75901Enclosure: Jefferson’s Report on Conversations with Vergennes, [December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
Hearing frequent Complaints in this Country that little of our Commerce came to it, that while our Flag covered the Thames it was rarely to be seen in a Port of France, and that this proceeded from national Prejudices, and observing that this Complaint was often repeated and particularly relied on by those who had opposed our Admission into the French Islands, I thought it necessary on every...
75902Thomas Jefferson to Allen Bernard, 30 July [1818] (Jefferson Papers)
The Commissioners for the University of Virginia being to meet at your tavern the day after tomorrow (Saturday) I propose to be with you tomorrow evening (Friday) the bearer, with my baggage will be with you some hours before. as I supposed you might find it difficult to provide beds for so many, I and it was convenient to me to send a mattrass & trussels for myself, I have done so, preferring...
75903Thomas Jefferson to James Ronaldson, 3 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the paper you were so kind as to inclose to me. the hint to the two belligerents of disarming each other of their auxiliaries, by opening asylums to them and giving them passages to this country, is certainly a good one. Bonaparte has mind enough to adopt it, but not the means. England again has the means but not mind enough. she would prefer losing an advantage over her enemy...
75904From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 November 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
The person who hands you this letter is an interesting subject of curiosity. he was taken prisoner by the Kickapoos when he supposes he must have been about 3. or 4. years of age, knows not whence taken, nor who were his parents. he escaped from the Indians at about 19. as he supposes, & about 7. years ago. he has applied himself to education, is a student of Medecine, & has assumed the name...
75905From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
A bill has past two readings in the Senate for removing the seat of government immediately to Philadelphia, there to remain ten years, and then to be established permanently in Georgetown. It is to receive it’s third reading to-day, and tho’ it depends on a single vote, yet I believe we may count surely that it will pass that house. As it originated there, it will then have to pass the lower...
75906[From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Skipwith, 26 December 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 26 Dec. 1783 . Entry in SJL reads: “H. Skipw. Genl’s audience—European news—danger of not having 9 states—Queries about white negroes. Patsy well disposed of—my ill health.” Not found, but see Skipwith’s reply, 20 Jan. 1784.]
75907From Thomas Jefferson to Mingo Mattaha and Tishoo Hooluhta, 7 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I am happy to recieve you at the seat of the government of the twenty two nations, and to take you by the hand. your friendship to the Americans has long been known to me. our fathers have told us, that your nation never spilled the blood of an American, and we have seen you fighting by our side , & cementing our friendship by mixing our blood in battle against the same enemies. I rejoice...
75908From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 8 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I think the method you propose for applying to the court of Denmark for the compensation due for the prizes taken by the squadron you commanded in Europe, is a proper one: therefore I will undertake to write to Mr. Adams on the subject, and have no doubt he will support Doctr. Bancroft in his sollicitations to the Danish minister at London for this purpose. I have the honour to be with the...
75909From Thomas Jefferson to James Currie, 15 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I deferred making another application to Potter till Doctr. Griffin had so long overrun the time of his arrival that I thought it desperate and then went to Potter and shewed him Dr. G.’s letters. He expressed his astonishment and assured me in the most pointed terms that he had no property of his in his hands but the wine mentioned before, and that he did not know in whose hands his...
75910Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Delaplaine, 30 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 23 d is recieved, in which you enquire whether there is an approved portrait of myself, by whom painted, & in whose possession? mr Stuart has drawn two portraits of me, at different sittings, of which he prefers the last. both are in his possession. he also drew a third in water colours, a profile in the medallion stile , which is in my possession. mr Rembrandt Peale also...
75911From Thomas Jefferson to Abigail Adams, 9 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
It is an age since I have had the honor of a letter from you, and an age and a half since I presumed to address one to you. I think my last was dated in the reign of king Amri, but under which of his successors you wrote, I cannot recollect. Ochosias, Joachar, Manahem or some such hard name. At length it is resumed: I am honoured with your favor of July 23. and I am at this moment writing an...
75912From Thomas Jefferson to Meriwether Lewis, 15 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I dropped you a line on the 11th. inst. and last night recieved yours of the 8th. last night also we recieved the treaty from Paris ceding Louisiana according to the bounds to which France had a right. price 11¼ millions of Dollars besides paying certain debts of France to our citizens which will be from 1. to 4. millions. I recieved also from Mr. La Cepede at Paris, to whom I had mentioned...
75913To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 15 November 1823 (Madison Papers)
I return your letter to the President, and that of mr. Rush to you, with thanks for the communication. The matters which mr. Rush states as under consideration with the British government are very interesting. But that about the navigation of the St. Laurence and the Missisipi, I would rather they would let alone. The navigation of the former, since the N.Y. canal, is of too little interest to...
75914Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 20 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
I very much lament the cause which has deprived us of the pleasure of seeing mrs Cabell and yourself at Monticello on your way to Richmond . I now commit to your care a letter to be delivered to the Speaker of the Senate , which contains the Report of the Commissioners who met at Rockfish gap . having been written in great haste, and by several hands, dividing the work in order to expedite...
