101III. The Secretary of State to the President, 17 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of addressing you on the 2d. which I supposed would find you at Richmond, and again on the 10th. which I thought would overtake you at Wilmington. The present will probably find you at Charleston. According to what I mentioned in my letter of the 10th. the Vicepresident, Secretaries of the Treasury and war and myself met on the 11th. Colo. Hamilton presented a letter from Mr....
102To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 24 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 17th since which I have recieved yours of the 13th. I inclose you extracts from letters received from mister Short in one of the 7th of Feb. mister Short informs me that he has received a letter from mister de Montmorin, announcing to him that the King has named Ternant his minister here. the questions on our tobacco & oil have taken unfavorable turns....
103From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 24 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 17th. since which I have recieved yours of the 13th. I inclose you extracts from letters received from Mr. Short. In one of the 7th. of Feb. Mr. Short informs me that he has received a letter from Mr. de Montmorin, announcing to him that the King has named Ternant his minister here.—The questions on our tobacco and oil have taken unfavorable turns. The...
104To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 1 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 24th Ult. which I presume you will have recieved at Cambden. the present is ordered to go from Petersburg to Taylor’s ferry. I think it better my letters should be even some days ahead of you, knowing that if they ever get into your rear they will never overtake you. I write to day indeed merely as the watchman cries, to prove himself awake, & that all...
105From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of addressing you on the 24th. Ult. which I presume you will have recieved at Cambden. The present is ordered to go from Petersburg to Taylor’s ferry. I think it better my letters should be even some days ahead of you, knowing that if they ever get into your rear they will never overtake you.—I write to day indeed merely as the watchman cries, to prove himself awake, and that...
106To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 8 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
The last week does not furnish one single public event worthy communicating to you: so that I have only to say ‘all is well.’ Paine’s answer to Burke’s pamphlet begins to produce some squibs in our public papers. in Fenno’s paper they are Burkites, in the other Painites. one of Fenno’s was evidently from the author of the discourses on Davila. I am afraid the indiscretion of a printer has...
107II. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 8 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The last week does not furnish one single public event worthy communicating to you: so that I have only to say ‘all is well.’ Paine’s answer to Burke’s pamphlet begins to produce some squibs in our public papers. In Fenno’s paper they are Burkites, in the others Painites. One of Fenno’s was evidently from the author of the discourses on Davila. I am afraid the indiscretion of a printer has...
108To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
We are still without any occurrence foreign or domestic worth mentioning to you. it is somtime since any news has been recieved from Europe of the political kind, and I have been longer than common without any letters from mister Short. Colo. Hamilton has taken a trip to Bethlehem. I think to avail myself also of the present interval of quiet to get rid of a headach which is very troublesome,...
109From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 15 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
We are still without any occurrence foreign or domestic worth mentioning to you. It is sometime since any news has been recieved from Europe of the political kind, and I have been longer than common without any letters from Mr. Short. Colo. Hamilton has taken a trip to Bethlehem. I think to avail myself also of the present interval of quiet to get rid of a headach which is very troublesome, by...
110To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 5 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
In my last letter from Philadelphia, I mentioned that mister Madison & myself were about to take a trip up the North river as far as circumstances should permit, the levelness of the roads led us quite on to Lake George, where taking boat we went through that, and about 25 miles into Lake Champlain. returning then to Saratoga, we concluded to cross over thro’ Vermont to Connecticut river and...
111VII. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 5 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last letter from Philadelphia, I mentioned that Mr. Madison and myself were about to take a trip up the North river as far as circumstances should permit. The levelness of the roads led us quite on to Lake George, where taking boat we went through that, and about 25 miles into Lake Champlain. Returning then to Saratoga, we concluded to cross over thro’ Vermont to Connecticut river and go...
112To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 20 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 15th instant, & not a little mortified with the miscarriage of so many of my letters. they have been of the following dates[:] Mar. 27. Apr. 2. Apr. 10. Apr. 17. Apr. 24. May 1. May 8. May 15. June. 5. from Bennington. of these it appears that only the three first & that of May 15. had come to hand, & probably that of June 5. has been recieved ere this. those of...
