1From Charles Lynch to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 20 November 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
The express Messenger has been long detain’d, by my not being at home. It so hapend I was out in serch of the Mineral Salt Petre when he came to my house. I have at sundry times had small parcels of Salt Petre made from that mineral to manufacture into gun powder and find it to be very good, when properly refin’d. But no one attemting to carry on the business so as to be of Use to the Country...
2From Robert Carter Nicholas to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 25 November 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
As the Committee of Safety is not sitting, i take the Liberty of addressing you on the Subject of the unhappy Situation of our Country. Former Occurrances you are unquestionably acquainted with. A few Days since was handed to us from Norfolk Ld. D’s infamous Proclamation, declaring the Law martial in force throughout this Colony and offering Freedom to such of our Slaves, as would join him....
3From Robert Carter Nicholas to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 12 December 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
Referring you to a former Letter , in which amongst other Things, I mentioned the Necessity we should be under of having a large Quantity of Paper to make up the Sum of Money voted by the last Convention, besides the 2/6 and ⅓ penny Bills, which I have immediate Occasion for, I must repeat my request that the whole may be provided and forwarded with all Expedition. The Committee of Safety...
4From Edmund Pendleton to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 15 July 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot take leave of the duty of writing Official Letters, now transferred to the Governor and Council, without giving you some free thoughts on two Subjects depending before Congress, both of them of importance to this Countrey, I mean the Pensylvania boundary, and the Petition of some factious people on the Ohio to be made a Separate Government. On the first of these You had formerly a...
5From 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...
6[From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 22 September 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 22 Sep. 1780 . JCC Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 , ed. W. C. Ford and others, Washington, 1904–1937 , xviii , 899 (4 Oct. 1780): “The delegates for Virginia laid before Congress a letter of 22 September, from Governor Jefferson, which was read; Whereupon, Resolved , That the same be referred to the Board of War, and that so much of the 20,000 pounds sterling...
7From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 27 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I must beg the favor of you to solicit the sending on to us immediately a good supply of Cartridge Paper and Cartouch Boxes. Nearly the whole of the former Article which we had bought at Alexandria, Baltimore &c. and what the Board of War sent from Philadelphia has been made up and forwarded to the Southern Army; there remains now but a few Ream to make up. I fear we have lost 2000 cartouch...
8From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 14 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the pleasure of inclosing to you a draught of Mr. Ben: Harrison jur. and co: on Messieurs Turnbull and co: merchants of Philadelphia for 66,666? dollars for which we have had transferred to Mr. Harrison the Auditors warrant of aug. 9. 1780. for £20,000 Virginia money with which you stand charged in their books. I have the honor to be with the greatest esteem and respect Gentlemen,...
9From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 17 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
With respect to the payment made on behalf of Mr. Braxton into the Continental treasury in Part of our Quota of the fifteen Million tax, the Executive having been Charged with the raising and remitting that money, we have thought it unnecessary to lay it before the Legislature. The Sum to be sent, was sent, partly in Money and Partly in Bills. These Bills were drawn in Continental Dollars ,...
10From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 18 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai pris les informations nécessaires pour connoitre les rades d’ou les vaisseaux de guerre François qu’on stationneroit cet hiver dans notre Baye pourroient proteger le plus efficacement son commerce, etre le plus en sureté et avoir la meilleure retraite. Celles d’ Hampton et d’ York sont les seules qui commandent l’entrée de la Chesapeak; aucun vaisseau ne peut y pénétrer sans être vu de...
11From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 18 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have made the necessary enquiry as to the place where any armed vessels, which the minister of France shoud think proper to have wintered in our bay, might cover its trade, be safest, and have the most secure retreat. Hampton road and york town are the only ports from which a view of the entrance into the bay is commanded. No vessel can pass up it without being seen from either of these...
12From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 15 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I called on Mr. Anderson the Writer of the letter to Capt. Trot which you were pleased to inclose to me and desired he would explain the foundation on which he had written that letter. His explanation I now inclose you, from which you will be able to collect only thus much, that his application on behalf of Mr. Trot was utterly rejected and nothing said which could authorize him to suppose we...
13From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 18 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a resolution of Assembly directing your Conduct as to the navigation of the Missisippi. The loss of powder lately sustained by us (about 5 tons) together with the quantities sent on to the Southward have reduced our stock very low indeed. We lent to Congress in the course of the last year (previous to our issues for the Southern army) about ten tons of powder. I shall be obliged...
