31To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter from General Greene dated Guilford C. house Feby 10. we are informed that Lord Cornwallis had burnt his own waggons in order to enable himself to move with greater facility & had pressed immediately on. the prisoners taken at the Cowpens were happily saved by the accidental rise of a watercourse which gave so much time as to withdraw them from the reach of the enemy. Lord...
32To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 26 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I gave you information in my last letter that Genl Greene had cross’d the Dan, at Boid’s ferry, and that L[or]d Cornwallis had arrived at the opposite shore. large reinforcements of militia having embodied both in the front & rear of the enemy, he is retreating with as much rapidity as he advanced. his route is towards Hilsborough. Genl Greene cross’d the Dan the 21st in pursuit of him. I have...
33To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 6 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 3d is this moment put into my hands, and as the post does not usually stay here above an hour, it leaves me time to scribble a few lines only, scarcely admitting them to be prefaced with an acknowlegement of the pleasure it will give me to be permitted to communicate with you occasionnally. we received dispatches from Europe yesterday, by Capt. Barney. there is no news but in...
34To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
Since my last nothing new has occurred. I suppose the crippled state of Congress is not new to you. we have only 9 states present, 8 of whom are represented by two members each, and of course, on all great questions not only an unanimity of states but of members is necessary, an unanimity which never can be obtained on a matter of any importance, the consequence is that we are wasting our time...
35To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 31 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your servant delivered me your favor this morning; Capt. Barney is gone to Philadelphia and his vessel to Baltimore, having left with me one of your packages only. the persons who brought this could give me no certain account of the other package which you suppose to have been brought. this your servant now receives. Being obliged to seize a moment in Congress of writing you these few lines, I...
36To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
I am obliged to you for your query as to the distance from New York to Cayahoga, as it has occasioned my reexamination of that matter & detection of an error of 150 miles. the distances from New York to Niagara I collect from information as follows. from N. York to Albany 164 miles Oneida 165 Oswego 171 Niagara 180 680 from Niagara to Cayahoga 140 820 This last distance [from Niagara to...
37To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 16 April 1784 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 8th inst. by Colo. Harrison. the subject of it is interesting, and, so far as you have stood connected with it, has been matter of anxiety to me: because whatever may be the ultimate fate of the institution of the Cincinnati, as in it’s course it draws to it some degree of disapprobation I have wished to see you stand on ground separated from it; & that the...
38To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
Every thing on this side the water seems to indicate a certainty of war. the Emperor seems decided in not receding from the right to navigate the Scheld; & the Dutch as determined not to yeild it. I suppose that this court & that of Berlin will take part with the Dutch, the Turks of course become parties in a war against the Emperor: & it seems as probable that the Empress of Russia will join...
39To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
Mr Houdon would much sooner have had the honour of attending you but for a spell of sickness which long gave us to despair of his recovery & from which he is but recently recovered. he comes now for the purpose of lending the aid of his art to transmit you to posterity. he is without rivalship in it, being employed from all parts of Europe in whatever is capital. he has had a difficulty to...
40To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to add, what I forgot in my former letter, a request to you to be so kind as to communicate to me what you can recollect of Bushnel’s experiments in submarine navigation during the late war, and whether you think his method capable of being used successfully for the destruction of vessels of war. It’s not having been actually used for this purpose by us, who were so peculiarly in...
41To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 January 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of Sep. 26 which was delivered me by Mr Houdon, who is safely returned. he has brought with him the mould of the face only, having left the other parts of his work, with his workmen to come by some other conveiance. Doctor Franklin, who was joined with me in the superintendance of this just monument, having left us before what is called the costume of the...
42To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 January 1786 (Washington Papers)
A conversation with the Count de Rochambeau yesterday obliges me to write a supplementary letter to that of the 4th instant. he informs me that he has had applications for paiment from the person who furnished the badges for the Cincinnati, as well the Americans as French. that this person informed him they were not paid for, that he had furnished them indeed on the application of major...
