85851From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 11 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I think I told you at the time I spoke to you on the nomination that the President had desired me to enquire if there would be any opposition to Wayne. I told him that you were of opinion there would be none, that you had not thought of making any yourself, for that tho’ you did not like the appointment, yet you knew the difficulty of finding one which would be without objections. I take for...
85852Thomas Jefferson to Alexander J. Dallas, 26 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
When the law past laying a direct tax, & established the offices of Assessor & Collector, as it appeared that the first of these officers would be of extreme importance to the landholders, whose property would be taxed very much at his will, I consulted such principal men of our district as I was able to see, and there was but one opinion on the subject. all agreed they would rather trust to...
85853From Thomas Jefferson to C. W. F. Dumas, 31 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you yesterday, and after sending my letter to the post-office, received a notification that the distribution of the gazette of Leyden here was prohibited. The purpose of the present therefore is merely to ask the favor of you to make interest with your friend Luzac to send me the paper by post during the interval of it’s prohibition. If put under a common letter...
85854Thomas Jefferson to Hezekiah Niles, 19 January 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Accept my thanks for the specimen you have been so kind as to send me of the new preparation of mucilaginous substances for clarifying liquors. it is in the neatness of the manner of preparation, and equality of distribution on catgut, I suppose, that what there is of invention in it consists; as the clarifying powers of the mucilages, animal and vegetable, have been always known. I am sorry...
85855From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 30 January 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
A most distressing harvest in this State having reduced us to the necessity of either disbanding our military force or seeking subsistence for them else where we asked permission from Governor Johnson to purchase a quantity of flour in your State. He was pleased to grant it to the extent of two thousand Barrels. Mr. Smith who was intrusted with the purchase informed us at different times of...
85856From Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 25 August 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Saturday the 21 st came to me yesterday (Tuesday) evening. and by this day’s mail to Washington I have written to the President and P.M. General, copies of which letters I inclose to you. that to the President is short, because preceding ones on the same subject have been long. you will see that I place the request on ground which must prevail, if I am any thing at Washington. my...
85857From Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 22 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 17th. is recieved. you may proceed to the purchase of the other 100. barrels of corn @ 9/6 drawing on me for the amount paiable to mrs Carter on the 10th. of January. if I understand your contracts correctly they will then stand thus. mr Meriwether 12. Dec. 10. mrs Carter for Giannini for corn 105.
85858From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 8 June 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 3d. instant inclosing some stock for sale I informed you of several bills I had drawn on you, and among others I mentioned three of the 3d. 4th. and 5th. of June for 600. Dollars each in favor of Mr. Wm. Champe Carter. Since that date, I have for the convenience of Mr. Carter, taken back the draught of June 4. for 600. D. and in exchange for it I have given him six draughts...
85859From Thomas Jefferson to John Stockdale, 28 July 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall have occasion for books and pamphlets sometimes to be sent here and sometimes to America, which will render a correspondent in London in your way convenient. Mr. Adams has been kind enough to promise to direct such pamphlets and new publications to be sent me as he shall suppose will be agreeable. The price of these or of any thing else which I may order for myself shall be remitted...
85860From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 9 September 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been truly uneasy at the delay which has attended the remittances of the sum of interest due to you, but I had calls so pressing in the spring, and at the same time such disappointments in the reciept of monies due me & which would have enabled me to meet all my engagements, as put the remittance out of my power. We a- wait nothing now but a tide in our river to carry down my crop of...
85861Thomas Jefferson to Lydia R. Bailey, 18 April 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved the favor of your letter of Mar. 22. in which I think there must be some mistake in ascribing to me a subscription for ten copies of mr Freneau’s poems. certainly if I ever had subscribed for that number from any one, from principles of great esteem, it was as likely to be him as any one, for whom I have a very high esteem, of which I hope he can never entertain a doubt. but as...
85862Jefferson’s Form Letter for Refusing Requests for Use of his Influence, [1784–1789] (Jefferson Papers)
Je recois Mr. la lettre que vous vous etes donné la peine de m’ecrire pour me demander ma protection auprès de M———. Ma protection ne vous serviroit à rien, car quoique je sois ———. je ne le vois que très rarement, parceque je ——— et d’ailleurs je ne fais jamais demande ni de recommendation à M———. Trouvez donc bon Monsr. que je me dispense d’une pareille demarche qui seroit une indiscretion...
