1From Thomas Jefferson to William B. Giles, 13 December 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 9th on the subject of the hire of my servant, but as my stay in Virginia will be too short to intermeddle with my affairs I must beg the favor of you to do in the matter as you would have done had I not returned.—I take the liberty of asking information from you, if you know who are the executors or administrators of the late young Mr. John Bannister, as I...
2From Thomas Jefferson to William B. Giles, 1[3] December 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Some two or three years ago. a Monsr. de Vernon of Paris applied to me to know how he might recover some property which he had in the hands of a Mr. Marck of Petersburg. I advised him to appoint an attorney here, and to furnish him with his proofs, and recommended the late Colo. Bannister. He did so. Colo. Bannister undertook the business, and I inclose you two letters he wrote me, containing...
3From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 20 November 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately recieved from Donald & Burton their account crediting me for your bill of excha. £37–10 stirling, as also Mr. Brown ’s account, who by consigning my tobaccoes to another house on the failure of the former, placed my credits in his own account while the debets were with Donald & Burton, and thus saved you the £37–10 and me the rest of my tobacco. Not having been indebted to Donald...
4From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 17 December 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
I have made Mr. Bannister’s affair the subject of a separate letter , containing a full explanation of it, because by giving in the letter, it will give you no more trouble. I will only add here, what would have been too urging if expressed there, that if any thing be said of early paiment, I would rather be allowed to draw on any one there for the money than to have it sent here. The attempt...
5From James Madison to William Branch Giles, [3 April] 1795 (Madison Papers)
… I have not forgotten my promise to drop you a few lines on the arrival of the Treaty in case it sh’d happen during my stay here, but have hitherto omitted to write because the arrival of the Treaty has not added a particle to the public knowledge of its contents. You will have known that the Senate are to meet for the purpose of receiving the communication on the 8th of June. I am chiefly...
6From James Madison to William Branch Giles, 3 April 1795 (Madison Papers)
I have not forgotten my promise to drop you a few lines on the arrival of the Treaty in case it shd. happen during my stay here; but have hitherto omitted to write because, the arrival of the Treaty has not added a particle to the public knowledge of its contents. You will have known that the Senate are to meet for the purpose of receiving the communication on the 8th. of June. I am chiefly...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 27 April 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 16th. came to hand by the last post. I have to thank you for the trouble you were so kind as to take in my demand on Mr. Bannister’s estate. Mr. Shippen by letter promised me paiment out of the first proceeds of a sale then making at Hatcher’s run on a twelve-month’s credit. I sincerely congratulate you on the great prosperities of our two first allies, the French and Dutch....
8From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 31 December 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Dec. 15. and 20. came to hand by the last post. I am well pleased with the manner in which your house has testified their sense of the treaty. While their refusal to pass the original clause of the reported answer proved their condemnation of it, the contrivance to let it disappear silently respected appearances in favor of the President, who errs as other men do, but errs with...
9From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 19 March 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I know not when I have recieved greater satisfaction than on reading the speech of Dr. Lieb in the Pennsylvania Assembly. He calls himself a new member. I congratulate honest republicanism on such an acquisition, and promise myself much from a career which begins on such elevated ground.—We are in suspense here to see the fate and effect of Mr. Pitt’s bill against democratic societies. I wish...
10To Thomas Jefferson from William Branch Giles, 26 March 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I have permitted your much valued favor of the 31st. of December to remain unanswered until this time, because until now, no desicive event had occurred, by which a conjecture could be formed of the probable course, which the House of Representatives would take respecting the great question of the Brittish treaty, Because Europe afforded nothing interresting, and because I was unwilling to...
11From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 23 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved two days ago your favor of the 16th. and thank you for your kind felicitations on my election; but whether it will be a subject of felicitation permanently will be for chapters of future history to say. the important subjects of the government I meet with some degree of courage & confidence, because I do believe the talents to be associated with me. the [honest] line of conduct we...
12From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, [6 April 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you an extract of a letter from mr Brown to mr Lincoln under whom, acting as Secretary of state, and Genl. Smith acting voluntarily for the department of Secretary of the Navy, but without appointment or reward, the latter part of what respected the Berceau was conducted. the other letter of Brown’s which I mentioned relates merely to the details of the repairs. The question whether...
13From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 18 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
See the stat. 24. G. 3. (1784.) c. 47. made against smuggling- armed vessels and forfieting the vessels. the 7th. sectn. latter part provides that it shall not extend to vessels having arms or ammunition put on board for the necessary use & defence of such vessel, by license from the Lord High Admiral of G.B. or the commissioners of the admiralty.’ this shews that English vessels cannot arm...
14From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 23 February 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
We learnt here with real affliction the terrible calamity which happened to you. to our feelings for your personal sufferings were added those for the public want of you here. from the importance of the matters before Congress, & some unfortunate circumstances, your presence here would have been, & would still be of incalculable value to the nation. as we naturally believe what we wish, the...
15From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 23 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his thanks to mr Giles for the suggestions of the other day as to mr Pease, as he is always thankful to his friends for any information which may enable him to do for the best. he has made enquiry as to the fact of mr Pease’s being interested in the Yazoo claim, and is assured that he is not interested a cent either directly or indirectly in that claim, nor has a...
