11To James Madison from William Thornton, 12 August 1811 (Madison Papers)
The boy that Mr. White meant to have sent down has met with a dreadful accident, been severely bit by a Horse that he was training, I must endeavour therefore to look out for an other if I can meet with one in time. I still remain sick in bed, of what the Doctors call a Rheumatick favour [ sic ] which must wear itself out, but I think is wearing me out very fast, we have had very severe rains...
12William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 20 January 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this Day had the honor of your Letter of the 14 th Inst: enquiring into the goodness of the Domestic Spinner by Ebenezer Hearrick . Having been very much confined by sickness I sent to the office for the Drawing of Hearrick’s machine. It may possibly answer, but I think it cannot spin fast the length of the thread every motion being very short. It consists of a Frame, a principal Band...
13Enclosure: William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 9 May 1812] (Jefferson Papers)
I have had a measurement made of the Box or Case in which the Machine came packed, and I find it is 7 feet 7 Inches long— 3 feet 3 Inches wide, 2 feet 5 Inches deep.— I thought it necessary to give the dimensions, that you might be better enabled to determine in what way it should be conveyed, provided you conclude to take it. I saw M r Barrett spin a good deal of wool on it, & believe it to...
14William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 8 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Letter concerning the Spinning Machine, & am sorry that I did not know sooner your Inclination to have one of them, and that M r Barrett should have hesitated a moment in sending you one.—He purchased some property of me, and not having made sales of his Machine sufficient to pay me, he gave me a power of attorney to sell his rights in Virginia and to pay...
15William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 18 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of your Letter of the 24 th Ult o inclosing fifty Dollars, which I delayed answering from day to day till I am astonished at the lapse of time. I waited in daily expectation of the arrival of your Servant, and had the machine prepared accordingly. I have heard nothing of him yet, and cannot remain any longer silent, lest some accident may have happened.— I am still unwell, but...
16William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 27 June 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I rec d your Favour a Day or two after I wrote , and by your Servant Davy an order for the machine, which I went to the point to have packed up immediately; but hearing that one of his Horses was galled I advised him to rest them a Day or two, & to manage the Geers so as to prevent any further harm, which was done.—He arrived on the 24 th and after the machine was put up I paid Judge Cranch...
17William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 13 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
With the Drawings &c I received your Letter of the 3 rd Inst: & am sorry that the Description of the Spinning machine had not been more perfectly executed, by which you would with greater facility have comprehended the several parts. The roving part is described very much in the Stile of the Descriptions in the Cyclopadia; referring to the roving Jack is like referring to a Book out of print....
18William Thornton to John Tayloe, 8 June 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 June 1813, Washington. Observes that “the President is entitled to four Aids in the Army; & two in the militia as Commander in Chief of this District, in the same manner as the Governors of States. He has not reviewed the Army; otherwise he could not well dispense with Aids: but the militia of this District he has reviewed & would certainly not lessen the dignity of the military System by...
19To James Madison from William Thornton, 28 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
I lately received from Mr. Floy, nursery & Seeds-man, New York, the inclosed, on the Subject of a Botanic Garden, & I think it my duty to submit it to your perusal. It is certainly a Subject of the highest Importance to this Country, for by clearing lands, whole Families of plants are likely to be lost to the world, but a Garden would preserve, what the Almighty has given as a blessing to...
20William Thornton to Thomas Jefferson, 27 June 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I only received your favour of the 9 th Inst: a few Days ago, & I have been trying to get a copy made of the Drawing & Specification &c of m r Janes’s Patent, but fearing it might take more time to do it correctly than your call for it would admit, I thought it best to run the risk of sending the Papers, and take the responsibility on myself, for I know that nothing but a miscarriage of the...