1To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 1 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Having long regarded Mr. Jefferson as one of our most distinguished patriots & philosophers, I conceived that a work which had for it’s end the good of the community, would not be unexceptable to him.—Under that impression I have here sent him “ A prospect of Exterminating the small-pox ,” and am with the utmost consideration and respect his very humble servt. RC ( DLC ); at foot of text:...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 8 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
There may possibly seem a want of due consideration in sending this letter, and what accompanies it, to draw the attention of the President of the United States from the important concerns of our nation to a subject more nearly allied to medicine, than to the affairs of state. On this account, I should have hesitated still longer, were I not constantly receiving letters from unknown persons,...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 24 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The thread enclosed in this Quill was imbued in the vaccine virus on Thursday Evening the 23d of July. At the same time the needle was infected in the same fluid and it is highly probable will communicate the disease if it be thrust under the scarf skin, and drawn slowly & gradually through it. RC ( DLC ); addressed: “The President of the United States Washington”; franked; postmarked Boston;...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 1 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Vaccine matter on the tooth-pick taken July 31.st. in the evening. The thread taken at the same time.—The two plates of glass, which he have covered with lead is just come to hand from Dr. Jenner being taken May 19th. in London. Two other plates containing some of the virus taken at the same time has been proved to be perfectly active. It adheres to the glass like gum. water, warm steam, or a...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 28 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment taken your letter of the 14th. inst. from the Post-office, and have step’d into the first house to write a line, and pray you to excuse me untill I return home before I can answer it properly. I congratulate you, Sir, in having produced the true disease, of which I have little or indeed no doubt . I hope Dr. Wardlow will inoculate from the part affected as soon as he finds a...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 2 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I know not if I acknowledged the receipt of your letter of the 8th. ulto. in the hasty scrawl I lately wrote from Boston. That of the 14th. gave me pleasure inexpressible, as it informed me that you had succeeded in planting the benign remedy against the small pox in the vast region of Virginia. I have written to Dr. Wardlaw on the important subject of preserving the active fluid-virus for...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 4 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Since closing the letter I had the honor of writing to you yesterday , yours of the 21st. ult. came to hand. I think it quite unnecessary to send you any more matter, being thoroughly convinced that you have planted the genuine disease in your family. I cannot, however, too emphatically recommend to all concerned in this new inoculation to keep up a succession of cases , from which matter may...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 1 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday I was honored with your letter of Sepr. 17th. from Monticello informing me that the Vaccine inoculation was effectually planted at Washington, as well as at and near your own residence, and that you had sent the matter to several parts of the State of Virginia. I rejoice, beyond what a person less zealous than myself can realize at this intelligence, being convinced that the matter...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 16 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The vaccine matter , which you were so good as to transmit to me 4 or 5 weeks ago, on quills & on thread, has been tried. I communicated the genuine disease with some from one of the tooth-picks, but am not absolutely certain that it ever took from the thread. This induces me to make an observation that may be useful to your inoculators. I was, at first sight, suspicious of the goodness of the...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed letter came to my hands two days ago. I return it from an apprehension that it is a mistake. I conjecture that Aikens publication, as also some pieces from the news paper, were sent to some person to whom you wished to communicate information respecting the vaccine inoculation, and that by mistake you directed this letter to me, as no such articles came with it. It gives me...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 29 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 14th. inst, enclosing one of the 25th. ulto. came duly to hand. I was struck with the expediency of establishing a popular criterion as to the precise time of taking the matter, and I entirely coincide with you in opinion that it should be fixed on Eight times twenty four hours , this being the result of my own observation during the last season. I know that it differs...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 1 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I here transmit for your acceptance, a copy of my Treatise on the Kine Pock, which, though dated Novr. 1802 is just out of the press. The first part contains the history of the progress of this new inoculation in America; The second contains the theory of morbid poisons, together with practical rules & observations.— Being aware that this first narrative would probably be referred to, in time...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 20 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
From an opinion that President Jefferson does not feel indifferent to whatever concerns the welfare of any of the citizens in any of the States, Dr Waterhouse here sends for his acceptance a copy of a Lecture just printed, on the subject of the health of our literary youth; containing cautions respecting the use of Tobacco, & Ardent & vinous spirits; and hopes that the principles & design of...
14Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 21 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I ought perhaps to apologize for breaking in upon the tranquility of your retirement with this Letter—I have tried to avoid it, but find that I cannot, because it relates to a Stab at my Character, which, from the poison of the Weapon, would, without some Exertion on my part, have left behind it an “ immedicabile vulnus .”— Among several charges transmitted to me by the Secretary of the...
15Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 17 February 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I take this opportunity, by my friend M r Gerry of sending a small volume for your acceptance No part of Natural history was ever taught, in this quarter of the Union untill I commenced the subject, about 25 years ago. It being a new study, I was obliged to give it a popular form. The Essex Junto had got such an entire possesion of our University , & had made it a fort, or strong hold, whence...
16Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 26 March 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 9 th ins t opened to my mind such a train of interesting ideas, that I could not resist writing you this, & enclosing you one of our Boston newspapers, containing a peice under the signature of an “ Independent Whig .” It will tend to confirm your opinion of our pretended fautores of science. More than a dozen numbers have preceeded this, some of them calculated to expose...
17Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 1 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
If you will excuse my breaking in again upon your philosophical retirement, I think I may venture to promise that it shall be the last time. I little thought, when I wrote to you last , that I should have so soon to lament the loss of my revered friend & brother D r Rush ! By his death I feel as if one strand of the thread of my life was cut. It is a heavy, very heavy stroke to his old friend...
18Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 1 September 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot allow to pass this fair opportunity, by General & M rs Dearborn , without sending, you some memorial of my gratitude & respect— I have enclosed you two 4 th of July Orations; one delivered in the District of Maine , to a people ripe for a seperation; and the other at Lexington , by a son in law of the late Vice President . They will shew you the sentiments and doctrines that are now...
19Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 14 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter of 13 th Oct r with pleasure, and read it with great satisfaction.— I here enclose a curious publication, printed first in Connecticut , & reprinted at Andover , 20 miles from this place, where is a new & well endowed theological college, being a splinter struck off from Cambridge , at the time when we elected an unitarian professor of divinity. Dwight of the...
20Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 18 June 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Finding that Mesrs. Rowe & Hooper are about sending you a copy of “ a Journal of a young man of Massachusetts ,” who was captured by the British, and confined during the war, at Halifax , at Chatham , and at Dartmoor , I cannot refrain, because I think it is proper, giving you more information relative to its publication than what appears on the face of the book— This smart young man put his...
21Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 20 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
A man occupying so large a space in the world’s estimation as M r Jefferson , must expect to have his retirement, now & then, broken in upon by the humble & the ignorant, seeking knowledge. I have just finished reading M r Wirt ’s “sketch of the life and character of Patrick Henry ,” and having some doubts relative to an important fact, I cannot resist the inclination of writing to you on the...
22Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 15 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Although answering of letters may have become an irksome task, the reading them may sometimes be an amusement. This idea has induced me to send you this. It has reference to future history, and has had its origin in the following occurrence: M r Trumbull exhibited, a few weeks since, his national painting of “ the Declaration of Independence ” in the Town-hall of Boston . The picture has not...
23Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 8 June 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I here send for your acceptance a copy from my last edition of the Lecture on the pernicious effects of Tobacco , and of the other strand in the same cord, ardent spirits , on young subjects . You may notice in the introduction to this American edition, that I have had recourse to great names, in order to magnify my apostleship. D r De Carro in Vienna , informed me that he found some...
24Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 8 July 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 26 th of June I have read again & again, with renewed satisfaction ; and believe with you that “there is not a young man now living in the U. S. who will not die an Unitarian.” Yet must the young be enlightened, and the Platonizing christians counteracted; and I have seen nothing so likely to do so much good in the process as your letter, if you will allow me to give it...
