1From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been in conversation to-day with Monsr. Payan, one of the St. Domingo deputies, I took occasion to enquire of him the footing on which our commerce there stands at present, and particularly whether the colonial arret of 1789 permitting a free importation of our flour till 1793. was still in force. He answered that that arret was revoked in France on the clamours of the merchants there:...
2Report on Appointment of Consul at Copenhagen, 10 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State having received information that the Merchants and Merchandize of the United States are subject in Copenhagen and other ports of Denmark to considerable extra duties, from which they might probably be relieved by the presence of a Consul there; Reports to the President of the United States: That it would be expedient to name a Consul, to be resident in the port of...
3From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 15 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to return to the President the letters of the Commissioners on their discharge of the workmen &c. in the Federal city. The copy of the Extracts from them for Majr. L’Enfant was not finished till last night, and therefore could not be sent to him till to-day. Consequently the conference with him is put off to tomorrow. Th: J. incloses a copy of his letter to Majr....
4Report on Case of Charles Russell, 22 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom was referred by the President of the United States, the letter of the Governor of Virginia of January 7th. 1792, with the Report of a Committee of the House of Delegates of that Commonwealth of December 12th. 1791, and Resolution of the General Assembly thereon of December 17th. on the case of Charles Russell, late an Officer in the service of the said...
5From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 25 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the U.S. and subjoins what he supposes might form a proper introduction to the statement prepared by the Secretary at war. The occasion is so new, that however short the letter proposed, he has no doubt it will need correction both as to the matter and manner. Sir As the circumstances which have engaged the U.S. in the present Indian war,...
6From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 28 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th:Jefferson presents his respects to the President and returns him the draught of the letter with proofs of his confidence in the indulgence of the President, having freely used the liberty he gave him in softening some expressions lest they should be too much felt by Mr. Morris. The changes are made with a pencil only, and can therefore be easily restored where disapproved. PrC ( DLC ).
7From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson sends to the President a letter he received from Mr. Hammond, with the general sketch of an answer he had proposed to write to him. He will have the honour of seeing the President on the subject to-day. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); endorsed by Lear. Tr ( DNA : RG 59, SDC ). Not recorded in SJL
8From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, [1 February 1792] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Ellicot having sent the inclosed letter from Roberdeau for the perusal of Th: Jefferson, he thinks the 1st. page and 2 or 3. lines of the 2d. worth reading by the President. The rest contains communications of small news. He has learnt that Majr. Lenfant, after his conversation with Th: J. wrote to Roberdeau to continue 50. hands; which shews he means to continue himself. Is the...
9From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The late appointment of a Minister Resident to the Hague, has brought under consideration the condition of Mr. Dumas, and the question, whether he is, or is not, at present in the service of the U.S.? Mr. Dumas, very early in the war, was employed first by Dr. Franklin, afterwards by Mr. Adams, to transact the affairs of the U.S. in Holland. Congress never passed any express vote of...
10From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 7 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
An account presented to me by Mr. John B. Cutting, for expenditures incurred by him in liberating the seamen of the United States in British ports during the impressments which took place under that government in the year 1790, obliges me to recall some former transactions to your mind. You will be pleased to recollect the numerous instances of complaint or information to us, about that time,...
11Report on Proceedings of Executive in Northwest Territory, 29 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of state has had under examination the Records of Proceedings in the Executive department of the North-Western government from the 1st. of Aug. to the 31st. of December 1791. transmitted by the Secretary, and Reports to the President of the United States That finding nothing therein which calls for the attention or interference of the President, he has deposited them among the...
12Hamilton’s Notes on Report of Instructions for the Commissioners to Spain, with Jefferson’s Comments, [1–5 March 1792] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Jefferson’s comments ] [ Hamilton’s notes ] The General Tenor of the Report appears solid and proper. The following observations however on a hasty perusal occur. The Report is amended in conformity this observation. Page 2. Is it to put our Revolution upon the true or the best footing to say that the circumstances which obliged us to discontinue our foreign Magistrate brought upon us the...
13From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 2 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President and returns him the letter to Genl. St. Clair. The only passage about which he has any doubt is the following ‘it does not appear by any information in my possession, that your exertions were wanting to produce a different result either in the previous preparations, or in the time of action .’ Th: J. never heard a statement of the matter...
14Agenda for Commissioners of the Federal District, [ca. 5 March 1792] (Jefferson Papers)
Estimates &ca. are sent to shew the views &ca. of Majr. LEnfant. MS ( DLC : Washington Papers); in the hands of both TJ and Washington, as indicated in notes below; undated, but certainly written after 1 Mch. and on or before 6 Mch. 1792. It is very probable that TJ wrote the first part of the agenda and sent it or left it with Washington on 5 Mch. 1792 (see Washington to TJ, 4 Mch. 1792 ) and...
15From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 7 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Immediately on the passage of the Act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign Nations, I desired the Bankers of the United States in Amsterdam to raise an Account with the Secretary of State of the United States to be confined to the Objects of that Act, and requested them and our Ministers abroad to make up their Accounts from July to July annually, and...
16From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 7 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President and sends him his report on the subject of commerce with Spain , and the form of a message to the Senate. A second copy is now making out for the President’s own use, so that he may send in the one now inclosed today, assured of receiving the other the moment it is finished. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); endorsed by Lear. Tr (same, SDC ). The...
17From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 13 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State incloses to the President the letter to the King of France with the alteration he proposes for incorporating the vote of the house. If the President approves it, he will be so good as to return it in time to be written at large to-day, signed and sealed. Th: J. thinks the copy of the resolution delivered the President with the signature of the Speaker will be the proper...
