1To John Adams from William Wirt, 12 January 1818 (Adams Papers)
I am just honored with your letter of the 5th. inst. and am truly gratified to learn that my sketches of Mr. Henry have afforded you entertainment. If I could have anticipated such an effect, I would have taken the liberty, on the first publication of the book, to have ordered you a copy, as a slight proof of that sincere respect, which, in common with my countrymen, I feel towards you as one...
2From William Wirt to John Quincy Adams, 6 June 1818 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter from Mr. Bache, the post-master at Philadelphia, ought, I think, to be communicated to the President of the U.S. As it is not improbable that an application for pardon, in the case alluded to, may follow him, on his tour. Taking it for granted that, some channel of communication between him and your department, during his absence, has been settled between you, I have...
3From William Wirt to John Quincy Adams, November 1825 (Adams Papers)
W. Wirt acknowledges the honor of Mr & Mrs. Adams polite invitation to dinner on the 15th. but not having been into company this winter, hopes to be excused for declining it. MHi : Adams Papers.
4To James Madison from William Wirt, 26 April 1809 (Madison Papers)
I understand that Mr. Boyle has resigned the government of the Illinois territory, and that Ninian Edwards, the President of the court of Appeals of Kentucky, has been thought of and perhaps named to you, as a fit successor. Having known Mr. Edwards, personally, from the time he was fourteen years of age untill he grew up to manhood and having for several years past maintained an intimate...
5To James Madison from William Wirt, 10 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
Alexander McRae lately and for several years a member of the privy council and lieutenant Governor of this state, and Majr. John Clarke, as highly distinguished for his mechanical genius, are about to proceed to various parts of Europe on private business of considerable magnitude: such as is highly honorable to themselves and will, if they shall be successful, reflect benefit and lustre on...
6To James Madison from William Wirt, 17 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
On passing through the county of Powhatan two days ago, I had the mortification to learn from a friend of mine that he had, with a kind yet illjudged officiousness, written to you in my behalf, recommending me for a military appointment. I was aware that you had lately received a similar intimation, through Mr. Brent, from another quarter; and ’though I had explained, immediately, to Mr. Brent...
7To James Madison from William Wirt, 11 January 1813 (Madison Papers)
I understand that we have lost Judge Tyler and that his place is to be immediately filled, will you give me leave to bring to your recollection for the appointment St Geo Tucker, late judge of our court of appeals. I do this without the privity of Judge Tucker much less without his authority; but I am under the impression that he will probably accept & I know of no one who would do more...
8To James Madison from William Wirt, 29 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have been deliberating for six months whether I should or should not write you on the subject of this letter. Were I a stranger to you, I should fear that it might subject me to the imputation of officiousness, and an idle & improper encroachment on your precious time—it might, too, with a mind differently constructed from yours, farther subject me to the unjust & degrading suspicion of...
9To James Madison from William Wirt, 7 June 1815 (Madison Papers)
It is understood that the American consulate at Cadiz is vacant by the death of the late incumbent. If a successor have not been, already, appointed, or selected, I beg leave to recommend to your notice Mr. James Hagarty, a Virginian who was raised at this place, and who now resides at Cadiz. Mr. Hagarty has spent two or three years at Lisbon and Cadiz, and from the reports of the American...
10To James Madison from William Wirt, 23 July 1815 (Madison Papers)
I thank you very sincerely for your letter of the 19th. inst. from Washington. The business of recommending a candidate for office is always disagreable to me; not only because I fear it may be assuming higher ground than I am entitled to occupy, but because I am fully aware of the swarms of applications by which you are importuned on every vacancy, and it is extremely painful to me to run the...
11To James Madison from William Wirt, 10 March 1816 (Madison Papers)
I understand that the office of attorney for the U.S. in the district of Virginia is vacant by the resignation of Mr. Hay; and if a successor be not already selected, I beg leave to present to your notice Mr: Abel P. Upshur of this city. The circumstance of Mr. Upshurs having read law under my direction and lived in habits of great intimacy with me for several years, has brought me closely...
12To James Madison from William Wirt, 17 March 1816 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the thirteenth instant. I certainly had not thought of the Office in question, for myself, nor am I now sufficiently informed of the interference which the discharge of it’s duties at Norfolk will cause with my other professional engagements to decide, with entire satisfaction to myself whether I can with propriety undertake it. I have written to Norfolk to...
13To James Madison from William Wirt, 23 March 1816 (Madison Papers)
As I intimated, in my last letter, a wish to make farther enquiries before I should answer decisively as to the proposition you were so obliging as to make to me, I think it probable you may expect to hear from me again on this subject. It is for this reason I trouble you now, with stating my willingness to accept the office, which I understand Mr. Hay has laid down. At the same time, I beg...
14To James Madison from William Wirt, 21 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
*I presume it is not improper to address you, as filling the department which superintends the execution of the laws of the U.S. as to a difficulty which has presented itself, in the execution of a duty devolved on me, as the District atto’ of Virginia, under the act of the 3d. of March 1815, entitled “an act to vest more effectually in the state courts and in the district courts of the U.S....
15To James Madison from William Wirt, 26 July 1827 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to introduce to you Mr. Hoffman, Professor of law in the University of Maryland, who, on his way to the Western Springs of Virginia, proposes I understand to pay his respects to you. Mr. Hoffman is too well known to Fame to require more than the annunciation of his name to make him welcome—and I need only to add that learned as he is in his profession, you will find that his...
