571To Thomas Jefferson from John Vaughan, 8 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
A desire to be useful, induces me to make the present Communication, consisting of hints extracted from recent European publications, which are worthy perusing— Sam Bentham , Esqr. recd lately a Gold medal , for discovering the following method of preserving water sweet in Long Voyages it was bestowed by the Socy. for the encouragemt. of Arts &c—It is detailed in their Transactions. 1801—also...
572To Thomas Jefferson from Henry Voigt, [before 9 April 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
When I had your watch before to rectify, although I saw a fault in it at that time, as it was in the construction of the movement , (not a defficiency in workmanship,) & not having sufficient experience of the operation of a movement on that construction, I thought it certainly would answer.—But since I have had it my possession this time, I have been more particular in examining, not only the...
573To Thomas Jefferson from James Walter, 8 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Not having any personal acquaintance with thee, it is with extreme reluctance I thus address the Man whose eminent abilities has raised him to be head of the American Republic— But having lately purchased a tract of Land in Randolph County Virginia on which as I am inform’d is an elegant scite for a town, which I propose laying out the ensuing summer—I so far request thy patronage as to be...
574To Thomas Jefferson from Elkanah Watson, 1 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Under the Respectable recommendations Inclosed ; I feel the less diffidence in Introducing myself to your Knowledge, especially as Lieut. Govr. Van Rensselaer one of Our recent electors & my Intimate friend as well in Social, as in political Life, for a Series of years, Informs Me he has the honour of a personal acquaintence with you. Haveing resided at Nantes in France Several of the arduous...
575To Thomas Jefferson from Michael Weyer, 11 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I Consider it a Just duety to inform you, that I Last wiek have got on the track of a valuable Silver mint, of which I have had a pice of ore in my hands, and I am by it Persuated that it is a valueable one, and that I would be Rewarted for the Discovery there of Sir I am your very Humble Sarand. RC ( DLC ); at foot of text: “Most Honourable Thomas Jefferson President”; endorsed by TJ as...
576To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander White, 13 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of what you were pleased to mention this morning I send a rough sketch of a Resolve respecting a subject which I do not feel myself competent to act on I have examined the Essays of Nicholas King while he was in the employ of the Commissioners, and acting under the auspices of Doctor Thornton, from which it appears that their Idea was to carry a Water Street 80 feet wide through...
577To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander White, 10 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
In the last conversation I had the honour to hold with you, you observed that you had not expected anything further would have been paid to the Commissioners on account of the square conveyed to the U. States for the site of Marine Barracks —This has occasioned me to reflect in what passed between us on that subject previous to the purchase; and if my memory does not fail me, the idea...
578Enclosure: Draft of a Resolution for the City of Washington (Jefferson Papers)
Draft of a Resolution for the City of Washington Resolved, as the opinion of the Board that a Plan of the City of Washington on which the public appropriations, as they are described in the several Acts of the Presidents of the U States directing the conveyance thereof to the Commissioners; the squares or Parcels of ground which have been divided, or prepared for division, as building lots;...
579To Thomas Jefferson from Jonathan Williams, 22 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
After having ascertained by repeated Experiments that the Coast of America, and the eminences of Land upon it can be discovered by the varied Temperature of the Sea; it became a very natural suggestion that by a judicious use of the Thermometer a correct Chart might be made, which would not only be usefull to mariners by indicating soundings, when they could not heave the Lead; but to Society...
580To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Wilson, 13 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am the unfortunate Claimant for the Ship Mentor; so long yr: Supplicant for Compensation, of the British Government for the Destruction of that Ship; and Cargo: in time of Peace; the pursuit of Superior Velocity , in the Sailing of Shipping, caused me to build that Ship; I having been bred in the Mercantile line of Trade from an early period of my life, made the Stepping of Masts, and form...
581To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Wilson, [on or before 15 April 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
Pray your Excellency grant me in some way protection from cruel Delay and wrong; The Committee of Claims, put me off the third year, although the Auditor gave me an acknowledgement that the Rice and Claret , I supplied to Comy. General Blains Department, is entered in account in that office, as “Unsettled for.” Mr. Smith, Secretary of the Navy, does not understand my Naval Architecture, or my...