113From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 20 June 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 15th. instant, and not a little mortified with the miscarriage of so many of my letters. They have been of the following dates Mar. 27. Apr. 24. Apr. 2. May 1. Apr. 10. May 8. Apr. 17. May.15. June. 5. from Bennington. Of these it appears that only the three first and that of May 15. had come to hand, and probably that of June 5. has been recieved ere this....
114To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 27 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to inclose to the President his letter to G. Morris, to which he will add any thing the President pleases by way of Postscript or by incorporating it into the letter. a ship sailing from hence for Havre on Monday Th: J. proposes to send his letters for France by that rather than by the French packet. LS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . The...
115From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 27 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to inclose to the President his letter to G. Morris, to which he will add any thing the President pleases by way of Postscript or by incorporating it into the letter.—A ship sailing from hence for Havre on Monday Th: J. proposes to send his letters for France by that rather than by the French packet. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of the U. S.”...
116To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 30 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to inclose for your perusal a letter which I have prepared for mister Short. The ill humour into which the French colonies are getting, & the little dependence on the troops sent thither, may produce a hesitation in the National assembly as to the conditions they will impose in their constitution, in a moment of hesitation small matters may influence their decision. they may...
117From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 30 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour to inclose for your perusal a letter which I have prepared for Mr. Short. The ill humour into which the French colonies are getting, and the little dependance on the troops sent thither, may produce a hesitation in the National assembly as to the conditions they will impose in their constitution. In a moment of hesitation small matters may influence their decision. They may...
118From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, [3 August 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President a note of such articles as he supposes will be interesting to Mr. Young, so far as he is enabled to do it with some degree of certainty. RC ( DLC : Washington Papers); undated, but date is established from that on enclosure and from entry in SJL reading: “[Aug.] 3. Washington Presidt. for Young.”
119Enclosure: Notes on Virginia Lands, 3 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The writer hereof is best acquainted with that tract of land which crosses Virginia from North East to South-West by the names of the Bull-run mountains, South-West mountains and Green mountains, and is generally 6 or 8 miles wide, one half of which is the mountain itself and therefore steep; the residue lies at the foot on each side, in large waving hills, perfectly accessible to the plough....
120To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to send for the President’s perusal, his letters to Govr Sinclair & Judge Symmes: as also letters received from the postmaster at Richmond on the subject of the two cross posts. he has gone further as to that towards the South Western territory, than Th: J.’s letter authorized, as he only submitted it to his enquiry & consideration whether a post along that rout...
121From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 7 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to send for the President’s perusal, his letters to Govr. Sinclair and Judge Symmes: as also letters received from the postmaster at Richmond on the subject of the two cross posts. He has gone further as to that towards the South Western territory, than Th: J’s letter authorized, as he only submitted it to his enquiry and consideration whether a post along that...
122To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 23 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia] 23 August 1791. Reports on the official communications from the secretary of the Northwest Territory from 1 Jan. to 30 June that “none of the said communications appear to require any thing to be done on the part of the Government of the United States; That they contain indeed the titles of several acts passed by the Territorial Legislature; but the Acts themselves not being yet...
123From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 23 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State has had under consideration the Official Communications from the Secretary of the Territory of the United States North-West of the River Ohio, from January 1st. to June 30th. 1791 inclusive: and thereupon reports to the President, that none of the said Communications appear to require any thing to be done on the part of the Government of the United States; that they...
124To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 8 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
We were detained on the road by the rains so that we did not arrive here till yesterday about two oclock. as soon as horses could be got ready, we set out & rode till dark, examining chiefly the grounds newly laid open, which we found much superior to what we had imagined. we have passed this day in consultation with the Commissioners, who having deliberated on every article contained in our...
125From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 8 September 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
We were detained on the road by the rains so that we did not arrive here till yesterday about two oclock. As soon as horses could be got ready, we set out and rode till dark, examining chiefly the grounds newly laid open, which we found much superior to what we had imagined. We have passed this day in consultation with the Commissioners, who having deliberated on every article contained in our...
