78881From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Huntington, 26 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The appointment of Commissioner to the War Office of this State having lately become vacant, the Executive are desirous to place Colo. William Davies of the Virga. Continentals in that office. This Gentleman however declines undertaking it unless his rank in the army, half pay for life, land and allowance for depreciation of pay can be reserved to him; observing with justice that these...
78882From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 23 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to peruse the inclosed and have some conversation with me on it to-day? RC ( PHi : Daniel Parker Papers); endorsed by Dearborn. Not recorded in SJL . Enclosure not identified.
78883Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas G. Dufief, 16 August 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 14 th from Montpelier (the President ’s) requesting you to send on La Croix ’s Course of mathematics, and to procure for me a particular edition of Ovid ’s metamorphoses, which I am now satisfied is Minellius ’s. I have now to request that you will add to these Adams ’s geometrical & graphical essays in 2. v. 8 vo
78884From Thomas Jefferson to John Nicholson, 19 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the information contained in your letter of the 6th. inst. which merits attention the more as it coincides with information recieved from other quarters. it is certainly very interesting that we keep our eye on the proceedings of the persons who are the subject of your letter; and should you be able to obtain any further information respecting them or their measures, besides...
78885To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
I hear of a conveyance which allows me but a moment to write to you. I inclose a copy of a letter from mr̃ Lamb. I have written both to him & mr̃ Randall agreeable to what we had jointly thought best. the Courier de l’Europe gives us strange news of armies marching from the U.S. to take the posts from the English. I have received no public letters & not above one or two private ones from...
78886Thomas Jefferson to Thomas A. Digges, 15 June 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
a letter from the shadows of 41. to 43. (for these I suppose are the years of our births) is like one of those written from the banks of the Styx , it is so long since we have exchanged salutations, that I had almost been afraid to hazard mine to you without inclosing in it an Obolus as postage for Charon . I wish too that your letter had given a better account of your health and situation. to...
78887II. Memorandum on Justices of the Peace for the District of Columbia, [on or before 16 March 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
reduced the number from about 20. to 15. for each county adding to 11. of those named by mr Adams for Alexandria county, the 4. others marked with an * in the following list, & to 14. of those named by mr Adams for Washington county, 1 other have been added. a commission is consequently made out as follows. for Washington county for Alexandria county Thomas Sim Lee George Gilpin Daniel...
78888From Thomas Jefferson to Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, 9 October 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Sep. 24. is recieved, and I thank you for the seeds it covered. too old to plant trees for my own gratification, I shall do it for my posterity. the pamphlets therein mentioned will probably come by subsequent mails, tho’ those mentioned in your letter of Feb. 2. did not come. the preference given to letters sometimes occasion the Postmasters to omit printed papers. you mention...
78889From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 17 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 9th. came to hand yesterday only so that it has missed a post somewhere. I thought that in my letter of Aug. 20. answering your’s of Aug. 17. that I had answered every point distinctly; but I find on recurring to it that the recommendations of messrs. Langdon & Whipple for Hopley Yeaton to be master and Benjamin Gunnison 1st. mate of the revenue cutter in Newhampshire, tho’...
78890List of Groceries for Gamble & Temple, [6 August 1795?] (Jefferson Papers)
75. ℔ of coffee, as old as you can. (not green) 125. ℔ brown sugar. clean and dry. 50. ℔ white sugar. single refined. [10.] ℔ chocolate 50. ℔ rice. 25 ℔ of water biscuit. what they call crackers. [10.] ℔ of raisins 10. ℔ of bitter almonds 3. ℔ black pepper 1. ℔ allspice ¼ ℔ nutmeg ¼ ℔ cloves ¼ ℔ cinnamon ¼ ℔ ginger 5. ℔ sago a keg of cod’s tongues and sounds. 50. ℔ myrtle...
78891From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 5 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Feb 28 I informed you I had drawn on you in favor of Craven Peyton for a thousand dollars payable the 10th. instant, and that that sum should be remitted you from hence on this day. accordingly I now inclose you 18. bills of 50. D cash, and one of 100. making the sum of 1000. D branch bank of this place. About the beginning of October, I left a box of at Monticello to be...
78892From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 8 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President a letter from the Commissioners of Washington. Also begs leave to add to the list of candidates for the light house of Cape Henry, the name of John Waller Johnson, who has hitherto served in the Customs under Colo. Heath. He is recommended as a person of worth by a Mr. Waller Lewis of Spotsylvania, who is himself a man of worth. He has...