18From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 18 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson having received information that a vessel sails from New York for Amsterdam about Wednesday , is endeavoring to get ready the necessary papers for Messrs. Short and Carmichael, to go by tomorrow’s post. He beleives it impossible; but in order to take the chance of it, he troubles the President to sign the Commission to-day, which Mr. Taylor now carries to him for that purpose. RC...
19From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, [21 March 1792] (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President, and sends for his perusal a letter he has prepared for the Commissioners, which will inform him also of Mr. Blodget’s ideas. In the mean time Blodget will be preparing the necessary papers. Th: J. has at length been able to see Dr. Wistar about the big bones. They are at his house, always open to inspection. The Doctor is habitually at home...
20Report on Proposed Convention with Spain Concerning Fugitives, 22 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of state having had under consideration the expediency and extent of a Convention with Spain to be established for with respect to fugitives from the United states to their adjoining provinces, or from those provinces to the United States, Reports to the President of the United States the inclosed Analytical view of the motives and principles which should govern such a...
21Enclosure I: Proposed Convention with Spain, 22 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Project of a Convention with the Spanish provinces. Any person having committed Murder of malice prepense, not of the nature of treason, within the United States or the Spanish provinces adjoining thereto, and fleeing from the justice of the country, shall be delivered up by the government where he shall be found, to that from which he fled, whenever demanded by the same. The manner of the...
22Enclosure II: Considerations on a Convention with Spain, 22 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Heads of consideration on the establishment of Conventions between the United States and their neighbors for the mutual delivery of Fugitives from Justice. MS ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); in clerk’s hand except for date and signature; text of “Heads of consideration” is on one side written as a continuous text filling the whole sheet; the proposed convention appears on the verso in two columns (the...
23From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 28 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you two letters from Judge Symmes of Jan. 25th. and 27th. His letter of Sep. 17. mentioned in the first of these was received by me Nov. 23. and after being laid before you, was answered Dec. 4. The part of the answer respecting leave from you to come to Philadelphia was in these words. ‘The President does not conceive that the Constitution has given him any...
24From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to present to the view of the President the subjects relative to Algiers, under their different aspects. On further consideration, and paying special attention to the circumstances of the present moment, which render expence an obstacle perhaps to what would be the best plan, he suggests others which would not be eligible under other circumstances, or for any length...
25Enclosure: Considerations on Policy toward Algiers, 1 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Considerations on the subjects of Ransom, and Peace with the Algerines MS ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); entirely in TJ’s hand. PrC ( DLC ). Tr ( DNA : RG 59, SDC
26From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 2 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to return to the President the letters of Seagrove from which he has had an extract taken. He incloses also the names of three gentlemen who have expressed their willingness to serve in the Mint. The President knows them personally and will judge of their fitness. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by Lear; on separate...
27Opinion on Apportionment Bill, 4 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Constitution has declared that ‘Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers,’ that ‘the number of representatives shall not exceed one for every 30,000, but each state shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse 3. Massachusets...
28From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: J. presents his respects to the President. Mr. White beleived pretty decidedly that General Morgan would serve under any officers who had been his superiors except Genl. St. Clair, but at the same time he said he could not engage it positively. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of the U.S.”; endorsed by Lear. Tr (same, SDC ). Not recorded in SJL or SJPL .
29From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 11 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to send for the perusal of the President some letters from Mr. Barclay received yesterday. He has received no letters from Mr. Short, nor any other person in France. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of the U. States”; endorsed by Lear. Tr ( DNA : RG 59, SDC ). Not recorded in SJL or SJPL
30From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 13 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to lay before you a communication from Mr. Hammond Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty covering a clause of a statute of that country relative to it’s commerce with this, and notifying a determination to carry it into execution henceforward.—Conceiving that the determination announced could not be really meant as extensively as the words import, I asked and...
31From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 16 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The day after your departure I received from a Mr. Greene, a merchant now at N. York, through a third person , the following communication. ‘That he had had very late advices from Spain by way of the Spanish islands , to this effect, that war with France was inevitable, that troops were marching from all quarters of the kingdom to the frontiers, and that 50. sail of the line had been...
32From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 18 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I wrote you the day before yesterday, I have recieved a letter of Mar. 25. from Colo. Humphreys informing me that the Queen of Portugal was considerably better: as also mentioning the death of the emperor of Germany. What effect this last event will have on the affairs of Europe, cannot be foreseen, the character of the successor being absolutely unknown. He is 24. years of age. One...
33From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 23 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter of the 18th. we have had no confirmation of the capture of Tippoo Saib, nor of a fable current since that of the massacre of the king of France. This last was current in Philadelphia two or three days, and had the merit I believe of being raised here, as no source for it could ever be found. Letters of Mar. 1. and 16. from Mr. Barclay at Gibraltar contradict the death of Muley...
34From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 23 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have determined to make the subject of a letter, what, for some time past, has been a subject of inquietude to my mind without having found a good occasion of disburthening itself to you in conversation, during the busy scenes which occupied you here. Perhaps too you may be able, in your present situation, or on the road, to give it more time and reflection than you could do here at any...
35From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 30 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
It is my duty to suggest to your attention that in the act of the late session of Congress for making certain appropriations, is a clause enacting that a sum of 50,000 D. in addition to former provision be appropriated to defray any expence which may be incurred in relation to the intercourse between the U.S. and foreign nations, and to add that the public service will be advanced by having...