78881From Thomas Jefferson to John Breckinridge, 25 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by Mr. Toulmin a gentleman who goes to visit your state with a view to settle in it. I have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with him; but from the multiplied testimonies of those who have, I am able to assure you that you will find in him a person of understanding, of science, and of great worth: and what will be an additional recommendation to you, a pure...
78882From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr., 22 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
When you shall have perused the inclosed, be so good as to stick a wafer in it and deliver it. It will explain it’s own object, on which therefore I need add nothing. You are certainly right in deciding to relinquish the purchase if Colo. Randolph desires it. But I rather suppose he means nothing more than that he will not abide by the agreement if all the articles are insisted on. He mentions...
78883From Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 13 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 27th. of April I recieved from mr Jefferson for acceptance your note for 201. D. paiable about the last of July, which I sent back accepted and shall pay at maturity. I did not write you on it because I thought he would do so. since that your favors of Apr. 25. & June 9. have been recieved. the former proposed that I should pay £200. in 60. days (say July 1.) and £60. in 90 days (Aug....
78884To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 May 1784 (Madison Papers)
I will now take up the several enquiries contained in your letter of Apr. 25. which came to hand yesterday. ‘Will it not be good policy to suspend further treaties of commerce till measures shall have taken place in America, which may correct the idea in Europe of impotency in the federal government in matters of commerce?’ Congress think such measures requisite, and have accordingly...
78885From Thomas Jefferson to Gideon Granger, 21 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I propose within about ten days to seek, for the months of August & September, a climate more congenial than that of the tide waters. I do myself therefore the previous pleasure of acknoleging [the] reciept of your favor of the 6th. & to thank you for it’s information & to hope you will continue it. my own opinion accords entirely with yours. the first removal in Connecticut will be justified...
78886From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 14 October 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not till yesterday that I learned what had happened to the letters and papers which were forwarded to you by the Sion. As she was bound directly for Amsterdam, it was thought better to submit to the risk of the sea, the only one we thought them exposed to, than, by sending duplicates, to run the further risk of their getting to other hands. As it has turned out we suffer all the...
78887From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Cutbush, 24 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Dr. Cutbush and his thanks for the volume on the health of soldiers and seamen which he has been so kind as to send him. he shall peruse it with pleasure at his first leisure. in the mean time the great utility of the object justly entitles the author to the thanks of every friend of his country. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
78888From Thomas Jefferson to George Weedon, 10 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a copy of a letter I have received from Baron Steuben and must rest on you the taking such measures as you may think most likely to effect his recommendation, for which purpose you will be pleased to call on any militia you think proper and for any public arms or other stores which may be at hand. I have heard you have embodied a number of men to join Genl. Nelson. Under this...
78889From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 7 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of Dec. 2. since which I have recieved yours of Octr 27. Nov. 1. 4. 10. 19. & 25. in mine went two blank commissions for the legislative council, and the Secretary of state will by this mail send you two others. you will fill them up at your discretion as nearly as you can on the principles before explained. this of course includes my approbation of the appointments...
78890From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 3 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
This is probably the last time I shall address you on this side the water. the occasion is furnished by a desire that you will be so good as to deliver the inclosed letter to my eleve and friend mr Short. I recommend him at the same time to your patronage and attentions. you will find him a man of great natural ability, compleatly read, and better acquainted with the world than most in it. he...
78891From Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 3 January 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
The temporary bell should be placed on the ridge of the roof of the Pavilion in which the books now are, on a small gallows exactly as the tavern bells are. you will contrive how the cord may be protected from the trickish ringings of the students. when the clock comes from Richmond, it should be placed before a window of the book room of the same house, the face so near the window as that...
78892From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 7 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to pay Colo. Harvie on account of John Rogers 41. D 10. c. I now inclose you 40. D. for this purpose which I will pray you to deliver him, adding thereto the fraction which cannot be remitted in paper. I shall shortly send from here a number of packages, to be forwarded to Monticello. they will be chiefly of groceries for my use there, as I shall make a short visit there as soon as...
78893From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 31 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the papers respecting the Louisiana board of Commissioners, with only the alteration of omitting the words in the Xth. intruction about which you had doubted yourself. at the same time it is without confidence I give any opinion on this subject, having always considered your knolege on it so exact as to supersede the necessity of my studying it minutely. if any opinion, in aid...
