31From Thomas Jefferson to Lister Asquith, 13 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 2d. instant. The delays which have attended your enlargement have been much beyond my expectation. The reason I have not written to you for some time has been the constant expectation of receiving an order for your discharge. I have not yet received it however. I went to Versailles three days ago and made fresh applications on the subject. I received...
32[From Thomas Jefferson to Lister Asquith, 5 March 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 5 Mch. 1786. An entry in SJL under this date reads: “Asquith. That order for his discharge is promised and will be forwarded by Mr. Short.” Not found; see TJ to Vergennes, 28 Feb. 1786.]
33From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 26 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 21st. inst. on the subject of Mr. Paradise, which I hope you have received. By the death of Mr. Williamos a copy of my Notes on Virginia got into the hands of a bookseller, who was about publishing a very abominable translation of them when the Abbé Morellet heard of it, and diverted him from it by undertaking to translate it for him. They will thus appear in French in spite...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Bancroft, 21 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 18. 1785. came to my hands on the 27th. of the same month. I never had a trusty opportunity of writing to America from that time till by the French packet which sailed this month. In a letter of the 9th. instant therefore to my friend Mr. Madison I inclosed yours, recommending to him Mr. Paradise’s demand and solliciting him to do in it whatever might be done consistently...
35From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, 26 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letters will so fully explain their object that I need not say a word on that subject. You will perceive that Messrs. Dangirard and De Vernon have great cause to complain of the invincible silence of Messrs. Marck, nephew, & co. A person who has done me many friendly offices has asked my endeavors to procure information what can be the cause of this silence. I take the liberty of...
36From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, 6 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my letter of June 15. 1785 the receipt of which yours of Jan. 19. 1786. acknoleges, I wrote you on the 31st. of Aug. and again the 26th. of Jan. These I hope will have come to your hands before this and quieted your mind for the health of your son. On my return from England a few days ago I found here your’s of Jan. 19. and was happy enough to receive at the same time one from your son...
37From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, Jr., 15 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had detained the inclosed letters in my hands some days, doubting whether I should send them to Avignon or Bourdeaux. Your favor dated at the last place June 5. came to hand last night and has removed my doubt. I received them under a cover only, unaccompanied by any letter, so that I conjecture them only to be from your father. I am much obliged to you for informing me of your state of...
38From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, Jr., 9 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My absence in England for two months past has prevented my sooner answering your favour of the 11th. of March, which I found on my return here. At the same time I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from your father informing me of his health and covering one for you which I now inclose. It would be very pleasing to me to hear oftener from you, and more particularly as to your health, not...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Barré, 13 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of receiving your favor of the 13th. of December, and having never been able to obtain an answer from the painter in America on the subject of Genl. Washington’s picture, I have determined to permit it to be copied. I have therefore made the first offer to M. de Thevenard by a letter to him which accompanies this. I have written it in English, because you will be so good as to...
40From Thomas Jefferson to John Bartram, with Enclosure, 27 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
By Mr. Bingham who left Paris about a fortnight ago I took the liberty of asking your acceptance of a copy of Linnaeus’s Systema Vegetabilium translated into English and enlarged with many new plants furnished by Linnaeus the son and which have never before been published. Inclosed is a list of plants and seeds which I should be very glad to obtain from America for a friend here whom I wish...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Louis Joseph de Beaulieu, 9 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My absence in England for two months past has prevented your letter of Mar. 17. from being sooner answered. Your personal appearance either before a Notary or myself, whichever is most convenient, seems necessary for such a certificate of your life as the War office will probably require. By my last accounts from America, I think the lands promised by Congress to their officers must now be...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Louis Joseph de Beaulieu, 24 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I should be glad to do any thing which might facilitate your just claims in the war office of the United States; but you will be sensible that I cannot certify the paper you send me because I know nothing of the facts it states, nor of the persons who authenticate them. I should suppose the War office would wish to be certified that Monsr. Pierre Toussains Favernet is the Juge roial civil Lt....
43From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 17 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Being charged jointly with the M. de la Fayette and Mr. Barclay, with the purchase of arms for the state of Virginia, we have purchased several thousand stand from Messrs. Bettinger & St. Victour, to be made at Tulle, and delivered at Bourdeaux. A part of these are now ready. I have therefore taken the liberty of desiring them to be delivered to you, and must beg your undertaking to receive...
44From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 24 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
On the departure of Mr. Barclay I was so hurried that in a letter I was writing to him, I could only ask him to be the bearer to you of a wish that you would be so good as to send me 6. dozen bottles of red Bourdeaux and 6 dozen of white, of fine quality. I now repeat this prayer to yourself, only desiring a gross of each instead of half a gross, mentioned to Mr. Barclay. You are the best...
45From Thomas Jefferson to John Bondfield, 31 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing who is the Agent for the United States at Rochfort, or whether there be one I take the liberty of inclosing to you a copy of the resolutions concerning tobacco for that port, and of praying you to take measures for having them published there, which will much oblige Sir your most obedient & most humble servant, PrC ( DLC ). Enclosure: See Vergennes to TJ, 30 May 1786 .
46From Thomas Jefferson to Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 5 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have endeavored to obtain a final order for the American prisoners at Roscoff. I was promised one for the discharge of their persons … . Having waited two days without receiving it, I am obliged to set out on my journey tomorrow morning. … I therefore leave instructions with Mr. Short, my Secretary here, as soon as the order for the discharge comes here, to forward it to the prisoners under...
