27431From George Washington to Embree & Shotwell, 3 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Henry Lee (who called upon me as he returned home from New York) informed me that you dealt largely in grass seeds (saved in this Country)—that you sold none but what was good—and those on the most moderate terms. Under this information I beg leave to ask the price of the following, and whether an opportunity could be depended upon for sending them by water to Alexandria before the month...
27432From George Washington to Embree & Shotwell, 15 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you on the 28th of January, according to the terms upon which you proposed to procure a quantity of Clover seed for me—and have laterly becom very impatient for its arrival—A disappointment in obtaining the Seed seasonably would lay me under an unspeakable disadvantage—much greater than the total loss of the seed would do—for I shall not only be deprived of the benefit which might...
27433From Benjamin Franklin to Embser, 15 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress If you send for me to the Care of Mr. Grand Banquier àt Paris, the Volumes you have already printed of the Latin & Greek Classics, he will pay for the same, the Price mentioned in your too complaisant & too polite Letter of the 6th. Instant. If they appear to be well and correctly printed, I shall recommend your Edition in America. I wish Success to your Undertaking,...
27434From James Madison to Joseph Emerson (Abstract), 15 June 1805 (Madison Papers)
15 June 1805, Department of State. “I have received your letter of the 4th. inst. [not found] respecting the Vessels captured from you in 1797 by the French, the circumstances of which, as you state them, preclude any encouragement to expect restitution.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 15). 2 pp.; dated “June 1805”; date assigned on the basis of the letter’s position in the letterbook.
27435From Benjamin Franklin to John Emery, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society I received your favour of the 11th. inst: and have the pleasure of informing you that tho Capt: Babson’s prizes were confiscated legally in France for a breach of the marine Laws by entering under a false declaration, and altho’ the King who might justly have profitted of the confiscation had nevertheless for political reasons given it up to the English yet...
27436From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Emery, 14 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Appleton of Leghorn informs me he has sent to your address a box closed, and another open, both of them containing plants. as the season is advancing I have thought it best, without waiting, to take the liberty of asking the favor of you to forward them without delay to Alexandria, Washington or Georgetown by the first vessel. he informs me the open box will little attention in watering,...
27437From George Washington to George Emlen, 13 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 20th November, respecting the damage done to your farm by the Army in the Fall 1777, and am not a little surpd that General Mifflin should refer you to me when he well knows that this is a business clearly within the line of the Quarter Masters department, & that every Acct of the kind is to be settled by him, up to the date of General Greene’s appointment to that...
27438From Thomas Jefferson to John Patten Emmet, 16 May 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly rec d and considered your letter proposing to erect a distinct building for the Chemical Laboratory & lecturing room, and with it the plan you have been so kind as to suggest. this appears indeed to contain all the articles called for in such a building, and arranged with great convenience. the proposition however is beyond the powers delegated to me, and there will be no meeting...
27439From Thomas Jefferson to John Patten Emmet, 30 May 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
On mention being made to me. of the contribution of 5. D required from the Students of Chemistry it occurred at once that this must be for an article for which the Visitors had made other provision, of which you had had no information, it happened that no circumstance had occur d to produce the mention of it to you. I now send you extracts from the journals by which you will learn that they...
27440From Thomas Jefferson to John Patten Emmet, 27 April 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
It is time to think of the introduction of the school of Botany into our Institution. not that I suppose the lectures can be begun in the present year, but that we may this year make the preparations necessary for commencing them the next. for that branch, I presume, can be taught advantageously only during the short season while Nature is in general bloom, say, during a certain portion of the...
27441From Thomas Jefferson to John Patten Emmet, 12 May 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter from mr Madison I now learn that Thouin has been dead some time, that his successor sends the box annually to him as President of the agricultural society of Albemarle, that such a box is now arrived at N. York, of which he has notified Secretary Barbour his successor. to him I have written requesting it’s consignment to us, and the sooner the better as the season is fast...
27442From Thomas Jefferson to John Patten Emmet, 2 May 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
The difficulties suggested in your favor of the 28 th ult. are those which must occur at the commencement of every undertaking. a full view of the subject however will, I think, solve them. In every meditated enterprize, the means we can employ are to be estimated, and to these must be proportioned our expectations of effect. if, for example, to the cultivation of a given field we can devote...
27443From Thomas Jefferson to John Patten Emmet, 2 January 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 26. has been duly recieved, and I enter with anxiety into all your views and wishes as to mr Wall. I regret much, not indeed that he is so well off, but the uncertainty whether we could ensure him better. I verily believe that he might do better here, not in the first moment, or month, but after a moderate time—you seem to think a small salary, could we give it, might turn...
27444From Thomas Jefferson to John Patten Emmet, 8 April 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
By virtue of the authority vested by law in the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, they do, by this letter appoint you the said John Patten Emmet to be Professor of the school of Natural History in the said University, with all the authorities, privileges and emoluments to the said Professorship belonging. Witness Thomas Jefferson, Rector of the said University under his hand...
27445From Thomas Jefferson to John Patten Emmet, 6 March 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
The board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, at their meeting of the 4 th instant, proceeding to the appointment of a Professor for the school of Natural history in that institution, unanimously nominated you to that chair. under the generic term of Natural history, they comprehend Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Chemistry and Geology; that of Chemistry however being considered as the...
27446From George Washington to the Emperor of Morocco, 31 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Separated by an immense Ocean from the more ancient Nations of the Earth, and little connected with their politics or proceedings, we are late in learning the Events which take place among them, and later in conveying to them our sentiments thereon. The death of the late Emperor, your Father and our Friend, of glorious memory, is one of those events which, tho’ distant, attracts our Notice and...
