71841From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the papers reserved from the last post. our regular answer to mr Livingston may well be that the Attorney General having given an official opinion that the right to the batture is in the US. and the matter being now referred to Congress, it is our duty to keep the grounds clear of any adversary possession until the legislature shall decide on it. I have carefully read mr....
71842From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 23 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes on the British claims in the Missipi territory. 1803. Mar. 3. act of Congress gave to Mar. 31. 1804 to exhibit their claims or grants 1804. Mar. 27 do. gave to Nov. 30. 1804. & allowed transcripts instead of originals Etc. 1805. Mar. 2. do. gave to Dec. 1. 1805 to file their grants. & in fact to Jan. 1. 1807. time when the sale might begin. 1807. Dec. 15. the British claimants...
71843From Thomas Jefferson to John Harriott, 5 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your […] [pack]ages from Mr. Pinckney for your care of which I return you my thanks. Your object being to settle yourself in this country, you have certainly taken the wisest course, that of going yourself to see the different parts of it, and chuse for yourself. This choice, in order to make it a happy one, depending on the circumstances of climate, soil, cheapness of...
71844From Thomas Jefferson to —— Myers, 24 November 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
According to my engagement I now inclose you 186. Doll. thirty six cents = £55–18–3 Virginia currency to be passed to the credit of Mrs. Carr . You will readily perceive that your endorsement on the inclosed bank note will make it cash to any person wishing to remit to Philadelphia. The Custom house officers particularly take up these notes by a general arrangement. I am Sir Your most obedt....
71845From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 16 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to submit to the inspection of the President a set of copper promisory notes, and coins, made by Boulton, the superiority of which over any thing we can do here, will fully justify our wish to set our mint agoing on that plan.—They are obscured by the sea-air. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of the U.S.”; endorsed by Tobias Lear. Tr ( Lb in same,...
71846Thomas Jefferson to Sir Egerton Leigh, 21 January 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 7. came to hand but a few days ago, and with it the letter of D r Ramsay . I learned with regret your detention on the road by sickness, and hope, if this finds you at the same place, it will be in a better state of health. presuming that the warm and hot springs of Augusta Bath county are the objects of your journey, I cannot but wish to hear of your arrival there; as...
71847From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Burke, 30 June 1771 (Jefferson Papers)
The case of Plume v. Portlock now lies at the Rules in danger of a dismission for want of a declaration. Mr. Blair directed me to apply to you for instructions in this matter. Your favor herein will oblige Dr. Sir Your friend and servt., P. S. On looking further into the Rule docket I find myself referred to you also for instructions to draw the bill in McVee v. Wilson . I have Wilson’s bond...
71848From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
We did not collect the sense of our brethren the other day by regular questions, but as far as I could understand from what was said it appeared to be 1. that an acknolegement of our right to the Perdido is a sine quo non, and no price to be given for it. 2. no absolute & perpetual relinquishment of right is to be made of the country East of the Rio bravo del Norte, even in exchange for...
71849From Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Coit Allen, 7 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your representation and request were received on the 7th. inst : and have been considered with the attention due to every expression of the sentiments and feelings of so respectable a body of my fellow-citizens. No person has seen with more concern than myself, the inconveniences brought on our country in general, by the circumstances of the times in which we happen to live; times to which the...
71850V. Referral of the Draft to Henry Dearborn, 22 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Will Genl. Dearborne be pleased to examine the inclosed with rigour & suggest any alterations he would think for the better. if he can return it tomorrow it will be desireable, because when individually examined by all the gentlemen, I propose to submit it to them collectively. RC ( DLC ); addressed: “The Secretary at War”; with Dearborn’s reply at foot (see the next document ). Not recorded...
71851Thomas Jefferson to William C. Rives, 28 January 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I sincerely join in the general joy on the passage of the University bill , and by such majorities as bespeak a friendly patronage hereafter. in a letter of this date to mr Cabell I have requested him to send me a copy of the bill that the visitors may meet and do at once what the law permits them to do, as the season for engagements is rapidly passing off. but we shall fall miserably short in...
71852From Thomas Jefferson to the Board of War, 13 November 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The act of May 1779. under which Mr. Blunt has been last Drafted refers to one of October 1778 as to the method of determining who were Subjects of that Draught. This act says the justices and the Field Officers shall lay Off the militia into Districts, each of which districts shall furnish a man. The justices and field Officers then are made Judges who shall be deemed to be of the Militia and...
