1From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McLean, 9 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 2. was not recieved till a few days ago. however strong my preference of subjects of the nature of that of your letter yet the business of my present station requiring the whole of my time and attention, forbids me to give any portion of either from it’s duties. I have been obliged therefore to forbid myself to enter into philosophical speculations. should you propose to...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sumter, Sr., 9 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I omitted before the rising of Congress to enquire for proper characters to appoint in South Carolina as Commissioners of bankruptcy. mr Calhoun too, best acquainted in Charleston was gone; and if there, he has not the same determination which I have against appointing a single federalist until the two parties have their due proportion of office, and especially in this case where the federal...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 2 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I forgot this was post day till the moment of the mail’s being made up. I have only time therefore to say Congress rises tomorrow. mr Milledge & mr Clarke will probably set out in the evening, be at Orange courthouse on Wednesday evening & go thence to dine with you on Thursday. I shall be two or three days after them. tender love to my dear Martha & the young people & affectionate attachment...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Munroe, 16 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
You will percieve by the inclosed letter from the Governor of Maryland that we are called on for the arrears of interest on the two loans of two hundred thousand and of fifty thousand dollars, the former guarantied by Congress, and the latter assumed by them in a specified mode. knowing that the city funds are not in cash to answer these demands, and that your office is constantly open for the...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 3 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
This will be handed you by mr Milledge who takes the route by Edgehill on purpose to give you information on the subject of Georgia. mr Clarke, a son of Genl. Clarke, of that state is with him. he is a sensible young man & has been studying the law here some time under John Thompson Mason. having before mentioned these gentlemen in my letters, nothing more need be added. I wrote to you by...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Whitney, 13 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I observe in the European catalogues of Optical, Astronomical &c. Instruments, they advertize ‘Artificial horizons by parallel glasses and quicksilver to take double altitudes by, £1–16. sterl.’ I suppose it possible that this may be to supply the want of a good horizon at land and enable us to use Hadley’s quadrant here as well as at sea. should this be the case, and you happen to have one,...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Claxton, 18 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13th . is recieved. the samples of straw floor cloths are beautiful, especially the finest one; but would not answer for the purpose I have in view which is to lay down on the floor of a dining room when the table is set, & be taken up, when the table is removed, merely to save a very handsome floor from grease & the scouring which that necessitates. the straw would fur up...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Claxton, 13 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I omitted to place in my memorandum 2. wire-screens for the windows of the Setting room, intended to exclude the candle flies and bugs in the evening, which abound here in most uncommon quantities. they should be 4 f. 9. I. square, & the meshes 1/8 or 3/16 of an inch wide & ¼ Inch. high. a single one does for each window. there is a mr Sellers 231. market street who works well in wire. I will...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Anne Cary Randolph, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, and Ellen Wayles Randolph, 7 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very happy to find that two of you can write . I shall now expect that whenever it is inconvenient for your papa & mama to write, one of you will write on a piece of paper these words ‘all is well’ and send it for me to the post office. I am happy too that miss Ellen can now read so readily. if she will make haste and read through all the books I have given her, and will let me know when...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas McKean, 14 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 12th. came to hand last night. while making out the commissions of bankruptcy the newspapers informed me of the death of your son, on which event I sincerely condole with you. his name was therefore omitted and another inserted so as to compleat the number before the reciept of your letter recommending mr Pettit. Though I take for granted that the colonisation of Louisiana by...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Law, 31 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday evening your letter of the 23d. instant, informing me of the death of mrs Washington: and I recieved it with great & sincere concern. an acquaintance of five and twenty years, in times & circumstances of various and trying aspect , had made me a witness of her constant course in whatsoever was benevolent and virtuous in life, had marked her in my judgment as one of the...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush, 18 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your friendly letter of the 12th. which shall be answered the first practicable moment. in the mean time I send you Latude which I happen to have here. affectionate salutations. RC (Swann Auction Catalogue, sale 2058, New York, 2005); address clipped: “Doctr. Benjamin [Rush]”; franked and postmarked.
13From Thomas Jefferson to DeWitt Clinton, 3 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favor of Mr. Clinton’s company to dinner and chess on Tuesday next at half after three, or at whatever later hour the house may rise. Saturday Apl. 3. 1802. The favor of an answer is asked. RC (Philip D. Sang, Chicago, 1960); in Meriwether Lewis’s hand.
14From Thomas Jefferson to Anne Cary Randolph, 18 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson to his very dear granddaughter Anne C. Randolph. I send you, my dear Anne, more poems for our 1st. volume. Congress will rise about the last day of the month, and it will not be many days after that before I shall be in the midst of you. in the mean time all is well here, and I have not time to say more, except that you must kiss all the little ones for me, and deliver my...
