23051Thomas Jefferson to José Corrêa da Serra, 14 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
No one could recieve greater pleasure than I did at the proof that your sovereign set a due value on your merit, as manifested by the honorable duties assigned to you with us. but into this sentiment a little spice of egoism also thrust itself. as the appointment was to fix your residence almost in our vicinity, it gave me the hope of more frequently seeing you here. I trust that this hope...
23052Thomas Jefferson to José Corrêa da Serra, 30 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
In the hope of recieving the annual visit as heretofore, I think it necessary to advise you of my future motions lest I should lose the benefit of it as befell me once before. on this day week I proceed to Poplar Forest where I shall continue to the 1 st of October , when the meeting of the visitors of the University will oblige me to return. perhaps that meeting may be an additional motive...
23053Thomas Jefferson to José Corrêa da Serra, 17 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Mar. 6. was duly recieved, & with it the pamphlet of M. Thouïn on the subject of engrafting, for which be pleased to accept my thanks. should your curiosity lead you to visit this part of the US. as your letter gives me reason to hope, I shall be very happy to recieve you at Monticello , to express to you in person my great respect, and to recieve from yourself directly the...
23054Thomas Jefferson to José Corrêa da Serra, 2 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
You have heard long ago that our legislature has passed the act for establishing their University at the Central college . we had hoped they would have accompanied it with an additional donation for erecting the necessary buildings. in this we are disappointed; and therefore are obliged to apply our funds generally to the erection of buildings for the accomodation of the Professors & Students,...
23055Thomas Jefferson to José Corrêa da Serra, 10 April 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I set out tomorrow for Bedford , to return the first week in May. I note this to you because I have been flattered with your visit in May, and D r Cooper promised me he would accept your kind offer of a seat in your carriage. I wish you could be here some days before the 11 th of May , because on that day our Visitors meet and yourself and D r Cooper may, I am sure suggest to me so
23056Thomas Jefferson to José Corrêa da Serra, 19 April 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Randolph first, and latterly mr Short have flattered me with the hope that you would pay us a visit with the returning season. I should sooner have pressed this but that my vernal visit to Bedfor d was approaching, and I wished to fix it’s precise epoch, before I should write to you. I shall set out now within a few days, and be absent probably all the month of May; and shall be very happy...
23057From James Madison to José Francisco Corrêa da Serra, 15 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have just received your favor of the 10th. inst: Altho’ I hope the return of your health will have enabled you to leave Philada. I will not suppress an assurance of the pleasure with which I shall receive your promised visit. The sentiments both national and personal which you express on occasion of the appointment which makes you a link between our two Countries, coincide too much with my...
23058From George Washington to Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt, 16 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 22d ulto by your pay Master Mr Provost to whom I have granted a Warrant for the pay of your Regt up to February and one for 5000 dollars for reinlisting, in which I wish you success. I am in daily expectation of a return of our whole stock of Blankets in the different Stores, when I shall make an equal distribution of them, but I fear they will fall short of a...
23059From George Washington to Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt, 19 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have directed Colo. Malcom to move down to Easton with his Regt and open and repair the Road from thence across to Wyoming, but as his force is too weak to make the necessary progress, I must desire you to move immediately down with your Regiment also, and assist him in the execution of the Work. I have lately in a general Order directed the Officers to divest themselves of all superfluous...
23060From George Washington to Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt, 13 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
In October last, His Excellency Governor Clinton informed me, that a Colo. Cantine, who I believe lives somewhere in the neighbourhood of Rochester, was remarkably well acquainted with the Country between the North River and the Susquehannah, and of the most practicable Routes from the one to the other. If he is within your reach be pleased to make the following enquiries. What is the nearest...
23061From George Washington to John Coryell, 1 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am very anxious to have all the continental flat Boats below Trenton carried up the River as far as Easton or near it, that they may be intirely out of the Enemy’s reach—I have desired the Gentlemen of the Navy Board to order Commodore Hazelwood to collect all those and carry them up as far as Trenton and when he has got them there to let you know it. I shall therefore be exceedingly obliged...
23062Thomas Jefferson to Dabney Cosby, 9 March 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not answer your letter of Feb. 28. immediately on it’s reciept because I knew that efforts were still to be ma de in the legislature in favor of the University . you have seen by the newspapers that these have all failed , & of course that nothing can be done as to the library this year. If you will be so good as to let me know what I am in your debt for the bricks you furnished me, &...
