31To Thomas Jefferson from Joshua Johnson, 26 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 26 Mch. 1791. His of 26 ult. sent by Pigou , Capt. Collett.—Preparations here indicate immediate rupture between England and Russia. Upwards of 30 sail of the line lie ready at Spithead and many others have been commissioned in last few days. The King this day issued proclamation offering bounty for seamen. Fearing press warrants will be issued in the evening, he gave warning to all...
32VI. Affidavit of the Secretary of State on the Result of the Experiments, 26 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having referred to me the Petition of Jacob Isaccks praying a reward for a secret he possesses of converting Salt-water into fresh, I procured a Cask of sea-water to be taken up without the Capes of Delaware at flood-tide, and brought to Philadelphia, and asked the favour of Mr. Rittenhouse, President of the American Philosophical Society, of Dr. Caspar Wistar, Professor of Chemistry...
33VII. Secretary of State to Isaac Senter, 26 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having referred to me the petition of Jacob Isaacs setting forth his possession of a secret for facilitating the separation of sea-water from it’s salt, it becomes necessary for me to know exactly the advances which have been already made towards obtaining that desideratum. I have reason to believe no body has carried them further than Dr. Lind. I possess his book on the diseases of...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Delamotte, 25 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Le Havre, 25 Mch. 1791. Encloses duplicate of his of the 9th ult. by Le Vendangeur , bound for Charleston, in which he erred in saying that several of TJ’s cases remained there. He was thinking of some “Caisses de Marbres” sent last summer shortly after the main shipment. There remain here only “une voiture à quatre Rouës; un Cabriolet, quatre paniers vin de Champagne; une Caisse emballée...
35V. Secretary of State to James Hutchinson, 25 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Dr. [Hutchinson] and sends him the result of the five Experiments which have been made on the sea water. Tr ( DLC ); in clerk’s hand. Although not recorded in SJL , this was obviously a circular report addressed to Hutchinson, Rittenhouse, and Wistar. Enclosure: Tabular statement of the experiments conducted on 14, 21, 22, 24, and 25 Mch. 1791, showing...
36From Thomas Jefferson to James Currie, 24 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 14th. was delivered to me on Sunday the 20th. I sent on the 21st. (by a person who possesses my confidence) your two notes to Mr. Potter. The intention was merely to prepare him for my calling on him myself, as we were not personally known to each other. His answer was ‘no effects at this time.’ On the 22d. (the day before yesterday) yours of the 15th. came to hand with the...
37From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. P. Derieux, 24 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Intensity of employment will I hope be with you a sufficient, as it is a very real, excuse for my tardiness in acknowleging the reciept of your favors of Nov. 15. and Feb. 5. The letter to M. Le Roy I put under cover to Mr. Fenwick, our Consul at Bordeaux, to whom I wrote very full details of all those circumstances which I thought might tend to interest your uncle, and I desired Mr. Fenwick...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Fenwick, 24 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of inclosing you a letter for a Monsieur le Roy, of Bordeaux, on the subject of which I must enter into some details. It is from a Monsieur De Rieux, a nephew of M. le Roy’s who is my nearest neighbor in Virginia. Being totally without fortune, and married to a young lady , whom he had become acquainted with in France, but who had lived some time in Virginia, he determined...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 24 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The badness of the roads retards the post, so that I have recieved no letter this week from Monticello. I shall hope soon to have one from yourself to know from that that you are perfectly reestablished, that the little Anne is becoming a big one, that you have received Dr. Gregory’s book and are daily profiting from it.—This will hardly reach you in time to put you on the watch for the...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Lewis Littlepage, 23 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 23 Mch. 1791. TJ will no doubt share his regret in recalling that “we were the principal means of engaging” John Paul Jones to accept Russian proposals in 1788. “Never were more brilliant prospects held forth to an individual, and never individual better calculated to attain them.” Campaign on the Liman in 1788 added luster to Russian arms and ought to have fixed forever the fame and...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Delaire, 22 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
La Rochelle, 22 Mch. 1791. He reminds TJ of his promise that he would be appointed agent of the United States in that Department. The free trade in tobacco and the suppression of duties on leather being favorable to use of whale oil are reasons to expect increased commerce and thus to make agents more necessary. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); endorsed by TJ as received 19 July 1791 and so recorded...
