Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to Harrison Hall, 6 August 1817

To Harrison Hall

Monticello Aug. 6. 17.

Sir

I have duly recieved your favor of July 17. I really did not know that I was a subscriber to the Law Journal, or the supposed default should not have happened. I have no written memorandum of it nor does my memory supply it. however in that I have no confidence, and therefore I suppose you are right. I now inclose you 21.D. to wit 6.D for the Portfolio 10.D. for the 5th & 6th vols of the Law Journal & 5.D. for the 7th in advance. as to the Portfolio I shall be glad to be discontinued, as my time is so entirely engrossed by a most oppressive correspondence, that I have scarcely a moment in the day that I can find time to read any thing. I began for example 10. days ago to read the case of Hunter & Fairfax in your last law journal, and altho given every moment I had to spare from writing to the reading of that I am not half thro’. I have not had as much time as would permit me to read a portfolio for many months. it is quite useless therefore for me to engage for what I can never read. when your Digest shall be compleat, I shall wish it to be in a separate volume. I salute you with esteem & respect.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover to TJ; torn at seal, with missing words rewritten by TJ; at foot of text: “Mr Harrison Hall”; endorsed by TJ; notation by TJ above endorsement: “Newspapers.”

The article on the case of Fairfax’s Devisee v. Hunter’s Lessee was published in the American Law Journal 6 (1817): 313–460. For more on this case, see Marshall, Papers description begins Herbert A. Johnson, Charles T. Cullen, Charles F. Hobson, and others, eds., The Papers of John Marshall, 1974–2006, 12 vols. description ends , 5:228–63, 8:108–26; James Monroe to TJ, 23 Sept. 1815, and note; and TJ to Spencer Roane, 12 Oct. 1815.

Index Entries

  • American Law Journal (J. E. Hall) search
  • Hall, Harrison; andAmerican Law Journal search
  • Hall, Harrison; andPort Folio search
  • Hall, Harrison; letters to search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; subscriptions search
  • Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee search
  • Port Folio; TJ subscribes to search
  • subscriptions, for publications; journals search