85863From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 20 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
An attack of a periodical head-ach which tho violent for a few days only, yet kept me long in a lingering state, has hitherto prevented my sooner acknoleging the receipt of your favor of May 26. I hope the uneasiness of Mrs. Munroe and yourself has been removed by the reestablishment of your daughter. We have been in hopes of seeing her here, and fear at length some change in her arrangement...
85864From Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 23 July 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Brockenbrough to inform him of the date of the remittance of 3000. D. to mr Appleton this last spring. every thing from him may be daily expected. all except the capitels were on board ship at the date of his letter Apr. 13. every thing should therefore be got in readiness to run up the columns immediately. send me also Raggi’s contract for the bases. ViU :...
85865From Thomas Jefferson to the Commissioners of the Treasury, 24 September 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 6th. inst. by a Mr. Vanet to whose care were committed the Consular papers. The vessel was bound to Alexandria, and himself to Richmond; but he promised to go express with the papers to New York and to deliver them to you himself. I thought it better to send the keys by a different conveiance. You will therefore receive them inclosed in this letter which goes by the way of...
85866From Thomas Jefferson to William Cabell Rives, 6 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Rives to dine at Monticello to-day with Gen l LaFayette DLC : Papers of William Cabell Rives.
85867From Thomas Jefferson to Sir John Sinclair, 23 March 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the receipt of your two favors of June 21. & July 15. & of several [separate] parcels of the Agricultural reports . these now form a great mass of information on a s[ubject] of all in the world the most interesting to man; for none but the husbandman makes any thing [for him] to eat, & he who can double his food, as your exertions bid fair to do, deserves to rank, [among...
85868From Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Tracy, 26 September 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 17th. Ult. by Mr. Derby. I then took the liberty of asking you to order me your best newspaper, to the care of Mr. Jamieson New York. Subsequent experience of the enormous expence of French postage on newspapers obliges me to a change of plan. I have desired my newspapers from the different states to be directed to me but sent to the office for foreign affairs under cover to...
85869Thomas Jefferson to Robert Richardson, 10 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter informing me of the delivery of the iron backs at Lynchburg , d was duly recieved, and they are now here. I ought sooner to have made the remittance to mr Ross as the letter desired, & I counted on surely doing. but I am one of the unfortunate whose crop of wheat not having been ground and at market in the early seasoned season , has been blockaded in Richmond , where I have now...
85870Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the Administration of Charles Bellini’s Estate, 4 April 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
1818. Apr. 4. having recieved mr Fancelli ’s Excha. of Nov. 11. 1817 in fav r of T. Appleton ass d to Tho s Perkins , I inclosed the certificate of the Cash r of the bank (which had been given
85871From Thomas Jefferson to James Maxwell, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The arrival of a French naval force will render it necessary for us to put into immediate order for service and to man every Vessel we have capable of rendering any service. You will therefore be pleased to have this done, and to have the Vessels kept in readiness to move at a moment’s warning. You are also desired, having left this matter in a proper train, to proceed yourself and examine the...
85872Minutes of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, 6 October 1823 (Madison Papers)
A meeting of the Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia was held at the University on the 6th: Octr. 1823, at which were present Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Breckenridge, John H. Cocke, George Loyall, and Joseph C. Cabell. Resolved that the board approves of the contract entered into with Giacomo Raggi for furnishing bases of marble of Carrara for the columns of the...
85873Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 3 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of Feb. 9. from Poplar Forest informed you of the sale of my tob o and of the disagreeable situation of my wheat crop in Bedford . I staid there till the last day of February in the hope of withdrawing it from the mill there and sending it down to Scott’s to be ground and forwarded to Richmond . but altho’ the mill dam was carried away a second time they refused to let me
85874Notes on Lewis Harvie’s Mission, 24 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Harvie Lewis. to be allowed 38.05 D per month for months, his passage there & back, also his passage from the seaport to Paris with the stock, as would have been paid to a special person by our Consul who should have employed one to carry it on. if taken & carried to England , such extra expence to be allowed him as would have been allowed to the Lieutt. destined for that service in the same...
85875Thomas Jefferson to William Lambert, 29 March 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to mr Lambert for the two copies of the very able and learned pamphlet s he has been so kind as to send him on the subject of the first Meridian. they shall be disposed of as he directed . he was pleased to see that the Legislature had considered this object as one of necessary attention, and is still more so to find it so accurately carried into execution. he...
85876Enclosure: Report on Public Lands, 8 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom was referred by the President of the United States, the resolution of Congress requesting the President “to cause an estimate to be laid before Congress at their next session, of the quantity and situation of the lands not claimed by the Indians, nor granted to, nor claimed by, any citizens of the United States within the territory ceded to the United States by...