43To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
The house of Le Coulteux, which for centuries has been the wealthiest of this place, has it in contemplation to establish a great company for the fur trade. they propose that partners interested one half in the establishment should be American citizens, born & residing in the U.S. yet if I understood them rightly they expect that that half of the company which resides here should make the...
44To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14–15 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
I was happy to find by the letter of Aug. 1 1786 which you did me the honour to write me, that the modern dress for your statue would meet your approbation. I found it strongly the sentiment of West, Copeley, Trumbul & Brown in London, after which it would be ridiculous to add that it was my own. I think a modern in an antique dress as just an object of ridicule as an Hercules or Marius with a...
45To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 2 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your Excellency’s letter by the last packet & thank you for the information it contained on the communication between the Cayahoga & Big beaver. I have ever considered the opening a canal between those two watercourses as the most important work in that line which the state of Virginia could undertake. it will infallibly turn thro the Patowmack all the commerce of Lake Erie...
46To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 31. came to hand yesterday; and a confidential conveiance offering, by the way of London, I avail myself of it to acknolege the receipt. I have seen, with infinite pleasure, our new constitution accepted by 11 states, not rejected by the 12th and that the 13th happens to be a state of the least importance. it is true that the minorities in most of the accepting states have...
47To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 5 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
I this moment discover that I have dated my letter of yesterday Nov. 4. instead of Dec. 4. tho’ the letter be gone out of my hands I hope the present will reach the bearer of it in time to accompany that, and to prevent the embarrasment of dates which it might otherwise occasion. I have only to repeat assurances of the sentiments of esteem & respect with which I have the honor to be Your...
48To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknolege the honor of your two letters of Nov. 27 and Feb. 13 both of which have come to hand since my last to you of Dec. 4 and 5. the details you are so good as to give me on the subject of the navigation of the waters of the Patowmac and Ohio are very pleasing to me, as I consider the union of those two rivers as among the strongest links of connection between the eastern &...
49To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received at this place the honour of your letters of Oct. 13 and Nov. 30 and am truly flattered by your nomination of me to the very dignified office of Secretary of state: for which permit me here to return you my humble thanks. Could any circumstance seduce me to overlook the disproportion between it’s duties & my talents it would be the encouragement of your choice. but when I...
50To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received the letter of the 21st of January with which you have honored me, and no longer hesitate to undertake the office to which you are pleased to call me. your desire that I should come on as quickly as possible is a sufficient reason for me to postpone every matter of business, however pressing, which admits postponement. still it will be the close of the ensuing week before I...
51To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 1 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inform the President that mr Madison has just delivered to him the result of his reflections on the question How shall communications from the several states to Congress through the channel of the President be made ? “he thinks that in no case would it be proper to go by way of letter from the Secretary of state: that they should be delivered to the houses either...
52To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 5 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jefferson has the honor of inclosing for the perusal of the President rough draughts of the letters he supposes it proper to send to the court of France on the present occasion. he will have that of waiting on him in person immediately to make any changes in them the President will be so good as to direct, and to communicate to him two letters just received from mr Short. AL , DNA : RG 59,...
53To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 24 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Constitution having declared that the President “shall nominate, & by & with the advice & consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors other public ministers & consuls” the President desires my opinion whether the Senate has a right to negative the grade he may think it expedient to use in a foreign mission, as well as the person to be appointed? I think the Senate has no right to...
54To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 29 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jefferson has the honor to submit to the President draughts of letters to mr Short and the Marquis de la Luzerne. as to the former he asks his attention to the paragraph respecting the devices for the Medal. he hopes he will change and accomodate the letter to M. de la Luzerne to his own ideas of the part that gentleman acted, & of the length proper to go in expressing our sense of it. the...
55To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
The state of Georgia having granted to certain companies of individuals a tract of country within their chartered limits, whereof the Indian right has never yet been acquired, with a proviso in the grant which implies that those individuals may take measures for extinguishing the Indian right under the authority of that government, it becomes a question How far this grant is good? A society...
