74701From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 10 August 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 2d. came to hand on the 8th. I shall willingly communicate to you all I know on the subject of Louisania. it is new, and therefore profitable to interchange ideas on it, that we may form correct opinions before we are to act on them. The unquestioned extent of Louisania on the sea is from the Iberville to the Mexicana river, or perhaps the high lands dividing that from the...
74702From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 10 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of Jan. 27. Since that I have received yours of Jan. 19. Information from other quarters gives me reason to suspect you have in negotiation a very important change in your situation. You will carry into the execution all my wishes for your happiness. I hope it will not detach you from a settlement in your own country. I had even entertained hopes of your settling in my...
74703Thomas Jefferson to Abraham Lange, 25 December 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return to this place in September I addressed a let ter to you, which having probably miscarried, I trouble you with a second repeating the request which I took the liberty of then making. it was to ask some of the beans which I saw and ate of at your house, a large bean eaten as a snap is with the hull on. you pointed out to me in your garden a red flowering bean which you said was the...
74704Thomas Jefferson to Peter Derieux, 19 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
A little before the reciept of your favor of Feb. 25. the inclosed letter had come to my hands, and not knowing your residence I had forwarded it to judge Stuart at Staunton with a request that he would enquire for you & send it. as soon as I recieved yours of Feb. I wrote to mr Stuart to return the other letter to me. his absence from home delayed my recieving it, & my answering your letter...
74705From Thomas Jefferson to William B. Giles, 13 December 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 9th on the subject of the hire of my servant, but as my stay in Virginia will be too short to intermeddle with my affairs I must beg the favor of you to do in the matter as you would have done had I not returned.—I take the liberty of asking information from you, if you know who are the executors or administrators of the late young Mr. John Bannister, as I...
74706Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Colclaser, 8 August 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
You enquired the other day what number of barrels I should be able to furnish. we have barrel stuff enough in the woods ready cut off to serve two seasons. I have now set mr Goodman ’s force to riving and dressing ready to put up, and mean that they shall always get and dress the timber, so that Barnaby & the other two with him shall do nothing but set up. I count on their setting up ready for...
74707Enclosure: Statement of Conflict between Pennsylvania and Virginia, 20 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
A statement of facts concerning the proclamation of Governor Mifflin issued against Francis McGuire, Baldwin Parsons, and Absalom Wells, as attested by the two Representatives from the County of Ohio . A Mr. Davies formerly of Maryland, removed into Virginia, and settled near the Pennsylvania line as it was then supposed to run. He brought with him a negroe who was born and bred up in his...
74708Thomas Jefferson to William Wirt, 12 May 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Among some queries you addressed to me some time ago, was one on the case of Josiah Philips , which happened early in the revolution. not aware that the propriety of the proceeding in that case had been questioned and reprehended, my answer was general on that query. an application from another quarter having informed me of the doubts which have been expressed on it, I have bestowed more...
74709From Thomas Jefferson to Michael Krafft, 29 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your letter of the 24th. and therein the expression of a desire which is acceptable inasmuch as it is a manifestation of your dispositions towards me. I see too with great satisfaction every example of bending science to the useful purposes of life. hitherto Chemistry has scarcely deigned to look to the occupations of domestic life. when she shall have made intelligible to the...
74710From Thomas Jefferson to John Pickering, 20 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the copy of your Cherokee grammar, which I have gone over with attention and satisfaction. we generally learn languages for the benefit of reading the books written in them. but here our reward must be the addition made to the philosophy of language. in this point of view, your analysis of the Cherokee adds valuable matter for reflection, and strengthens our desire to see more...
74711Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 15 January 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Of the last 5 months, 4 have been past at Poplar Forest where I am engaged in improvements requiring much of my presence. while there no letters are forwarded to me, the cross post being very circuitous. they are accumulating here during my absence, and on my return are pressing for answers. as soon after my last return as my progress in this corvée afforded me the prospect of a day to spare,...
74712Memorandum Books, 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
Jan. 1. Recd. of J. May Summs. in Witt v. Biby and also in Bowyer v. Buchanan, but Qu. wherefore the latter having sent one before. 12. Handcock v. Walker and Witt v. Biby. Delivd. Summ. to G. Thompson. Henry Rose (Amherst) v. Joseph Lifely. Friendly caveat for 148 acres Amherst. Employed by Rose. 16. John McCue (Albemarle) v. Alexander Patten (Amherst) and David Kincaid (Augusta). Enter...
74713From Thomas Jefferson to John B. Prevost, 20 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In the arrangements proposed for the new government of the Orleans territory to commence on the 1st. of October next, I am desirous of availing the public of your services as one of the judges of the Superior court. by turning to the law for that establishment you will see what are it’s duties and emoluments. as the time is now arrived when the appointments should be fixed you will do me a...
74714From 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...
74715From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 14 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly considered the regulations concerning the Missisipi trade inclosed in your letter of the 7th. and should have signed them, but that a single fact, perhaps unknown to you, renders them impracticable without some alteration. neither Spain nor France allows any foreign nation to keep a consul in their colonies in time of peace. in consequence of this our Consul at N. Orleans has had...
