1From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. G. Muhlenberg, 14 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 10th. and am thankful to you for the prompt dispatch of the wine, every day’s delay counting during a session of Congress. the wines are Champagne & Burgandy . so soon as you will be so good as to let me know the amount of the duties & charges, they shall be immediately remitted to you. accept my friendly salutations & assurances of respect. P.S. I have...
2From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 14 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I now communicate a digest of the information I have recieved relative to Louisiana, which may be useful to the legislature in providing for the government of the country. a translation of the most important laws in force in that province, now in the press, shall be the subject of a supplementory communication, with such further and material information as may yet come to hand. RC ( DNA : RG...
3I. To David Williams, 14 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved the volume on the Claims of literature which you did me the favor to send me through mr Monroe, & have read with satisfaction the many judicious reflections it contains on the condition of the respectable class of literary men. the efforts for their relief made by a society of private citizens are truly laudable. but they are, as you justly observe, but a palliation of an...
4II. To David Williams, 14 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved the volume on the Claims of literature which you did me the favor to send me through mr Monroe; & have read with satisfaction the many judicious reflections it contains on the condition of the respectable class of literary men. the efforts for their relief, made by a society of private citizens, are truly laudable: but they are, as you justly observe, but a palliation of...
5From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 11 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
During the last recess of the Senate, I have granted commissions for the offices, and to the persons following: which commissions will expire at the end of the present session of the Senate. I therefore nominate the same persons to the same offices for reappointment, to wit. James Monroe of Virginia, Minister Plenipotentiary of the US. to the government of Great Britain, vice Rufus King...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 9 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The memoranda you inclosed me from mr Clarke deserve great attention. such articles of them as depend on the executive shall be arranged for the next post. the following articles belong to the legislature. the administration of justice to be prompt. perhaps the judges should be obliged to hold their courts weekly, at least for some time to come. the ships of resident owners to be naturalized,...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 9 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of the 4th. with a P.S. of the 8th. being delivered to the Captain of the vessel, the object of the present is to inform you that the reports of both those days prove to be unfounded, and that it is questionable whether the marriage spoken of is to take place. you will therefore depend on future evidence as to the fact, & only use the apology if the issue should render it necessary....
8From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you Clarke’s memoranda. the following articles seem proper for Executive attention. an instrument vesting in the Collector of Natchez the powers of the administrator, Treasurer & Contador. Instructions to Claiborne to suppress useless offices to remove any existing officers. to appoint others it would be well these could go by next post. would it not be well to send in what documents...
9Notes on Governing Louisiana, 8 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Hospital provision for administration of justice to be prompt. shipping to be naturalised. Slaves , importation of religion support of it to be explained . Ursuline Nuns . their landed property secured. debts from Spain to the inhabitants . 500,000. D the powers of the Administrator, Treasurer & Contador to be exercised by Collector of Natchez. power to suppress useless offices, to suspend all...
10Notes on Spanish Expenditures for Louisiana, 8 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Louisiana . Executive 8996. Judiciary. 3600. Revenue officers 16,600. Custom house 10,430. navigation 9,600 hospitals 30,546 Posts 9,810 miscellaneous 9,234 Clergy 11,484
11From Thomas Jefferson to James Jones Wilmer, 8 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Wilmer & his thanks for the pamphlet he was so kind as to send him, which he shall read with pleasure the first moment of leisure he has: his present situation rarely presenting him that enjoiment, & especially during the session of the legislature. PrC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ in ink on verso. pamphlet : see Wilmer to TJ of 15 Sep.
12From Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 7 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
So constant, my dear daughter, have been my occupations here since Congress met, that it has never been in my power to write any thing which could admit of delay at all: and our post now passing but once a week, lessens the opportunities, tho the rapidity is increased to 24. hours between this place & Charlottesville. I recieved by mr Randolph the frills & a pair of stockings. it will be...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Jones & Howell, 6 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to send two tons of nailrod assorted from 6 d. to 20 d. sizes to Richmond addressed to messrs. Gibson & Jefferson for me, & with as little delay as possible. the suspension of intercourse by the fever has occasioned my nailery to be nearly out & it will be quite so before this supply arrives. mr Barnes will remit you immediately 45 D. 81 c the amount of the last bill now due. Accept...
14From Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 6 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Oct. 25. from Prestwood came to my hands last night. it is the first knolege of your motions I have had since you set out for Kentucky: and having long expected you were on the road back, I knew not how to write to you. this has been the cause of my keeping a letter recieved for you from France a considerable time ago: & I do not send it now lest you should have left Richmond, where...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 5 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Bell being the lowest bidder for the saltsprings has on that ground the first claim for preference. his character moreover, & the moderation of his views recommend him: but there seems just reason to apprehend he is too moderate, and that he has erred against himself in his calculations, being perhaps too sanguine. it is never the interest of a landlord to break his tenant. in this case it...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 4 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved several letters from you, my dear friend, since I last wrote to you. that by mr Foncin is delivered this morning. you know my situation too well not to be sensible that I cannot be a punctual correspondent, and you will ascribe the rarity of my letters to it’s probable cause, & not to the impossible one of a want of friendship for you. in the affair of your lands be assured we...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Robert R. Livingston, 4 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
A report reaches us this day from Baltimore (on probable, but not certain grounds) that Mr. Jerome Bonaparte, brother of the first Consul, was yesterday married to miss Patterson of that city.* *Nov. 8. It is now said that it did not take place on the 3d. but will this day. the effect of this measure on the mind of the first Consul, is not for me to suppose: but as it might occur to him, primâ...
