1From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 23 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 10th. and shall always be thankful for any information you will favor me with, interesting to our affairs, & particularly which may enable me to understand the differences of opinion & interest which seem to be springing up in Pensva., & to be subjects of uneasiness. if that state splits it will let us down into the abyss. I hope so much from the...
2From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 8 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
By a new arrangement of the post between Washington and Milton, Charlottesville &c it now leaves Washington Monday evening & reaches this neighborhood Thursday morning. consequently […] the Philadelphia papers of Saturday morning arrive here the Thursday morning following, [say] in 4. days exclusive of Sunday. […] they [would] before to be 9. days on the road. I recieved your paper of Saturday...
3From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 16 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you catalogues of the books which are to be imported for Congress and which you desired to have placed under your procurement . I have written to mr Short at Paris and mr Erving at London to superintend the purchase in order that the books & their prices may be such as they approve, and I have inclosed them copies of the catalogues; so that your correspondent will have to obtain...
4List of Books for the Library of Congress (Paris), 19 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris History. Annales Romaines par Macquer. 12mo Essai historique et Chronologique de l’Abbé Berlié. 2.v. 12mo. Abregé Chronologique de l’histoire ancienne avant Jesus Christ par LaCombe. 12mo. Abregé Chronologique de l’histoire des Juifs. 12mo. Abregé Chronologique de l’histoire des Empereurs Romains par Richer. 2.v. 12mo. Dictionnaire de Moreri. 10.v. fol. Dictionnaire historique et...
5List of Books for the Library of Congress (London), 19 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
London History Bossuet’s universal history. 2.v. 12mo. Newton’s chronology. 4to. Collier’s historical dictionary. 4.v. fol. Wood’s Athenae Oxonienses The American & British Chronicle of war & Politics, 1773–1783. Lond. 1783. by E.I.S. 8vo. Puffendorf’s introduction to the history of the Universe Salmon’s chronological abridgment of the history of England, in English if to be had. otherwise the...
6From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 10 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
You know the arrangements which were communicated to you early in July for procuring books for Congress from London and Paris. unfortunately, mr Short, to whom the business was confided in Paris, was come away. I have therefore to ask information from you of the steps you have taken as to Paris that I may be able to give proper directions to mr Livingston to do what mr Short had been desired...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 24 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The address of the Ward committees of Philada on the subject of removals from office was recieved at Washington on the 17th. inst. I cannot answer it, because I have given no answers to the many others I have recieved from other quarters. you are sensible what use an unfriendly party would make of such answers by putting all their expressions to the torture: and altho’ no person wishes more...
8From James Madison to William Duane, 20 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 3d. instant having arrived at Washington after I had set out for Virginia, an acknowledgment of it has been retarded to this date. I have long been sensible of the advantage taken of official silence, in propagating false reports for party purposes, and do full justice to your laudable anxiety to see a remedy applied to the evil. There are considerations however which must...
9From James Madison to William Duane, 28 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
J. M. prests. his respects to Mr. D. & in answer to his note of yesterday Evening, observes that he is not acquainted with any circumstances denoting that the A⟨r⟩;tillery Lanterns on which the Tinman is employed, may have a hostile reference to the U. States, or justifying an interposition in any form agst. the prosecution of the Job. Should the suspicions entertained by the Tinman have any...
10From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 22 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, my good Sir, cordially for your letter of the 12 which however I did not recieve till the 20th. it is a proof of sincerity which I value above all things; as, between those who practise it, falsehood & malice work their efforts in vain. there is an enemy somewhere, endeavoring to sow discord among us. instead of listening first, then doubting, & lastly believing anile tales handed...
11From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 24 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
It has not been in my power sooner to acknolege the reciept of your favors of the 2d. 4th. & 16th. instant. it is true that while at Monticello I recieved the sheets of a Spanish pamphlet, by successive mails, but as I saw no indication of the quarter from which they came, I supposed they were forwarded by one of the Spanish gentlemen, and laid by the first sheets till all should be recieved....
12From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 20 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ I cannot always acknolege the reciept of communications yet I merit their continuance by making all the use of them of which they are susceptible. some of your suggestions had occurred, and—others will be considered. the time is coming when our friends must enable us to hear every thing, & expect us to say nothing; when we shall need all their confidence that every thing is doing which...
13From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 14 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson salutes mr Duane and asks the favor of him to procure & forward to him the following books, which he thinks he mentioned to him in conversation when he had the pleasure of seeing him last, & mr Duane thought he could procure the editions desired Malthus, if an 8vo. edition can be had. Conversations in Chemistry } decent English editions in 8vo. or 12mo. Cumberland’s Memoirs the...