42To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Fenwick, 22 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 22 Mch. 1791. Encloses list of American vessels entering there between June and January. This, especially with regard to outward cargoes, is not perfectly exact but he will try to provide more precise accounts in future.—The National Assembly since his last have adopted commercial regulations affecting trade with United States, imposing duties of 20₶ per cwt. on all foreign salt...
43From Thomas Jefferson to William Murray, 22 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
A certain James O’Fallon is, as we are informed, undertaking to raise, organize and commission an army, of his own authority, and independant of that of the government, the object of which is to go and possess themselves of lands which have never yet been granted by any authority which the government admits to be legal, and with an avowed design to hold them by force against any power foreign...
44To Thomas Jefferson from Martha Jefferson Randolph, 22 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
You gave us reason to hope in your last to Mr. Randolph that there was a probability of our seeing you this summer. Your little grand daughter thinks herself entitled to a visit. I hope you will not disapoint us. My house keeping and Polly’s spanish have equally suffered from my confinement. She is beginning again to go on tolerably for so great a habit of idleness had she contracted in one...
45From Thomas Jefferson to David Rittenhouse, [21 March 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson sends to Mr. Rittenhouse Bp. Watson’s essay on the subjects of chemistry, which is too philosophical not to merit a half an hour of his time, which is all it will occupy. He returns him Mr. Barton’s papers which he has perused with great pleasure. He is glad the subject has been taken up and by so good a hand. He has certainly done all which the scantiness of his materials would...
46To Thomas Jefferson from Tench Coxe, 20 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have for some time entertained an opinion that it would be an useful Service to the United States to demonstrate to every man of Candor in the British Nation the very great errors and deviations from fact, which are to be found in Lord Sheffields pamphlet. I have also believed that it would inspire confidence in the minds of our countrymen, and of the foreign nations, who are in alliance...
47To Thomas Jefferson from John Paul Jones, 20 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return from Russia to Amsterdam in December 1789. I wrote to several Gentlemen in America, particularly to the Vice President and to Mr. Secy. Thomson, enclosing some evidence of the treatment I met with in Russia. I wrote at the same time to the President enclosing a Letter from the Count de Segur. Messrs. Staphorsts & Hubbard undertook to forward my Packets by a Ship then ready to sail...
48From Thomas Jefferson to James Maxwell, 20 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I took the liberty of asking you to send me at the proper season 3. or 4. casks of the best Hughes’s crab cyder, either in casks or bottles as you should think best. As I presume we are now in the proper season for removing it, I shall be in hopes of recieving it soon. Having been disappointed in getting some cyder of a very good kind from Jersey, if you should have found any that is very...
49To Thomas Jefferson from William Playfair, 20 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 20 Mch. 1791. Introducing the bearer, M. de Collaney, who goes to America to take possession of Scioto lands he has just acquired. He bears a letter in English and a statement in French which will explain the liberty taken in introducing him to TJ. As no letter arrives from Scioto and as the families of those who have parents there are given great anxiety because they suspect letters...
50To Thomas Jefferson from William Playfair, 20 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I hope that you will pardon the liberty which I am about to take in writing to you on a subject with which you have not any immediate concern but the Unacountableness of the situation in which I find myself and the Peace of so many individuals is involved in the affair will I hope be my Excuse. Since I had the honour of waiting on you in France the Sale of the Sioto lands and a considerable...
