1From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I offer you my sincere condolances on the melancholy loss which has detained you at home: and am entirely sensible of the necessities it will have imposed on you for further delay. mr Lincoln has undertaken the duties of your office per interim, and will continue till you can come. Genl. Dearborn is in the War department. mr Gallatin, though unappointed, has staid till now to give us the...
2From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I am still here. three refusals of the Naval Secretaryship have been recieved, and I am afraid of recieving a 4th. this evening from mr Jones of Phila. in that case Genl. Smith has agreed to take it pro tempore, so as to give me time; and I hope the moment it is in either his or Jones’s hands, to get away; but this may be yet three four or five days. Lincoln is doing the duties of your office....
3From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 17 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall be with you on the 25th. unless health or weather prevent. but if you propose leaving home sooner for Washington, do not let my coming prevent you. only, in that case, if convenient, lodge word at Gordon’s, or write me by next post, that you will be gone; as I should then wish to lengthen my day’s journey. I have not been able to look yet into my newspapers, but I presume yours contain...
4From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your’s of the 22d. & learn with regret that you have been so unwell. this & the state of the [country, the river &] roads should delay your departure, at least till the weather is better. I should have set out this morning, but it is still raining, and the rivers all but [swimm]ing at the last ford. if these circumstances are more favorable tomorrow I shall then set out,...
5From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 April 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I hasten the return of the bearer that he may meet you at Brown’s and convey you information as to the road. from Songster’s I tried the road by Ravensworth, which comes into the turnpike road 4½ miles below Fairfax courthouse. there are about 2 miles of it which I think cannot be passed by your carriage without oversetting; and consulting with Colo. Wren who knows both roads, he says there is...
6From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
A person of the name of Thompson, of Amherst county in Virginia has asked my interference for the recovery of his son John Thompson understood to be impressed on board the Squirrel a British vessel of war. the inclosed letter gave him the first information he has recieved from him for some time past, for so long a time indeed that he had apprehended he was dead. he thinks the letter not...
7From Thomas Jefferson to James and Dolley Madison and Anna Payne, 27 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson was much disappointed at breakfast this morning not having till then known of the departure of mr & mrs Madison & miss Payne . he hopes they will come and dine to-day with the miss Butlers who were assured they would meet them here, and tomorrow with mrs Gallatin & mrs Mason . affectionate salutations. RC ( ICHi ). Departure of Mr & Mrs Madison & Miss Payne : the Madisons, along...
8From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I observe a great number of contracts for carrying the mails are advertised to be made within a short time hence, & for 4. years. I suppose the principal reason for making such long contracts is the trouble which would be so often recurring to the post office, if they were shorter. this should have it’s just weight: but it may be doubted whether contracts for so long a time as 4. years do not...
9From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison and Albert Gallatin, 20 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The application of William Greetham for a Mediterranean pass for a vessel owned here, tho built abroad, being unauthorised by practice; tho’ perhaps not by law, and concerning the departments of both the State & Treasury, I ask the favor of mr Madison and mr Gallatin to give me their opinions thereon: at the same time I communicate to them what passed on the subject of passports under General...
10Enclosure: Note on Passports, 20 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
When the war broke out which is now raging in Europe, our treaties with France, and Holland required that we should furnish to the vessels ‘belonging to the citizens of the US.’ passports in the forms prescribed by the treaties. it was very early made a question whether they should be granted to all vessels belonging to citizens of the US. or only to those built as well as belonging here. the...
11From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns to mr Madison Erving’s letter to Genl. Dear-borne, & approves of a commission to him as Consul at London . where to find a competent successor for Lisbon he knows not, unless Gilman, who refused St. Domingo, will accept this. perhaps Genl. Dearborne can judge. the place must be reserved for a man of real diplomatic abilities.—Marchant’s case will be the subject of further...
12From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
With respect to the prosecutions against Thomas & others for a misdemeanor at Common law we ought to presume the judges will do right, and to give them an opportunity of doing so. the Executive ought not to sit in previous judgment on every case & to say whether it shall or shall not go before the judges. I think therefore this case ought to go on to trial, without interference of the...
13From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his affectionate salutations to mr Madison & sends him the inclosed which will explain itself. he hopes to see him & family at Monticello when most convenient to themselves; and observes for his information that the road through Shadwell is put into fine order, the right hand at issuing from the ford on this side to be greatly preferred to the left. the road by Milton is...
14From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 13 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctr. Rose delivered me last night the letter with which you charged him , and I have thought it better to attend to it’s contents at once before the arrival of the load of other business which this morning’s post will bring. Pinckney’s, Orr’s, Livermore’s, Howell’s, Webster’s, Murray’s, Otis’s, Graham’s & Thornton’s letters, with Wagner’s sketch of an answer to the latter are all returned...
15From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 14 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote yesterday to you, before the arrival of the post. that brought some blank commissions which I have signed & now forward. mr Wagner’s note will explain them. The abuses & waste of public money in the military & naval departments have been so gross, that I do not think we can avoid laying some of them before Congress. I inclose you information of one which is not to be neglected. I have...