78893From Thomas Jefferson to Peter Lyons, 26 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
An old account between mr Wayles’s & Bathurst Skelton’s estate is shortly to be settled between the parties interested. in that account is the following item. ‘1792. July 3. To my assumpsit to pay your bond (i.e. B. Skelton’s bond) to Thos. Moore assigned to Saml. Farmer who assigned to Peter Lyons £20. To interest on do. from 17[67. Nov. 3.-?]’ at a meeting with Meriwether Skelton & Jerman...
78894From Thomas Jefferson to Jacob Wagner, 9 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments & thanks to mr Wagner for the translation of the German letter, which as is usual, turns out not worth the trouble. he now returns papers recieved partly from mr Madison partly from mr Wagner he desires a Commission may be issued to James Holmes of Georgia to be Collector of Sunbury in Georgia v. George Foster, resigned. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
78895From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 9 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of June 22. was recieved in due time. since that the Postmaster General has returned to this place, and I desired him to inform me what were the emoluments of the P.M.’s place at Richmond. he says those of the last year, ending Apr. 1. were 2098 D. 54C out of which the Postmaster pays Clerk’s hire, office rent Etc. this is not so much as I had expected, and possibly is not as good as...
78896From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 26 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I see with great concern that unavoidable delays are likely still to procrastinate your negociations beyond what had been expected: & I sincerely regret the particular circumstance to which this is owing, the illness, probably the death of mr Fox. his sound judgment saw that political interest could never be separated in the long run from moral right, & his frank & great mind would have made a...
78897From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin A. Gould, 5 August 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much indebted to you, Sir, for your present of the bust of my friend mr Adams. without knowing exactly the precise period at which it was taken, I think it a good likeness of what he was a little after he had past the middle age of life. it recieved a little injury by fracture, but the parts are preserved, and, being on the back part, can be repaired without disfiguring it. I place it...
78898Thomas Jefferson to Louis H. Girardin, 8 July 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
I am uncertain whether you know that you have been anticipated in the translation of Botta . the first information I had of it was the reciept of the 1 st vol. three days ago from the translater mr Geo. A. Otis . it is to be in 3. v. 8 vo and the 2 d & 3 d are promised as fast as they can be printed. should you consider this as a release from that labor, I should hope you would give the time...
78899Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 31 August 1780 (Madison Papers)
FC (Photostat in Virginia State Library of copy in British Museum: Addington MSS 38,650). We agree to employ mr. Dunlap according to his proposals inclosed in your Letter of the 15th instant except that we must adhere to our requisition that a complete sheet of his weekly paper shall be kept clear of advertisements, and reserved for intelligence, essays, &c., except that advertisements from...
78900Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 4 April 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 14. has been duly recieved, and the MS of the Commentary on Montesquieu is also safe at hand. I now forward to you the work of Tracy , which you will find a valuable supplement and corrective to those we already possess on political economy. it is a little unlucky that it’s outset is of a metaphysical character, which may damp the ardor of perusal in some readers. he has...
78901From Thomas Jefferson to William H. Sargeant, 8 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your favor of June 15. inclosing a letter to young Mr. Bannister, which I have forwarded to him at Bourdeaux where he is at present. My last letter from him is dated June 5. He said his health was then incertain, sometimes tolerably well, at others less so. I wrote his father on the 6th. of May last, and shall take care to inform him as often as I can of the state of...
78902From Thomas Jefferson to —— Cabot, 24 July 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I deliver to Mr. Tracy to be returned to you the copy of Don Quixot which you were so obliging as to lend me: for which I return you many thanks. The winds have been so propitious as to let me get through one volume only: yet this has so far done away the difficulties of the language as that I shall be able to pursue it on shore with pleasure. I have found it a very advantageous disposal of...
78903From Thomas Jefferson to James Pleasants, 24 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The Report of the Rector & Visitors of the University of Virga which accompanies this letter, expressing a doubt, from the informn then possessed , whether our Agent would be able to effect the purposes of his mission to Europe at as early a day as we had expected, observed that ‘of this more would be known in time for it’s communication by the Rector with the Report’. I have to give the...
78904Thomas Jefferson to Eli Alexander, 25 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Having some heavy sums to pay at our March & April courts I should be glad if in the disposal of your crops you could have an eye to those periods so far as respects the rent now due. as the prices of wheat & flour are now good, and the earliest sales of tob o will undoubtedly be the best, I trust no loss can arise from early sales. being to set out for Bedford tomorrow or next day & to be...