56To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
a letter is received from Mr Dumas, begun Dec. 4 & ending Jan. 26. the only interesting passage is the following “I have the satisfaction to be able to testify that the American funds are in great favor with the monied men of this country. I have seen them sell from one to another the obligations of the Congress of the first loan at 100.¾ per cent; those of the last of 1788. at 99 to 100....
57Memorandum of Thomas Jefferson, 7 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
North Carolina. District judge. Colo. Davie is recommended by Steele. Hawkins sais he is their first law character. Brown sais the same. Samuel Spencer. Steele sais he is a good man, one of the present judges, not remarkeable for his abilities, but deserves well of his country. Bloodworth sais Spencer desires the appointment. but sais nothing of him. John Stokes. Steele names him at his own...
58To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose for the President’s perusal a letter from Mr Gouverneur Morris on the subject of our affairs in Amsterdam; the observations are worthy being known to the President. Mr Howell of Rhode island has imposed on him the duty also of putting into his hands the letter & papers from him. the printed papers are merely to prove his dispositions enounced in the...
59To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
(Translation.) Means which the Congress may make use of in order to force the Regencies of Barbary to make Peace with them. The Flag of the United States cannot be displayed ’till after the Congress shall have made peace with the Regencies of Barbary. The consideration of the advantages which the anglo-americans would derive from this navigation, have already induced the Congress to attempt...
60To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th. Jefferson had a conference yesterday with mister Madison on the subject recommended by the President. he has the honor of inclosing him some considerations thereon, in all of which he believes mister Madison concurred. he has sketched the heads only, as the President’s mind will readily furnish the developement of each. he will wait on the president at one aclock on some other business,...
61Enclosure: Jefferson’s Opinion of American Conduct in an Anglo-Spanish War, 12 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
Heads of consideration on the conduct we are to observe in the war between Spain & Gr. Britain and particularly should the latter attempt the conquest of Louisiana & the Floridas. The dangers to us, should Great Britain possess herself of those countries. she will possess a territory equal to half ours, beyond the Missisipi she will seduce that half of ours which is on this side the Missisipi...
62To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have formed an opinion, quite satisfactory to myself, that the adjournments of Congress may be by law, as well as by resolution, without touching the constitution. I am now copying fair what I had written yesterday on the subject & will have the honor of laying it before you by ten aclock. the address to the President contains a very full digest of all the arguments urged against the bill on...
63To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
The bill on the intercourse with foreign nations restrains the President from allowing to Ministers plenipotentiary or to Chargés more than 9000. and 4500. Dollars for their “personal services & other expences.” this definition of the objects for which the allowance is provided, appearing vague, the Secretary of state thought it his duty to confer with the gentlemen heretofore employed as...
64To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 22 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th. Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the extract he desired from his letter of May 4. 1787. He finds by a note, which he does not know however where he got, that the city of Mexico is about 200. miles from the sea. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . Ever since Alexander Hamilton’s July conversations with Major Beckwith about the Anglo-Spanish war crisis,...
65To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 8 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th. Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the following papers. 1. the secret letter & paper of Aug. 2. for mister Carmichael. 2. the secret letter for the Chevalr de Pinto. 3. a letter for mister Joshua Johnson. on supposition that, delivering them himself to Colo. Humphreys, he might wish to comment to him on their contents, and particularly as to the 1st to qualify such of the...
66To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 26 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
On consideration of the letter of our bankers of Jan. 25. 1790. the Secretary of the Treasury’s answer to it, and the draught of powers and instructions to him. I am of opinion, as I always have been, that the purchase of our debt to France by private speculators would have been an operation extremely injurious to our credit; and that the consequence foreseen by our bankers, that the...
67To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Opinion on the Questions stated in the President’s note of August 27. 1790. I am so deeply impressed with the magnitude of the dangers which will attend our government if Louisiana & the Floridas be added to the British empire, that in my opinion we ought to make ourselves parties in the general war expected to take place, should this be the only means of preventing the calamity. But I think...
68To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 29 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
On considering more fully the question Whether it will be expedient to Notify to Ld Dorchester the real object of the expedition preparing by Governor St. Clair, I still think it will not be expedient. for If the Notification be early, he will get the Indians out of the way, & defeat our object. If it be so late, as not to leave him time to withdraw them before our stroke be struck, it will...
69Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 29 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Proceedings to be had under the Residence act. a territory not exceeding 10. miles square (or, I presume, 100 square miles in any form) to be located, by metes and bounds. 3. commissioners to be appointed. I suppose them not entitled to any salary. [If they live near the place they may, in some instances, be influenced by self interest, & partialities: but they will push the work with zeal. if...
70Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 14 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
In conversations with mister Carrol, mister Stoddard and mister Dickens they were properly impressed with the idea that if the present occasion of securing the Federal seat on the Patowmack should be lost, it could never more be regained, that it would be dangerous to rely on any aids from Congress, or the assemblies of Virginia or Maryland, & that therefore measures should be adopted to carry...
71To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
In the course of the visit we made the day we left Mount Vernon, we drew our host into conversation on the subject of the federal seat. he came into it with a shyness not usual in him. whether this proceeded from his delicacy as having property adjoining George town, or from what other motive I cannot say. he quitted the subject always as soon as he could. he said enough however to shew his...
72To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 27 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had intended to have set out about this time for Philadelphia, but the desire of having mister Madison’s company, who cannot return for some days yet, and a belief that nothing important requires my presence at Philadelphia as yet, induce me to postpone my departure to the 8th of the ensuing month, so that it will be about the 12th before I can have the honor of waiting on you at Mount...
73To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 29 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
Note of letters recieved. Mr Short. July 16. a private letter in which he says it is true that the Queen of Portugal has appointed mr Freire her Minister resident for the U.S. Ignatius Palyart. Philadelphia. Oct. 5. announcing his commission as Consul general for the Queen of Portugal in the U.S. Dumas. Hague. May 26.—July 10.—July 26. nothing new. Nathaniel Gilman. Exeter Sep. 10. } accepting...
74To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 9 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have now the honour to return you the letter from the President of the Assembly of representatives for the community of Paris to the President and members of Congress, which you had recieved from the President of the Senate with the opinion of that house that it should be opened by you, and their request that you would communicate to Congress such parts of it as in your opinion might be...
75To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of state having had under his consideration the journal of the proceedings of the Executive in the Northwestern territory, thinks it his duty to extract therefrom, for the notice of the President of the U.S. the articles of Apr. 25. June 6. 28. & 29. some of which are hereto annexed. Concieving that the regulations, purported in these articles, are beyond the competence of the...
76To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of state having had under consideration the two letters of Oct. 13. 1789. from the President of the U.S. to mr Gouverneur Morris, & those from mr Morris to the President of Jan. 22. Jan. 22. Apr. 7. 13. May. 1. 29. July 3. Aug. 16. & Sep. 18. referred to him by the President, makes the following Report thereon. The President’s letters of Jan. 22. authorized mr Morris to enter...
77To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 22 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th. Jefferson has the honor to inform the President that his letter to Gouverneur Morris is dated December 17th. he incloses him a letter from Mr James Brown just now received. LB , DLC:GW . GW had apparently asked Jefferson for the date of his letter, perhaps to give his own letter to Morris of the same date (see GW to Morris, 17 Dec. 1790 ). According to his Summary Journal of Public and...
78To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 23 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to inform the President that a gentleman leaves town early tomorrow morning for New-York from whence a vessel sails on Monday for Liverpool, on board which will go a passenger who may be trusted with any letters for London. Th: J. proposes to make up his packet to-night, can the President give him previously a half hour, for the communication of the letter to...
79To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor of presenting to the President a copy of the Report he read to him on the Mediterranean trade, the original of which he has made up for the Speaker of the house of representatives. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. The enclosure was a copy of Jefferson’s report on American trade in the Mediterranean, which he had prepared in response to a request...
80To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State, having had under Consideration the Situation of the Citizens of the United States in Captivity at Algiers, makes the following Report thereupon to the President of the United States. When the House of Representatives, at their late Session, were pleased to refer to the Secretary of State, the Petition of our Citizens in Captivity at Algiers, there still existed some...