79381From Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 11 October 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 30th. together with the resolutions of Congress of the 26th. Ult. came safe to hand. It would argue great insensibility in me could I receive with indifference so confidential an appointment from your body. My thanks are a poor return for the partiality they have been pleased to entertain for me. No cares for my own person, nor yet for my private affairs would have induced...
79382From Thomas Jefferson to Montmorin, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States having thought proper to assign to me other Functions than those of their Minister plenipotentiary near the King, I have the Honor of addressing to your Excellency my Letters of Recall, and of beseeching you to be so good as to present them with the Homage of my respectful Adieux to his Majesty. It is with great Satisfaction that I find myself authorized to...
79383From Thomas Jefferson to William Temple Franklin, 16 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On further reflection it appears to me that the houses you mentioned of Mrs. Buddin’s would suit me so perfectly that I must beg the favor of you to ensure me the refusal of two of them adjoining to each other, on the best terms you can. Houses will doubtless rise in the first moment, but as the residence of Congress really calls for but a very few houses, such as those, (probably not a dozen)...
79384[From Thomas Jefferson to John Key, 2 March 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 2 Mch. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “J. Key. Watson may be discharged when stairs done, or before, if necessary—settle lost time since I came away as he pleases—keep £8. or £10 in hand for watch unless Wats. chuses money, then give me notice—not tell him I have been consulted—Caractacus and grey horse as he pleases. Qu. if not better for John to go with Caract. if hired—better hire...
79385Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas G. Dufief, 9 February 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your two favors of Jan. 30. and all the books have been received as stated in your account . I have now to request you to send me a copy of your dictionary; let the 1 st vol. come first as being most immediately wanting. I have no doubt you are correct as to the 31.D. and that mr Gibson is so also. he has probably charged me on ordering payment, and his correspondent in...
79386Thomas Jefferson to Mayer & Brantz, 11 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The non-intercourse law prohibiting the importation of any thing from France directly, I must still rely on the indirect importation from Amsterdam . making no use therefore of the letter to mr Backer which you were so kind as to send me, I now return it with a renewal of my request that you will suffer your former orders for the books to go into execution, and the tender of assurances of my...
79387From Thomas Jefferson to David Hosack, 24 March 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
My grandson Th: J.R. the bearer of this letter, on a Journey to the North will probably pass some few days in N. York. your former kindnesses have made it almost a duty in my connections to present their respects to you when passing thro’ your city . he is, in himself indeed personally and truly worthy of that honor, but the motive of permission on your part can only be that the tree we have...
79388To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 February 1817 (Madison Papers)
The bearer hereof, mr. George Flower, is an English gentleman farmer, was the companion of mr. Burkbeck in his journey through France, and is the person to whom the dedication of that book is addressed, he came over on behalf of his own family and that of mr. Burkbeck, to chuse a settlement for them. Having made the tour of the temperate latitudes of the US. he has purchased a settlement near...
79389From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 29 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
1. Schooner Concord in which John Bell has an agency. the detention is confirmed for that cause 2. Sloop Rising Sun; unless she has a Governor’s certificate, or can bring herself within the rule of ⅛ th. she should be detained. 3. Brig Ann-Maria and passengers, who pray to change their destination from the islands now blockaded to St. Lucia or Dominica in possession of the English. this being...
79390From Thomas Jefferson to Johann Ludwig de Unger, 30 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter which covers this being of a public nature I wished separately to acknolege the many things personally obliging to me expressed in your two letters . The very small amusements which it has been in my power to furnish in order to lighten some of your heavy hours by no means merited the acknolegements you make. Their impression must be ascribed to your extreme sensibility rather than...
79391From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 17 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 2d. inst. is just now recieved. your former one had also come duly to hand, and was properly disposed of to produce it’s effect at it’s just season. it was not therefore from inattention that I had not acknoleged it, but from the absolute impossibility of doing this in the immense number of those I daily recieve. it reduces me to the painful necessity of leaving those who are...
79392From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 December 1796 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. came to hand last night. The first wish of my heart was that you should have been proposed for the administration of the government. On your declining it I wish any body rather than myself: and there is nothing I so anxiously hope as that my name may come out either second or third. These would be indifferent to me; as the last would leave me at home the whole year, and...
79393From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. P. Derieux, 24 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Intensity of employment will I hope be with you a sufficient, as it is a very real, excuse for my tardiness in acknowleging the reciept of your favors of Nov. 15. and Feb. 5. The letter to M. Le Roy I put under cover to Mr. Fenwick, our Consul at Bordeaux, to whom I wrote very full details of all those circumstances which I thought might tend to interest your uncle, and I desired Mr. Fenwick...
79394From Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 7 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 11th. of December, by the way of London. That conveiance being incertain, I write the present chiefly to repeat a prayer I urged in that, that you would confide my daughter only to a French or English vessel having a Mediterranean pass. This attention, tho’ of little consequence in matters of merchandize, is of weight in the mind of a parent which sees even...
79395Thomas Jefferson to William Kean, 4 August 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13 th was handed me in the moment of my setting out from home to attend a meeting of Comm rs on the subject of our University at this place from whence I am proceeding to the Springs . the impracticability of considering duly such a subject as that of your letter on a journey would be a sufficient apology for returning the papers without an opinion on them, but the truth is...