582To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 8 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel a considerable degree of embarrassment on the present occasion, but trust to your good nature for excusing the liberty I take, & the trouble I give you—My object is to state to you that I have for a long time been acquainted with the character of Mr G. Latimer, * The Collector & have known him personally for some years, & that he has allways appeared to me to be a man of business & of...
583To Thomas Jefferson from Caspar Wistar, 10 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have delayed my reply to your favour of March 22d. in order to inform myself more fully respecting some of the heads of your inquiry— My acquaintance with Dr Barnwell commenced about a year & a half since, in consequence of a communication he made to the A.P.S., which was ordered to be published, but was lost by the Printer. He has since then sometimes visited me, & conversed respecting...
584To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Worthington, 30 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure to enclose to you two receipts one for the entry the other for the tax on lands therein mentioned—You will observe Sir that I have paid the tax for the present year of course there will be none due untill one year hence I have the honour to be with the highest respect Sir Your Obt St RC ( MHi ); at foot of text: “The President of the United states”; endorsed by TJ as...
585To Thomas Jefferson from "Yankey Doodle," 14 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have told you in my last Letter that I Soon Send you another the object of my Letter is that you Shall See how you Shall act in this Case Sir a few day’s ago—an affray took place on board the Spanish brig it Contain’s as follow’s the mariner’s having Consulted a lawyer about how they Could get Paid the Lawyer told them that must keep possesion brig until the monday following when he Should...
586To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Yznardi, Sr., 16 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 16 Mch. 1802. Acknowledging with gratitude the $590 payment for wines, he offers to obtain more wine from Spain whenever TJ may desire. As he prepares to embark for Cadiz on the Patapsco , his bailsman in the lawsuit instigated by Joseph Israel wishes to be released from that obligation. Israel, lacking evidence to support his suit, is dragging out the case by seeking to obtain...
587To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Yznardi, Sr., 22 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Muy Señor mio, y de mi Mayor Respecto me ha sido forsozo dar Fiansa por la Suma de 12 mil $ sobre el Mal Pleyto del Capn Isrrael en el qe he Nonbrado por mi Nuebo defensor á Mr. Dalas Asegurandole qe V.E conoce mi Justicia, y qe desea se me haga y Confio en qe dos Renglones privados á Mr Dalas serán Suficientes para qe aga anular dicho Pleyto, y no dudo Mereser este favor á V.E antes de...
588Sentence in the Court-Martial of John Spence: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
I. HENRY DEARBORN’S PRELIMINARY DRAFT [10 MCH. 1802] II. HENRY DEARBORN’S SECOND DRAFT, WITH JEFFERSON’S REVISIONS [20 APR. 1802] Among the myriad duties that devolved on Jefferson as president of the United States was the periodic review of general courts-martial proceedings. According to federal law, such proceedings were to be forwarded to the president in times of peace if the...
589Method of Using Robert Patterson’s Cipher: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
I. DESCRIPTION OF METHOD , [18 APR. 1802] II. SAMPLE ENCIPHERMENT : THE LORD’S PRAYER, [18 APR. 1802] III. SAMPLE ENCIPHERMENT : “TO THE PEOPLE OF GREAT-BRITAIN,” [N.D.] Jefferson received Robert Patterson’s letter of 19 Dec. 1801, in which Patterson described the cipher that he had invented, six days after it was written. On 22 Mch. 1802, Jefferson acknowledged the letter and informed...
590Conference with Handsome Lake, Cornplanter, and Blue Eyes: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
When Israel Chapin, the U.S. agent to the Iroquois nations, informed the War Department in January 1802 that a delegation of Seneca Indians would be setting off on a visit to Washington, he identified Cornplanter as the head of the group. Similarly, when newspapers, which took little notice of the deputation, mentioned its passage through Pittsburgh, they described the group as consisting of...