81Additional Instructions by Congress to Franklin, Deane, and Jefferson, 16 October 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Additional instructions to B F, S D, and T J, commissioners from the united states of America to the king of France. Whilst you are negotiating the affairs you are charged with at the court of France you will have opportunities of conversing frequen[t]ly with the ministers and agents of other european princes and states residing there. You shall endeavour, when you find occasion fit and...
82To Thomas Jefferson from George Wythe, 28 October 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 18th instant , by some accident or other, did not come to hand before it was too late to answer it by this days post. Make use of the house and furniture. I shall be happy if any thing of mine can contribute to make your and Mrs. Jefferson’s residence in Williamsburg comfortable. Adieu. RC ( DLC ). TJ’s letter of the 18th instant is missing. It must have contained a request...
83To Thomas Jefferson from William Irvin, [before 1 November 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
Being taken sick I had the Opportunity of offering the inclosed Memorial and Petition to but very few. I am perswaded, however, that a large Majority of the two Counties would have signed it, had they had the Opportunity. However, I trust that the reasonableness of the thing in itself, will have more Weight with the Honourable House of Delegates and Senators, than ever so many Names. Please,...
84To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 3 November 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
As I have received no answer to the letter I wrote you by the Express from Congress I conclude it has miscarried. I heared with much regret that you had declined both the voyage, and your seat in Congress. No Man feels more deeply than I do, the love of, and the loss of, private enjoyments; but let attention to these be universal, and we are gone, beyond redemption lost in the deep perdition...
85To Thomas Jefferson from George Wythe, 11 November 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
The resolutions describing treasons are inclosed. The report for ascertaining the value of coins , &c. remains in the same state of repose as you left it in, among several others that are, as the president says, not acted upon. I gave Col. Harrison an extract of that part of your letter which related to him, and asked him what answer I should make? He told me he would do what you desired so...
86To Thomas Jefferson from George Wythe, 18 November 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Whenever you and the speaker think I should return to Virginia to engage in the part which shall be assigned to me in revising the laws , I shall attend you. As to the time and place of meeting and my share in this work, I can accommodate myself to the appointment, and be content with the allotment my colleagues shall make. In the mean time, I purpose to abide here, if the enemy do not drive...
87To Thomas Jefferson from Patrick Henry, 19 December 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
In Pursuance of a Resolution of the Legislature, I am to appoint a fit Person in every County to collect from the Inhabitants of this Commonwealth all the blankets and rugs they are willing to spare for the Use of the Soldiery. I have to beg of you, Sir, to accept of that Appointment for your County, and to draw upon me for the Amount of the Purchase. When it is considered that those who are...
88To Thomas Jefferson from Adam Stephen, [ca. 20] December 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
The Enemy like locusts Sweep the Jerseys with the Besom of destruction. They to the disgrace of a Civilisd Nation Ravish the fair Sex, from the Age of Ten to Seventy. The Tories are Baneful in pointing out the friends to the American Cause, and giving Notice of every Motion we make. The Enemy have made greater progress than they themselves expected owing to the Weakness of our Counsels and our...
89To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 2 January 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Zane delivered your Letters to me in this Town, and as I had it not in my power to execute what you desir’d, I gave them to him and desir’d he would negotiate the Bill and transact the other business, which he promis’d to do. Our affairs have had a black appearance for the two last months, but they say the Devil is not so black as he is painted. We have at last turn’d the Tables upon...
90To Thomas Jefferson from John Goodrich, 20 January 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been confined to a small Room upwards of two months which has much Impaired my health. Your Inquiry the Reason of the Alteration of my confinement will much Oblige me. I have been very Ill Treated by Mr. Jouette Sundry times. Your favour in allowing me to Board at Some Other house in this Place will oblige your Obedient P.S. One George Bruce of the Guard have Sundry times threatned my...
91To Thomas Jefferson from Patrick Henry, 26 February 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Frazer is appointed first Leiutenant instead of Mr. Mossom. The other Appointments of your County remain unaltered. The inclosed Resolution respecting the prisoners will explain the Ideas of the Council Board on that Subject. Thirty pounds cash accompany this. Such of the prisoners as you may judge most in want of Clothes, will be furnished in such manner as you think best. If absolute...
92To Thomas Jefferson from Patrick Henry, 31 March 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
By the Bearer Lieut. Jas. Meriwether I send two hundred and thirty six pounds 16/. for the recruiting Soldiers in your County and the adjacent ones, to serve in the Battalions of this Commonwealth. You are to be assisted by Your Field officers in chusing 1 Captain 2 Lieutenants and one Ensign of the most proper persons who have the best chance to raise these Men quickly and deliver them the...
93To Thomas Jefferson from John Harvie, [before 18 April 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Strother Jones proposes setting out in a few days for the Continental Army, where he wishes to Contin[ue] if he can Obtain an Appointment near the person of either of the Generals. Gentel and Agreable, he is favour’d with several Letters to Gentlemen of Rank in the Army Yet thinks an Introduction from you to General Washington or to any other General to whom you think proper will have...
94To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 29 April 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
If I were to consider punctilio more than the suggestions of friendship, I should expect an answer to some of the letters I have written you, before I dispatched another. But I ever hated ceremonies, and shall not commence ceremony with you. I wish it were in my power to give you any very interesting news, but alas, the slow assembling of an Army prevents any attempt from us upon the enemy,...
95To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 20 May 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
We are this moment informed here, that some evil disposed people (no doubt hired for the purpose) have industriously propagated among the N. Carolina Troops, and among the recruits of Virginia in the upper parts, that the plague rages in our Army . In consequence of which, it is said, the recruiting business stops, and desertions are frequent. There never was a more infamous and groundless...
