1To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 21 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yours of the 12th. 14th. and 17th. together with the several papers mentioned, to which I shall give as much attention, and as soon as my health will permit. In the mean time I thought it not amiss to transmit to you such observations as occurred to me on first reading them. I am not quite satisfied with the reasons given (page 1.) for having recourse to motion for a Standard of...
2To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 25 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last letter (and not before) I have read Mr. Whitehursts Book on the Subject of Measures. Amongst the many different ways of obtaining the Same End, the Method proposed by him seems to be a very good one. I see no reason to object to the lenghth he has assigned from experiments, to a pendulum vibrating seconds in the Latitude of London Vizt. 39.1196 inches. You Suppose (page 4.) the...
3To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 2 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I should not have troubled you with my Algebraical Calculations but for your present inconvenient situation. I am however pleased to find your results, tho’ obtained a different way, the same with mine, having never that I remember turned to any Book on the Subject.—The rod used as a Pendulum does indeed require no correction, if it be no thicker than you propose, which will perhaps have...
4To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 4 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Under the Building lately erected by the Philosophical Society there are very large and deep Cellars. Suppose in the midst of one of them, another of 12 or 15 feet deep and 16 feet square was dug and walled and arched over would it not answer the purpose of which we were speaking. A considerable part of the Expence would be saved, and whatever reasonable compensation should be made to the...
5To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 8 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for a Sight of Mr. Randolph’s Letter. I must Confess I was pleased with Mr. Neville’s account of the Opossum, because it seemed to remove every difficulty on the Subject and at the same time more nearly to connect the Vegitable and animal economy. But I well know with what caution we ought to recive the testimony of any individual. Mr. Randolph’s observations however does not shew...
6To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, [ca. 20 August 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
If we consider the same thing in the manner following we shall immediately perceive that the proposition is not new. Since the hole in the vessel may be of any size it may be equal to the intire bottom. The vessel then becomes a Cylinder and the problem is reduced to this, To find the lenghth of a perpendicular Cylinder in which a fluid will descend from the top to the bottom in a given...
7To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 11 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have read over Mr. Keiths paper carefully, and endeavoured to make out his meaning. He has indeed expressed himself so very loosely that it is not easy to say what he intended. One thing however is clear, that he meant to depreciate the Rod-pendulum; and this he has done in a manner that does no credit to his Candour or Abilities. We have only his assertion, unsupported by any thing that can...
8To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 16 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have bargained with the owner for the House and Lot on Seventh Street, between Arch and Market Streets, of which you saw the Draught for the Use of the Mint. The price £1600. in Cash, Pennsylvania Currency, Subject to a Ground-rent of 21 Dollars ⅌ An. payable to the Friends Alms-House. If his Excellency the President approves of this purchase the Conveyance shall be made in such manner as he...
9To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 27 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The money granted by his Excellency the Presidents Warrant in July last being appropriated for paying for the House and Lot for the Mint and for purchasing Copper, except 900 Dollars, And Considerable Expences having since arisen for Additional Buildings, Furnaces Horse-Mill and Machines of various kinds I find it necessary to apply for another warrant for the Sum of Five Thousand Dollars,...
10To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 28 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
By Act of Congress the Copper Coinage is limited to 150 Tons. This, counting the Ton to be 20 Hundreds, neat Weight, will produce near 8 Millions of Cents, making no allowance for waste in Coining; and supposing the number of families in the United States to be 400,000 will be near 20 Cents to a family. This appears to me to be too great a proportion by more than one half, especially if we...
11To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 29 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have inclosed four copies of a bill drawn by the Treasurer of the U.S. on Messrs. W. and J. Willink and Nicho. and Jac. Van Staphorst & Hubbard of Amsterdam for 24,750 current guilders equal to 10,000 Dollars, which you will please to transmit to Mr. Pinckney at London for the purpose of obtaining copper for the mint of the U.S. either from Sweden or elsewhere. The copper to be in sheets not...
12To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 7 January 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have herewith enclosed the result of our Assays &c. of the Coins of France, England, Spain, and Portugal. In the course of the Experiments a very small source of Error was detected, too late for the present occasion, but which will be carefully guarded against in future. I am with the most perfect esteem, Your most obedient humble servant Tr ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); in the hand of George...
13Enclosure: Assay of Foreign Coins, 7 January 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
In 24 Grains specific gravity In 24 Grains specific gravity Fine Gold Alloy Fine Gold Alloy Date Grs. 32d Parts grs. 32d parts Date Grs. 32d parts Grs. 32d parts French Guineas }
14To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 11 January 179[3] (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs. Rittenhouse is greatly obliged to you for your Valuable present. To me it is more acceptable than any other thing of its kind in existence, but the pleasure it wou’d otherwise afford is greatly abated by an expression in the note accompanying it, That you are packing up your useless furniture: by which I suppose I am to understand that you are going to take your flight to the summit of...
15To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 25 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I am again obliged to request you to make application to the President for a further Sum of money to defray the Expences of the Mint (5000 Dolls. if he shall think proper) and have enclosed a concise Statement of the expenditure of sums heretofore granted, which you will be pleased to communicate to him. The accounts, as preparing by the Treasurer of the Mint for settlement to the end of this...
16Enclosure: Account of Expenditures for the Mint, [25 March 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Account of Expenditures for the Purposes of The Mint of the United States Dolls. Cents For purchasing two Lots of Ground together with a Dwelling House, Still House, with two large Copper Stills &ca. 4266.67 Dolls Cts For erecting two New brick buildings, Furnaces, a Frame Mill House & Stable &c. Vizt. Scantling, Boards, plank, Shingles 775.44 Stone 106 56 Lime &ca. 184 22...
17To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, [10 April 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Misho called on me Yesterday, he wishes to know whether he is to prepare for his journey, and that instructions be prepared for him if he goes. This I hope you will do. Will it be proper to call a meeting of the Society , or shall we have a meeting of a few individuals who are interested in this business? He says 3 or 4 Hundred dollars put into his hands at present will be sufficient....
18To Thomas Jefferson from David Rittenhouse, 3 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I was unwilling to ask a further Sum of money on account of the Mint until the Treasurer had obtained a Settlement of his Accounts at the Comptrollers Office, which is now done, to the 1st. of April last. This has obliged me to advance considerably for the Expenditures of the Mint, and I must request you to apply to the President for his Warrant for 5000 Dollars, in favour of the Mint. In...