1Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 9 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I am in debt to you for your letters of May 21. 27. & June 22. the first delivered me by mr Greenwood gave me the gratification of his acquaintance; and a gratification it always is to be made acquainted with gentlemen of candor, worth and information, as I found mr Greenwood to be. that on the subject of mr Samuel Adams Wells shall not be forgotten in time and place, when it can be used to...
2Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 21 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I am indebted to you for mr Bowditch ’s very learned mathematical papers, the calculations of which are not for every reader, altho’ their results are readily enough understood. one of these impairs the confidence I had reposed in La Place ’s demonstration that the excentricities of the planets of our system could oscillate only within narrow limits, and therefore could authorise no inference...
3Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, 15 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Apr. 2. was recieved in due time, and I have used the permission it gave me of sending a copy of that of Mar. 2. to the editor of Tracy ’s Political economy. M r S. A. Wells of Boston , grandson of our old friend Sam l Adams , and who proposes to write the life of his grandfather, has made some enquiries of me
4Thomas Jefferson to John Quincy Adams, 10 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
An absence from home of some length has occasioned your letter of Apr. 24. to remain here unanswered until my return. the operation of sitting for portraits and busts, especially after it has been so often done, and probably as well as it will be done again, and that too before the havoc of age had left nothing but an anatomy to copy, needed the strong motive of my desire to meet any wish...
5Thomas Jefferson to Vachel Worthington and George W. Anderson, 17 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very sensible of the testimony of respect rendered me by the Calliopean society , in naming me an honorary membe r of their institution. if distance has rendered my personal a ction with them impossible, I am endeavoring nevertheless to m erit the association with which they have honored me, by emp loying the slender faculties which time and nature have spared me in fostering an...
6Thomas Jefferson to Robert Anderson, 13 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of May 22. has been duly recieved. mine to miss Mary Stith has informed of the you of her title to an undivided sixth of 400. a s of land in this county thro’ which a the vein of limestone passes which traverses this state parallel with it’s first ridge of mountains, and which constitutes what value it has, the land being worthless and about a third or half of it claimed & by two...
7Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Antrim, 8 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I am making a change in my central room here which will require the plaistering of the cieling to be done anew entirely say about 30. or 40. square yards. it is extremely desirable to have this done immediately on our closing the roof, which will be about the latter end of this present week. can you do me the favo r so to arrange your business as to come & do it immediately on notice? when...
8Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Appleton, 28 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of Apr. 4 . which went by duplicates. since that I have recieved yours of Apr. 29. Aug. 26. and Nov. 10. the accident which delayed the reciept of the bill of exchange for M. and M e Pini has been the subject of infinite regret and mortification to me; there being nothing on which my attention is more religiously fixed than on the punctual remittance of the annual interest...
9Thomas Jefferson to John Armstrong, 14 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 1 st inst. is recieved. in the case of Gen l Kosciuzko , he having lived & died in Switzerland , his executor living in Virginia , the trust as to the mass of his property being to be executed there, and his bona notibilia being in the treasury of the US. I thought it best to ask the advice of the
10Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 11 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 4 th could not leave Charlottesville till the 8 th and was recieved here on the 9 th . our mail starts for Charlottesville tomorrow & will arrive there on Saturday at 6. P.M. I am glad you have given the assistance of a hand to each cooper’s shop, and wish it to be continued, and even more help to be given if necessary, for I look to the offal of the mill as our only...
11Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Bacon, 28 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now anxious for the carpenters to come on as soon as they shall have done the jobs mentioned in my letter to mr Meeks . we have a horse which has been raised here 3. years old this month, of tolerable figure, great size & promising qualities for a riding horse. I am putting him into the hands of a neighbor to learn him to pace & shall take him down with me when I return. I would therefore...
12Thomas Jefferson to Jerman Baker, 14 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Wayles and Francis are now here and will enter with mr Stack who opens his school three days from this time in Charlottesville , for Latin, Greek and French. he is recommended to me by D r Cooper as the best classical scholar he has ever met with in the US. and my conversations with him satisfy me that his method is solidly good. he is a very modest & correct man in his conduct. his tuition...
13Thomas Jefferson to John Martin Baker, 8 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Baker and his acknolegements for the instructive volume on the trade of the Mediterranean just recieved. not being able to send in paper the exact subscription price, he incloses a 5. Dollar bill which he prays mr Baker to let lie in account in the event of his asking any other copies of the work, and he salutes him with friendship & respect. PoC (...
14Curtis Carter and William B. Phillips to [Nelson Barksdale], 24 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
we will contract with you to make & lay from seven to ten hundred Thousand Brick for the Virginia University and compleate it by the first day of November next for the following prices to wit For all walls faced with oil stock Brick $18/ M For all walls faced with sand Stock Brick $ 13 do all walls such as partitions brest of chimneys and Seller walls below the surfice $12 do The Bricks to be...