23063Thomas Jefferson to Dabney Cosby, 26 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I have nothing to do with the employment of the workmen for the Central college . that is the exclusive office of the Proctor. should the legislature adopt it for their University , the Proctor will immediately advertize for workmen of different kinds to send in their propositions and terms to him: on which occasion you will see what will be wanting and to whom your propositions must be...
23064Thomas Jefferson to John Coskery, 26 April 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 6 th has been recieved, but age has long obliged me to relieve my mind from speculations of difficulty . I have not perfectly comprehended the principles of the improvement you propose in the construction of the stove; but such advances have been made in latter times in the economising of fire, as to expect that beneficial improvements may still be made, and altho I am...
23065From George Washington to Jean François Coste, 7 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your humane attention to the American Hospitals which were established in Williamsburg after the Seige of York has been properly represented to me—I beg you to be assured, Sir, that I entertain a due sense of your kindness upon that occasion, and take this opportunity of testifying how much I think myself and the public obliged to you. I am Sir Yr most obt and hble servt. DLC : Papers of...
23066From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 14 October 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am here, my dear friend, waiting the arrival of a ship to take my flight from this side of the Atlantic and as we think last of those we love most, I profit of the latest moment to bid you a short but affectionate Adieu. Before this, Trumbull will have left you: but we are more than exchanged by Mrs. Church who will probably be with you in the course of the present month. My daughters are...
23067From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 31 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of July 20. 1801. from London, and of Feb. 25. 1802. from Paris. that I am so late in answering them arises from my incessant occupations which deprive me of the happiness of satisfying the affections of my heart by expressions of them on paper to my friends: to none would they be more warmly expressed, my esteemed friend, than to yourself, with...
23068From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 29 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My letters which pass thro’ the post office either of this country or of England being all opened, I send thro’ that channel only such as are very indifferent in their nature. This is not the character, my dear madam of those I write to you. The breathings of a pure affection would be profaned by the eye of a Commis of the poste . I am obliged then to wait for private conveiances. I wrote to...
23069From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 23 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I received, my dear friend, your favor of Apr. 6. It gives me a foretaste of the sensations we are to feel in the next world, on the arrival of any new-comer from the circle of friends we have left behind. I am now fixed here, and look back to Europe only on account of that circle. Could it be transferred here, the measure of all I could desire in this world would be filled up, for I have no...
23070From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, [31] January [1788] (Jefferson Papers)
I went to breakfast with you according to promise, and you had gone off at 5. oclock in the morning. This spared me indeed the pain of parting, but it deprives me of the comfort of recollecting that pain. Your departure was the signal of distress to your friends. You know the accident which so long confined the Princess to her room. Madame de Corny too was immediately thrown into great alarm...
23071From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 14 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Fearing, my dear Madam, that I might not be able to write to you by this occasion, I had charged my friend Trumbull to lay my homage at your feet. But this is an office I would always chuse to perform myself. It is very long since I have heard from you: tho I have no right to complain, as it is long since I wrote to you. A great deal of business, and some tribulation must be my excuse. I have...
23072From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 24 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Yes, my dear Madam, I have received your three letters, and I am sure you must have thought hardly of me, when at the date of the last, you had not yet received one from me. But I had written two. The second, by the post, I hope you got about the beginning of this month: the first has been detained by the gentleman who was to have carried it. I suppose you will receive it with this. I wish...
23073From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 24 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here, my dear friend, the last night, and in a bushel of letters presented me by way of reception, I saw that one was of your handwriting. It is the only one I have yet opened, and I answer it before I open another. I do not think I was in arrears in our epistolary account when I left Paris. In affection I am sure you were greatly my debtor. I often determined during my journey to...
23074From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 21 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not yet, my dear friend, received my leave of absence, but I expect it hourly, and shall depart almost in the hour of receiving it. My absence will be of about six months. I leave here a scene of tumult and contest. All is politics in this capital. Even love has lost it’s part in conversation. This is not well, for love is always a consolatory thing. I am going to a country where it is...
23075Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 27 December 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
‘Over the length of silence I draw a curtain,’ is an expression, my dear friend, of your cherished letter of Apr. 7. 19. of which, it might seem, I have need to avail myself; but not so really. to 77. heavy years add two of prostrate health during which all correspondence has been suspended of necessity, and you have the true cause of not having heard from me. my wrist too, dislocated in Paris...