25Benjamin Waterhouse to Thomas Jefferson, 14 September 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I read your letter of the 19 th July with pleasure, and though at first disappointed, I cannot wonder at your reluctance to its publication seeing, as I find by your letter, that our brethren in the South are yet slumbering from the opiates of past ages. As times change how some sort of men change with them! Less than 20 years ago, those who governed this our University quarrelled with me, &...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 8 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
To read every letter sent to you must be no small task; but to read every book which vanity may transmit would be inflicting an honour upon you, enough, almost, to make a man wish he had never learnt to read. Here, e.g. you have one on the childish subject of whooping-cough ; the title of which is sufficient to make most men, not of the profession, turn from my “ essay ,” as from a dose of...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 30 November 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Bearing in mind your lame wrist, and that you are a dozen years older than myself, & that you have hundreds, who, in the course of the year, inflict upon you the honor of their correspondence , in expectation of a reply, I here avow, at the begining, that what I now write is rather with a view to your amusement & gratification, than with the expectation of an answer. Not but that I set the...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 3 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
In reflecting on my late journey south, I found one omission to regret, and especially as I remember you seemed to urge it—I mean my declining the invitation of M r Monroe—and I have accordingly explained it in a letter to him thus— It was spoken of at the Presidential house, in Washington (at my intimation) that I should go to the examination at West Point; on the high probability that M r...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 24 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The Rev. Joseph P. Bertrum, an Englishman of the established church, has an inclination to become a Professor in the University which you have taken so much pains to found & rear; and solicits me to communicate his wish to you. He is a son of Oxford, & I conclude a close, and successful student. I believe we have no one in this place equal to him in Greek: I am satisfied there is none in...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 11 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I, in some measure, regret that you have no spare niche for the Rev d M r Bertrum, yet I should be loathe to part with such a learned neighbour. He has since, expressed a wish to enter the service of the Rhode Island College, at Providence, but I do not encourage it, for there he would be “Condemn’d to trudge, “Without an equal, and without a judge.” It would be almost as bad at Dartmouth...
31To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 30 May 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
D r Waterhouse having long had “ a concern of mind “ to visit the shrine of S t James and S t Thomas, is come this far on his pilgrimage; and wishes only to know if this be the proper time to pay his devotions? DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
32To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 4 July 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I seize the first leisure time since my return (for I tarried more than a week in New York with my Daughter) to express to you my thanks for your polite attention when on your pleasant mountain. It enlarged my view of things in more senses than one. It has also gratified an old Pilgrim in the fulfilment of his vow. A thousand questions are asked concerning you, and your noble offspring in your...
33To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 22 October 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I rejoice, and so will you, that I am enabled to inform you that our aged friend M r Adams has recovered, remarkably, from that sunken state of debility, which appeared to indicate his dissolution last November, & the following winter. He cannot, besure, walk without help, nor see objects distinctly, neither can he feed himself; but he sleeps well & wakes refreshed, & eats very hearty. From a...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 7 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Ever since I received your short but Ciceronean Epistle, it has seldom been long out of my mind. It made an impression I cannot get rid of; and therefore, in the true spirit of that religious sect among whom I was educated, I cannot hold my peace. It may be deemed impertinent, but you must excuse the impulse. On this head I say, as did the celebrated Edmund Burke to my kinsman Dr. Fothergill...
35To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 16 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
When the marine-hospital was about to be established in my neighbourhood in the year 1803, I wrote to the President of the United States and solicited his consideration of my appointment to it, which I said, I should be glad of, provided the President did not see other plans & fitter persons for that place. Dr Charles Jarvase who was an older man & a better physician was appointed to it: night...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 12 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The Collector has just notified me, that the President of the United States had been pleased to appoint me Physician to the Marine hospital at Charlestown; for which I return you my most cordial thanks. Until yesterday I thought, that the appointment included the Navy-yard; as I knew that Dr Jarvis did the duties of both. As they are contiguous , I thought they formed one medical department;...
37To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 21 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I should hardly have been persuaded to write to the President on the subject of my professional rivals, were I not fully assured that they are again at work in order to discredit my appointment to the marine hospital; and I know of no way so effectually to counteract them as by stating a few facts to you,—By an anonymous letter, and by some other modes of imperfect information, I am made...
38To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Waterhouse, 24 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
About a year ago, I recieved a long and interesting letter from Dr de Carro of Vienna, on subjects connected with the great interests of humanity. This physician, who is by birth a Swiss, first sent the cowpox-matter from Vienna to Bagdad; and thus laid the foundation of the Oriental vaccination, which has spread far and wide through Asia. Besides his zeal in vaccination, Dr. de Carro has...