85877Thomas Jefferson to John H. Huffman, 10 November 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of the 4 th expressing a wish to purchase a part of my land at the Natural bridge . having no disposition to part with any portion of it, I comply with your request of a speedy answer, and tender you my r espects and best wishes. PoC ( MHi ); on verso of reused address cover of William Barret to TJ, 20 Aug. 1821 ; one word faint; at foot of text: “ M r Huffman...
85878Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 28 December 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
An absence of 5. or 6. weeks, on a journey I take three or four times a year, must apologize for my late acknolegement of your favor of Oct. 12. after getting thro the mass of business which generally accumulates during my absence, my first attention has been bestowed on the subject of your letter. I turned to the passages you refer to in Hutchinson & Winthrop , and with the aid of their...
85879From Thomas Jefferson to Lewis Harvie, 28 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The motives explained to you in my letter of April 22. have induced me to [meet] for myself the inconveniencies of wanting a secretary, and, I fear, to derange for you also your plan of reading, two months beyond the time I had expected. the time of Capt. Lewis’s return from Philadelphia and consequently of his departure from hence, being still uncertain, tho’ daily possible, I take the...
85880From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 26 June 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by mr James Dinsmore, a housejoiner whom I have engaged to live with me. he goes by water to Richmond and on his arrival there, being a stranger, I have desired him to ask your aid to get him a passage by a waggon or boat to our neighborhood, he has in his charge some articles of mine, of value, which I wish him to keep with him to my house. I wish him not to delay in...
85881Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 28 October 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
Since mine of the 23 d I have drawn as follows in favor of Alexr Garrett 217.29 and John Watson —72.76 and I have still two more to make, to wit for Joel Wolfe from 100. to 150.D. and in favor of E. Garland for 800.D. Will you be so good as to send by the boats about 15 or 20. gallons of linseed oil. as it is apt to leak in a cask you will judge whether it is better or not to have it in jugs....
85882To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 July 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of July 22. finds me in the hurry of my departure for Bedford. I return you Erving’s letter, and inclose Rankin’s petition for a pardon; as also a correspondence sent me by Lee of Bordeaux, which tho’ a little long, is entitled to a reading, as it throws light on subjects we ought to understand. I sincerely regret that mrs. Madison’s situation confines her & yourself so long at...
85883From Thomas Jefferson to Israel Smith, 10 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave through you to communicate to the General assembly of Vermont the inclosed answer to their Address recieved by me in December last, and to assure you of my high consideration & respect. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
85884From Thomas Jefferson to William Patterson, 27 October 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
By the brig Lucy which sails from Baltimore for Nantes I have taken the liberty of addressing to you a box of seeds, acorns & nuts for a friend of mine at Paris, Madame de Tessé, aunt of M. de la Fayette. I am advised that this box can be forwarded from Nantes to Paris thro’ the canal de Briare, to avoid the expence of a land carriage which would cost more than the objects are worth. I have to...
85885From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 19 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The letters of the 7th. 8th. 11th. & [14]th. inst. from yourself and your chief clerk came to hand the day before yesterday. consequently that of the 7th. must have slept a week by the way somewhere. I now return the warrants for the midshipmen signed. I rejoice at the event of your election. it gives solidity to the Union by gaining a legislative & ensuring an Executive ascendancy to...
85886From Thomas Jefferson to Amand Koenig, 29 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Aeschynis Epistolae. Gr. Taylori. notis. 8vo. Lipsiae. 1₶-10 Aeschyli tragoediae. Schutz. 2.v. 8vo. maj. Halae. 1782.3.4. 30₶ Apuleii opera omnia. 24s. Amstel. 1624. apud Jansson. 2₶-10 Ciceronis questiones Tusculanae. 24s. maj. Lugd. 1733. 15s. Cicero de senectute et somnio Scipionis Graec. Theodori 8vo. Basil. 1524. 1.₶ Livii historiar. libri 91. mi Fragmentum. 4to. Romae 1773. 3₶...
85887From Thomas Jefferson to George F. Hopkins, 16 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, Sir, for the pamphlet you have been so kind as to send me with your favor of the 5 th inst. it’s subjects are equally curious and interesting. but age and infirmities have withdrawn me from all such speculations. to my thanks on this mark of your notice I can therefore only add assurances of my great respect. MHi .