79396Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 December 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I found among my papers the inclosed survey of La Fayette’s lands adjacent to N. Orleans . whether it be the legal survey or not I do not know. if it is, it gives a prospect of something considerable after the 600. yards laid off round the ramparts. I inclose it to you as it may possibly be of use. with me it can be of none. I inclose you also a piece in MS. from Dupont on the subject of our...
79397[From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Fox, 31 December 1783] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 31 Dec. 1783 . Entry in SJL reads: “Edwd. Fox. On Gilmer’s accounts. Not found.]
79398From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 31 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Elliot (whose speech I saw not till last night) has so pointedly denied our account of the battle of the Lyman sea or lake, that it would seem necessary to have published in the Nat. Intelligr. an Extract from the work from which it was taken. you were kind enough to suggest the transaction to me (for I had forgotten it) and I think you took it from the Annual Register. can you furnish me...
79399From Thomas Jefferson to Wilson Cary Nicholas, 5 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Retired to your farm and family I venture as a farmer and friend to ask your aid & counsel, in the helpless situation in which I am as to my own affairs. mr Lilly, my manager at Monticello has hitherto been on wages of £50. a year, & £10. additional for the nailery. he now writes me he cannot stay after the present year for less than £100. certainly I never can have a manager who better...
79400From Thomas Jefferson to John Vaughan, 16 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Vaughan. He has sent one of Argand’s double lamps to Mr. Bringhurst to have wickracks fixed to it, and has directed him to deliver it to Mr. Vaughan, when done, for the use of the Philosophical society whose acceptance of it he asks. He presumes that if suspended over the middle of the table it will sufficiently light it. RC ( PPAP ); addressed:...
79401From Thomas Jefferson to Sarah Grotjan, 10 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter, Madam, of the 1 st instant has been recieved informing me that I have a name-sake in your family, to whom you wish me to address a line of exhortation to a virtuous and patriotic life. I have done it in the inclosed letter. I am duly sensible of the indulgence with which you have kindly viewed the part I have acted in life. the times in which my lot was cast called on every...
79402From Thomas Jefferson to Andrew G. Fraunces, 28 June 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I know well that you were a clerk in the Treasury Department while I was in the office of Secretary of State; but as I had no relation with the interior affairs of that office, I had no opportunity of being acquainted with you personally, except the single occasion on which you called on me. The length of time you were in the office affords the best presumption in your favour, and the...
79403From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Before you recieve this you will have heard thro’ the channel of the public papers of the cession of Louisiana by France to the US. the terms & extent of that cession, as stated in the National Intelligencer , are accurate. in order to obtain a ratification in time I have found it necessary to convene Congress on the 17th. of October. before that time it will be necessary for me to procure for...
79404From Thomas Jefferson to Tench Coxe, 14 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his compliments to mr Coxe asks the favor of an interview with him this evening. he would call on mr Coxe but thinks the chance of being alone & unobserved would be better if mr Coxe could make it convenient to come to his lodgings between 8. & 9. this evening. RC ( DLC ); addressed: “Mr. Coxe”; endorsed by Coxe. Not recorded in SJL . The interview with Coxe probably...
79405Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 24 November 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of July 22 . was most acceptable to me, by the distinctness of the view it presented of the state of France . I rejoice in the prospect that that country will so soon recover from the effects of the depression under which it has been laboring; and especially I rejoice in the hope of it’s enjoying a government as free as perhaps the state of things will yet bear. it appears to me...
79406From Thomas Jefferson to Sir John Temple, 4 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I put the inclosed letter under cover to you on the presumption that Mr. Hammond is with you. Should he be returned to this place, you will be so good as to send it to him by post. In that case I take the liberty of desiring you to retain the Republican till you hear from Mr. Hammond on the subject; the purport of the inclosed letter being to inform him that the Minister of France has...
79407Thomas Jefferson to Randolph Harrison, 11 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your zeal for the establishment of a seminary of learning here procured the most liberal subscription from your county of any reci e ved except that in which the seminary is to be placed. the adoption of it for the University , requiring much greater preparation, has occasioned considerable delay of it’s opening, which is not to take plac e until April next this year being to be employed in...
79408Thomas Jefferson to Craven Peyton, 28 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I have your papers under consideration, and altho’ I think myself tolerably satisfied on the subject, yet, as I am about setting out to Bedford and too much pressed with preparations for that journey, I would rather keep them till my return (a fortnight hence) as both there as well as on the road I can consider it more uninterruptedly. if the letters of Col o Lewis N o 1. to 26. referred to in...
79409Thomas Jefferson to James Leitch, 25 March 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
any clothing which the bearer Burwell may chuse for himself RC ( MdHi : Vertical Files); dateline beneath signature; written on a small scrap; at foot of text: “M r Leitch.” Not recorded in SJL .
79410From Thomas Jefferson to William Wishart, 9 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The french Consul the Chevalier D’Anmours goes to take the post lately occupied by Major Galvan. He will require the same attention, which I prayed you to shew the former gentleman. You will be pleased to furnish him with a guard of twelve men with proper officers from your militia or the ranging company as you find best. I must also desire you to use your utmost endeavours to raise six or...