18From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 4 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
By the copy, now communicated, of a letter from Capt Bainbridge, of the Philadelphia frigate, to our consul at Gibraltar , you will learn that an act of hostility has been committed, on a merchant vessel of the United States, by an armed ship of the Emperor of Morocco. This conduct on the part of that power is without cause, and without explanation. It is fortunate that Capt Bainbridge fell in...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Aaron Vail, 4 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The schooner Citizen, capt Lawson, being employed by our government to carry some gun carriages to the Emperor of Marocco, and to touch at Lorient, in going, in order to deliver there the ratification of our late treaty with France, I take the benefit of your cover for a letter to mr Livingston, our Minister Plenipotentiary, accompanied by a small box of about 8. or 9. inches cube addressed to...
20From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 3 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Dinsmore is arrived here from Monticello on his way to see his brother at Baltimore, and asks for 40. Dollars in Philadelphia bills if to be had, which I must pray you to accomodate him with. he will call on you to-day. affectionate salutations. RC ( MHi ); endorsed by Barnes: “Mr Dinsmore 3d Nov 1803 $40.” Not recorded in SJL . TJ noted in his financial records that on this day he gave...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 3 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Gallatin, on his arrival at his office, to call & accompany him to the Secretary of State’s office, where a matter of moment & urgency is to be considered. RC ( NHi : Gallatin Papers); addressed: “Mr. Gallatin.” Not recorded in SJL . matter of moment & urgency : on this day the State Department learned that on 17 Aug. a Moroccan cruiser had captured the brig...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Corny, 1 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors, my dear friend, of Feb. 15. & June 15. have been duly recieved. the latter was forwarded to me by mr Ledet, who remained himself in London, & whom I should have recieved with great pleasure on your recommendation, had he come here. I learn with joy from yourself that you have good hopes of improvement in your health. my prayers for it are sincere, as the recollections of your...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours, 1 November 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Apr. 6. & June 27. were duly recieved, & with the welcome which every thing brings from you. the treaty which has so happily sealed the friendship of our two countries has been recieved here with general acclamation. some inflexible federalists have still ventured to brave the public opinion. it will fix their character with the world & with posterity, who not descending to the...
24Draft of a Proclamation for the Temporary Government of Louisiana, on or before 31 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
By H.E. W.C. Commandant & Intendant of the Province of Louisiana A Proclamation Whereas by treaties entered into between the governments of France and Spain on the 1st. day of Oct. 1800. at St. Ildefonso & on the 1st. day of March 1801. at Madrid the latter ceded to the former the colony & province of Louisiana, with the same extent which it had at the date of the first mentd treaty in the...
25From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate, 31 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I now lay before you the treaty mentioned in my general message at the opening of the session, as having been concluded with the Kaskaskia Indians, for the transfer of their country to us, under certain reservations & conditions. Progress having been made in the demarcation of Indian boundaries, I am now able to communicate to you a Treaty with the Delawares, Shawanese, Poutewatamies, Miamis,...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Madame de Tessé, 31 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of Jan. 30. I informed you that the person whom I had employed in this neighborhood had provided such seeds of the list therein stated to you, as the lateness of the season had permitted. I had the mortification to see them remain here till summer without any opportunity occurring to forward them. our only commercial port is Alexandria, five miles distant. by casting your eye on a...
27Notes on Preparations to Occupy Louisiana, 30 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Ord. to Claib. & Wilk. write to Laussat & Clarke force or no force. 1. if no force proceed with regulars , & militia at their discretion. treat inhabitants & officers particularly with courtesy take nothing without paying arrange with Laussat manner of delivery. issue proclamation suffer the Govr. &c. to remain in his house get orders from Laussat &c. for delivery of all the posts . take...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 29 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very much pleased to find that the Choctaws agree to sell us their country on the Missisipi, and think we ought to accept it to any extent they will agree to, only taking care the price be not too high. they are poor; and will probably sell beyond what will pay their debts, so as to be entitled to an annual pension, which is one of the best holds we can have on them. their strength & the...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 29 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I must ask the favor of you to meet the heads of departments here tomorrow at 12. aclock & afterwards to dine with us. the object is to decide definitively on the arrangements which are to be dispatched Westwardly the next day. Genl. Dearborne & myself had concluded to submit to the meeting a plan little different from that suggested in your letter of yesterday. towit. to send orders to...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Levi Lincoln, 29 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the Attorney General to meet the heads of departments here tomorrow at 12. aclock & to dine with him on the same day. RC ( MWA ); addressed: “Levi Lincoln esq. Atty Genl US”; Lincoln later wrote notes relating to land sales and payments on verso.