31From 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...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Philip Freneau, 28 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The clerkship for foreign languages in my office is vacant. The salary indeed is very low, being but two hundred and fifty dollars a year: but also it gives so little to do as not to interfere with any other calling the person may chuse, which would not absent him from the seat of government. I was told a few days ago that it might perhaps be convenient to you to accept it. If so it is at your...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Christopher Gore, 29 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The recess of Congress now permits me the honor of acknowleging the receipt of your favor of Sep. 27. together with the copies of the laws you were so kind as to send, for which be pleased to accept my thanks. Our collection now stands thus. The only chasm in this seems to be from 1772. to 1780. to which I will continue to ask the attention you are so kind as to promise, as occasions arise...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton, 12 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The President has thought proper to appoint Colo. David Humphreys, minister Resident for the U.S. at the court of Lisbon, with a salary of 4500. dollars a year, and an outfit equal to a year’s salary. Besides this, by a standing regulation, he will be allowed his disbursements for gazettes transmitted here, translating and printing papers where that shall be necessary, postage, couriers, and...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton, 31 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The publication of the laws of the U. S. and the purchase of those of the several states call on us immediately for about five hundred dollars, for which sum I must ask a warrant from you to be accounted for. The contingent expences of my department to the 1st. inst. are now stated and will be settled with the Auditor tomorrow. I have the honor to be with great esteem & respect Sir Your most...
36X. Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 20 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
With many thanks for the papers and information you were pleased to have procured for me on the important subject of the fisheries, I do myself the honour of now inclosing you a copy of my report to the house of representatives. From the disposition I see prevailing in the principal mass of the Southern members to take measures which may secure to us the principal markets for the produce of...
37Enclosure: Peleg Coffin, Jr. and Others to John Hancock, 13 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Pursuant to a Resolution of the Legislature of Massachusetts passed the 17th Ultimo we have endeavoured to collect full and Authentic information respecting the Cod and Whale fisheries as heretofore, and now carried on in this Commonwealth. Your Excellency must be sensible that in executing the business assigned us we could derive no Aid from any Public office establish’d in this Government...
38From Thomas Jefferson to William Hay, [7 February 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
I have been obliged by other [business to suspend for] some time past all private correspondencies. Y[our favor of] Dec. 2. is among the first I am able to take up. My friend Mr. Madison happening to be with me just as I was proceeding to consider the question you propose whether Dr. Currie stands bound to see that the printer of the Encyclopedie makes good his engagements as to that work? I...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Ebenezer Hazard, 18 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the two volumes of records, with thanks for the opportunity of looking into them. They are curious monuments of the infancy of our country. I learn with great satisfaction that you are about committing to the press the valuable historical and state-papers you have been so long collecting. Time and accident are committing daily havoc on the originals deposited in our public...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Charles Hellstedt, 14 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I now return you the papers you were pleased to put into my hands, when you expressed to me your dissatisfaction that our Court of Admiralty had taken cognizance of a complaint of some Swedish sailors against their Captain for cruelty. If there was error in this proceeding, the law allows an appeal from that to the Supreme Court; but the appeal must be made in the forms of the law, which have...
41VIII. The Secretary of State to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, [1 February 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honor of enclosing you the Report on the subject of the Fisheries of the United States which the House of Representatives had required from me. However long the delay, I can assure you, Sir, with truth that it has not been a moment longer than the difficulty of procuring and digesting the materials necessarily occasioned. I enclose at the same time extracts from a letter of Mr....
42II. The Secretary of State to David Humphreys, 15 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters No. 1. to 6. from England, No. 7. 8. from Lisbon and No. 9. from Madrid are all recieved. The President has nominated you minister Resident for the U. S. of America at the court of Lisbon, which was approved by the Senate. You will consequently recieve herewith your Commission, a letter of credence to the Queen, sealed, and an open copy of it for your own information, and a letter...
43I. Secretary of State to James Hutchinson, 12 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having referred to me a petition from a person of the name of Isaacs, setting forth that he has discovered an easy method of rendering sea-water potable, I have had a cask of sea-water procured, and the petitioner has erected a small apparatus in my office, in order to exhibit his process. Monday morning 10. aclock is fixed on as the time for doing it. It would give me great...
44V. 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...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel L. Hylton, 9 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Understanding that tobacco continues low in Virginia, whereas the price here for the best is about a guinea, I wish to make an experiment of bringing some of mine here. I have nobody at Richmond to act for me, and therefore on looking about for a friend to execute this commission, I feel a confidence in your being so good as to do it. I would wish to have 20 hogsheads sent to me by the first...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel L. Hylton, 1 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of Feb. 20. and should not so soon have troubled you with an answer, but that you mention that the Vis-a-vis has been long ago shipped for this place. This is the first news I have heard of it, and I imagined it still at your house. I now presume that some accident has happened respecting it, and will therefore thank you for the name of the vessel and captain by...