16From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 20 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 6th. on the subject of Burr’s offences was recieved only 4. days ago. that there should be anxiety & doubt in the public mind in the present defective state of this proof is not wonderful; and this has been sedulously encouraged by the tricks of the judges to force trials before it is possible to collect the evidence dispersed through a line of 2000. miles from Maine to...
17From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 26 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from mr Pinckney being private , cannot be communicated to Congress for that reason, as well as for others. I send it for your perusal, in confidence, because, mr Pinckney’s nomination being under consideration, I wish his real character & way of thinking to be known from facts, instead of surmises. I send it to yourself particularly because I know you will make a just use...
18From John Adams to William Branch Giles, 17 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
Having in ancient days had much experience of the frankness and candor of your disposition I feel the less apprehension of giving you offence, by Trespassing on your time, though according to the fashion of the world I have no right to commence or invite such a correspondence. Every good citizen must regret the appearance of disaffection to the national administration, so visible in the...
19From John Adams to William Branch Giles, 22 December 1812 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 5th and the two valuable Pamphlets inclosed. The speech I read with Pleasure in the time of it, and, have now read it again, with close attention…I know not what fault to find with either. In reading the Letter to the house of Delegates, I fancied myself sometimes reading Pascal upon peace in his disputes with the “Preists, and sometimes Locke upon Stilling...
20Thomas Jefferson’s Circular to Prospective Donors to Central College, 4 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
You have probably seen mentioned in the public papers that it is in contemplation to establish near Charlottesville a seminary of learning which shall embrace all the sciences deemed materially useful in the present age. towards this object the legislature has passed an act giving us a constitution nearly of our own choice, under the name of the Central College , making the Governor patron of...
21From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 9 June 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 31 st ult. and my grandson Th: J. Randolph having set out for Richmond the day before, I immediately inclosed the papers to him by mail, and informed him that I should be ready if thought necessary to bear testimony to the honorable character of our dec d friend, as I knew him. I am sorry to learn that you are among the sufferers by his misfortunes. I am...
22From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 29 August 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
On reciept of your former letter of May 31. I communicated it to my grandson Jefferson Randolph. on consideration of the subject, he was induced to think that the vindication of Col o W. C. Nicholas’s character, if it needed it at all, would be particularly incumbent on his brother Norborne Nicholas, and would, in his, be in more competent hands. he therefore communicated the latter to him, &...
23From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 11 September 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sep. 6. is this moment rec d I take for granted that very soon after it’s date you rec d mine of Aug. 29. which w d explain to you why Th: J. Randolph, having committed the business to mr Norb. Nich o declined meddling with it; & that on my part not a moment had been lost. the notice for taking any deposn was for the 28 th and on the 29 th I forwarded it to your address at the...
24From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 25 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 15 th was recieved 4. days ago. it found me engaged in what I could not lay aside till this day. Far advanced in my 83 d year, worn down with infirmities which have confined me almost entirely to the house for 7. or 8. months past, it afflicts me much to recieve appeals to my memory for transactions so far back as that which is the subject of your letter. my memory is indeed...
25From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 26 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you a letter yesterday of which you will be free to make what use you please. this will contain matters not intended for the public eye. I see as you do, and with the deepest affliction, the rapid strides with which the federal branch of our government is advancing towards the usurpation of all the rights reserved to the states, and the consolidation in itself of all powers foreign and...
26From James Madison to William Branch Giles, 8 September 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 4th. instant, on the subject of the Journals of the General Assembly for the Sessions of May 1779 and 1782. I should have felt particular gratification in being able to contribute to the laudable object of the Legislature: But on examining my broken set, I find that it does not include the Journals of either of those dates. I fear there may be some...
27From James Madison to William Branch Giles, 10 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 7th. inst: inclosing a list of the missing Journals of the Senate. Unfortunately my broken set, consists, exclusively of Journals of the House of Delegates. I need not say how much I should have been gratified in being able to fulfil the wishes of yourself and of the Council. With great consideration & respect RC ( Vi : Executive Papers); FC ( DLC ). RC...
28From James Madison to William Branch Giles, 10 December 1827 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respectful compliments to Governor Giles, with thanks for the publication politely enclosed to him; and which can not fail to be interesting from the subjects & sources of the discussions composing the work. Draft and FC ( DLC ). Draft unaddressed; FC in Dolley Madison’s hand reads: “J Madison with his respectful compliments to Governor Giles, returns his thanks for the...
29From James Madison to William Branch Giles, 10 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
The Executive of the Commonwealth are respectfully requested to cause to be delivered to the order of William Wertenbaker Librarian of the University of Virginia for the use of the University of Virginia the Books and other Articles allotted therefor, by an Act of the General Assembly passed on the 15th. of January 1828 entitled “An Act providing for furnishing the University of Virginia with...
30James Madison to William B. Giles, 15 August 1829 (Madison Papers)
Mr & Mrs. M. have duly recd. Govr. Giles polite & kind invitation to make a part of his family during the approaching Convention. Other arrangemts. having been previously made for their accommodation on that occasion, they do not avail themselves of his proffered hospitality; but are not the less sensible of the many thanks which they owe for it & which they pray him to accept with returns of...