1To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, [27 November 1779] (Jefferson Papers)
It is 8. days since I arrived at this place from Rochelle, near which City I was set a-shore in an Island by a Portugueese vessel from Cork in Irland. The various circumstances, which have contributed to my liberty, and several other anecdotes since I left the Capes of Virginia; deserve I think that I should trouble you with an account of them; but an illness of 2. months and half, and the...
2[To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 5 December 1779] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Nantes, 5 Dec. 1779 . Mazzei’s “Representation” of his conduct as agent for Virginia in Europe states that in a letter of this date, his second dispatch to TJ, “he foretold, that we ought not to expect any good from the Irish commotions, and signified his reasons for such a conjecture, which he confirmed in letter 11, dated Paris, April 10th 1780,” q.v., below (Marraro, Mazzei , p. 88)....
3To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 12 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
A very good piece of intelligence, which I received yesterday, has been followed by very mortifaying news arrived in Town today. Yesterday I was informed, that 9. days since it was resolved in the King’s council to lend Congress, in arms and such other things as they want, to the amount of 16. millions of livres. I must give you a clear notion of my authority to enable you to weigh with your...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 18 December 1779–9 January 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
We Know at last, that D’Esteing’s melancholy affair happened in Georgia; that our few regulars there behaved very well; and we hear that it was the militia who did not Keep their ground; and that the pretended treachery did consist in the villany of one of our officers from New-England, who deserted and informed the enemy of Desteing’s plan for the attack. We are convinced that D’Esteing’s...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 8–12 February 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Nantes, 8–12 Feb. 1780 . Is still at Nantes but has been obliged to beg personal financial assistance from Tuscany. Action of the Spanish and British fleets off Cadiz; capture of numerous Spanish merchantmen by Admiral Rodney. French success under M. LaMotte Picquet at Martinique. Encloses extracts from French Gazette to show “the monstrous contrast” between the published accounts in Spain and...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 18 February 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you the inclosed copies, containing my corrispondence with Mr. D’Acosta and Dr. Franklin, being the most satisfactory proof I can give of having done what I prudently and decently could do to find the means for proceeding on the important business so strongly recommended to me. My delay to write to Dr. Franklin, and the distance between the first and second letter have proceeded cheafly...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 2 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived in this metropolis 8 days since; have been at Dr. Franklin and Marquis Caraccioli frequently and have seen several others who are likely to influence those in power; but have not as yet been introduced to any of them myself. Marquis Caraccioli was for us already, and will do all his endeavours to put me in the way of being useful. Marquis de la Fayette, the bearer of this, truly...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 4 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
From Rappannack, or york River, I wrote to Col. Maddison, that the season being so far advanced I had a mind not to wait untill I got to Italy to propose the exchange of goods on the terms expressed in my Instructions, and that least I should be taken, and of course be obliged to throw my papers over-board, I had interlined in some of my private old papers the cifer and the substance of the...
9[To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 19 March 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 19 Mch. 1780 . Mazzei’s “Representation … of His Conduct, from the Time of His Appointment to Be Agent of the State in Europe untill his Return to Virginia,” written in 1784 and printed in Marraro, Mazzei , q.v., p. 86, states that in his 9th dispatch, of this date, he sent the Governor of Virginia a “narrative of Mr. Mazzei’s captivity.” No copy of the 9th dispatch has been located,...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 4 April 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 4 Apr. 1780 . Abstract, with liberal quotations, of Edmund Burke’s speech in Parliament on Economical Reform, delivered 11 Feb. 1780. Sends text of Louis XVI’s message to the widow of Capt. Couedic, which Mazzei hopes will be translated for the “perusal of our people.” Enlarges on the good qualities of the French king. RC ( NN ); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Mazzei; 4 p. At head of...