14From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 26 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall now beg leave to answer your Letter of the first inst. which inclosed a Paper from Baron de Arendt. Mr. William Lee was some Time ago invested with a special Agency from this State, having received however no instructions from him of his having engaged any other Person to transact any Part of it, we are uninformed as to his Stipulations with Baron de Arendt. If he has left the...
15From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 7 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Courier d’Europe a vessel from Penet & Coy. [Company] having on board military stores for this state was chased into Boston by the enemy in the Summer of 1779. They were principally Artillery Stores, too bulky and heavy for us to think of bringing them on by land. By the loss of our papers we are unable to furnish an invoice of them but they are in the hands of a Mr. J. Bradford in Boston...
16From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 22 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The object of the inclosed Memorial of Messrs. Stodder, Kerr and North being attainable by Congress only and proper to be the subject of a representation from them I take the Liberty of transmitting it to you that Justice may be done to the parties interested. I have the honor to be with great respect Gentlemen Your mo. ob. Hble Servant, P.S. We are and have long been without Letters of Marque....
17From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 8 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed papers so fully explain themselves, that I need say nothing more to apprize you of the Subject. Should the Governor of Maryland and President of Maryland not close with my third proposition, you are hereby authorized to treat with the Delegates of those two States or any other Person appointed by the States and to settle the best method of availing the Southern Army of their...
18From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 15 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
A Difference of opinion having taken place between the Executive of this State and Mr. Simon Nathan as to the rate at which certain Bills of exchange should be discharged in paper money, we have agreed with him to refer it to such Gentlemen of Knowledge in the Laws, of established Character and of any other State, as yourselves shall mutually agree on with him. Their award shall be performed...
19From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 26 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg Leave to ask your Sollicitations with Congress for Permission to Colo. William Davies of the Virginia line to accept an Appointment to the War Office of this State without prejudice to his rank and right to half-pay for life, Lands, and Depreciation of pay. I am in Hopes it will be the more easily obtained as by the Discontinuance of appointing full Colonels in the Army Officers of that...
20From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 6 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your letter informing us of the Arrival of our Arms &c. from Rhode Island at Philadelphia, and must pray you immediately to send forward the packages within mentioned containing Arms, &c., engaging Waggons for that Purpose who shall be paid on their arrival here the price you contract to give them and be protected from Impresses while in this State. Tho’ we do not know the...
21From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 9 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter of the 6th. I received Information that two Parcels of Medicines marked C V (which we construed Commonwealth of Virginia) were consigned on private Account to Monsieur Coulaux la Vigne, and with other Parts of the Cargo of Le Comité were considered as ours; Be so good as to cause Delivery of them to be made to Monsr. Coulaux la Vigne, he paying all reasonable Charges. I am &c.,...
22From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 13 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 3d inst. came to hand yesterday. You will by this Time have received letters from me desiring you to do what you have done as to the Arms and in some measure as to the refugees. It would be more agreable to us that they should be sent to France than delivered up to us. I beg leave to add to the Names of those I before mentioned one Cranmer who is said to be the most...
23From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 10 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
A small Affair has taken Place between the British commanding Officer in this State (Genl. Phillips) and the Executive which as he may endeavour to get Rid of through the medium of Congress, I think it necessary previously to apprise you of it. General Scott obtained Permission from the Commandant at Charlestown for vessels with necessary Supplies to go from hence to them, but instead of...
24From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington and the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 10 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The papers of the Executive having been almost wholly lost in the visit which was made by General Arnold to this place, we are endeavouring to procure Copies of as many of them as we can. As the Correspondence with your Excellency is among the most important I am to solicit the Favor of you to permit the Bearer hereof Mr. Granville Smith to take Copies of any Letters with which you have been...
25From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 14 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your Favor of the 5th. Inst. and am obliged to you for the notification of the State of the Continental Money of which we shall endeavour to avail ourselves to prevent Loss to the State. We are much obliged to his Excellency the Chevalier de la Luzerne for his Readiness to secure us against the malice of the prisoners taken on Board the Romulus. We would beg Leave to add the...
26Richard Henry Lee to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 12 June 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am not informed who of our Delegates remain at Congress and therefore this letter is addressed to you whom I have good reason to suppose are yet there. The unhappy crisis of our countrys fate demands the closest attention of all her sons, and calls for the united wisdom and the strongest exertions of all others who may be affected by our ruin. I suppose you have been informed of the junction...