16From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 18th. is recieved, and I now return all the papers which accompanied it, (except those in Bingham’s case ) and also the papers inclosed in that of the 16th.—The case of the British Snow Windsor taken by the prisoners she was carrying & brought into Boston is new in some circumstances. yet I think she must fairly be considered as a prize made on Great Britain, to which no shelter...
17From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 28 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 26th. by Doctr. Bache came duly to hand: and I now return you all the papers you inclosed except the commission for the Marshal of New Jersey, which I retain till I see you, which Dr. Bache gives me hopes will be the ensuing week, & I suppose will of course be the day after tomorrow, as you will then be free from the pressure of the post. I inclose with those papers, for perusal,...
18From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have no letter from you by the mail, whence I conclude I may possibly recieve something by private conveyance. a letter from miss Paine to Virginia Randolph saying nothing of your health makes me hope it is reestablished. I inclose you a letter from Genl. Saml. Smith with Barney’s letter to him. it contains matters worthy of some attention. I do not believe that Murray would endeavor to...
19From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 12 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of yesterday was delivered by your express about 5. aclock in the evening. my occupations for the departing post have prevented my answering instantly. No commission, nor letter of credence was signed for mr Livingston before we left Washington. I think the Boston has not yet left Boston for New York. I presume therefore that we can sign those papers in time after our return to...
20From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 16th. by post & 17th. by mr Davis have been duly recieved. he has not yet opened himself to me; but I shall assure him that nothing can [be] said here on the subject, nor determined on but when we shall be together at Washington. I have a letter from mr Gallatin whose only doubt is whether Rogers should be removed. if he is, he seems clear Davis had better have the...
21From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you consider whether a copy of the inclosed sent to each head of department would be best, or to avail myself of your kind offer to speak to them. my only fear as to the latter is that they might infer a want of confidence on my part. but you can decide on sounder views of the subject than my position may admit. [if] you prefer the letter, modify any expressions which you may think need...
22IV. To James Madison, 12 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you give this inclosed a serious revisal, not only as to matter, but diction? where strictness of grammar does not weaken expression, it should be attended to in complaisance to the purists of New England. but where by small grammatical negligences, the energy of an idea is condensed, or a word stand for a sentence, I hold grammatical rigor in contempt. I will thank you to expedite it,...
23XI. To James Madison, [16 November 1801 or after?] (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as once more to revise this? altho’ I have not entirely obliterated all the passages which have been thought objectionable, yet I have very much reduced & smoothed them. still verbal & minor corrections of style or sentiment will be thankfully recieved & made. RC ( ViU ); undated, but perhaps written after TJ saw Gallatin’s remarks and made changes to the early draft....
24From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The Virginia resolution inclosed was, I am sure, in full confidence that you would contribute your counsel as well as myself. I have only relieved you from the labour of the premier ebauche . I must you to consider the subject thoroughly, and either make the inclosed what it should be, or a new draught. it should go on without delay, because I shall desire Monroe, if there is any thing in it...
25From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, [ca. 3 December 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
This claim is totally without foundation. M. de Rayneval wrote to me on the subject last spring and I wrote him an answer which I can communicate to mr Madison. MS ( DNA : RG 59 , NL ); in TJ’s hand; undated; written on a slip of paper attached to Louis André Pichon to James Madison, 3 Dec. 1801 (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser. , 2:293). Joseph Mathias Gérard de Rayneval had written to TJ...
26From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
To compleat the roll of governmental officers on the plan inclosed will give the departments some serious trouble: however it is so important to present to the eye of all the constituted authorities, as well as of their constituents, & to keep under their eye, the true extent of the machine of government, that I cannot but recommend to the heads of departments to endeavor to fill up each,...
27From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 29 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Having no confidence that the office of the private secretary of the President of the US. will ever be a regular & safe deposit for public papers or that due attention will ever be paid on their transmission from one Secretary or President to another, I have, since I have been in office, sent every paper, which I deem meerly public, & coming to my hands, to be deposited in one of the offices...
28From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison and Family, 26 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favor of Mr. Mrs. Madison’s & family’s company to dinner the day after tomorrow at half after three oclock.— RC ( NN : Emmet Collection); in Meriwether Lewis’s hand.
29Enclosure II: Albert Gallatin to James Madison, 30 January 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
In compliance with your request, I have the Honor to enclose an account of the monies drawn out of the Treasury under the several Appropriations made for defraying the expences incident to the Intercourse with the Mediterranean Powers; transcripts of the accounts of persons to whom the said monies were respectively advanc’d so far as the same have been settled at the Treasury, and statements...
30From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, with Madison’s Reply, 26 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you see if the inclosed is right, and make any alterations in it you think for the better? particularly is the expression lately recieved true? or should the word lately be left out? Feb. 26. 1802. [ Reply by Madison: ] The word lately is true as it refers to the returns of Maryland & Kentucky—that from the former being an original statement—that from the latter a corrective one. The...