14From Pseudonym: "A Democrat" to William Duane, 11 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
we have it in our power to give you, and the president, new information on Burrs expedition, and by handing this letter to him, you will find out the fraud, that has been carried on by the public cash and all is facts, N.B. you may let Mr. Jefferson see this letter if you think proper. but: he ought expel his most violent enemies from public office and appoint his noted friends—as for Gov....
15From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 7 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The expectation of your visiting Washington had prevented my returning the letter contained in yours of Jan. 17. till the reciept of that of the 29th. covering Harvey’s. the former gives information meriting attention; for although the cabinet hardly tells it’s own secrets, yet small indications of them sometimes leak out, and it is probable that N. Orleans would be an object in case of war....
16From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 17 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed case of Thos. Norris I first observed in the Aurora, and consider it a duty to have it enquired into,& on obtaining credible testimony, to make it the subject of representations to the British government. as I imagine he must have applied to you with his papers, could you find means to invite him to send me his own affidavit in due form, with as many others as he can procure to...
17From James Madison to William Duane, 21 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 14th: did not come to hand till Saturday, and could not therefore be answered till today. I have caused the files to be searched without success for a communication from Dr. Davis, on the subject of what passed between the Marquis de Yrujo and Mellimelli. It is not probable that any written report to this Department, was made by Dr. Davis, nor is any verbal one sufficiently...
18Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 11 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Such has been the hurry & bustle of the close of a session of Congress & of my departure, which now takes place in an hour that I have not been able to acknolege the re ciept of your letters, but I did what was essential as to the most important one. I consulted with Gen l Dearborne and we concluded that the public service permitted the indulgence and the proceeding which would accomodate your...
19Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 12 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of July 16. has been duly recieved, with the paper it inclosed, for which accept my thanks, and especially for the kind expressio sentiments expressed towards myself. these testimonies of approbation, and friendly remembrance, are the highest gratifications I can recieve from any, and especially from those in whose principles & zeal for the public good I have confidence. of that...
20Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 16 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 17. arrived the day after I had left this place on a visit to one I have near Lynchburg , from whence I am but lately returned. the history of England you describe is precisely Baxter’s of which I wrote to you; and if you compare him with Hume you will find the text preserved verbatim, with particular exceptions only. the French work will accompany this letter. since writing...
21Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 25 October 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return the translated sheets . you will find in them some pencilled words, chiefly corrections of errors in the copyist. in one part they are something more. having retained a copy of the part I translated & forwarded to you in my first letter , I was enabled to collate that with the corresponding part now inclosed, and I found, in a few instances, changes in the structure of the...
22Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 13 November 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your 3 d packet is recieved before the 2 d had been returned. it is now inclosed , and the other shall go by the next post. I find as before nothing to correct but those errors of the copyist which you would have corrected yourself before committed to the press. if it were practicable to send me the original sheets with the translated, perhaps my equal familiarity with both languages might...
23Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 18 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I promised you, in a former letter , a short Proem to be prefixed to our book, which I now inclose. it’s object is the concealment of the author, to whom that is a circumstance of first importance. I observe that the three last packets of about 130. or 140. pages, (two of which were returned by the last post, & the 3 d by this) bear marks of much hastier translation than those preceding. I...
24Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 26 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns to Col o Duane the two packages which he supposes to be the last. he has found them as correct as the earlier ones, and much more so than the three preceding. should he be mistaken in supposing these the last, some delay may attend any future ones, as he is just setting out to an establishment he has about 90. miles Southward (near Lynchburg ) and probably will be absent...
25Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 28 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I learn with sincere concern, from yours of the 15 th recieved by our last mail, the difficulties into which you are brought by the retirement of particular friends from the accomodations they had been in the habit of yielding you. that one of those you name should have separated from the Censor of John Randolph , is consonant with the change of disposition which took place in him at...
26Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 30 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
When I wrote you my letter of Mar. 28. I had great confidence that as much at least could have been done for you as I therein supposed. the friend to whom I confided the business here, and who was and is zealous, had found such readiness, in those to whom he spoke, as left no other difficulty than to find the bank responsible. but the Auroras which came on while this was in transaction,...
27Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 25 July 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 5 th with the volume of Montesquieu accompanying it, came to hand in due time; the latter indeed in lucky time as, inclosing it by the return of post, I was enabled to get it into mr Warden’s hands before his departure, for a friend abroad to whom it will be a most acceptable offering. of the residue of the copies I asked, I would wish to recieve one well bound for my own...
28Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 20 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a pamphlet on a subject which has, I believe been little understood. I had expected that it’s explanation would have gone to the public thro’ the medium of a trial at bar: but, failing in that, I have thought it a duty to give it through the ordinary medium of the press. I wish it could have appeared in a form less erudite. but the character of the question, and of those for...
29Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 4 August 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 17 th ult came duly to hand; and I have to thank you for the military Manuals you were so kind as to send me. this is the sort of book most needed in our country, where even the elements of tactics are unknown. the young have never seen service; & the old are past it: and of those among them who are not superannuated themselves, their science is become so. I see, as you do,...
30Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 1 October 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sep. 20. has been duly recieved, & I cannot but be gratified by the assurance it expresses that my aid in the councils of our government would increase the public confidence in them; because it admits an inference that they have approved of the course pursued when I heretofore bore a part in those councils. I profess too so much of the Roman principle as to deem it honorable for...
31Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 22 January 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know how the publication of the Review turned out in point of profit, whether gainfully or not: I know it ought to have been a book of great sale. I gave a copy to a student of W m and Mary College and recommended it to Bishop Madison then President of the College who was so pleased with it that he established it as a school book, and as the young gentleman informed me, every copy...
32Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 4 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 14. has been duly recieved, and the MS of the Commentary on Montesquieu is also safe at hand. I now forward to you the work of Tracy , which you will find a valuable supplement and corrective to those we already possess on political economy. it is a little unlucky that it’s outset is of a metaphysical character, which may damp the ardor of perusal in some readers. he has...
33Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 18 September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Repeated enquiries fr on the part of Senator Tracy what has become of his book (the MS. I last sent you) oblige me to ask of you what I shall say to him. I congratulate you on the brilliant affair of the Enterprize & Boxer . no heart is more rejoiced than mine at these mortifications of the English pride, and lessons to Europe that the English are not invincible at sea. and if these successes...
34Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 3 July 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
The intercourse with France being now open, I expect every hour a letter from M. de Tutt Tracy , on the subject of his book. what shall I be able to say to him? is it translated? is it in print? & when may it be expected? on the late change of government, he will probably print the original there, and as it will be instantly translated ours may be anticipated. We are looking to new arrivals...
35Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 17 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter to you of the 3 d I have had occasion to make a remittance to mr Dufief bookseller of Philadelphia out of which I have desired him to pay my arrears for the Aurora, being of two years I believe besides the current year. if you will be so good as to call on him for it within a few days after your reciept of this, the remittance will by that time have got to his hands from Gibson...
36Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 24 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
On reciept of your letter of Aug. 11. informing me you could not undertake the publication of the work of Tracy , I considered it a duty to get it effected by some other. I applied to mr Ritchie , and while he had the proposition under consideration I happened to see mr Milligan of George town & asked his opinion (for my own information) as to the allowance which mr Ritchie might afford to...
37Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 10 February 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you on the 24 th of Nov. on the subject of mr Tracy ’s book. a mr Ticknor from Massachusets was lately with me, and being to proceed to Paris within about four weeks offers so safe a conveyance for my letters that I cannot avoid writing to mr Tracy . I have hoped that the delay of your answer was occasioned by some prospect of publishing the work yourself, or of getting it published...
38Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 24 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sincerely concerned and mortified at the failure of the remittance I had supposed made to you as long ago as March last. I received an account signed ‘ John B. Smyth for W m Duane’ in Feb. consisting of 2 articles to wit the translation 60.D. a year’s subscription for the Aurora to become due May 1 st 16. and on the 18 th of Mar. I desired my correspondents Gibson & Jefferson of Richmond...
39Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 19 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his compliments to Gen l Duane incloses him 5 Dollars to be placed to his Aurora account, which he believ es has been heretofore paid up to May 1. 1817 . he salutes him with continued esteem and respect. PoC ( DLC ); on verso of reused address cover of John Vaughan to TJ, 2 June 1817 ; dateline at foot of text; with one word faint and one number rewritten by TJ for clarity;...
40Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 9 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have long ceased to read newspapers, except a single one of my own state, and that chiefly for the advertisements. perfectly resigned as a passenger to those who are navigating the vessel of state, and with entire confidence in them, I scarcely enquire, or wish to know what is passing. age has relieved me from these cares, and now calls for tranquility & rest. under these circumstances it is...
41From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 31 May 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved, a few days ago, a pamphlet on the subject of America, England and the Holy alliance, and read it with unusual interest and concurrence of opinion. it furnished a simple and satisfactory key for the solution of all the riddles of British conduct & policy. while considering and conjecturing who could be it’s author, I happened to cast my eye on the few words of superscription, and...
42From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 4 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of June 5. & 23. came to hand in due time, and according to the request in the last I wrote to the President on the subject of the appointment which was the object of that letter. I apprehend however it may have been premature, as I doubt whether he will proceed to an appointment before the meeting of the Senate. the constitution allows him ‘to fill vacancies which may have...
43From Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 24 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 19 th recieved in the evening of yesterday found me suffering under the pain of an imposthume under the jaw closing it so effectually as to admit sustenance to be introduced only thro’ a tube. two months ago such a letter should have been complied with without a moment’s delay. but within that period the ground on which I stood has totally changed. an intervening incident...