78905To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Jefferson, 8 May 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I had wished to have kept back the issuing passports for sea vessels, till the question should be decided whether the treaty with France should be declared void, lest the issuing the Passport prescribed by that treaty might be considered as prejudging the question. The importunities however of the owners obliging me to give out a few, I had them printed in the Dutch form only. Not then having...
78906From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Appleton, 30 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 29th. of Apr. & 26. Oct. 1806. your last which has been recieved was of Nov. 18. 1805. in mine of Apr. 29. I asked the favor of you to ship for me in Sep. or early in Oct. 400. bottles of Montepulciano, of the vineyards of the Antient Jesuits, the 473. bottles of that growth which you had sent me before being the best I had ever recieved, & having kept the best. having heard...
78907From Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 28 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favors by Mr. Cutting, and thank you sincerely for the copy of your book. The departure of a packet-boat, which always gives me full emploiment for some time before, has only permitted me to look into it a little. I judge of it from the first volume which I thought formed to do a great deal of good. The first principle of a good government is certainly a distribution of it’s...
78908From Thomas Jefferson to David Shepherd, 18 June 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
You are desired to give notice to such recruits under the act of Assembly passed last winter as may not yet have marched from your county, to hold themselves in readiness to assemble at your courthouse at a moment’s warning from you. An officer will be immediately appointed, from whom you will receive notice of the day on which he will attend at your courthouse to receive them; and the...
78909From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Massie, 26 October 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I will be glad to take of you the present year about 9 or 100. gall s of cyder, which I hope you will chuse for me of your very best. p. be pleased to accept my best wishes and respects MHi .
78910From Thomas Jefferson to Bey of Tunis Hammuda Pasha, 28 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I learned with great concern that the Commander of our squadron in the Mediterranean, Commodore Rogers, deeming it his duty to ask explanations of menaces understood to have been signified towards the US. had done this in a manner not consisting with the respect due to your Excellency’s character, nor with the friendship which I bear you. In this, be assured that he was not governed by his...
78911From Thomas Jefferson to St. John de Crèvecoeur, 26 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received the honour of your letter of the 20th . inst. Mr. Barclay has been long gone to Marocco, with which power he was by his last letter about signing a treaty of peace. This must apologize for your not having heard from him. If you will inform me to whom (in Paris) the 55₶ –16s can be paid I will order it to be paid.—I have letters and papers from America to July 16. They...
78912From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 1 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. is recieved & with it the copy of Dr. Priestley’s Memoirs, for which I return you many thanks. I shall read them with great pleasure, as I revered the character of no man living more than his. with another part of your letter I am sensibly affected. I have not here my correspondence with Govr. Mc.Kean to turn to, but I have no reason to doubt that the particular letter...
78913From Thomas Jefferson to James Brown, 8 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I communicated to the Visitors of the University, at their meeting yesterday your favor of the 24 th of March which was not rec d till the 31 st of that month. they were happy to infer from it a disposn in the lit erary board concurrent with their own to save the Institn as much as may be from loss by dead interest . the sums and times be most advantageous to them for recieving the loan lately...
78914From Thomas Jefferson to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, 10 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
At the request of Major General Baron Steuben expressed in the inclosed letter, I take the liberty of laying it before you. The number of Militia necessary to be called into the field, and time of their being there, we begged the Baron to advise. He did so. Apprehending deficiencies, we ordered a considerably larger number. As soon as we received the Letters informing us of the deficiencies...
78915Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Ritchie, 10 June 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to return you infinite thanks for the kind interest you have taken in the late denunciation against me by a Pseudo- native of Virginia , and particularly for the proofs of it furnished thro’ the hands of my grandson . it has been a rule of my life, steadily observed to take no notice of anonymous defamations. but I know that money imputations are more apt than others to excite...
78916Thomas Jefferson to David Bailie Warden, 17 May 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of Feb. 20. and hasten to acknolege it by return of mail, in the hope it may be in time to reach mr Gallatin before his departure. I should have associated you myself with mr Ticknor in requesting the friendly office of purchasing some books for me, but at the time he left this country your letters had given me reason to believe you might be on a return to it....
78917From Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 6 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Cary and will thank him if he can advise him of the address of his brother John Cary, whom he presumes to be still in London PoC ( MHi ); endorsed by TJ.