27447From George Washington to the Emperor of Morocco, 31 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
Separated by an immense Ocean from the more ancient Nations of the Earth, and little connected with their Politics or Proceedings, we are late in learning the Events which take place among them, and later in conveying to them our Sentiments thereon. The Death of the late Emperor, your Father and our Friend, of glorious Memory, is one of those Events which, though distant, attracts our Notice...
27448V. American Commissioners to the Emperor of Morocco, September – October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The Congress of the United States of America after the conclusion of that war which established their freedom and independance, and after the cares which were first necessary for the restoration of order and regular government, turned their attention in the first moment possible to the connections which it would be proper to form with the nations on this side the Atlantic for the maintenance...
27449From Thomas Jefferson to Jacob Engelbrecht, 25 February 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The kindness of the motive which led to the request of your letter of the 14 th inst. and which would give some value to an article from me, renders compliance a duty of gratitude. knowing nothing more moral, more sublime more worthy of your preservation than David’s description of the good man, in his 15 th psalm, I will here transcribe it, from Brady and Tate’s version. Lord, who’s the happy...
27450From James Madison to Jacob Engelbrecht, 20 June 1827 (Madison Papers)
On a critical re-examination to which I was just led, of the appearances on which my letter of Ocr. 20. 1825, ascribed the poetic effusion copied from a page in Bartrams pamphlet, to Doctor Franklin, I find that I have committed an error in the case, by hastily applying the word “Given” to the pamphlet, when it was meant for the poetry, and by mistaking for the handwriting of the Doctor, what...
27451From John Adams to Jacob Engelbrecht, 9 June 1824 (Adams Papers)
I have deeply regretted my total incapacity to comply with your flattering request in your two letters. But, I can no more write a line than, I can work a miracle. I thank you for the copy of Mr Jeffersons letter and unite with him in recommending the psalms of David, which whether we read them in our common English translation in prose, or in the versions of Tate and Brady or even those of...
27452From James Madison to Jacob Engelbrecht, 4 July 1827 (Madison Papers)
Though the request your letter makes be a little singular, a compliance with it seems due to the motives which prompted it; and a short autographic extract is accordingly subjoined. “In Europe, charters of liberty have been granted by Power. America has set the example of Charters of power, granted by Liberty. This revolution in the practice of the world, may, with an honest praise, be...
27453From James Madison to Jacob Engelbrecht, 20 October 1825 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of Sepr. 5. was received several weeks ago; but particular engagements have prevented an earlier attention to it. Tho’ the request it makes is a little singular; a compliance with it seems due to the motives which prompted it. As your object is to preserve for public view, at a posthumous day, the letter you wish me to write, it ought to contain something worthy of such a purpose....
27454From James Madison to Jacob Engelbrecht, 17 October 1827 (Madison Papers)
I have duly recd. your letter of the 12th. instant. I had not forgotten my promise, and had made the provision for it now enclosed. But wishing to substitute for the abstract used a little Apologue which I would have preferred, more delay has been occasioned by my unsuccessful endeavours to obtain it than I foresaw. That you may be no longer disappointed I forward what I had first prepared....
27455From George Washington to Comte d’Ennery, 7 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 4th Augt and I take the earliest Opportunity of testifying the pleasure I have in complying with your request, by immediately ordering the Release of Monsr Dechambault. He shall be accommodated with a Passage in the first Vessel that sails from Philadelphia to the French Colonies in the West Indies. Had it not been for your...
27456From George Washington to Anne Ennis, 15 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your letter, or memorial dated the 12th of July in Dublin, came to my hands yesterday under cover of a letter from Mr Peter Trenor of the 8th inst. The Memorial mis-states several facts—one of them materially; for I have not, nor never had one shilling of the late Mrs Savage’s property in my hands: on the contrary, merely to relieve that Lady from the distress she represented herself to be in,...
27457From George Washington to Lt. Col. Roger Enos, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday recd your favor of the 26th of August and am glad to find that matters are like to be accommodated to the mutual satisfaction of the people of Vermont and those of the neighbouring States; where by the strength of a numerous Body will be thrown into the general scale, and the enemy disappointed in the hopes which they entertained of a separation of interests. You will be pleased to...
27458From Thomas Jefferson to Madame d’Enville, 2 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I had hoped, Madame la Duchesse, to have again had the honor of paying my respects to you in Paris, but the wish of our government that I should take a share in it’s administration, has become a law to me. Could I have persuaded myself that public offices were made for private convenience, I should undoubtedly have preferred a continuance in that which placed me nearer to you: but believing on...
27459From —— to Madame d’Enville, 8 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Ma belle soeur, madame la Duchesse, vient de me mander que son jardinier attendroit le moment où vous seriez à Chaillot pour vous montrer en detail tout ce qui est dans son jardin. La maîtresse de la maison croit vous faire sa cour en ne paroissant pas. Elle m’assure que toutes les personnes que vous voudrez envoyer chez elle seront reçeues à toutes les heures. Recevez avec bonté les...
27460From Thomas Jefferson to La Rochefoucauld d’Enville, 3 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
A call to take a part in the domestic administration of our government, obliges me to abandon the expectation of paying my respects to you in person in Paris. Tho’ removed to a greater distance in future, and deprived of the pleasure and advantages of your conversation and society which contributed so much to render my residence in Paris agreeable, I shall not be the less anxious for your...