16William Wirt to James Madison, 5 October 1830 (Madison Papers)
I thank for your letter of the 2nd. inst. and concur with you entirely as to the best mode of solving the political problem with regard to the Indians within the bounds of the States– and as I am extremely unwilling that you should think me either so Quixotically weak or so diabolically wicked as to have excited this contest (of which some of the news-papers have accused me) I wish to inform...
17William Wirt to James Madison, 11 July 1832 (Madison Papers)
Judge Glenn of this place, being about to pass through Orange, and having always been one of your political and personal friends, thinks it probable he may have it in his power to call & pay his respects to you, in passing; & lest you may possibly have forgotten his person, has requested a line of introduction from me, which I give him with great pleasure, from a long acquaintance with him &...
18To Thomas Jefferson from William Wirt, with Jefferson’s Notes, 4 May 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Mrs. Gilmer directs me to enquire whether you can furnish her with 20,000. 6 penny nails 10,000. 16 penny do. 200. 30. penny do.? In what time they can be got ready? Or, if they be now ready, whether it would suit you to take a draught for the amount on Mr. James Brown of Richmond payable on sight, or to wait for the money until the post from Richmond to Charlottsville gets again in...
19To Thomas Jefferson from William Wirt, with Jefferson’s Notes, 15 July 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
In a day or two I will come up and settle with you for the nails which were furnished us some time ago —and at the same time for 500. 8d. and 50. 30d. do. if you will be so obliging as to have them sent by the bearer. Yr. obt. Servt. (500) 5 ℔ VIII d. 12d 0-5-0 50. 3 ℔ XXX 10d. 0-2-6 0-7-6 RC ( MHi ); addressed: “Mr. Jefferson Monticello.” Furnished us some time ago : see Wirt to TJ, 4 May...
20To Thomas Jefferson from William Wirt, 20 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received yours of the 13th . and can only assure you of my constant attention to your interest. I cannot think, with patience, of your having that repose, to which you are so ju[stly] entitled, interrupted, in this way—and yet, rather [incon]sistently, I am sincerely pleased at having an opportunity of being, any way, useful to you: for I am, in very truth, devotedly yours RC ( DLC...
21To Thomas Jefferson from William Wirt, 8 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I understand that the office of a judge for the Indiana Territory is vacant by the death of Mr. Clarke, and that Mr Ninian Edwards of Kentucky has been proposed for that appointment. I hope that I am not presuming too far on my acquaintance with you in certifying my opinion of Mr. Edwards. Having known him from youth to manhood, I feel a pleasure in having it in my power to declare, with...
22William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 10 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Alexander M c Rae esq r & Maj r John Clarke , two gentlemen, justly reputed for integrity and talents, and well known I believe, Sir, to you, are just about to embark for Europe , with views which I am authorized to state to you. In conjunction with severa l other gentlemen, they have formed a project of introducing m anu factures into Virginia
23William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 18 January 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
About four years ago you were so good as to state that if the life of Henry was not destined to come out very speedily you would endeavour to recollect what might be of service to it and that having run your course with him for more than twenty years and witnessed the part he bore in every great question you would perhaps be able to recal some interesting anecdotes. I do not refer to your...
24William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 24 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved your favor of the 19 th and will, with very great pleasure, attend to its request and instructions. M r Wickham had previously made known your desire both to M r Hay and myself: he cannot join us in the defence although he is still unresolved to take the plaintiff’s case. You conjecture rightly as to the cause of action—it is Livingston’s expulsion from the batture by an...
25William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 27 June 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your last favor was brought to me from the post-office, too late, by some accident, to be answered by the returning mail. It gives me pleasure to assure you that succeeding interviews have completely removed the apprehensions expressed to my friend D. Carr in relation to this cause: and did I not know to whom my letter was addressed & by whom, alone, its contents are known, I should regret...
26William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have perused, with equal pleasure and conviction, your view of the question touching the batture at New Orleans : the copy is now returned. With such aid, I think it must be the fault of your counsel if they leave any room for candor to doubt or even for sophistry to cavil, with any hope of success. I had noted a few slight omissions which it will be necessary to supply in order to clear the...
27Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on William Wirt’s Comments on the Batture Statement, [ca. 20 August 1810] (Jefferson Papers)
Obj. that Joutel’s journal may not be admitted as evidence of the Charter to Crozat . Ans. I leave the establishment of this as legal evidence to the gentlemen in actual practice, who are so much more familiar with the authorities than I am. I have no doubt they will be able to shew that tho’ we may not resort to books of history for documents of a nature merely private, yet we may for those...
28William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 10 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I have your favors by the last mail and will attend to them with much pleasure. If any thing could be done for Colo. D. here, it would be by shewing the copy of your letter to him. I shall retain it for another mail that I may recieve your directions as to making use of it or not. You may rely upon it that D.’s name has no magic in it here: he is considered as the foe of M r Madison . And the...
29William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 17 April 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 15 in reply to mine of the 10 th inst. has been brought to me from the office this instant. The copy of your letter to D. has been shewn to one person only— W m H. Cabell . The effect of it was to dispose him to lend D. $500. And I wrote my letter in a persuasion produced by that incident, as well as by its effect on my own feelings, that with the use of that letter, something...
30William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 19 May 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 3 rd covering a copy of your letter to Colo. D. arrived at a time when I was absent on an excursion to the superior court of Powhatan from which I have just returned. If the bulwark of vanity which surrounds D. be not impregnable, or the spirit of faction which rules him, as wild and deaf as the winds of winter, I think your letter must touch him—but I much fear that he is...