1Editorial Note: Locating the Federal District (Jefferson Papers)
In the fall of 1790 competition for the Federal District—the second of three stages in the delicate task of providing a permanent location for the seat of government—stirred enterprizing citizens to activity along the entire stretch of the Potomac comprehended in the terms of the Residence Act. From Carrollsburg on the Eastern Branch to Williamsport at the mouth of the Conococheague,...
2I. James Madison’s Advice on Executing the Residence Act, [before 29 August 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
“The act for establishing the temporary and permanent seats of the Government of the U. States” requires the following steps for carrying the latter into effect. Mr. Ellicott Mr. Gorum Mr. Fitzhugh (of Chatham) [Gorham] Mr. Bull Mr. Loyd (of Annapolis) Mr. O. Wolcott Mr. Tucker Revd. Mr. Lee Massey Mr. of R.Isd. Mr. Baldwin MS (DLC: Madison Papers); entirely in Madison’s hand; undated (for a...
3II. The President to the Secretary of State, 2 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed Notes are sufficiently descriptive to comprehend the two objects fully; but it is necessary to remark, that if the first line begins at a point on Hunting Creek, the fourth line cannot, in any part, touch (Though it will include ) the Town of Alexandria; because Huntg. Creek is below the boundaries of the Town.—And, if it could be so ordered as for the first line to avoid touching...
4III. The President to the Secretary of State, [4 January 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
The P. begs to see Mr. Jefferson before he proceeds further in the Proclamation.—From a more attentive examination of some Papers, in his possession, he finds that it is in his power to ascertain the course and distance from the Court House in Alexandria to the upper and lower end of the Canal at the little Falls with as much accuracy as can be known from Common Surveying if not to...
5IV. Daniel Carroll to the Secretary of State, 22 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honor of incloseing a Resolution No. 1 of the Genl. Assembly of Maryland acceding to the proposition made by the General Assembly of Virginia on the 10th of Novr. 1789, likewise several resolutions No. 2. establishing a fund for the moneys pledg’d by the first resolution, and an Act No 3 to Condemn land if necessary for the public buildings of the United States. By a letter...
6V. The Secretary of State to Daniel Carroll, 24 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States desirous of availing himself of your assistance in preparing the federal Seat on the Potomac, [is in hopes you will act as one of the Commissioners directed by the Law for that purpose. I have the honor now to enclose a joint commission for yourself and two others, together with] a Copy of the Proclamation meant to constitute your first direction. The...
7VI. The President to the Senate and the House of Representatives, [24 January 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
In execution of the powers with which Congress were pleased to invest me by their act intituled ‘an Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States’ and on mature consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the several positions within the limits prescribed by the said act, I have, by a proclamation bearing date this day, directed...
8VII. The Proclamation by the President, 24 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
By the President of the U. S. of America. a Proclamation. Whereas the General assembly of the state of Maryland by an act passed on the 23d. day of December in the year 1788. intituled ‘An act to cede to Congress a district of 10 miles square in this state for the seat of the government of the U. S.’ did enact that the representatives of the said state in the house of representatives of...
9VIII. Daniel Carroll to the Secretary of State, 27 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the ho[nour to re]ceive your favor, covering the Commission which includes my name in the appointment, for carrying into effect the Location of the permanent Seat of Government. It wou’d be as unnecessary, Sir, to confess the pleasure I shou’d feel in giving my Little aid for a purpose so consonant to my wishes for the public good, as I hope it is, to assure the President of the Value I...
10IX. The Secretary of State to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 29 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Carroll, supposing that Doubts may arise, whether he can act as one of the Commissioners for the federal Seat, while a Member of Congress, has declined, and has returned me the Commission, which had been deposited with him as one of the Members; I have now the Honor to enclose it to Mr. Johnson, first named therein, and to observe that two Members suffice for Business. It will be some Time...
11X. The President to the Secretary of State, [1 February 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Nothing in the enclosed letter superceding the necessity of Mr. Ellicot, proceeding to the work in hand, I would thank you, for requesting him, to set out on thursday; or as soon after as he can make it convenient; also for preparing such instructions as you may conceive it necessary for me to give him for ascertaining the points we wish to know; first , for the general view of things, and...
12XI. The Secretary of State to Andrew Ellicott, 2 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
You are desired to proceed by the first stage to the Federal territory on the Potomac, for the purpose of making a survey of it. The first object will be to run the two first lines mentioned in the enclosed proclamation to wit:—the S.W. line 160 poles and the S.E. line to Hunting creek or should it not strike Hunting creek as has been suggested then to the river. These two lines must be run...
13XII. Andrew Ellicott to the Secretary of State, [14 February 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived at this Town on Monday last but the Cloudy weather prevented any observations being made untill friday evening which was very fine. [On Saturday the two first lines were completed. You will see by the enclosed plat that the second line does not touch any part of Hunting Creek unless the spring drain noted in the plat is to be considered a part of it. It appears to me that in order to...
14XIII. The Proclamation by the President, 30 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
By the President of the U. S. of A. a Proclamation Whereas by a proclamation bearing date the 24th. day of Jan. of this present year, and in pursuance of certain acts of the states of Maryland and Virginia, and of the Congress of the U. S. therein mentioned, certain lines of experiment were directed to be run in the neighborhood of George town in Maryland for the purpose of determining the...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Stephen Cathalan, Jr., 25 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I duly recieved your father’s favor of Sep. 25. and am happy that the Vice-consular commission which you must have recieved soon after was made to his liking. He desires me to say whether I still wish to have the commission executed as to the olives. I wish it, Sir, extremely. My honour is somewhat compromitted in that matter with the state of South Carolina, as it was on my earnest...