78894Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Shoemaker, 6 February 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
It has been a sincere affliction to me to be so importunate with you on the subject of my rents, but my necessities; which I only partly explained to you, have forced it on me. I inclose for your perusal two letters recieved by the last mail , which will shew you how sorely I am pressed, and that the urgencies I have stated to you were really less than the truth. be so good as to return the...
78895From Thomas Jefferson to Zachariah Loreilhe, 30 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter from a friend of mine in S. Carolina informs me that, with that letter, he sends some plants, addressed to the care of Monsr. Otto, Chargé des affaires of France at New York. The letter is come to hand, but no plants. Fearing they may remain on board the Packet boat last arrived at L’Orient, or neglected in some warehouse, I take the liberty of asking your friendly enquiries after...
78896From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander J. Dallas, 14 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Dallas & thanks him for his note on the subject of the Prohibition. the observation that it does not remove the cause, and consequently cannot come within the description of ‘writs necessary for the exercise of their jurisdiction’ had not occurred to him & is weighty. but it suggests to him (and a 30. years abstraction from legal studies makes him...
78897Enclosure: Memorandum on the Edward Stevens Claim, 19 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctr. Stevens having been sent by the preceding administration in 1798. to St. Domingo, with the Commission of Consul general, and also with authorities as an agent additional to his Consular powers, under a stipulation that his expences should be born; an account of these is now exhibited to the Secretary of state and the questions arise Whether the paiment can be authorised by the...
78898From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Smith Barton, 12 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by my grandson Th: Jefferson Randolph who goes on to take the benefit of your lectures in Natural history in the first instance, & of those of Anatomy & Surgery. it is proposed that the two former shall occupy his attention almost exclusively, his attendance on the lectures in Surgery being merely with a view to the situation of the head of a family in the country where...
78899From Thomas Jefferson to Peter Le Poole, 14 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your memory has decieved you in supposing that I had any agency in the transactions stated in the inclosed papers, or any knolege of them. they are stated to have taken place under the administration of mr Henry as Governor of Virginia, at which time you suppose I was a member of his Executive council. I never was a member of that council. I succeeded him as Governor, but have no recollection...
78900Thomas Jefferson to Constantine S. Rafinesque, 7 November 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
A long and severe illness, from which I am but now recovering must apologise for this late acknolegement of your letter of Sep. 16. recieved on the 6 th of Oct. the Visitors of the University having determined to employ all their funds in providing for the accomodation of Professors and students until these are compleated, there is of course an entire suspension of the appointment of...
78901Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 25 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved a week ago your favor of the 15 th and should sooner have answered it, but that I have been awaiting the issue of a negociation between Jefferson and his uncle T. E. Randolph for a relinquishment of his lease of Pantops . the result of this is too doubtful to detain me longer from notifying my acceptance of your offer of Pantops on the terms of your letter, that is to say, for ten...
78902Thomas Jefferson to Nelson Barksdale, 11 November 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Harrison of Lynchburg was authorised to make an agreement for us with mr Knight , which I now inclose to you, and pray you to settle with him, when he is done, and give him an order on mr Garrett . I think he arrived here about Oct. the 8 7 th or 8 th RC (
78903Notes on such parts of Forondas letter of Apr as are worth answering, 30 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
April 30, 1808 Notes on such parts of Foronda’s letter of Apr. 26. 08 as are worth answering. I. I know of no recent orders to Governor Claiborne as to the navigation of the Misipi., Yberville & Pontchartrain. He should specify them, But he may be told that no order has ever been given contrary to the rights of Spain. These rights are 1. a treaty right that "the ships of Spain coming directly...
78904From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 21 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your several favors of Sep. 24. Oct. 2. 3. 11. 18. were unacknoleged because, at the time of writing them, you could not tell me how I should direct to you. That of Oct. 28. desired me to write to Rome; but from the time of receiving it till yesterday, I have been in one of those squalls of work with which you are acquainted. That over, and my dispatches for America clear of the house, I had...
78905From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander McRae, 8 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers you were so kind as to send me with thanks for the communication of them. I have thought it right to give the information to my successor. the ascendancy which great Britain exercises over us through the sameness of language & manners, but above all by her omnipotence over our Commercial men, is most deplorable. in the existing difficulties she has proved that these...