74716From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, [8 January 1795] (Jefferson Papers)
My letters of the last post inform me of Mussi’s having sent on my clover seed; so that it is to him I must remit the 51 D.—67 c. balance of Stras’s money, after taking out Mr. Lyle’s and Taylor’s. I must trouble you therefore to try and get a bill on Philadelphia for that sum paiable to Joseph Mussi, merchant Philadelphia, at the corner of 7th. and Market streets, and to inclose it to him....
74717From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 20 November 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved from mr Short and others a very strong recommendation of M. Pougens a bookseller in Paris, and being desired to direct the procuring thence some books for the use of Congress, I thought to spare your time which is engaged on higher objects, & therefore desired mr Short by the inclosed letter to superintend the purchase, the details of which were to be executed by mr Duane and...
74718From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 19 March 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
I know not when I have recieved greater satisfaction than on reading the speech of Dr. Lieb in the Pennsylvania Assembly. He calls himself a new member. I congratulate honest republicanism on such an acquisition, and promise myself much from a career which begins on such elevated ground.—We are in suspense here to see the fate and effect of Mr. Pitt’s bill against democratic societies. I wish...
74719From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 20 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson, with his respects to the President, observes in answer to the note of yesterday respecting directions to the Mint for the assay of the new coins, that the Departments being instituted to relieve the President from the details of execution, it will be sufficient that the directions go from the head of the department, the President’s approbation being known. They shall accordingly...
74720From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 30 August 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Having now received the permission to revisit my own country which I have been so long expecting, I have determined to depart from this place so that I may sail about the 1st. of October. It is interesting for me to know therefore from this time to that the vessels which may be or may come into the ports of France and be returning to some port of the Chesapeak or Delaware, the former of...
74721From Thomas Jefferson to John Quincy Adams, 8 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I know nothing of the facts in this petition, nor of the person on whose behalf they are stated, but I know most of those who subscribe it, and can certify that they are persons of the first degree of respectability in the county in which I reside and of unquestionable credit as to any thing which they affirm. Given under my hand this 8 th of February 1826. To the President of the United...
74722From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 16 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson incloses to mr Gallatin another anonymous letter from Charleston, doubtless from the same hand.—he asks his attention to so much of the letter of mr Esch as respects the seisure of his watches, and to have done on it whatever is right. the young man is recommended by Professor Pictet.—is the object of the inclosed petition within our competence, or must it go to Congress? if the...
74723From Thomas Jefferson to Bernstorff, 21 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I am instructed by the United States of America in Congress assembled to bring again under the consideration of His Majesty the King of Denmark, and of his Ministers, the case of the three prizes, taken from the English during the late war by an American squadron under the command of Commodore Paul Jones, put into Bergen in distress, there rescued from our possession by orders from the Court...
74724From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
In your letter of Feb. 18. you were so kind as to tender your continuance in office till I could provide a successor, expressing a [wish at] the same time to be relieved as early in this month as should be p[ossible to do.] it has not been in my power to do this as early as you wished. Genl. Smith is now arrived to take charge of the department, at such particular moment as you may think...
74725Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 22 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Dinsmore consulted me yesterday on the entablature & of the Rotunda & of it’s windows. I have done so reviewed them , and find no reason to substitute any other than that of my original drawing for the main entablature, which was that of Palladio Book. 1. Pl. 26. taking the base however from his plate 23. that of Pl. 25. having too much work as well as that of the Pantheon. I have examined...
74726From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Henry Lee, 25 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to Colo. R. H. Lee and returns the paper he desired. He awaits the effect of the applications spoken of, before he will move in the case of Mr. Church. PrC ( DLC ). Lee’s letter to TJ of 23 Apr. 1792 is recorded in SJL as received 24 Apr., but it has not been found.
74727From Thomas Jefferson to United States Senate, 20 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Vacancies having happened during the last recess of the Senate in the following offices, I granted commissions to the persons herein respectively named, which commissions will expire at the end of the present session of the Senate. I now therefore nominate the same persons to the same offices respectively for appointment. John Breckenridge of Kentucky to be Attorney General of the US. Robert...
74728From Thomas Jefferson to Philip Mazzei, 8 September 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
The first copy of my letter of May 30. went soon after that date. A second copy accompanies this. Soon after that date I received letters from Mr. Blair and Mr. Madison, extracts from which I now inclose you. By that from Mr. Madison you will percieve that Dohrman alledges some deductions from the sum claimed. If he accedes to Mr. Madison’s proposition of paying up what he acknoleges due, the...
74729From Thomas Jefferson to James E. Dekay, 18 October 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I return thanks to the Directors of the Lyceum of Nat. hist. of New York and to yourself for the kind attention of sending me the 1 st N o of their Annals. the preservn of such tracts as this N o contains is well worthy of their care and science, and with my wishes that they may furnish the scientific world with many more of equal value I tender to them & to yourself the assurance of my high...
74730From Thomas Jefferson to Dwight Foster, 31 December 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favour of Mr. D. Foster to dine with him on Monday next, the 3rd. January at half after three, or at whatever later hour the house may rise. Friday Decr. 31st. 1802. The favour of an answer is asked. RC ( MB ); printed form, with blanks filled by Meriwether Lewis reproduced in italics.