47From Thomas Jefferson to Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 8 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai eu l’honneur, Messieurs, de reçevoir vos deux lettres du 26me. Xbre. et 2me. Janvier. Je ne cesse point de solliciter du ministre la grace de ces malheureux prisonniers. Vous sentirez bien que la sentence des juges qui les trouvent coupables auroit dû faire une impression defavorable sur le ministre. En consequence, j’ai été obligé de borner mes sollicitations à leur liberté personelle....
48From Thomas Jefferson to Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 17 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor of the 12th. instant, the last night, and immediately wrote to inform Mr. Grand that a bill for 2620₶2 in which you were interested, would be presented and desired him to pay it; which you may rest assured will be done. I am now to return you thanks for your attentions to these unfortunate men. I did not suspect they would have been necessary so long, when I took the...
49From Thomas Jefferson to Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 22 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Being but lately returned from England I could not sooner acknowlege the receipt of your favors of Jan. 13. Mar. 13. 17. and 29., Apr. 24. and May 11. It appears by these that nothing is now necessary for the liberation of Asquith and the other prisoners but to pay the charges of the prosecution and sustenance, which you suppose will be about 900₶. Probably it will be something more on account...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Borgnis Desbordes, Frères, 24 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai eu l’honneur de recevoir, Messieurs, la lettre du 4me. Novembre que vous avez bien voulu m’adresser, et j’ai tardé de vous faire mes remerciments des soins dont vous avez la bonté de vous charger des prisonniers Americains, en esperant toujours de recevoir une ordre pour leur elargissement et de me profiter de votre adresse pour le faire passer avec certitude à leurs mains. Mais n’en...
51From Thomas Jefferson to James Bowdoin, 8 February 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I was honoured with your Excellency’s letters of Octob. 10. and 23. by Mr. Barrett. Before his arrival a Mr. Boylston had come here with a cargo of whale oil, and had wished of the Marquis de la Fayette and myself to procure for him the same exemptions from duty as had been obtained the year before for a company. I was of opinion it would be better at once to obtain an abatement for all our...
52[From Thomas Jefferson to Gazaigner de Boyer, 8 December 1785] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 8 Dec. 1785 . Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found. ]
53From Thomas Jefferson to Breteuil, 7 June [1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur Jefferson, ministre plenipotentiaire des etats unis d’Amerique, a l’honneur de presenter ses respects à son excellence Monsieur le baron de Breteuil. Il est chargé d’une commission de la part de l’état de Virginie à la ville de Paris au sujet de Monsieur le Marquis de la fayette. Il le croit de son devoir de prendre ladessus les ordres de Monsieur le baron de Breteuil, et il prie son...
54From Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan and William Hay, 26 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you on the receipt of your orders to procure draughts for the public buildings, and again on the 13th. of August. In the execution of those orders two methods of proceeding presented themselves to my mind. The one was to leave to some architect to draw an external according to his fancy, in which way experience shews that about once in a thousand times a pleasing...
55From Thomas Jefferson to James Buchanan and William Hay, 13 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
The model of the Capitol being at length finished I have sent it down the Seine to Havre, it being necessary that it should go by water. I have not yet collected the accounts, but shall soon do it, and forward them to you. They will be less than I had expected. I shall pray you to account for their amount to the Governour and council, as I have with them an account into which it will be easier...
56From Thomas Jefferson to Cambray, 13 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I received this day your favor of the 10th. instant. Dr. Franklin did not leave with me any Certificates old or new either for yourself or any other person, neither is it in my power to give you any information on that subject. I think it would be adviseable for you to write to M. Otto, Chargé des affaires of France at New York, who can make the necessary enquiries for you, of Dr. Franklin,...
57From Thomas Jefferson to Cambray, 20 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure two days ago of receiving from the Register of the Treasury of the United States, a certificate for 3227 83/90 Dollars equal to: 17,430₶-15–7 due to you and bearing an interest of 6. percent from the 1st. day of Jan. 1784. to be paid annually at the house of Mr. Grand banker in Paris. The interest of certificates similar to this was paid the last year by Mr. Grand; but he...
58John Adams to Carmarthen, 13 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Adams presents his Compliments to the Right Honourable The Marquis of Carmarthen and acquaints his Lordship that Mr. Jefferson, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Versailles, is now here, and as they have something to Communicate to His Lordship relative to the affairs of the United States, they request a Time when they may have the honor to pay their respects to...
59American Commissioners to Carmarthen, 4 April 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreably to your Lordships request expressed to one of us in Conversation, and again communicated to us through Mr. Fraser , we have drawn up the enclosed Project of a Treaty of Commerce, which we do ourselves the Honour to propose to the Consideration of his Majesty’s Ministers. We have the honor to be Tr ( DNA : PCC , No. 86); in Smith’s hand; endorsed by him. Tr ( DLC ); also in Smith’s...
60From Thomas Jefferson to Carmarthen, [ca. 26 April 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honor of presenting his respects to the right honourable the Marquis of Carmarthen: he had that of calling at his house to take leave on his departure for Paris; from which place the arrangements he had taken do not permit his longer absence. He shall be happy if he can be useful to his Lordship in being the bearer of his commands for that Capital. Dft ( DLC ); without...