126To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 23 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to subjoin the alteration he suggested in the last paragraph of the President’s speech. Having read Colo. Humphreys’ letters after mister Short’s he had been led into an erroneous arrangements of the facts they state. Colo. Humphreys’ letter mentioning the king’s refusal of the constitution is of Aug. 22. while it appears by mister Short’s letter of Aug. 30. that...
127From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 23 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to subjoin the alteration he suggested in the last paragraph of the President’s speech. Having read Colo. Humphreys’ letters after Mr. Short’s he had been led into an erroneous arrangement of the facts they state. Colo. Humphreys’ letter mentioning the king’s refusal of the constitution is of Aug. 22. while it appears by Mr. Short’s letter of Aug. 30. that it had...
128Report on Census, 24 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
SCHEDULE of the whole number of Persons within the several Districts of the United States, taken according to “An Act providing for the Enumeration of the Inhabitants of the United States;” passed March the 1 st , 1790. districts. Free white Males of
129To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 6 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to inclose you a draught of a letter to Governor Pinkney, & to observe that I suppose it to be proper that there should, on fit occasions, be a direct correspondence between the President of the U.S. and the Governors of the states; and that it will probably be grateful to them to recieve from the President answers to the letters they address to him. the correspondence with...
130From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 6 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honour to inclose you a draught of a letter to Governor Pinkney, and to observe that I suppose it to be proper that there should, on fit occasions, be a direct correspondence between the President of the U.S. and the Governors of the states; and that it will probably be grateful to them to recieve from the President answers to the letters they address to him. The correspondence with...
131To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have duly considered the letter you were pleased to refer to me, of the 18th of August from his Excellency Governor [Charles] Pinckney to yourself, together with the draught of one proposed to be written by him to the Governor of Florida claiming the redelivery of certain fugitives from justice who have been received in that Country. The inconveniencies of such a receptacle for debtors and...
132From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 7 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly considered the letter you were pleased to refer to me, of the 18th. of August from his Excellency Governor Pinckney to yourself, together with the draught of one proposed to be written by him to the Governor of Florida claiming the redelivery of certain fugitives from justice who have been received in that Country. The inconveniencies of such a receptacle for debtors and...
133From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 8 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honour to inclose you a report on the lands of the U.S. within the North Western and South Western territories, unclaimed either by Indians, or by citizens of these states. In order to make the estimate of their quantity and situation, as desired by the legislature, it appeared necessary first to delineate the Indian boundaries which circumscribe those territories, and then to...
134Enclosure: Report on Public Lands, 8 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom was referred by the President of the United States, the resolution of Congress requesting the President “to cause an estimate to be laid before Congress at their next session, of the quantity and situation of the lands not claimed by the Indians, nor granted to, nor claimed by, any citizens of the United States within the territory ceded to the United States by...
135To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia] 10 Nov. 1791. Sends a copy of a report he has prepared for the Senate. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . On 3 Nov. the U.S. Senate requested the secretary of state to prepare a report on the petition presented by John Mangnall on 2 Nov. requesting a pension and compensation for losses during the Revolutionary War ( Annals of Congress Joseph Gales, Sr., comp....
136To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 10 Nov. 1791. After examining the enclosed papers relating to the land purchase of John Cleves Symmes on the Great Miami River, he thinks it proper to lay them before Congress, to demonstrate not only the foundation of Symmes’s larger claim but also the “expediency of providing some speedy and regular mode of deciding this and other questions of a like nature which might arise...
137From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 10 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly examined the inclosed papers relating to the purchase by judge Symmes of the lands on the Great Miami, and think it will be proper to lay them before the legislature. They will thereby see the foundation of the larger claim of this purchaser mentioned in the report I have had the honour of presenting to you, and also the expediency of providing some speedy and regular mode of...
138To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of state, to whom has been referred by the President of the United States the Report of the proceedings in the Executive department of the North Western territory, for the month of July 1791, made by the Secretary of the said territory, thereupon Reports That the letter of July 12. 1791. therein entered, having been already communicated to the legislature of the United states,...
