1From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 10 April 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 1 st instant, and am happy to learn that we are likely to have a good biography of the late judge M c Kean. altho’ we served together in revolutionary scenes, and after these in others equally trying, yet length of time and the wane of memory have left me no recollections which would be worth noting. the general remembrance can never be obliterated that...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 24 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 21st. is duly recieved. it is on a subject the most difficult of all we have to act on. my idea is that the mass of our countrymen, even of those who call themselves Federalists, are republican. they differ from us but in a shade of more or less power to be given to the Executive or Legislative organ. they were decoyed into the net of the Monarchists by the XYZ contrivance....
3From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 9 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Beckley informs me he has proposed himself to your notice in the disposal of offices in this state. his long residence here has given you such opportunities of personal knolege of him that it is unnecessary to supply that: otherwise I should add with pleasure & truth my testimony of the talents, diligence & integrity with which he has conducted himself in office, and of his zealous...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 20 December 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of receiving a letter from your excellency desiring that application might be made to Colo. Arthur Campbell of Washington for certain papers taken on his expedition against the Cherokees, and described, in his relation of that, as the Archives of the nation. The application was immediately made, and he has transmitted to me the packet which accompanies this , with a promise of...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 26 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 21st. and thank you for the communication it contained. I value it as a historical fact, as well as a strong evidence of the obligations I am under for the partiality of my country men to me: but rejoice with you that the views of the constitution were otherwise fulfilled. satisfied that the departure of the Chevr. d’Yrujo & his family must be a...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 19 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 14th. and have this morning sent it on to Genl. Dearborne as I had before done several applications for the same office, leaving to him to chuse among them. the office calls for a good deal of mercantile qualification: if Colo. Miles possesses this also it will add to the advantages of his competition. Neither the subject of the application which you...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 23 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
As you have been so friendly as to transmit to the President of the U.S. the papers of Philip Wilson, I take the liberty of availing myself of the same channel to convey to him the opinion of the Attorney general in answer to his application. I do this the rather as not knowing how to address to him. I have the honour to be with real marks of the highest respect & esteem Sir Your most obedt. &...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 9 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Feb. 20. and to thank you for your congratulations on the event of the election. had it terminated in the elevation of mr Burr, every republican would I am sure have acquiesced in a moment; because, however it might have been variant from the intentions of the voters, yet it would have been agreeable to the constitution. no man would more...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 4 August 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of June the 15th . with which your Excellency was pleased to honor me came unfortunately when I was absent on a journey to the county of Bedford an hundred miles Southward of this. I there received it on the 9th. of July, and a return to this place was necessary to furnish me certain informations on which depended materially my powers to obey the wishes of Congress. This return was...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 3 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure to acknolege the reciept of your last favor , and I assure you with truth that the rumors set about by designing persons, & which are the subject of your letter, were perfectly understood by me, & made not the least impression. a long life spent in the service of the public & going always directly and openly to it’s object, is better evidence to me of your conduct than...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 30 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Mr. William Short purposing to Philadelphia for the prosecution of his studies, I do myself the honor under authority of the acquaintance I had the pleasure of forming with you in Philadelphia, of introducing him to your notice, persuaded that should you give him an opportunity of being known to you, you will think it a circumstance not merely indifferent to add to the number of...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 17 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 8th. but the act of ratification which it announces, is not yet come to hand. no doubt it is on it’s way. that great opposition is and will be made by federalists to this amendment is certain. they know that if it prevails, neither a Presidt. or Vice President can ever be made but by the fair vote of the majority of the nation, of which they are not. that...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 19 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 7th. inst. has been duly recieved. the late election in Pensylvania has to be sure been a triumphant proof of the progress of the republican spirit: and must afford great consolation to yourself personally, as a mark of the public approbation of your administration. I believe we may consider the mass of the states South & West of Connecticut & Massachusets as now a consolidated...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 24 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The National legislature, by an Act, at their last session, for laying out & making a road from Cumberland, in Maryland to the State of Ohio, Authorised the President to appoint Commissioners for laying it out in such direction as they should judge proper, & he should approve: & the President, after obtaining the consent of the States through which it should be laid out, was authorised to take...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 7 September 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 20’th Ult. inclosing a duplicate of the resolution of Congress which honoured me with an appointment is just come to hand. I received the Original on the 9th. of July, and was prevented answering it till the 4th. of Aug. by accidents which I therein endeavored to explain. This answer I took the liberty of putting under cover to the honble. Majr. Genl. Marquis la...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 2 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have long waited for an opportunity to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Dec. 15. as well as of that by Doctr. Mendenhall . none occurring I shall either deliver the present to Genl. Muhlenburg or put it under cover to Doctr. Wistar to whom I happen to be writing, to be sent to your house in Philadelphia or forwarded confidentially to Lancaster. The event of the election is still in...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 14 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 12th. came to hand last night. while making out the commissions of bankruptcy the newspapers informed me of the death of your son, on which event I sincerely condole with you. his name was therefore omitted and another inserted so as to compleat the number before the reciept of your letter recommending mr Pettit. Though I take for granted that the colonisation of Louisiana by...