78918From Thomas Jefferson to André Limozin, 28 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I think I recollect to have written, about a year ago, to Virginia for a small package of tobacco of a particular quality made on my own estate. It was intended for a friend in France who makes his own snuff and was curious to try tobacco of the first quality. This may be the package which you are so kind as to mention in your letter of the 25th. instant. I am in hopes there are in the same...
78919From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 6 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed paper got mislaid by accident so as to escape my earlier attention. I do not know how far the office of a director of the bank is compatible with mr Nourse’s official duties, or the general spirit of our laws. I leave it therefore altogether to your judgment, only observing that if these admit his acceptance, I believe the bank cannot associate to themselves an honester man. RC (...
78920From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Walsh, 26 June 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 20 th recommending mr Constant to a place in our University. the best answer I can give will be a statement of facts. our Visitors, at their meeting in April last, finding that our preparations were sfftly matured to fix a day certain for the opening of the instn, proceeded to consider the subject of Professors. deeming it their duty to provide for their...
78921[From Thomas Jefferson to G. K. van Hogendorp, 24 July 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ On board the Ceres, off Scilly Isles, 24 July 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Ceres. off Scilly. G. K. Van Hogendorp. recommending Mr. N. Tracy.” Not found.]
78922From Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 17 December 1794 (Jefferson Papers)
I have made Mr. Bannister’s affair the subject of a separate letter , containing a full explanation of it, because by giving in the letter, it will give you no more trouble. I will only add here, what would have been too urging if expressed there, that if any thing be said of early paiment, I would rather be allowed to draw on any one there for the money than to have it sent here. The attempt...
78923From Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 8 July 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I must ask the favor of you to procure for me a safe bill of excha. on London to nett there, clear of excha. 444. D. payable to Mr Sam l Williams N o 13. Finsbury square London, forwarding with it the inclosed letter which advises him of it’s purpose . send me if you please the triplicate I must request you also to send me by the 1 st waggon 8. boxes of tin, and by the boats 6. barrels of...
78924From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 18 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It being necessary to collect at Hoods as large a number of boats as possible to transport men and horses across the river as occasion may require, you are hereby authorized to impress all the boats on this and Chickahominy river except only one to be left at each ferry and except also such boats as from particular circumstances of which you are to Judge in your discretion it woud be attended...
78925From Thomas Jefferson to James Currie, 19 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved your favor accompanying the award of the Arbitrators in the case between mr Ross & myself, only on the eve of my departure from Monticello when it was impossible for me to take time even to read the papers. I have taken the first moment in my power, (after getting through the mass of business [accumulated] here) to examine the papers. I am perfectly satisfied with the correctness of...
78926From Thomas Jefferson to John Syme, 17 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your favor of the 8th. covering one to Mr. Barclay, and, the moment before, I had received a letter giving me an authentic account of his death, of which a less certain one had arrived a few days before. No person more sincerely sympathizes with his family, than I do, on this melancholy event: and I should ask you to express my condolences to them, did I not know by...
78927From Thomas Jefferson to Amand Koenig, 18 August 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous accuser la réception des livres que vous m’avez annoncé par votre lettre du 8me. Juillet, et que j’en ai payé le montant, c’est à dire la somme de 135.₶ 5s. aujourdhui dans les mains de Monsieur Prevost, comme vous me l’avez désiré. Quand le reste de l’Aeschylus Schutzii sera publié, je vous prie de me l’envoyer. J’ai l’honneur d’être Monsieur votre très humble et très...
78928From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 12 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 9th. was recieved last night; but in the mean time mine of yesterday had gone off asking you to specify the particular Nos. of my packages which were missing. the present is to save you the trouble of repeating the information in that recieved last night. with respect to the coal, the approach of my departure for Monticello, and the season, now renders the forwarding it...
78929Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Eston Randolph, 10 September 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 8 th was duly recieved. on the question of any suspension of current rent the facts are very simple. the sinking of the floor of the mill house which was within my care and responsibility having deranged the boulting geer which was under yours, I thought myself bound to repair it. and accordingly Gilmore , at my expence, put it into as perfect order as it ever had been, and I...
78930Thomas Jefferson to John Graham, 17 August 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I avail myself as usual of your kindness in asking the benefit of the government channel for the conveyance of the inclosed letters. if there should be a direct conveyance to mr Appleton at Leghorn , that to mr Mazzei would go safest that way, because he is particularly known to mr Appleton . but the choice of conveyance I leave altogether to your discretion & friendship, only observing that...