85888Thomas Jefferson to Mr. Brand, 12 June 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer comes for 2. flour barrels of lime. the unslacked would be preferred if you have any. The late mr Bran had a note of mine for a sum of money which I am ready to pay by an order on Richmond : and if wanting in the course of the year I would prefer it’s being called for immediately, the season for selling one’s crop being the only convenient one for making payments of any size. if the...
85889From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 20 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose there can be no difficulty in prolonging the time for filing claims in the Western district of Orleans, as proposed in your letter of yesterday. I should think it much more reasonable & practicable to move the Commrs. to the distant settlements than to force the poor inhabitants to come to them. we shall by that means also be able to get through the Commrs. better information as to...
85890From Thomas Jefferson to John Strode, 6 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your friendly letter of June 26. and am always happy to learn that my fellow citizens approve of the course which is pursued in their affairs. I trust that such of the late advocates for war as did not expect to get commissions & offices, will now join with us in rejoicing that their clamours & calumnies of the day did not move us out of our course. whether after a long,...
85891David Higginbotham and TJ: Memo re. visit to D. Higginbotham, 15 July 1824, 15 July 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Memm July 15. 24. I called on mr Higgenbotham in consequence of his letter of the 9 th inst. and expl d to him the losses and disappointmts of the last year which disabled me from making now the paim t I had engaged. to wit money expected from N. Orleans mill rent Coopers, flour barrels tob o H. and tob o burnt in Bedf d I proposed to have the int t due on my bond calculated to this day, and...
85892From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 20 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 16th & 17th were recieved last night; but neither the commissions or Warrants mentioned in the last to be forwarded have come. I suppose they have been put into the post office after the hour and will [be on] by the next post. I recieve by this your opinion & those of the Secretaries of the Treasury & War on our Barbary affairs. I had before asked & received that of mr...
85893From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Pinckney, 5 March 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, Mr. Christie, a member of Congress for Maryland, proposing to visit London, I take the liberty of introducing him to you. The confidence of his country, evidenced in their election of him to take care of their federal interests, would sufficiently testify his merit to you. To this permit me to add that of my friends who serve with him in Congress, who enable me to assure you...
85894Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 27 August 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I am honoured with your favor of June 19. informing me that permission is given me to make a short visit to my native country, for which indulgence I beg leave to return my thanks to the President, and to yourself, Sir, for the expedition with which you were so good as to forward it after it was obtained. Being advised that October is the best month of the autumn for a passage to America, I...
85895From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 12 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The last post day for Monticello, which was the 9th. slipt by me without my recollecting it. However as you are perhaps in Cumberland, a letter of this day may get to you only three days the later. I have nothing indeed to tell you but that I love you dearly, and your dear connections, that I am well, as is Maria. I hope your little one has felt no inconvenience from the journey, that Anne is...
85896Thomas Jefferson to A. D. Saunders, 31 July 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved your favor of June 26. mentioning your invention of a horizontal wheel so constructed as that it’s gravity shall make it continue to seek it’s resting place, yet never to change it’s position, and enquiring whether I know of any thing of the kind in this or any other country. I know of no such thing any where; and as what is said leaves an idea of impossibility, so I must...
85897To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 25 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
Yours without date was recieved yesterday. About 3. or 4. days ago Mr. Nelson called on me with a letter from Genl. Lee informing me he was summoned in the case which is the subject of your letter, & expressing his difficulties. I had never had any information of the case, it’s parties or subject, except that I had read in the newspapers some time ago that a prosecution was commenced in...
85898From Thomas Jefferson to James Fenner, 14 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respectful compliments to the honourable mr Fenner; he has sent him this morning an invitation to dine, but should very illy obey his feelings were he not to accompany it with an apology for having failed to ask this favor earlier. he always makes out himself, a list of the gentlemen who are so kind as to call on him. by some accident which he does not recollect, he...
85899From Thomas Jefferson to William Logan Fisher, 24 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has duly recieved mr Fisher’s favor of the 7 th and with it his pamphlet on the subject of mr Owen’s establishment. so far as the experiment at Lanare has gone, his faith goes also, & no farther. that it is an excellent scheme for the maintenance and reformation of an establishment of paupers, so long as an Owen can be found to superintend it, the proof is satisfactory; but that...
85900From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, 24 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
After delivering my letters to Dr. Jones, I recieved one from mr Thomas Strode, to whom I presume the father had mentioned what had passed between him and myself here. my enquiry of him here had arisen merely from the accident of his coming here while my letter to you was still in my own hands, and to refresh my own memory as to what had been stated to me. I did not suppose he would have given...