16To Thomas Jefferson from John Harvie, Jr., 25 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter dated so far back as the 2nd. of November has been withheld till the 12th. of this Month when it was deliver’d to me by Colo. Bell from Charlottesville. I should then have Immediately Answer’d it but as I Conceive there must be the want of Recollection, or some Misunderstanding in Circumstances either in you or Colo. Randolph respecting the 490 Acres of Land near Edge Hill, I...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Adrien Petit, 25 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
A mon depart de Paris, mon cher Petit, vous m’aviez proposé et meme avec de l’empressement, de m’accompagner en Amerique. Je ne m’y suis pas consenti, parceque je croyois toujours à ma très prochaine retour, et que je souhaitois de laisser mes affaires dans vos mains. Quand je suis convenu de rester ici, et que je me voyois dans le cas d’etablir une maison, j’aimois de me persuader, et sans y...
18Editorial Note: Death of Franklin (Jefferson Papers)
News of the death of Benjamin Franklin arrived in New York City on 22 April 1790. That same day James Madison arose in the House of Representatives, voiced a brief, moving tribute, and proposed that the members wear badges of mourning for a month. This, he said, should be done in respect for “a citizen whose native genius was not more an ornament to human nature, than his various exertions of...
19I. The Secretary of State to the President, 9 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now the honour to return you the letter from the President of the Assembly of representatives for the community of Paris to the President and members of Congress, which you had recieved from the President of the Senate with the opinion of that house that it should be opened by you, and their request that you would communicate to Congress such parts of it as in your opinion might be...
20Enclosure: President of the Commune of Paris to the President and Members of Congress, 29 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
We have learned that Franklin, the man of all nations, is no more—having enlightened them all, and in every species of knowledge, they ought to share in a loss, which is common to them all. The august Legislators of our nation have hastened to set the example; but the assembly of representatives of the Commons of the Capital believed it their duty to add to this universal mourning a new...
21II. Tobias Lear to the Secretary of State, 26 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor respectfully to transmit to the Secretary of State, to be lodged in his Office, a letter from His most Christian Majesty to the President and Members of Congress dated Septr. 11th 1790 a letter from the President of the National Assembly of France to the President of the United States and a decree of that Assembly dated June 20 1790. And a...
22Enclosure I: Louis XVI to George Washington, 11 September 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Très chers grands Amis et Alliés . Nous avons reçu la lettre par la quelle vous nous avez informés de la nouvelle marque de confiance que vous avez donnée au Sieur Jefferson, et qui met fin aux fonctions de la place de votre Ministre plénipotentiaire aupres de nous. La maniere dont il s’est conduit pendant tout le tems qu’il a résidé à notre cour, Lui a mérité notre estime et une entiere...
23Enclosure II: The President of the National Assembly of France to “The President of Congress”, [20 June 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
The National Assembly has worn, during three days mourning for Benjamin Franklin, your fellow citizen, your friend, and one of the most useful of your co-operators in the establishment of American Liberty. They charge me to communicate their resolutions to the Congress of the United States. In consequence, I have the honor to address to you, Mr. President, the extract from the proceedings of...
24Enclosure III: The President to the President of the National Assembly of France, 27 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with particular satisfaction, and imparted to Congress the communication made by the Presidents letter of the 20th of June last in the name of the National Assembly of France. So peculiar and and so signal an expression of the esteem of that respectable body for a citizen of the United States, whose eminent and patriotic services are indelibly engraved on the minds of his countrymen...
25III. Thomas Jefferson to the Rev. William Smith, 19 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel both the wish and the duty to communicate, in compliance with your request, whatever, within my knowledge, might render justice to the memory of our great countryman Dr. Franklin, in whom Philosophy has to deplore one of it’s principal luminaries extinguished. But my opportunities of knowing the interesting facts of his life have not been equal to my desire of making them known. I could...
26IV. Thomas Jefferson to John Vaughan, 22 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Vaughan and incloses him a copy of a letter he has just sent to Dr. Smith. There was so little within his particular knowlege, worthy of being noted in memory of Dr. Franklin, that he communicates it only in proof of his respect for the desire of the committee who did him the honor of calling on him, and of whom Mr. Vaughan was one. RC ( PPAP );...
27V. The Secretary of State to the President of the National Assembly, 8 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have it in Charge from the President of the United States of America to communicate to the National Assembly of France the peculiar Sensibility of Congress to the Tribute paid to the Memory of Benjamin Franklin by the enlightened and free Representatives of a great Nation, in their Decree of the 11th. of June 1790. That the Loss of such a Citizen should be lamented by us, among whom he...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Childs & Swaine, 27 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The late application of Mr. Brown to Congress which has been referred to you, induces us respectfully to state, That sometime in December last, we commenced the publication of a new or Second edition of the Acts of Congress passed at the first session; that this publication is nearly completed, and that another, smaller edition, is considerably advanced upon; that it is our intention to...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Tench Coxe, 27 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor to receive this afternoon your note relative to the value of the transportation of the whole produce of the United States to foreign markets. By this I understand the amount of the freight money that would be paid by the owners of our produce to the owners of the vessels in which they are laden, if they were always different persons. In the very imperfect state of the documents...
30To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 28 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last of the 24th. the inclosed letter has been recieved here. It is of so important a nature that I copy it to send it to you by the post of this morning as it is possible it may arrive in London in time for the Packet. It is generally believed here to be authentic though no body knows how it has got into the public. It is said also that it was printed in an accredited Parisian...