71853From Thomas Jefferson to William Bartram, 7 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 18th. of March was recieved here yesterday. it covered mr Wilson’s , with his elegant drawing, which being dated from the same place with your’s, I take the liberty of putting the answer under your cover. I thank you for the specimens of horns you so kindly offer me, & which I will accept with thankfulness. altho’ I have never had time to think of a cabinet, yet I have...
71854From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 12 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I should not so long have delayed answering your favor of the 6th. of Oct. but that I have been extremely engaged, and particularly by the Arret of Sep. 28. which prohibits the importation of foreign whale oil, without any exception in our favor. At length I have a prospect of obtaining an exception for American oil. Should any arrive before the matter is finally decided, the Ministers...
71855From Thomas Jefferson to John Milledge, 6 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Govr. Milledge and at the request of the editors of the papers below mentioned he takes the liberty of inclosing him a check on the bank of the US. here for 28 D 50/100 which they express the hope Govr. Milledge will be so good as to recieve & convey to them. the objects are as follows, according to the accounts recieved from them. D The...
71856From Thomas Jefferson to George Blake, 18 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose you the petition of Paul H. Shippey in the state prison of Massachusets under sentence for forgery, with the papers forwarded to me in support of it; and I ask the favor of your opinion and that of the judges who sat on his trial, whether in consideration of the portion of the punishment already suffered, of his conduct since the sentence, of the dispositions he manifests, or of any...
71857From Thomas Jefferson to Caesar A. Rodney, 22 October 1803 [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favour of The Hon-ble Mr Rodney to dine with him on Tuesday the 25th. inst— at half after three, or at whatever later hour the house may rise. Oct. 22 The favour of an answer is asked. RC (Memorabilia Expert, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2008, item 45130); partially dated; printed form, with blanks filled by Lewis Harvie reproduced in italics; addressed by Harvie: “The Hon-ble...
71858From Thomas Jefferson to William Fitzhugh, 21 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 11th. came to hand three or four days ago. As my servant Bob went from here to place himself at Fredericksburgh, I took for granted he would fall in your way, and give you an account of Tarquin . Some time after his arrival here he was taken with a lameness which continued perhaps three or four weeks, not severe, but so as to render him unfit to be used. By leaving him at...
71859[From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Randolph, 5 March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 5 Mch. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “[Mar.] 5. E. Rand. Hancock’s case—journal of 82. I will send but 83. not printed—information by Barney from Dr. F. Dec. 25. that Ad[ams] was gone to Hague, Jay to Bath, Laur. setting out for Amer.—Engld. not reconciled—Marq. Fayette’s letter of Dec. 26. Fox and N. out by maneuvre of king—Pitt and Temple to come in—parliament to be called—Marq....
71860From Thomas Jefferson to John Todd, 19 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter from the falls of Ohio of Dec. 22. came safely to hand. You mention therein that you have not in a twelvemonth received any letters from hence. I know not what were written before the 1st. of June last, but since that time I have written several to you. The expences attending the support of our troops in the Illinois have obliged us to call them all to the South side of the Ohio,...
71861From Thomas Jefferson to Anna Young, 4 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Immediately on reciept of your letter of Jan. 21. I referred it to the Secretary at war, who was best acquainted with the subject of it, desiring him to investigate the nature of your claim, to see whether it could be effected, and to point out the course to be pursued. he accordingly has made a thorough enquiry into it, and assures me that yours is one of a class of cases which have been...
71862From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 26 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers in the case of the Spanish ship which having put in in distress is condemned as un-seaworthy. I think it clear that the Xth. article of the Spanish treaty intended to provide for relading indifferently in any vessel, otherwise the case of wreck for which it was intended to provide would be left unprovided. but the legislative provision having been deemed more narrow, I...
71863From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson, [30 May 1792] (Jefferson Papers)
Ask, my dear, of Mrs. Pine, what would be the price of Mr. Madison’s picture, and let me know when you come over to-day. RC (Florence P. Kennedy, Washington, D.C., 1962); addressed: “Miss Maria Jefferson.” On 2 June TJ “Pd. Mrs. Pine for Mr. Madison’s picture 37.33,” painted by her late husband, Robert Edge Pine ( Bear and Stanton, Memorandum Books James A. Bear, Jr., and Lucia C. Stanton,...
71864From Thomas Jefferson to Morgan Lewis, 2 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Dec. 9. came to hand in due time, but it was not in my power to answer your enquiries as to the defence contemplated for the city of New York, until Congress should come to a decision on that subject, nor was that done till the close of the session. the means placed within our power by the laws are of 3. kinds 1. landbatteries 2. moveable artillery. 3. gunboats. As to the first...