78906Thomas Jefferson to Francis Corbin, 20 May 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Apr. 30. was re is just recieved and conveys the first information of the death of mrs Paradise . it finds me on the eve of a journey of length, on which I shall be a month absent, and the preparations for which permit me only to give you my first thoughts on the subject of your letter. I happen to possess an outline of the marriage settlement between mr and mrs Paradise ,...
78907From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 11 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Your head, my dear friend, is full of Notable things; and being better employed, therefore, I do not expect letters from you. I am constantly roving about, to see what I have never seen before and shall never see again. In the great cities, I go to see what travellers think alone worthy of being seen; but I make a job of it, and generally gulp it all down in a day. On the other hand, I am...
78908From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 20 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Randolph continues well without the least retrograde circumstance. he sleeps well, walks a good deal about the house, rides out in the carriage every day this cruel weather will permit & breakfasts & dines with us. but his strength returns so slowly that he certainly will not be able to undertake his journey on Monday as we had hoped. indeed I do not think a time can be fixed. when he...
78909XXII. Thomas Jefferson to Jerman Baker, 26 June 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
I now inclose you a state of the tickets received by Mr. Wayles and to whom sold. It is taken from two or three states made out by him at different times and corresponding with one another. One of these appears to have been in Colo Byrd’s hands for examination and has some small queries and annotations in his hand writing which shews it to have been approved. Their authenticity is further...
78910From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Montgomery, 10 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your letter of August 25, and think that a letter addressed to Mr. Jay on the subject of the consulate at your port will suffice. If you have already written to him, nothing more will be necessary. I really deplore the situation of our prisoners at Algiers. If they could have been redeemed at the prices formerly paid by the nations of Europe, I think it probable they would...
78911Thomas Jefferson to Samuel J. Harrison, 2 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Mar. 12. was not recieved till yesterday. it has given me the deepest concern. engagements to make paiments founded solely on your bond, which I deemed as good as a bank note, are now immediately falling due, and I have no resource, on so short warning, but that, to cover me from the mortification, and the consequences of failure. I cannot yet but persuade myself that, on...
78912From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 24 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I had no conception there were persons enough to support a paper whose stomachs could bear such aliment as the inclosed papers contain. they are far beyond even the Washington Federalist. to punish however is impracticable until the body of the people, from whom juries are to be taken, get their minds to rights; and even then I doubt it’s expediency. while a full range is proper for actions by...
78913[From Thomas Jefferson to James McClurg, 17 March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 17 Mch. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Mc.Lurg. Ballons—Fox and North—Secy. F.A. [Foreign Affairs]—Mrs. Cary.” Not found.]
78914Thomas Jefferson to Edwin Stark, 20 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter just recieved from mr Theus Collector of Charleston informs me he had forwarded to Norfolk two cases of wine addressed to your care. they contain 83. bottles of Florence wine. I do not know what duties or expences they may come charged with to your hands; but if you will have the goodness to forward them to mess rs Gibson & Jefferson my correspondents at Richmond , and to draw on them...
78915Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 25 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter by post yesterday desired you to send my goods from Washington by trusty boatmen. I did not then know that mr r R andolph ’s boats would go off to-day. as they are entirely trusty, I pray you to deliver to them whatever you may have for me. the molasses particularly will come safe by them. we are entirely unable to get cotton seed in this part of the country. mr Bacon at my request...
78916From Thomas Jefferson to Tench Coxe, 17 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not been inattentive at any time to the considerations which urged the availing the general government of your services; but my own principles, & the uniform doctrine of the Republicans that no man should be removed for a mere difference of political opinion, has allowed little to be done in the way of appointment. the office into which it would have been most natural to place you, was...
78917From Thomas Jefferson to David Rittenhouse, 12 August 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
At my departure from Philadelphia, I said nothing to you about the Equatorial instrument , because the payment of my bills had left me with little more than would safely bring me home, and the inclosed note from Mr. Lieper for 238.58 Dollars was not put into my hands till the moment I was setting out. I now inclose it to you, merely to secure to myself the purchase of the instrument; for an...
78918From Thomas Jefferson to George Hay, 20 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 11th. an error of the post office had occasioned the delay. before an impartial jury Burr’s conduct would convict himself were not one word of testimony to be offered against him. but to what a state will our law be reduced by party feelings in those who administer it? why do not Blannerhasset, Dayton &c demand private & comfortable lodgings? in a country...