96From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 26 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
I had this Morning, the Pleasure of your Favour of the Sixteenth instant, by the Post; and rejoice to learn that your Battal lions, were So far fill’d, as to render a Draught from the Militia, unnecessary. It is a dangerous Measure, and only to be adopted in great Extremities, even by popular Governments. Perhaps, in Such Governments Draughts will never be made, but in Cases, when the People...
97To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 26 May 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
I had this Morning, the Pleasure of your Favour of the Sixteenth inst, by the Post; and rejoice to learn that your Battallions, were so far fill’d, as to render a Draught from the Militia, unnecessary. It is a dangerous Measure, and only to be adopted in great extremities, even by popular Governments. Perhaps, in Such Governments Draughts will never be made, but in Cases, when the People...
98To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 25 August 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
It will not perhaps be disagreeable to you in your retirement, sometimes to hear the events of war, and how in other respects we proceed in the arduous business we are engaged in. Since the loss of Ticonderoga (into the cause of which, and the conduct of the commanding Officers, Congress have ordered inquiry to be made) and Gen. Burgoynes speedy march to Fort Edward, our affairs in that...
99To Thomas Jefferson from Lucy Chiswell Nelson, 13 October 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of troubling you upon a Subject of very great consequence to myself, and which I have very much at heart. Mr. Nelson very early shewed his inclination to defend his Country by entring into the service in the 7th. Regiment as a Major, in which capacity he acquitted himself to the satisfaction of every body. He is since advanced to be Lt. Colonel in that regiment, where he...
100To Thomas Jefferson from John Harvie, 18 [October] 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
This Morning the Inclosed Interesting Intelligence was received by Congress from General Gates. As I am sure you will receive pleasure in reviewing even the Minutia of this great and Glorious Victory I shall make no Apology for sending you a Copy of the several Letters in the Rough dress you see them haveing made it off in a Hurry at the Clerks Table. Gates’s Rapid Successes to the Northward...
101To Thomas Jefferson from John Hancock, 25 October 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
I Had the honour to Receive your obliging favor by Mr. Harvey, with Forty seven Dollars, being an additional Donation of the County of Albemarle for relieving the poor of Boston which shall be faithfully applied to their Benefit. My constant application to Publick Business both in and out of Congress, has so impair’d my Health, that some Relaxation has become absolutely necessary, and to...
102To Thomas Jefferson from John Harvie, [25 October 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you about ten days ago that General Gates had obtain’d a Signal Victory over General Burgoyne on the 7th. Inst. and now have the pleasure of informing you that a few days after this defeat Burgoyne with his whole Army Surrend’d themselves prisoners of War to the American General. It is said the prisoners Stores &c. taken are as followeth Viz 1 Lt. General, 2 Major Generals, 7 Brigadier...
103To Thomas Jefferson from John Harvie, 29 December 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of November the 26th. was handed to me by the post before the last. The great Objects of the Assemblys Deliberations are of the most Interesting Nature and I have no Doubt they will bring them to Maturity with their Usual Wisdom. If the late Generous Spirit of Virginia in their Act for Cloathing and Measures for preventing of Forestalling does not Inspire the other States with a...
104To Thomas Jefferson from Patrick Henry, 21 February 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
You are desired to receive into your Custody John Goodrich the Elder, who is ordered to be removed from Bedford County, the place of his present Confinement; and will be delivered by the order of the County Lieut: of Bedford. He is to be Safely kept and prosecuted agreeable to directions of Assembly by the Attorney General . I am Sir, Yr. hble Servt., RC ( DLC ); in an unidentified hand and...
105To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, 22 February 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
The council board has been so much crouded with business of late, that I could not procure an order for the removal of Goodrich to Albemarle, ‘till this morning. I should not have delayed to comply with the resolution of Assembly so long, had it not been necessary to examine him in the county, in which it is supposed he committed the crime. The order for his removal went by express to day to...
106To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 2 May 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
We are this moment made acquainted by the War Office that an Express was immediately to depart for Virginia, and I take the opportunity of enclosing by him the last papers, which contain all our news, except it be a report that seems not illy founded, that Genl. Amhers[t] and Adml. Keppel are arrived at Philadelphia as commissioners from the King and Parliament of G. B. to carry into execution...
107To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 3 May 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
Having detained the Express that he might carry you the news that we heard was on its way from France, I am furnished with an opportunity of congratulating you on the important event of a Treaty of Commerce, and one of Alliance and Amity, having been signed at Paris on the 6th of February last, between France and these United States. Having been as particular as we could on this subject in the...
108To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 11 May 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
We have once more ventured into the field of composition as the inclosed Address will shew you. And I have the pleasure to acquaint you that Congress have unanimously ratified the Treaties with France, and directed the ratifications to be presented for exchange in due season. The inclosed pamphlet I t[ake to] be a production of Dr. Franklin. It is well written, and was published first in...
109To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 16 June 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 5th which I received yesterday. It is the only satisfactory account I have received of the proceedings of our Assembly. The enemy have made many insidious attempts upon us lately, not in the military way, they seem tired of that, but in the way of negotiation. Their first, was by industriously circulating the bills of pacification as they call them, before...
110To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Henry Lee, 23 June 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed Gazette will shew you the progress, and perhaps the end for some time, of our negotiation with the British Commissioners. They, with their whole Army have abandoned Philadelphia, and our Troops are in possession of that City. The enemy are pushing thro Jersey for South Amboy, and in their front is Gen. Maxwell with a brigade of Continentals and the Jersey Militia. They have...