71865Thomas Jefferson to David Howell, 15 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Our last post brought me your friendly letter of Nov. 27. I learn with pleasure that republican principles are predominant in your state , because I conscientiously believe that governments founded in them are most friendly to the happiness of the people at large; and especially of a people so capable of self government as ours. I have been ever opposed to the party, so falsely called...
71866Thomas Jefferson to Patrick Gibson, 21 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 8 th is recieved with my acc t from July 10. to that day. these accounts alone enable me to settle my flour rents with those who owe them, and to know if they have delivered all which should be delivered. in proceeding to this examination for the last year, I am stopped short by a chasm in the acc ts which I possess from the 13 th of April to the 10 th of July. for this...
71867[From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 1? July 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 1? July 1780 . JHD Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia (cited by session and date of publication) , May 1780, 1827 edn., p. 71 (1 July): “The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor, enclosing several others from the President of Congress, General Washington, and the committee of co-operation, together with several resolutions of...
71868Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 13 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I did not know, till mr Patterson called on us, a few days ago, that you had passed on to Washington . I had recently observed in the debates of Congress , a matter introduced, on which I wished to give explanations more fully in conversation which I will now do by abridgment in writing. mr Randolph has proposed an enquiry into certain prosecutions at Common law in Connecticut , for libels on...
71869To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to your Excellency on the subject of the expedition against Detroit, the want of men, want of money & difficulty of procuring provisions, with some other reasons more cogent if possible & which cannot be confided to a letter, have obliged us to decline that object. I thought it therefore necessary to notify this to your Excellency that no expectations of our undertaking it may...
71870Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Authorization to Sell Ivy Creek Lands, 17 November 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I hereby authorise James Martin who lives adjacent to my lands on Ivy creek , to wit the 374. acres formerly Tullos’s & 100. acres formerly Stith’s , on the terms explained in conversation together, to make sale of the same which being done agreeable to the said terms, I bind myself to convey & warrant a good title in fee simple to the purchaser, witness my hand this 17 th of November 1809 SC...
71871From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, [19 April 1798] (Jefferson Papers)
the inclosed was sealed before I recollected that I have mentioned a petition instead of an address to the President, which is to be corrected. a nomination of Govr. Secretary & three judges to the Missisipi territory is sent in to the Senate , four of whom are agents, or interested in the land speculations of that country, two of them bankrupt speculators, & the 5th. unknown. the Senate...
71872From Thomas Jefferson to David Ramsay, 12 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The Mr. Fitzhughs the bearers of this letter being on the point of setting out, I have only time to inform you that after trying many booksellers and receiving a variety of propositions the best offer is of 900 livres for your book, paiable 12 months after the printing of it here shall be completed. The M. de Chastellux thinks it best to accept of this, I shall therefore do it this day. I...
71873From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Treasury, 12 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 9. came to hand on the 25th. of June. I immediately communicated to the foreign officers the inability of the treasury at that moment to provide paiment of the interest due them, with assurances of your attention to them in the first possible moment. I communicated to Commodore Jones also your order for the balance in his hands. As he was entitled to a part of the money he...
71874From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Austin, Jr., 18 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
This serves to acknolege the reciept of your favor of the 7th. inst. and the pleasure I derive from the expressions of approbation which it contains. we have lately recieved the treaty and conventions for the cession of Louisiana. 11¼ millions of Dollars to the government of France, the discharge of their debts to our citizens under the Convention of 1800. not to exceed 20. Millions of francs,...
71875From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, 19 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last which was of the 14th. a Monsr. Leblanc, agent from Desfourneaux has come to town. he came in the Retaliation, and a letter from Desfourneaux, of which he was the bearer, now inclosed, will correct some circumstances in my statement relative to that vessel which were not very material. it shews at the same time that she was liberated without condition. still it is said , but I...
71876Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Leake, 9 March 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of Feb. 26. and am sorry it is not in my power to give you the least information on the subject of it’s enquiry. you have justly imagined that a lapse of half a century, filled up with business of various kinds would probably have erased the recollection of the circumstances you mention. they have so compleatly done it as not to have left a single trace of them...
71877Thomas Jefferson to Tadeusz Kosciuszko, 30 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of yours of Dec. 1. 12. and it’s duplicate of May 13 30 . 13. and am pleased that our arrangement with mr Morton proves sa t isfactory. I believed it would be so, and that a substantial & friendly house there might sometimes be a convenience, when, from the dangers of the sea, difficulty of finding good bills, or other casualties, mr Barnes ’s remittances might...