78919To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 October 1798 (Madison Papers)
The day after you left us, I sat down and wrote the petition I mentioned to you. It is not yet correct enough, & I inclose you a copy to which I pray your corrections, and to return it by the next post, that it may be set in motion. On turning to the judiciary law of the US. I find they established the designation of jurors by lot or otherwise as now practiced in the several states ; should...
78920Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 7 September 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
On the subject of the Academy or College proposed to be established in our neighborhood, I promised the trustees that I would prepare for them a plan, adapted in the first instance to our slender funds, but susceptible of being enlarged either by their own growth or by accession from other quarters. I have long entertained the hope that this our native state would take up the subject of...
78921From Thomas Jefferson to Elisha Tracy, 9 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 30. was recieved yesterday and I thank you for the information it contained. it shall be used for the public good only and without compromitting you. the facts it states mark a combination of moral and political depravity which I had hoped less extensive in our country than it seems to be. We have recieved letters from mr Pinckney to the 30th. of May; but they contain...
78922VII. Thomas Jefferson to Philip Freneau, 13 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Thomas Jefferson sends to Mr. Frenau a list of persons in Charlottesville who have desired to receive his paper. This mail should go by the Friday morning’s post always, which will meet the Charlottesville post at Richmond on the Thursday evening following, and on Saturday the mail will be at Charlottesville. Thos. J. will pay Mr. Frenau the necessary advances as soon as he will be so good as...
78923Thomas Jefferson’s Essay on New England Religious Intolerance (Draft), [ca. 10 January 1816] (Jefferson Papers)
you judge truly that I am not afraid of the priests. they have tried upon me all their various batteries, of pious whining, hypocritical canting, lying & slandering, without being able to give me one moment of pain. I have contemplated their order from the Magi of the East to the Saints of the West, and I have found no difference of character, but of more or less caution, in proportion to the...
78924To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 28 August 1801 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 26th. by Doctr. Bache came duly to hand: and I now return you all the papers you inclosed except the commission for the Marshal of New Jersey, which I retain till I see you, which Dr. Bache gives me hopes will be the ensuing week, & I suppose will of course be the day after tomorrow, as you will then be free from the pressure of the post. I inclose with those papers, for perusal,...
78925From Thomas Jefferson to Vergennes, 20 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received the honor of your Excellency’s letter of the 18th. instant, and will avail myself of the first occasion of transmitting it to Congress. The pleasure of meeting your desire, will, I am persuaded, induce them to do for Mr. Dumas whatever the establishment which they think themselves bound to keep up at the Hague, together with the rules to which they have submitted all their...
78926From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Moore, 3 March 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
My memory is so entirely in default that I do not remember a single circumstance respecting the devices on our coins except that some one having proposed to put Gen l Washington’s head on them it was entirely objected to, and the head of Liberty adopted—but whether with or without the Pileus I do not remember: but surely it ought to be without it, for we are not emancipated slaves. I have...
78927From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 26 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
In pursuance of the act entitled ‘ an act supplemental to the act intituled an act for an amicable settlement of limits with the state of Georgia, and authorizing the establishment of a government in the Missisipi territory’ James Madison Secretary of State, Albert Gallatin Secretary of the treasury, and Levi Lincoln Attorney General of the US. were appointed Commissioners to settle by...
78928Payments Made by Virginia for the United States, May 1779 to July 1780, [19 July 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
Monies answered for the Continent from May 21. 1779. to July 19. 1780. Quarter master’s departmt. 1. Charles Petitt £294,000 2. William Finnie 750,000 3. George Elliot 735,000.13 4. Stephen Southall 196,442 5. Gressitt Davies 10,800 6. Richard Young 10,000 Commissary’s. 7. Chaloner & White 705,000 8. Robert Forsyth 173,200 9. Ephraim Blaine
78929Thomas Jefferson to David Copeland, 25 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday by your son a copy of a summons in the suit of Gilliam v. Fleming E t al. and have given him a proper acknolegement of it. altho’ not interested one cent in the issue of this suit (because whichever party is debtor to the other I pay a third & recieve a third) yet no one living is more anxious to have a final settlement of it than myself. having been the depository of the...
78930Paragraphs for the President’s Annual Message to Congress, 15 October 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The interests of a nation, when well understood, will be found to coincide with their moral duties. Among these it is an important one to cultivate habits of peace and friendship with our neighbors. To do this we should make provision for rendering the justice we must sometimes require from them. I recommend therefore to your consideration Whether the laws of the Union should not be extended...