75915From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 23 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 23 Apr. 1781 . This letter is identical with TJ’s letter to Samuel Huntington of this date except that it lacks the postscript. RC ( DLC : Washington Papers); 3 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; endorsed: “Richmond 23d. April 1781 from Governor Jefferson. Ansd. 16 May.” FC ( Vi ). Tr ( DLC ). Printed in HAW Henry A. Washington, ed., The Writings of Thomas Jefferson , Washington,...
75916From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 25 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved in due time your two favors of Dec. 2. & Feb. 10. and have to acknolege for the ladies of my native state their obligations to you for the encomiums which you are so kind as to bestow on them. they certainly claim no advantages over those of their sister states, and are sensible of more favorable circumstances existing with many of them, & happily availed of, which our situation...
75917From Thomas Jefferson to Gustavus B. Horner, 15 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I found here a small remnant of the Benni seed I had sent on to be sown, which enables me to fulfill my promise to you. open light furrows with a plough, 3 ½ or 4 f. apart, drop a very few seed every 12. inches along the furrow. when up, thin them to a single plant at each 12. inches, and when advanced in growth draw a little earth to the roots. they need little culture. when the leaves fall...
75918From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 2 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I was two days ago honoured with your Letter and that of General Washington on the same Subject. I immediately transmitted by Express the one accompanying it to the Commanding Officer of the Naval Force of his Most Christian Majesty in our Bay, and took measures for providing pilots. Baron Steuben will communicate to you the Arrangements he proposes, which I shall have the pleasure of...
75919Thomas Jefferson to Samuel H. Smith, 21 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am imposing a task on your friendship which needs much apology, and will be explained in the letter accompanying this. it is to offer my library to the library committee of Congress . I would not have trespassed on your time so much, but that I hope it will give you little trouble. the delivery of the accompanying letter (which is written separately with that view) and the Catalogue will...
75920Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore, 25 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
On examining the sites for our college we found not one comparable to Perry ’s, and prices beyond our means; and as Perry persisted positively in refusing a deed but on condition of doing the wooden work of the building now proposed, it was concluded we ought not to lose the permanent advantages to the institution, on a question about the execution of this single building, and especially as he...
75921Enclosure: Report on Desalination of Sea Water, 21 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of state, to whom was referred by the H. of Representatives the petition of Jacob Isaacks of Newport in Rhode island, has examined into the truth and importance of the allegations therein set forth and makes thereon the following report. The petitioner sets forth that by various experiments, with considerable labor and expence, he has discovered a method of converting salt water...
75922From Thomas Jefferson to William Lee, 17 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
We have no funds at present applicable to the purchase of the collection of shells of mr Wyer proposed in your favor of the 8 th and whether we shall have such funds depends on the allowance by Congress of a claim of the state of Virga now depending before them, and a portion of which is given to our Univ y if obtained. until this shall be determ d I can only hold the proposn of your letter in...
75923From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 22 February 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The advance of the season begins to require that the plans for the buildings and other public works at the Federal city should be in readiness, and the persons engaged who are to carry them into execution. The circumstances which have lately happened have produced an uncertainty whether you may be disposed to continue your services there. I am charged by the President to say that your...
75924Thomas Jefferson to Charles Clay, 18 November 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I was five days absent in my trip to the peaks of Otter , and have been five days engaged in calculating the observations made. this brings me down to yesterday evening when I finished them. I am going to-day to see mr Clarke at his new habitation, and tomorrow, weather permitting, will pay you a morning visit. in the mean time I send you a note of the result of my ten days labor and some...
75925From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter for Mr. Jay being of a private nature, I have thought it better to put it under your cover lest it might be opened by some of his clerks in the case of his absence. But I inclose a press copy of it for yourself, as you will perceive the subject of it referred to you as well as to him. I ask your aid in it so far as you think right, and to have done what you think right. If...
75926Thomas Jefferson to William Champe Carter, 19 January 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter will sufficiently explain it’s object. the messenger whom I sent with it to your house was sent back with it from Culpeper C.H. with in by Capt n Shackelford with information that you were in Richmond . I therefore commit it to the post with a request to you, if you should be in Richmond on Monday sennight Feb. 1.
75927To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Jefferson, [21 October 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, October 21, 1792. Letter not found. ] Letter listed in Jefferson’s “Summary Journal of Letters,” Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress. This is the second of two letters that Jefferson wrote to H that is listed for this date.
75928From Thomas Jefferson to Victor Marie du Pont, 7 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kindness on a former occasion has emboldened me to trouble you again for a draught on Paris of the value of 200. Dollars, for which sum I inclose you a check on the New York branch bank. my apology is that it shall be the last time for the present year , and that I am really so helpless in things of this kind that like other helpless beings I throw myself on the charity of the benevolent....
75929From Thomas Jefferson to John Garland Jefferson, 28 May 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 11th. inst. and imagine that soon after it’s date you received mine of Apr. 26. on the subject of your lands. I am happy to learn that it is the opinion of a person learned in the laws of that state, that the lands may be recovered. As to the kind of process to be instituted, the lawyers of the state must be the best judges. Were I in your place, I would...
75930From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 26 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
From a letter received from the President Mr. Lear is satisfied he cannot be here to-day and doubts even the possibility of his arrival tomorrow. Of course our expedition of to-day would be certainly fruitless, and is therefore laid aside agreeably to a message I have received from Genl. Knox and the attorney General. Your’s affectionately & respectfully, RC ( MHi : AM ); addressed: “The...