139From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 14 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of state, to whom has been referred by the President of the United States, the Report of the proceedings in the Executive department of the North Western territory, for the month of July 1791. made by the Secretary of the said territory, thereupon Reports That the letter of July 12. 1791. therein entered, having been already communicated to the legislature of the United states,...
140To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 21 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 21 Nov. 1791. Encloses a copy of his report of this day to the House of Representatives on the petition of Jacob Isaacks, noting: “it is printed on the back of a Permit in order to shew that the proposition therein made is perfectly practicable.” ALS , NUtM ; ALS (letterpress copy), DLC : Thomas Jefferson Papers; LB , DLC:GW ; copy, DNA : RG 59, Domestic Letters.
141From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 26 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Questions to be considered of. I. As to France. Shall it be proposed to M. de Ternan, to form a treaty, ad referendum, to this effect. ‘The citizens of the U. S. and of France, their vessels, productions and manufactures shall be received and considered, each in all the dominions of the other, as if they were the native citizens, or the ships; productions or manufactures of that other. And the...
142To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 1 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President and sends him a draught of letters to Majr L’Enfant & the Commissioners, prepared on a conference with mister Madison. perhaps the former may be too severe. it was observed however, that tho’ the president’s sentiments conveyed to him thro’ mister Lear, were serious, & ought to have produced an effect on him, he gave them the go-by in his...
143From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President and sends him a draught of letters to Majr. L’Enfant and the Commissioners, prepared on a conference with Mr. Madison. Perhaps the former may be too severe. It was observed however, that tho’ the president’s sentiments conveyed to him thro’ Mr.Lear, were serious and ought to have produced an effect on him, he gave them the go-by in his...
144To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 11 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have given you the trouble of more reading on the subject of Major Lenfant’s letter, than you perhaps intended. I have done it from an apprehension that your mind might not be thoroughly satisfied whether he was not equally justifiable in the demolition of mister Carrol’s house, as in the demolition of trees & other obstacles, which he urges in his own justification. the truth is that...
145From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 11 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have given you the trouble of more reading on the subject of Major Lenfant’s letter, than you perhaps intended. I have done it from an apprehension that your mind might not be thoroughly satisfied whether he was not equally justifiable in the demolition of Mr. Carrol’s house, as in the demolition of trees and other obstacles, which he urges in his own justification. The truth is that without...
146Enclosure: Observations on L’Enfant’s Letter, 11 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Observations on Majr. L’enfant’s letter of Dec. 7. 1791. to the President, justifying his demolition of the house of Mr. Carrol of Duddington. He says that ‘Mr. Carrol erected his house partly on a main street, and altogether on ground to which the public had a more immediate title than himself could claim.’ When blaming Mr. Carrol then he considers this as a street; but when justifying...
147Memorandum of Thomas Jefferson, 12 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
The discussions which are opening between mister Hammond & our government, have as yet looked towards no objects but those which depend on the treaty of peace. there are however other matters to be arranged between the two governments, some of which do not rest on that treaty. the following is a statement of the whole of them. 1. The Western posts. 2. the Negroes carried away. 3. the debt of...
148Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the U.S. and sends him the letter he has prepared for mister Hammond relative to his Commercial commission. he also incloses the rough draught of the one he has prepared on the subject of the treaty of peace, with the documents he proposes to communicate in support of the facts. the 1st of these (the Substance of the Conference &c.) is...
149From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 13 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the U.S. and sends him the letter he has prepared for Mr. Hammond relative to his Commercial commission. He also incloses the rough draught of the one he has prepared on the subject of the treaty of peace, with the documents he proposes to communicate in support of the facts. The 1st. of these (the Substance of the Conference &c.) is...
150To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to submit to the President a letter from Mr de Viar, with the answer he has prepared to it, and a letter in consequence for Colo. Humphreys. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosures were the Spanish chargé José Ignacio de Viar’s letter to Thomas Jefferson of 12 Dec. and Jefferson’s reply of 13 Dec., as well as Jefferson’s letter to...