11Robert Patterson to Thomas Jefferson, 24 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed favour of the 8 th . Your time-piece, agreeably to your desire, I have had set up at my own house, & shall with great pleasure make experiments on its going with the rod-pendulum. This pendulum is at present suspended by a few inches of watch-spring attached to the upper end, as in common pendulums: But M r Adrain , an able mathematician, in...
12Robert Patterson to Thomas Jefferson, 25 August 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
It requires an apology that I have not before now sent you the Time-Piece, which has been so long in my custody. The commencement of the late war before the Time-Piece was finished, & the consequent depredations of the enemy on our coast, prevented its being sent before the restoration of peace. When this event had taken place, I perceived that some parts of the veneering were scaling off from...
13Robert Patterson to Thomas Jefferson, 24 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been favoured with your letter of the 13 th & shall immediately take measures to send on your Time-piece as you have directed. I have had, for some years an artificial horizon , which, by means of a reflecting sextant, answers the purpose of measuring all altitudes of the sun, or any other visible object, from 0 to 90° as well as all depressions not exceeding 50° with great ease &...
14Robert Patterson to Thomas Jefferson, 24 November 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The Author of this Synopsis (formerly Secretary of Congress) desires me to send you, by this opportunity, a copy of the work, of which he begs your acceptance; & Requests that you would please to favour him with your remarks on the same RC ( MHi ); dateline beneath signature; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 27 Dec. 1815 “with the clock” and so recorded in SJL ; with...
15Robert Patterson to Thomas Jefferson, 28 November 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
A pretty severe attack of the prevailing epidemic, with a good deal of sickness in the family, must be my excuse for not sending on your Time-piece somewhat sooner. It was, however, last saturday shipped on board the Guinea Hen , &, according to your directions, consigned to mess rs Gibson & Jefferson of Richmond. On examining the pendulum mentioned in my last, & which I proposed to substitute...
16Robert Patterson to Thomas Jefferson, 2 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Hassler has just transmitted to the Sec’y of the Treasury , a descriptive list of the instruments which, in execution of his appointment for that purpose, he had procured in Europe , & has lately brought with him to this city. Presuming that you might be pleased to have a copy of this list, I herewith send you one, for your acceptance. M r Hassler ’s circumstances are, at present, somewhat...
17Robert Patterson to Thomas Jefferson, 20 June 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
You have no doubt been informed, at least thro the medium of News-papers, of M r Peale ’s complete success in illuminating his Museum with gas - lights , & presuming that it would not be uninteresting to you, I shall do myself the pleasure of giving you a description of his apparatus & process for generating & distributing the gas. It is well known that any substance containing hydrogen will,...
18Robert Patterson to Thomas Jefferson, 13 December 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
A considerable time ago, you made some enquiries relative to a good clock & watch-maker , who, you suggested, might advantageously settle in your neighbourhood. Neither then, nor since, till the other day, could I hear of one that I could recommend, who was willing to make the trial. From the enclosed letter , you will be able to judge whether the persons therein Recommended by m r Hassler ,...