1Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 29 June 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to M r Delaplaine & willingly becomes a subscriber to the publication stated in the Prospectus sent him. he presumes there will be some agent within this state who can recieve the subscription money, the difficulty of making remittances of small & fractional sums to a distance & in a paper recievable there being a principal obstruction to these...
2Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 25 December 1816 (first letter) (Jefferson Papers)
My general aversion from the presumption of intruding on the public an opinion of works offered to their notice has yielded in the present instance to the merit of your undertaking, and to your belief, well or ill founded, that my testimony in it’s favor may be of advantage to it. I have written therefore, in a separate letter , which you are free to publish, what I can conscientiously say on...
3From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 5 January 1817 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your Letter of 24th. of Decr. with the Pamphlet. I am Sorry to see in our American Reviewes an affectation of imitating European Reviewers. They generally discover an unnatural Appetite for Sour Plums: more Sagacity in discovering little faults than great Merits. I will now for a Moment undertake the Office of a Critic, not for publication: but between you and me. In my Opinion you...
4Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 18 October 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 3 d is at hand. I have little doubt that I shall recieve an answer from mr Stewart , either yielding to my request , or stating the reasons why he may wish to retain the portrait longer in his possession. whatever these may be, I should not refuse him, nor indeed in any case press a compliance beyond the request I have made. I will inform you of his answer whenever it shall...
5Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 29 January 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 15 th is recieved, as was in due time that of Oct. 11. with the poem of mr Meade , and I did not know that I had omitte d to return my thanks for it. this I hope will be kindly imputed to my increasing inability to write letters. when I gave you a written opinion on the biographical work you were engaged in, you will recollect I mentioned that it was the singular case in...
6From James Madison to Joseph Delaplaine, 12 February 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of Jany. 23. and with it the little volume of Mr. Mead entitled “School Exercise.” A plan which brings into a small compas[s] the several branches of youthful instruction, which places them in the proper order of succession, and conducts the Student, by easy gradations in each, from an early to an advanced Stage of education, speaks sufficiently its own commendation....
7From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 5 March 1816 (Adams Papers)
your letter of 27th Feb, has surprised me. Of the writer of the anonymous letter to you I have no knowledge. The portrait taken by mr Stewart is the property of John Quincy Adams my son, taken by his order, often repeated, for six years, from St Petersburg & paid for by his property; I have no right in it, or power over it. Most certainly it will never go from under my roof, with my consent,...
8From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 17 December 1815 (Adams Papers)
I have recd, with pleasure your obliging Letter of the Sixth. Accept, Sir my cordial Thanks for the Portraits of my Friends Rush and Jay. The latter appears with proper Dignity in his Robes of Chief Justice and the Likeness of the Countenance is correct. What Shall I Say of the former? Dr Rush the last time I Saw him in March 1801, was as upright as a Reed and his Countenance no less animated...
9From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 12 March 1822 (Adams Papers)
I thank you kindly for the Portrate of Mr Jay, which I very much admire, it is a great likeness it is stamped with wisdom sagacity, and benevolence as they have been, stamped upon his Countenance and Conduct, all his Life time.—I have delivered your formal letter to Mr Charles Shaw, to Mr William Smith Shaw the superintendent of the Boston Atheneaum and I shall deliver that inclosed with Mr...
10From James Madison to Joseph Delaplaine, 19 May 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the 15th. with a prospectus of the “Emporium of the Arts & Sciences,” and a letter from Mr. Jefferson, now returned to you. Considering the plan as formed for solid usefulness, and the execution of it in able hands, I regret that I can not patronize it in the mode, of which so high an example is before me. The numerous applications, incident to the Station I am in,...
11Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 30 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 23 d is recieved, in which you enquire whether there is an approved portrait of myself, by whom painted, & in whose possession? mr Stuart has drawn two portraits of me, at different sittings, of which he prefers the last. both are in his possession. he also drew a third in water colours, a profile in the medallion stile , which is in my possession. mr Rembrandt Peale also...
12From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 8 June 1813 (Adams Papers)
There are several things abroad which are reported to have been intended as pictures of me; some of them drawn by persons who never saw me. others by persons who never saw me to whom I never sat and others and others by painters who requested me to sit. I pretend not to be a judge of the merit of any of them. But there is not an approved likness among them. The least approved of all is one...
13From James Madison to Joseph Delaplaine, 7 May 1814 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Delaplaine. He is restrained by an established rule, from subscribing to works from the Press, but he will thank Mr. D. to reserve for him a copy of that he is about to publish. RC ( LNT : George H. and Katherine M. Davis Collection). JM had probably been asked to subscribe to Delaplaine’s Repository of the Lives and Portraits of Distinguished American...
14Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 11 November 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieve here your favor of Oct. 26. the half volume of the Repository is probably recieved at Monticello where it will await my return. the objections to your work appear to be perfectly answered in the pamphlet you have been so kind as to inclose me. you had a right certainly to chuse your own scale of biography more or less extended, and the shorter as merely an Appendix to your main...
15From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 23 April 1822 (Adams Papers)
Portraits or Busts, of Men or Women taken in Old Age, which as Ossean says, and says truly is dark and unlovely are always disagreeable; much more so are those taken after Death or in Articulo mortis The Portraits of Dr Franklin taken when he was eighty four were no more like him, in the middle of his Age or even when he was seventy years Old than they resembled those of Voltair I delight to...
16Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 9 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 28. is just recieved, and I now inclose you the print of Vespucius , which I have cut out of the book, & which is taken from the same original in the gallery of Florence from which my painting was taken. With respect to the portrait in the hands of mr Stewart , I have thought it best to write to him, and to inclose the letter to you for perusal. if you think the object worth...
17From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 17 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
His Excellency Samuel Adams late Governor of Massachusetts was born in Boston in 1722. His first Education was in the celebrated public Latin School in that City where he was prepared for the University at Cambridge to which he was admitted in 1736. He received his degree of Batchellor of Arts in 1740 and his Degree of Master of Arts in 1743. After his first degree, he entered the store of...
18From James Madison to Joseph Delaplaine, 22 October 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your letter of the instant. I had previously recd. a copy of the first half volume of the Repository. Of the general object of a work, which is to exhibit the likenesses & lives of selected Individuals, it would be superfluous to express an approbation. In the execution of the work, the essential merit must of course depend on the propriety of the selections, on the...
19Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 30 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you my subscription , and shall recieve your Emporium with pleasure, and with still greater if the price can be paid to any one in this state. the difficulty of remitting to a distance small & fractional sums has induced me to new withdraw from newspapers and other things published out of the state. a regular knolege of the advance of the arts and sciences in Europe which D r Coxe is so...
20Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 24 April 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Occupations from which it was impossible to withdraw have occasioned the delay of acknoleging the receipt of your letter of Mar. 29. on the subject of my portrait in the han hands of mr Stewart . I considered the delay as less important inasmuch as I could not avail my self of the opportunity you proposed of obtaining the portrait. I am unwilling to press mr Stewart unkindly to the delivery of...
21From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 31 August 1818 (Adams Papers)
I have not been able, till this moment to acknowlege your Letter of the 11th. You have my full consent to publish whatever you please concerning my Character. My Life can never be written, not even by myself; for it would take me as much time to write it, as it has to live it. You enquire for “Sources:” I know of none better than American Journals Newspapers and Pamphlets; next to them the...
22Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 1 April 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Mar. 11. was rec d on the 24 th but it is not in my power to give you any information as to mr Samuel Adams . I knew him only as serving with him in the old Congress . the disparity of our ages prevented any particular intimacy being myself the youngest but one in Congress and he I believe the oldest . he was a very operative member a sensible speaker but entirely without...
23Thomas Jefferson to Edward Parker and Joseph Delaplaine, 7 [May] 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mess rs Edward Parker & Joseph Delaplaine, and his thanks for the communication of their prospectus for reprinting the Edinburgh Encyclopaedia. possessing already every Encyclopedia which has been published in France , Great Britain & America , & a library moreover vastly beyond his present wants, he has for some time ceased to make additions to it, &...
24Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine and to Murray, Draper, Fairman & Company, 4 March 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 25. is just recieved, and I am duly sensible of the obliging motives you express for desiring my subscription to the very magnifi c ent edition you propose to publish of Maclin’s bible. but age and infirmity warn me from engaging in new undertakings which will require for their completion more years than I have to live. the prospectus supposes the work will be compleated in...
25From James Madison to Joseph Delaplaine, [ca. 31] October 1820 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your note of the 11th. with the little poetical volume of Mr. Mead; for which I desire that my thanks may be accepted. It is so long since I indulged myself in this species of reading, that I can the less venture to pronounce on the merit of the performance. From a hasty glance over it, my attention was caught by passages, which appeared well to accord with the inspiration of the...
26Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 9 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Before the receipt of your letter of Jan. 27. I had received those of Dec. 20. & Jan. 14. which remained unacknoleged. this I am certain you will pardon when I assure you that I pass from four to six hours of every day of my life at the writing table, answering letters in nine tenths of which neither my interests nor inclinations are engaged. this mass of labor obliges me to marshall marshal...
27From James Madison to Joseph Delaplaine, 17 June 1818 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 10th. inst: preceded by one on the same subject; and have just recd. 2 packets from Cincinnati, as shewn by the post mark. They are addressed to me without letter, or any indication that they were to be forwarded to you. One of the packets consists of several pamphlets, which with the exception of the two herewith enclosed, were heretofore sent you by J. P. Todd. The...
28From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 24 April 1822 (Adams Papers)
Portraits, or Busts, of Men or Women taken in Old age which as Ossian says, and says truly is dark and unlovely, are always disagreeable, much more so are those taken after death, or in articulo mòrtes The Portraits of Dr Frankline taken when he was eighty four, were no more like him in the middle of his Age or even when he was seventy years old, than they resemble those of Voltair. I delight...
29From John Adams to Joseph Delaplaine, 26 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
You request a Service of Some difficulty, and more delicacy. The Number of Revolutionary Patriots in Massachusetts Patriots of the Revolution was not Small; and all have left Posterity and Connections to dispute with me. But if you demand my Opinion upon honour, I will give it, as it lies in my present Recollection. Samuel Adams, James Otis Junior, Major Hawley of North Hampton, Major General...
30From James Madison to Joseph Delaplaine, 20 March 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of with the preceding one on the same subject. I sincerely wish the success to your Biographical Undertaking which your exertions merit; both for your own sake, and for the gratification it is capable of affording to the Public. But having not yet perused the half volume I possess, I can not say more than was said in the few lines heretofore dropt you. In truth, considering...