1From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 16 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
It has become considerably important, in the dispute between mr Ross & myself, to ascertain when the bonds taken at the Elkhill sale were payable. the sale was Feb. 1. 1785. Norris’s & Selden’s bonds were assigned to him, and as they are to be turned into tobacco at the time they were payable, & tobacco varied in it’s price remarkably that year, the time of paiment is very interesting. your...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 30 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Believing that the letters of mr Gerry & Taleyrand will give you pleasure to peruse I send you a copy. you will percieve by them the anxiety of the government of France for a reconciliation with us, & mr Gerry’s belief of their sincerity, & that they were ready to have made a liberal treaty with us. you will also see by mr Pickering’s report that we are determined to believe no declarations...
3From George Washington to Nicholas Lewis, 16 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
While I acknowledge that all power is derived from the people, and that the Federal Government has been instituted for their happiness, I cannot but unite in the attachment expressed by the freemen of Albemarle to the Constitution of the U. States. Harmony with foreign Nations is a blessing which we ought to prize & to cherish; & from a desire of cultivating it the proclamation was issued....
4Receipt for Nicholas Lewis, 25 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Recieved from Colo. Nicholas Lewis the books and papers relative to my affairs and his superintendance of them from 1783. to this day and I hereby give him a full acquittal and discharge thereof and of all balances and demands on account of the same. Witness my hand the day and year above written. MS (Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, on deposit ViU ); entirely in TJ’s hand; endorsed by...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 12 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Unremitting business must be my apology, as it is really the true one, for my having been longer without writing to you than my affections dictated. I am never a day without wishing myself with you, and more and more as the fine sun shine comes on, which seems made for all the world but me. Congress will rise about the 21st. They have past the Representation bill at one for 33,000. which gives...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 11 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I omitted to mention in my memorandum about the sale that if any ready money should be recieved, about £70. of it should be paid to Dr. Currie, and the residue, as far as £300. to Dobson. It is not probable so much will be received, if any, therefore it would be useless to say that any further sum should be paid to Hanson. Mr. Tom Cobbs applied to me to-day about 2. hhds. of tobo. carried down...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 24 September 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the bonds of Woodson & Lewis and Lewis & Ware, as also Woodson’s note, and a statement of Lewis’s debt for the rent of Elkhill. Calculating the interest on each of them to the last day of this month, they stand thus. Principal Interest Whole amount Woodson & Lewis on their bond £172–17–7 + £22–17–0 = £215–14– 7 Woodson. On his note 6– 7–0 + 1– 7–3 = 7–14– 3 (Lewis &...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 26 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return here from a journey of a month I found a letter of Mr. Hylton’s dated May 29. informing me there were yet but 2 more hhds. of my tobo. arrived at Richmond (after the 17 which he had sent.) Uneasy at this, from the engagement I had entered into here, in my letter of two or three days ago to my daughter, I desired her to have this mentioned to you lest there should be a stoppage of...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 16 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
When I wrote to Mr. Randolph yesterday I did not think I should have time to write to you, and therefore put into his letter some articles for you to which I must refer you. The present is merely to cover a letter of John Jefferson’s which will explain to you his request to be still assisted in the recovery of his rights. I will thank you to have him furnished with what may be necessary to...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 4 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
A little intermission of public business on the separation of Congress and departure of the President permits me now to turn my attention for a moment to my own affairs. Finding that good tobacco sold tolerably well here, and being assured that the tobacco of the red lands in Albemarle and Bedford were perfectly known here, and commanded always the highest price, I wrote to Mr. Hylton at...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 9 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been so closely engaged ever since the meeting of Congress as never to have had a moment to write to you. I think it might be well to advertize my lands at Elkhill for sale, and therefore inclose you the form of an advertisement, in which you will observe I have omitted the name of the proprietor, which as long as I am in public I would wish to keep out of view in every thing of a...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 9 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I omitted in my Memorandums to mention 2. boxes of books marked T.I. No. 1. and No. 2. which are packed, and a box containing a Spinet which the carpenters have to put a top to, which when done I have taken the liberty to direct shall be carried to your house, and perhaps when there you had better order the same person to go on with [them] to Charlottesville, from whence they may be better...
13Memorandum for Nicholas Lewis, [ca. 7 November 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Randolph and my daughters being to remain at Monticello, are to be furnished with whatever the plantations will furnish, to wit, corn, fodder, wheat, what beeves there may be, shoats, milch cows, fire-wood to be cut by the plantation negroes, and brought in by the mule-cart or ox-cart. Tom or Phill to go to mill for the house as usual. They are to have also the use of the house-servants,...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 8 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress have resolved to rise the day after tomorrow and if nothing unforeseen happens, I think I may be at Monticello from the 1st. to the 8th. or 10th. of September, where I hope to remain a month. I have this day written to Mr. Brown of Richmond to send up some necessaries for which I shall have occasion during my stay. We must once more trouble our neighbors on the score of beds. If the...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 4 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 13th. of June. The Senate have passed the bill for fixing the residence of Congress at Philadelphia for ten years, and then permanently at Georgetown. It has been read once or twice in the H. of representatives and will be ultimately decided on the day after tomorrow. I believe it will pass there by a considerable majority. I imagine we shall remove from hence early in...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 13 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I should sooner have acknoleged the receipt of Mrs. Lewis’s kind letter of Apr. 14 . but for a periodical headach which attacked me the 1st. of May, and has not yet quitted me entirely; tho since the first week it has been very moderate, and now is almost nothing. I sincerely rejoice to hear of your recovery, which judge Wilson assures me of. I inclose a few grains of high-land rice which I...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 11 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be delivered you by Mr. Garland Jefferson, a relation of mine, who has been strongly recommended to me for his worth and genius. Having just finished his education, it is become necessary for him to think of some calling by which he may support himself, and the misfortunes of his father have left him without the means even of preparing himself for a calling. As his inclination is...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 4 May 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by Judge Wilson, a member of the Supreme federal court, who includes Charlottesville in his present circuit. His name and reputation are sufficiently known to you to render all recommendation unnecessary from me. As I know he will have a pleasure in your acquaintance, and he is worthy yours, I take the liberty of giving him this line of introduction to you. He will make...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 7 March 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Some things have occurred since I left Albemarle on which it will be necessary for me to trouble you. Colo. Rob. Lewis is so near agreeing to the purchase of my lands in Cumberland that I think he will do it. The terms I proposed to him were 20/ sterl. an acre taking his own time but paying interest from the start. On an explanation of the monies he could command, our idea was that he should...
