements, and reserved for intelligence, essays, &c., except that advertisements from the Legislature or Executive shall be put into the same sheet with the intelligence. The...
10231From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Munroe, 16 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 13th. is this moment recieved, informing me of the vacancy in the office of Surveyor of the city, by the departure of the late Surveyor, & of the necessity of an immediate appointment. according therefore to what had been proposed, on that event’s taking place, I presume it is proper to appoint mr Nicholas King to that place. I believe this appointment was heretofore made by the...
10232From Thomas Jefferson to William Frederick Ast, [17] September 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
According to your desire I will now state to you the reasons which have induced me to decline engaging finally in the mutual insurance against fire. when I had the pleasure of meeting you at Dumfries in Jany. 1798. you were so good as to sit with me the evening & to go into considerable details on the subject of your plan of insurance . the calculations were of some length & difficulty, I was...
10233From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 20 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
My friend Mr. Butler, a Senator of the US. from South Carolina having a desire to get some White Hermitage wine, I take the liberty of addressing him to you and of mentioning at the same time that I recieved from your friend at Cette what you were so kind as to order for me. there were two qualities, the one of the crop of de Loche which made up nearly the whole of what was sent, which is not...
10234From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Carter Waller, 21 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your letter of Dec. 10. as I had done in due time that of Mr. Welsh , tho’ I did not know that it had come from you. At that time it was my intention to have retired from office at the end of September, and meant to have taken the first opportunity of seeing Mr. Eppes the acting executor of Mr. Wayles, and to have acquired from him the information necessary to enable me to...
10235From Thomas Jefferson to Ambrose Vasse, 15 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has handed on to me a letter from you complaining of the nonacceptance of some bills drawn by the government of St. Domingo to pay for property of yours. Tho’ I am apprehensive it will not be in my power to procure you a prompt relief, yet the sooner it is taken up, the sooner it will be obtained. If you do me the honor to call on me any morning convenient to...
10236From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 15 July 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 3d inst. came to hand to-day. I wish I could be better satisfied on the point of Patty’s recovery. I had not heard from her at all for two posts before, and no letter from herself now. I wish it were in my power to return by way of the Forest, as you think it will be impracticable for Mrs. Eppes to travel to the mountains. However, it will be late in August before I can get home,...
10237From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Harrison Smith, 31 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Your paper of the 23d. came to my hands the day before yesterday. observing in it what is said on the subject of the paper charged on me by Coleman, I turned to the Journals of the Virginia convention of that time, to wit, ten months before the declaration of Independance, and found in them & about that date, a paper drawn by me in answer to Lord North’s conciliatory propositions , which...
10238From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Peyton, 24 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
the Marshal’s office of Potomac is become vacant by the resignation of mr Dent. it appears to be an important district, comprehending rich parts of Virginia & Maryland; yet I do not know whether it is likely to be among the profitable offices of that kind. very much uninformed of your ordinary pursuits, I cannot judge how far such an office may be […] to you, yet should it prove so, there is...
10239From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Pinckney, 24 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson begs leave to trouble Mr. Pinckney with the following commissions. Faden, map maker in London is engraving a map of S. America from one which Th:J. furnished him. He is to return the original and half a dozen copies. Colo. Smith employed him. Will Mr. Pinckney be so good as to jog him from time to time? Will he also be so good as to procure a model of those parts of the threshing...
10240From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Munroe, 6 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his salutations to mr Munroe: he does not recollect whether any act of Congress authorises the paiment of the instalments to Maryland, & he has not had an opportunity of consulting mr Gallatin. under this state of uncertainty it would be improper to say any thing to mr Harwood which should be any thing like a promise or assurance on the part of the Executive. he thinks...
10241From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Miller, 25 February 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of the 13th. with the sermon inclosed, for which I return you my thanks, and have read it with great satisfaction. praise, when given within the limits of truth & nature affords us an occasion of exercising some of the most pleasing & virtuous emotions of the mind, of paying by a just tribute a debt of gratitude which we owe to those who have...
10242From Thomas Jefferson to James Brown, 19 December 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter being of importance I take the liberty of asking you to give it a conveyance. Should any vessel be going directly to France that would certainly be the best way of sending it. Otherwise if put under cover to your correspondents in London, and by them put into the post office there, it will go safely to Paris where the postage from London to Paris is always paid. If put into...
10243From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 20 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed Letter from the President of Congress with the resolutions of that honourable body of the fourth instant, having come to hand yesterday and being intended for the consideration of the Legislature, I beg leave through you to transmit them to the General Assembly, and have the honor to be with every sentiment of esteem and respect, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble servant, RC...
10244From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Wyndham Grymes, 30 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. P. L. Grymes having informed me that he was appointed guardian to yourself and sisters, I have this day inclosed to him a Notarial copy in parchment of your grandmother’s will, of which yourself & sisters are the principal legatees. having recieved also a duplicate authenticated in paper, I inclose you that, with a letter from mr Jennings explanatory of the testatrice’s intentions. in my...
10245From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 8 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here on the 4th. inst. and found the family at Edgehill all well. we are now all together at this place, and only want the addition of your’s and my dear Maria’s company to be entirely happy. I shall leave it pointedly on the 25th. if not some days before. mr Overton is married & settled adjoining us. Nancy Jefferson is said to be about marrying Charles Lewis. this is our only small...
10246From Thomas Jefferson to John Dickinson, 21 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved with great pleasure, as I do every thing from you, your letter by Dr. Vaughan , and am thankful to you for making me acquainted with him. it is extremely important to the administration of the public affairs, for me to be on terms of confidence with some persons of dispassionate judgment & integrity in every state, through whom I can obtain a knolege of such matters within their...
10247[From Thomas Jefferson to Philip Mazzei, 28 April 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 28 Apr. 1784. Entry in SJL reads: “P. Mazzei. My proceedings in his affairs—adjournment Congr.—will bear testimony if he can fix particular point—correspond.—communicated de Rieux’s arrival at Chas. T. and letter to me.” Not found. Derieux’s letter is that of 22 Feb. 1784, q.v.]
10248From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 5 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The several commissions, to which Congress were pleased to appoint Colo. Humphreys Secretary of legation, being shortly to expire, and a French packet offering him a convenient passage in the month of April, he proposes to avail himself of that occasion of returning to his own country and of there presenting his respects and thanks to Congress. As a member of the several commissions with which...
10249From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 16 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Mazzei desires me to inclose his letter to you and to add my testimony to his of the necessities he is under. This I can do with truth, observing further that had I known of the sufferings he has gone through, they certainly should have been prevented. His situation really requires that his friends should strain his resources to the utmost and give him the benefit of them for his relief....
10250From Thomas Jefferson to Col. William Fleming, 7 August 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed order will explain to you the general plan adopted for regimenting, officering, and stationing the two Western battalions. We are in hopes you will so far proceed in concert with the other commissioners as that the chain of posts to be recommended may form a complete Western defence, leaving no chasm in the middle. We wish you, when you report the stations proposed, to advise us...