47IV. Thomas Jefferson to Harry Innes, 7 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 8. came to my hands Nov. 30. The infrequency of conveyances is an apology for this late answer. I receive with pleasure this recognition and renewal of our former acquaintance, and shall be happy to continue it by an exchange of epistolary communications. Your’s to me will be always welcome; your first gives me information in the line of Natural history, and the second (not...
48From Thomas Jefferson to James Innes, 13 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of Feb. 20. came to my hands only four days ago, and I have taken the first moment in my power to prepare my answer, which I now inclose. It is in fact a copy of what I had prepared while in Virginia, when I had the subject under contemplation, except that some useless asperities are rubbed off. I am in hopes either Mr. G. Carr, or Mr. Anderson of Richmond has given you a copy of...
49XI. Secretary of State to Jacob Isaacks, 23 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 1st. instant did not come to hand till yesterday 3. aclock. Unfortunately I had that very morning given in my report, which had been read in the house, and of which I inclose you a printed copy. That the discovery was original as to yourself I can readily believe. Still it is not the less true, that the distillation of fresh from seawater, both with and without mixtures, had...
50From Thomas Jefferson to John Garland Jefferson, 5 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I received a considerable time ago your favor of Nov. 12. and have been prevented from answering it by an extraordinary press of business from which I am but just now emerging. I think Mr. Carr and yourself have acted prudently in dropping your acquaintance with Mr. Rind. I am not acquainted with his character, but I hope and trust it is good at bottom; but it is not marked by prudence, and...
51From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 9 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two last letters are those which have given me the greatest pleasure of any I ever recieved from you. The one announced that you were become a notable housewife, the other a mother. This last is undoubtedly the key-stone of the arch of matrimonial happiness, as the first is it’s daily aliment. Accept my sincere congratulations for yourself and Mr. Randolph. I hope you are getting well,...
52From 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...
53From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 2 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The present will serve just to tell you that I am well, and to keep up my plan of writing once a week whether I have any thing to say or not. Congress rises tomorrow. They have passed no laws remarkeable except the excise law and one establishing a bank. Mrs. Trist and Mrs. Waters always enquire after you and desire me to remember them to you. I hope you are by this time able to be about again...
54From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 2 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment recieved yours of January 16. and answer it by the first post. It is indeed an interesting letter to me as it gives me details which I am sure will contribute to your happiness, my first wish. Nothing is so engaging as the little domestic cares into which you appear to be entering, and as to reading it is useful for only filling up the chinks of more useful and healthy...
55From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson, 31 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am happy to have a letter of yours to answer. That of Mar. 6. came to my hands on the 24th. By the bye you never acknowlege the receipt of my letters, nor tell me on what day they came to hand. I presume that by this time you have received the two dressing tables with marble tops. I give one of them to your sister and the other to you. Mine is here with the top broke in two. Mr. Randolph’s...
56From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson, 9 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am happy to have at length a letter of yours to answer, for that which you wrote to me Feb. 13. came to hand Feb. 28. I hope our correspondence will now be more regular, that you will be no more lazy, and I no more in the growls on that account. On the 27th. of February I saw blackbirds and Robinredbreasts and on the 7th. of this month I heard frogs for the first time this year. Have you...
57From Thomas Jefferson to Mary Jefferson, 16 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
At length I have recieved, a letter from you. As the spell is now broke, I hope you will continue to write every three weeks. Observe I do not admit the excuse you make of not writing because your sister had not written the week before: let each write their own week without regard to what others do, or do not do.—I congratulate you my dear aunt on your new title. I hope you pay a great deal of...
58To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Barclay, 5 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
From the best information I can obtain the emoluments of the Consulship of Lisbon does not amount to three hundred pounds sterling ⅌ Annum, and the place is a Very expensive one to live at. I therefore will not give you the trouble of mentioning me to the President on that subject.—If I Could be brought into his View for such appointment as he should think proper, under the Excise law that is...
59To Thomas Jefferson from Joshua Johnson, 27 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
London, 27 Mch. 1791 . Before receipt of TJ’s letters of 17 and 23 Dec. Purdie had told him of Capt. Young’s mistreatment, but at the same time he found Purdie “more violent if possible against Mr. John Brown Cutting, charging him with motives that I was sensible never actuated Mr. Cutting, and making use of threats violent and dishonorable against him.” He tried to get Purdie to return to...
60To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston, 20 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing the value of your time I should not thus early after the receipt of yours have intruded upon it could I have consented that you should one moment longer misapprehend my sentiments with respect to your invaluable report on weights and measures. I am so far from suggesting any other ideas than those you propose that tho I have examined them with minute attention I find nothing to alter...