20From James Madison to [Nicholas Lewis?], 25 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
In a letter of March 15. from Mr. Jefferson I am requested to communicate to you the result of his application for leave to make a visit to America. The application was made long ago, but never decided on under the old Congress, nor taken up under the present Government till a few days ago. His wish is now complied with and notice that he has leave of absence will be forwith transmitted...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 16 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Mine of July 11. acknoleged the receipt of yours of April 15. The necessity that my daughters should now return to their own country, and an unwillingness to trust them to such a voiage without being with them, has induced me to ask of Congress a leave of absence for 5. or 6. months of the next year. If I obtain it in time, I propose to embark in the month of April, and to pass two months at...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 11 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 20. 1787. came to hand some time ago; that of Apr. 15. 1788 I received last night. I had just written to Mr. Eppes on the subject of my affairs, and intended writing to you to-day. The opportune arrival of the last letter enables me to answer both at the same time. I am much pleased that you approve of my plan of hiring my estate. Besides that the profit will be greater, it...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 17 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 29th. of July. It appeared probable at that time that the affairs of Holland would involve Europe in war. They have become more difficult since, and to render this issue still more inevitable war has been actually declared by the Turks against the Russians, and that under such circumstances as render all accomodation hopeless. How the powers of Europe will arrange...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 29 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Dec. 19. 1786. I informed you that, as you had supposed in your’s of March 14. that the balance of bonds and profits of the estate to that time would pay all the debts then known to you except my sister Nancy’s, I was desirous of laying our shoulder seriously to the paiment of Farrell & Jones’s, and McCaul’s debts; that I should make propositions to them on that subject: I did...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 19 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favors of March 14. and July 16. My last to you was of Apr. 22. from London. I am obliged to you for the particular account you give me of my affairs, and the state of the cash account made out by the steward. His articles however were generally so shortly expressed as to be quite unintelligible to me. Of this kind are the following. To James Foster and Benjamin...
26From James Madison to Nicholas Lewis, 4 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 4 November 1786. Mentioned in Nicholas Lewis’s letter of 26 November 1786 to JM . Included Walker Maury’s account against Jefferson for the tuition and board of Peter Carr.
27From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 22 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I was called here about six weeks ago on public business, and am now again within three or four days of my departure for France. All attempts to induce this nation to enter into such arrangements as may place our commerce on equal terms, are absolutely fruitless. This is now decided. They think they can have our trade on their own terms. They rely that the Southern states will never interest...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 6 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 11th. of May 1785. by Monsieur de Doradour. We have never heard a tittle of him, which has placed his family in the greatest inquietudes. I infer his safe arrival in Virginia from information sent me by Mr. Madison of the receipt of a book which I had sent by him. I communicated this circumstance to Madame de Doradour, but if you can give me a particular account of his...
29[From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 11 May – 3 June 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 11 May-3 June 1785 . Entry in SJL reads: “N. Lewis. Recommending Doradour. My appointment. Not keep long. Have porticos covered with shed roof. Take care of stuff sawed. Key to send me annually his cash account-send two cones of Cedar of Lebanon. Anthony to plant them in a nursery. Anthony to write me a full state of his proceedings since I left home. Send some trifles to Mrs. L....
30[From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 11 November 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 11 Nov. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “N. Lewis. Country along Seine—abjection of people—war in Europe—pears, goose berries, apricots better; cherries and grapes equal: peaches, nectarines, apples, strawberries, raspberries inferior to ours—Anthony to graft Balyal’s peaches, white, red, and yellow plumb and the fine soft and supply vacancies now and future. To take up such peach trees as...
31[From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 1 July 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Boston, 1 July 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “N. Lewis Sell Raleigh, Odin, chariot—Bob chuse master—P. and D. Carr—improve ground in park for fruit trees—wood zone—grass in steep fields Monticello—sarsaparilla, Seneca rattlesnake root, ginseng to Mr. St. John.” Not found; entry is at bottom of page in SJL and last line almost illegible.]
32[From Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Lewis, 9 May 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 9 May 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “N. Lewis. Inclosing power of Attorney. 1. Debts. 2. Improvements. 3. Lands and negroes. Buchanan to receive letters &c. for me.” Letter not found, but for a copy of enclosure, see following document.]
33From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Walker, John Walker, and Nicholas Lewis, 5 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of inclosing to you a resolution of council requesting you to carry into execution the desire of Congress as to the settlement of Colo. Wood’s accounts. I am with much respect & esteem Gent. Your most obedt. humble servt. RC ( ViU ); addressed: “Doctr. Walker John Walker Nicholas Lewis esqrs. Albemarle.” For the enclosure and the events leading up to the appointment of the...