71878Thomas Jefferson to Robert Patterson, 21 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 12 th is recieved and also the Nautical Almanacs for 1811. 12. for which accept my thanks as well as for the artificial horizon proposed to be forwarded. as it would be liable to be broken, it would come best by some of the vessels sailing daily from Philadelphia to Richmond addressed to me to the care of Mess rs Gibson & Jefferson merchants at Richmond , adding ‘ to be...
71879From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 20 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 14th. came to hand yesterday. I do not see that we can avoid agreeing to estimates made by worthy men of our own choice for the sites of fortifications, or that we could leave an important place undefended because too much is asked for the site. and therefore we must pay what the sites at Boston have been valued at. at the same time I do not know on what principles of reasoning...
71880To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 April 1826 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Wirt declined the offices proposed to him. Mr. Lomax has accepted the Professorship of Law, and will open his school on the 1st. day of July. He has paid us a visit, and his appointment appears to have given the highest degree of satisfaction to every body, Professors Students, Neighbors, and to none more than to myself. We have now 166. students, and on the opening of the Law school, we...
71881Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 4 November 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved by yesterday’s post your favor of Oct. 31. and I hasten, by it’s return to say in answer to your enquiry that it is not necessary that you should make any particular tender of services to Col o Monroe , altho you may be assured he knows you too well to ascribe it to any unworthy motive, for I know from himself that he holds you in high respect. My experience in the affairs of the...
71882From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Henry Lee, 13 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The clearing the bay of the pickeroons which infested it was attended to the moment the brig Jefferson was in tolerable readiness. About the 3d or 4th week of the last month Commod. Barron cruized up the bay as far as the Tangier islands and took five of those vessels which being as many as he could man he returned. About the 1st. inst. I received a letter from Govr. Lee desiring we would join...
71883Thomas Jefferson to William Caruthers, 7 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in due time your favor of July 21 . informing me you had in your hands a sum of about 90.D. recieved for me as rent for the salt-petre cave at the Natural bridge , and asking it as a donation for the female academy of that neighborhood. I have ever believed that the duty of contribution to charitable institutions would produce the greatest sum of good by every one’s devoting what...
71884From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 8 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege your friendly letter of Feb. 9. as well as a former one . before that came to hand an arrangement had been settled; and in our country you know, talents alone are not to be the determining circumstance, but a geographical equilibrium is to a certain degree expected. the different parts in the union expect to share the public appointments. the character you pointed out was...
71885Thomas Jefferson: Trigonometry Exercise, 4 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
1815. Dec. 4. The 2. cases of all the ∠ s or all the sides of a spheric. △ being given. tried by the formula supplement y to Nepier ’s ° ′ } suppose ag. & aeg the greater segments a = 49–54 T 3 2 × T
71886From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Castaing, 1 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It is with real pain that I am informed of the difficulties of your present situation, and the more so as it is utterly out of my power to relieve them. There is neither authority nor money in the hands of any person here to discharge the arrearages of interest, nor do I know any person who is in the habit of purchasing those claims; nor am I able to suggest to Mr. Grand any other arrangement...
71887From Thomas Jefferson to George Mathews, 8 October 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The proceedings respecting Governor Hamilton and his companions previous to your arrival here you are acquainted with. For your more precise information, I enclose you the advice of Council of June 16th of that of August the 28th. another of Sep: 19th. of the parole tendered them the 1st: instant and of Governor Hamilton’s letter of the same day stating his objections in which he persevered:...
71888From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In conversation with mr Gallatin yesterday as to what might be deemed the result of our Tuesday’s conferences, he seemed to have understood the former opinion as not changed, to wit that for the Floridas East of Perdido might be given not only the 2. millions of dollars and a margin to remain unsettled, but an absolute relinquishment from the North river to the bay of St. Bernard and Colorado...
71889From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Carter, 31 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
On the reciept of your favour of the 17th. I applied to Mr. Willing, President of the bank, to answer your enquiry as to loans of money on a deposit of lands. He assured me it was inadmissible by the laws of their institution.—From subsequent enquiries and information here I am the more confirmed in my opinion of the superior advantages of Edinburgh for the study of physic, and also in point...
71890Thomas Jefferson to Nicholas Biddle, 20 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter from mr Paul Allen of Philadelphia , I was informed that other business had obliged you to turn over to him the publication of Gov r Lewis’s journal of his Western expedition; and he requested me to furnish him with any materials I could for writing a sketch of his life. I now inclose him such as I have been able to procure, to be used with any other information he may have...