23076Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 24 October 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved, my dear friend, your favor of July 10. and made it my first duty to forward the letter you inclosed to your brother and to request him to make me the channel of your hearing from him. I now inclose you his letter, and with it the assurance that he is much respected in Washington , and, since the death of Latrobe , our first Architect. I consider him as standing foremost in the...
23077From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 25 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of May 21. my dear Madam, was the last I expected to have written you on this side the Atlantic for the present year. Reasons, which I cannot devine, have prevented my yet receiving my Congé. In the mean time we have been here in the midst of tumult and violence. The cutting off heads is become so much á la mode, that one is apt to feel of a morning whether their own is on their...
23078From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 8 September 179[5] (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors , sent thro’ Mr. Trumbul, found me retired to my home, in the full enjoiment of my farm, my family, and my books, having bidden an eternal Adieu to public life which I always hated, and was drawn into and kept in by one of those great events which happened only once in a millenium as I thought, but another country has shewn us they can happen twice in a life. While my...
23079From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 1 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
You conclude, Madam, from my long silence that I am gone to the other world. Nothing else would have prevented my writing to you so long. I have not thought of you the less. But I took a peep only into Elysium. I entered it at one door, and came out at another, having seen, as I past, only Turin, Milan, and Genoa. I calculated the hours it would have taken to carry me on to Rome. But they were...
23080From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 12 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Having performed the last sad office of handing you into your carriage at the Pavillon de St. Denis, and seen the wheels get actually into motion, I turned on my heel and walked, more dead than alive, to the opposite door, where my own was awaiting me. Mr. Danquerville was missing. He was sought for, found, and dragged down stairs. [We] were crammed into the carriage, like recruits for the...
23081From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 13 October 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Just as I had sealed the inclosed I received a letter of a good length, dated Antwerp, with your name at the bottom. I prepared myself for a feast. I read two or three sentences: looked again at the signature to see if I had not mistaken it. It was visibly yours. Read a sentence or two more. Diable! Spelt your name distinctly. There was not a letter of it omitted. Began to read again. In fine...
23082From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 11 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been very unfortunate in my endeavors to see more of your brother who was so good as to call on me with your letter. I wrote to ask him to come and dine with me. Unfortunately there was an American in the same hotel whose name had some resemblance to that on the superscription of my letter, and a French porter delivered my note to him instead of your brother. A sickness then confined me...
23083From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 30 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Cease to chide me. It is hard to have been chained to a writing table, drudging over business daily from morning to night ever since my return to Paris. It will be a cruel exaggeration, if I am to lose my friends into the bargain. The only letter of private friendship I wrote on my return, and before entering on business, was to you. The first I wrote after getting through my budget was to...
23084From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 19 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I begin, my dear Madam, to write a little with the right hand, and you are by promise, as well as by inclination entitled to it’s first homage . But I write with pain and must be short. This is good news for you; for were the hand able to follow the effusions of the heart, that would cease to write only when this shall cease to beat. My first letter warned you of this danger. I became sensible...
23085From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 26 September 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Aug. the 19., my very dear friend, is put into my hands this 26th. day of September 1788. and I answer it in the same instant to shew you there is nothing nearer my heart than to meet all the testimonies of your esteem. It is a strong one that you will occupy yourself for me on such a trifle as a visiting card. But sketch it only with your pencil, my friend, and do not make of it...
23086From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, 27 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Hail, dear friend of mine! for I am never so happy as when business, smoothing her magisterial brow, says ‘I give you an hour to converse with your friends.’ And with none do I converse more fondly than with my good Maria: not her under the poplar, with the dog and string at her girdle: but the Maria who makes the Hours her own, who teaches them to dance for us in so charming a round, and lets...
23087From Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, [5 October 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
I have passed the night in so much pain that I have not closed my eyes. It is with infinite regret therefore that I must relinquish your charming company for that of the Surgeon whom I have sent for to examine into the cause of this change. I am in hopes it is only the having rattled a little too freely over the pavement yesterday. If you do not go to day I shall still have the pleasure of...
23088From George Washington to Denis-Nicholas Cottineau de Kerloguen, 21 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 4th September 1788 which was handed to me by your friend Captn Zellickoffer—to whom I fully delivered my sentiments upon the purport of your letter, and who will undoubtedly take every necessary step towards your legal or honorary admission into the Society of the Cincinnati. It is not in my power to say anything decidedly upon the propriety...