51III. Secretary of State to Caspar Wistar, Jr., 20 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am thankful for the trouble which yourself and Doctr. Hutchinson have taken and are still willing to take on the subject of Mr. Isaacs’ discovery. However his method may turn out, this advantage will certainly result from it, that having drawn the public attention to the subject, it may be made the occasion of disseminating among the masters of vessels a knowlege of the fact that fresh water...
52IV. Caspar Wistar, Jr. to the Secretary of State, [20 March 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Wistar’s respectful compliments and informs Mr. Jefferson that twelve oclock to morrow will suit Dr. Hutchinson and himself, if it be convenient to Mr. Jefferson. They purpose to make the Distillation at the College in fourth Street, as the Apparatus is there.—C. W. is much obliged to Mr. Jefferson for the Book. RC ( MHi ); endorsed as received 20 Mch. 1791 and so recorded in SJL .
53IX. The President to the Secretary of State, 19 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The President concurs with the Secretary of State in opinion that, circumstances make it advisable to commit Mr. Short and the Marqs. de la Fayette to press in a discreet manner our Settlement with the Court of Spain on a broader bottom than merely that of the case of Ste. Marie, and authorises him to take measures accordingly. RC ( DLC ); addressed: “The Secretary of State”; endorsed by TJ as...
54X. Secretary of State to William Short, 19 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Nov. 6. No. 46 by Mr. Osmont came to hand yesterday and I have just time before the departure of Mr. Terrasson the bearer of my letter of the 15th. inst. and dispatches accompanying it, to acknowlege the receipt, and inform you that it has been laid before the President. On consideration of the circumstance stated in the 2d. page of your letter, he is of opinion that it is...
55To Thomas Jefferson from John Harvie, Jr., 19 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 19 Mch. 1791 . Forwards enclosed letter under cover to TJ “as the most favorable opportunity of procuring it the quickest Conveyance to the Gentleman to whom it is addess’d. It is my answer to many Enquirys he has made as to his Civil and Religious Rights if he comes amongst us, but more particularly the Situation of some Western Lands that he has purchas’d of an English Merchant at...
56From Thomas Jefferson to David Rittenhouse, 19 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to regret that having rode into the country yesterday afternoon, I did not return till it was too late either to take tea with you, or to go to the society, where I should have been pleased to hear Mr. Barton’s paper read. Will you be so good as to express to him my regrets? I send for your acceptance some sheets of drawing-paper, which being laid off in squares representing feet, or...
57To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur St. Clair, 19 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
By the Treaty of Fort McIntosh the Lands contained within the following Boundary were allotted to the Wyandots and Delawares, and the Ottowas who were in actual Occupation; viz beginning at the mouth of Cuyahoga River and running up the same to the portage between that and the Tuscarawas Branch of Muskingham; then down that Branch to the Forks at the crossing Place above Fort Lawrence; thence...
58From Thomas Jefferson to Willink, Van Staphorst & Hubbard, 19 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having appropriated the sum of 40,000 Dollars annually to the department of state in the transaction of it’s foreign business, I inclose you the Treasurer’s bill on you for 90,000 florins supposed equivalent to the beforementioned sum of dollars. You will be pleased to open an account therefore with ‘the Secretary of state for the United states of America’ wherein you will credit him...
59II. Caspar Wistar, Jr. to the Secretary of State, [19 March 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of your request, I have made several experiments with a view of ascertaining the best method of proceeding in Mr. Isaacks’ business. It was our wish that the same precise degree of heat might be applied in both distillations, and therefore we agreed to place the Retorts in a water Bath, and the Receivers in Water and Ice. But I have found it very difficult to make the water in a...
60VIII. Secretary of State to the President, 18 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson is sorry to present a long letter to the President to be read at so busy a moment: but the view which it presents of our commercial matters in France is too interesting to be unknown to the President.—The circumstances presented to view in the 2d. page of the letter induce Th: J. to think it may be well to commit to Mr. Short and the M. de la Fayette to press our settlement with...