15From Thomas Jefferson to William Lovering, 18 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Lovering and observes that the employment of the funds destined for furnishing the President’s house, is confided by the legislature to mr Claxton solely. he knows however that those funds are all but exhausted, and thinks it probable mr Claxton can contract no new engagement on them. PrC ( ViW ); endorsed by TJ in ink on verso. PRESENTS HIS...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 13 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Doctr. Wistar and incloses him a letter from the Vice President of the Agricultural society of N.Y. on the subject of uniting all the Agricultural societies of the United States by the link of a Central society at the Seat of the Genl. government: to be communicated to the American Philosophl. society. he has recieved Dr. Wistar’s letter of...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 21 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I am ready to appoint any persons whom mr Gallatin shall approve in place of the delinquent Collectors . RC ( NHi : Gallatin Papers); on verso of address sheet previously directed by Gallatin to the president; addressed by TJ: “The Secretary of the Treasury.” Not recorded in SJL . DELINQUENT COLLECTORS : see Memorandum from the Treasury Department, 20 June .
18From Thomas Jefferson to Tobias Lear, 14 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Will mr Lear do Th: Jefferson the favor of taking a family dinner with him to-day. RC ( InHi ); addressed: “Colo. Lear”; endorsed by Lear.
19From Thomas Jefferson to Gideon Granger, 20 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the Postmaster general to send no letters for him to this place, after he recieves this, as he will be in Washington in the course of the ensuing week. PrC ( DLC ). Not recorded in SJL . TJ arrived in WASHINGTON on Sunday, 30 May ( MB James A. Bear, Jr., and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany,...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 28 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 20th. has been duly recieved. my former letters will have informed you that the lands offered by Sibbald are real pine barrens & will not bring corn at all; but that the pine lands mixed with oak and a clay foundation bring good crops of corn & wheat. in a conversation which Capt Lewis had with mr Milledge the latter observed that after getting to the hilly country, some distance...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Savage, 9 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been absent during the month of May on a visit to Monticello, your letter of Apr. 29. has remained here unanswered. during my absence also the boxes containing the print frames arrived safe. mr John Barnes of Georgetown, who does business for me, will this day remit to his friend mr Ludlow of New York the sum of 61. D. 75 c. the amount of your bill the frames give perfect satisfaction....
22From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, 3 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Another letter to embarras you with, and a repetition of good wishes for your health & happiness. I set out on the 5th. instant for Monticello. RC ( DeGH ); addressed: “Monsr. Dupont de Nemours on board the Benjamin Franklin Philadelphia.” Enclosure: TJ to Joel Barlow, 3 May . TJ originally ended the letter here, before adding the final sentence.
23From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, [10] May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here the day before yesterday on a visit of one fortnight [only and am] in hourly hope of seeing my groceries [arrive] from mr Barnes as well as a quarter cask of wine from Robertson [and Brown] of Norfolk. I have never heard yet from Bedford [whether my tobacco is] down or not. on my departure from Washington I [desired] mr Barnes to remit you 300. dollars on my account. accept...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln and John Thomas Mason, 11 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Sentence of death having been passed by the Circuit court of Columbia , against a citizen of Washington county, guilty of an aggravated murder, a question arises Who is to sign the warrant for execution? By the act of Congress 1801. c. 86. the laws of Maryland , as they existed at that date, are in force in Washington county: and by the law of Maryland 1795. c. 82. the Governor of Maryland is...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 20 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 13th. is recieved. I promised in my last I would make enquiry of mr Milledge of Augusta in Savanna on the subject of cotton, because he is a great cultivator of it, in fact the introducer of it there, very accurate & judicious. he says the blackseed cotton is cultivated in the country below Augusta, the green seed above. the former sells for 40. cents when the latter is at 20....
26From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 3 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I nominate John Heard of New Jersey to be Collector of the port of Perth Amboy vice Daniel March deceased. RC ( DNA : RG 46 , EPEN , 7th Cong., 1st sess.); endorsed by a Senate clerk. PrC ( DLC ). Recorded in SJL with notation “nomn of Heard.” Meriwether Lewis delivered TJ’s message to the Senate on 3 May, the last day of the session. The Senate immediately confirmed Heard’s appointment ( JEP...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 12 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved two days ago your favor of the 6th. and am very glad you made to me a full communication of your intentions, as I feel no resources within myself or without which could have supported me under the idea of separation which popular report might have brought to me. how far the enterprize may be adviseable, I am not qualified to judge; nor am I able to give you much information on the...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 6 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th:J. incloses to mr Gallatin a letter from the keeper of Cape Henlopen lighthouse which seems to call for attention: also another attack on Mc.lane. J. Page accepts the offer of the place at Petersburg, but cannot conveniently go till some weeks hence. his letter is also inclosed. RC ( NHi : Gallatin Papers). Enclosures: (1) Abraham Hargis to TJ, 26 May. (2) Delaware Democratic Republicans to...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Nicolas Gouin Dufief, 10 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 6th. and the books forwarded by mr Duane. La Grange’s translations are new to me, and I am so much pleased with that of his Seneca, that I will thank you to forward me also his Lucretius with the Latin text. has the Seneca of La Grange been ever printed with the Latin text? if it has I should be glad if you would order it from France. if not, order me...
30From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The road through Ravensworth is rendered absolutely impassable for a four wheeled carriage by a single change made lately by one of the mr Fitzhughs in his plantation. you must not therefore attempt it, but go on to Fairfax C.H. & there turn off to Songster’s. Bull run is now passed at an excellent ford, and the hills by a great deal of work have been made quite good. the road between Elkrun...