23089From George Washington to Denis-Nicolas Cottineau de Kerloguen, 4 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your obliging Letter of the 26th Feby with the Inventory of yr Cargo and congratulate you upon your safe Arrival in America—the delay of Your Sales incident to the compliment which you were so polite as to pay me, has probably been much greater than you were aware of, and I should not be surprised if in the mean time from an idea of your letters having miscarried, you should...
23090Thomas Jefferson to John R. Cotting, 7 February 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of Jan. 20 and am sorry it is not in my power to render any service to the your useful undertaking. age and ill health render me no longer equal to the labors of science, and a disabled wrist making writing slow and painful, has obliged me to abandon even common correspondence. with my regrets be pleased to accept the tender of my great respect. PoC ( MHi ); on...
23091Thomas Jefferson to Peter Cottom, 7 May 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved some time ago a letter from mess rs Brooks and Ashley assignees of Bradford & Inskeep an application for the cost of the Portfolio for the year 1814. and lately one from Thomas de Silur as proprietor for the year 1815. percieving however that you are agent in Richmond for that publication, and there being difficulty in remitting small sums to other states, I prefer making the...
23092Thomas Jefferson to Peter Cottom, 17 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Being a subscriber for the Port folio, and observing yo by a notification on it that you are agent in Richmond for it, I ask the favor of you to inform me what is it’s annual price, which is unknown to me, and I will send you an order to recieve the 1 st year’s subscription in Richmond . begun with that of May last. Accept the assurance of my respect PoC ( MHi ); torn; on verso of address...
23093From George Washington to Garrett Cottringer, 15 January 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d of October, having with some others been mis-laid, is the best, indeed the only apology I have to offer for this long delay in acknowledging the receipt of it. But let me request the favor of you now to transmit me the cost of the Sattin, and of the Floor Matting which Mr Morris informs me has been sent by the Sloop Polly Captn Harrison; and the amount shall be remitted...
23094From Thomas Jefferson to Couch, 26 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
My brother who lives in your neighborhood was to send some grass seeds to your house to be forwarded for me to Lynchburg by your boats. I have also ordered 3. dozen chairs to be sent for me from Richmond to Lynchburg, where they will be recieved by the house of Wm. Brown and noted to Burgess Griffin my overseer at Poplar forest. I take the liberty of writing to you directly, not only to...
23095From Thomas Jefferson to Coulon, 30 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous accuser la reception de votre lettre du 24me. Courant , par laquelle vous me prevenez que, comme Commissaire aux saisies reelles vous avez eté etabli au regime et gouvernement de l’hotel que j’occupe scis Grille de Chaillot, et saisi reellement sur Monsieur le Comte de Langeac, et devez faire proceder au bail judiciaire de cet hotel, si je ne demande pas la conversion de...
23096From James Madison to Lewis Le Coulteux, 18 May 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have transmitted instructions to the Minister of the United States in London to apply to the British Government for compensation for the losses and sufferings you sustained by being arrested and detained in Canada as a prisoner of war. He has been apprized that it is your intention to produce your papers and the agency of your claim to Mr. Erving, and that the former will be communicated to...
23097From George Washington to Lord Dunmore and Council, 3 November 1773 (Washington Papers)
The whole quantity of 200000 Acres of Land granted by the Hon: Robt Dinwiddie’s Proclamation of the 19th of Feby 1754 being now fully obtaind (within the number of Surveys limitted) and the last Certificates thereof lodgd in the Secretarys Office, I take the liberty, humbly to inform your Excellency and Honrs that the Surveys formerly made, are already Patented agreeably to an Order of Council...
23098George Washington to the Council of General Officers, 26 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ West Point ] July 26, 1779 . Requests advice about “Muster Masters department.” Asks whether Dr. William Shippen should be arrested. Df , in writings of Robert Hanson Harrison and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
23099The Pennsylvania Convention: Order to Pay George Ross and Others, 12 August 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Rosenbach Foundation <August 12, 1776: A note to the council of safety to pay George Ross, Timothy Matlack, and Henry Slagle £10,000 in the public service of the state of Pennsylvania, signed by Franklin as president of the convention, attested by John Morris, Jr., as secretary, and addressed to Jno. M. Nesbitt. Below Franklin’s signature is an order to pay, dated August 13 and signed by...
23100George Washington to Council of War, 17 June 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Valley Forge, June 17, 1778 . Presents probable British plans for evacuation of Philadelphia and relative strength of American and enemy forces. Asks for opinions in writing concerning measures to be taken in the event of evacuation of Philadelphia. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.