15Richard Ware to Nelson Barksdale, 26 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
the subsci subscriber will be happy to undertake three portions mentioned in the advertisement & uppon the conditions their specified at fifteen percent below the Book of Prices published by M Cary in 1812 provideed it should meet the approbation of that Honourable Body address, Rich d Ware 178 North 4 th
16James Oldham to Nelson Barksdale, 27 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
The standard adopted in your advertisment for the rule of Prices, for the carpenters and Joiners worke of the Buildings to be erected at the university of virginia , I tender to you my servises to undertake one or two of the Buildings at 25 ⅌ cent advance on the adopted rule, the worke to be performed agreeable to the Turms specifyed in the advertisment , but the kiln drying of Plank and...
17James Dinsmore to [Nelson Barksdale], 27 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
As I have fixed my self with a work Shop and other Conveniencys, for Carrying on work at the Central College and have declined other Jobs, through that Expectation—it would be my desire to undertake at the University , provided I Can do it with any Probable prospect of not loseing by it— from my knowledge of the manner in which the work is Expected to be executed, and the difficultys—we Labour...
18James Dinsmore and John M. Perry to Nelson Barksdale, 1 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Presumeing that the Visitors of the University have not as yet, determined—on the proposals made them on the 29 th March for undertakeing the work Contemplated the Current year and haveing ourselves handed in propo sals for a part of Said work under the Impression, that we Should Still have to pay the Same wages to Journeymen & Labourers that we paid them the last year—Since which the great...
19Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 5 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
An absence in Bedford prevented my recieving your favor of Apr. 21. until the 3 d inst. in answer to your kind enquiries as to our fire, the loss was confined to the little pavilion which, as you may remember, constituted the Northern extremity or wing of my buildings. our snow house enabled us to so far to cover with snow the adjacent terras which connected it with the main building as to...
20Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 14 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Feb. 26. has been duly recieved. it was not till lately that I recieved mr Wirt ’s opinion that General Kosciuzko ’s will might be proved in the district court within whic h I live, and that the th treasury would consider the probat there as sufficiently authentic for them to act. that court is to be the 1 st
21Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 12 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter, my dear friend, is too long for me to copy, and yet I wish you to know it’s contents. when therefore you have read it, be so good as to stick a wafer in it & have it delivered. perhaps indeed it would not be amiss for you to call with it yourself, as mr Poletika might wish to make some enquiry of you. as the French quotation from Gen l Kosciuzko ’s last letter to me is an...
22Thomas Jefferson to Lewis D. Belair, 28 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you, Sir, for your attention in sending me your catalogue which I now return. I do not find any thing in it of which I am in immediate want. indeed the total stagnation in all money transactions prevailing at present renders it prudent for every one to suspend all new engagements until we see business get again into motion, and indicate it’s future course I should otherwise have been...
23Thomas Jefferson to John Binns, 31 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of July 27. f inds me at an occasional b u t distant residence from Monticel l o . the delays of the cross post between the two places, altho’ great, will scarcely account for my not recieving it till yesterday. to avoid burthening the mail nothing but letters are forwarded to me here. books, pamphlets & papers of any volume await me there always. hence it is that I recieve your...
24Thomas Jefferson to George Blackburn, 4 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of Mar. 8. and to thank you for the Synopsis of your process in teaching Mathematics, which is lucid as far as it goes, and goes as far as utility requires with us. what transcends it may be considered as the luxury of science, rather than as immediately useful. I am strengthened also by your sound observations on the art of instruction generally....
25Thomas Jefferson to Peter Bolinger, 9 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
We accept your offer to convey water in pipes to the University on the terms stated in mr Cosby’s letter to me of Mar. 14. — it would be best you should come on ready to begin the work in the first week of May because I shall be absent till then on a journey. I salute you with respect. PoC ( ViU: TJP ); on verso of reused address cover to TJ; at foot of text: “ M r Bolinger ”; endorsed by TJ....
26Thomas Jefferson to John Brazer, 24 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
The acknolegement of your favor of July 15 & thank s for the Review which it covered of mr Pickering ’s Memoir on the modern Greek have been delayed by a visit to an occasional but distant residence from Monticello , and to an attack here of rheumatism, which is just now moderating. I had been much pleased with the memoir, and was much also with your review of it. I have little hope indeed of...
27Thomas Jefferson to James Breckinridge, Chapman Johnson, and Robert Taylor, 8 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Proposing within a few days to set out for Bedford , I think it a duty previously to state to you the progress and prospect of things at the University . you may perhaps remember that almost in the moment of our separation at the last meeting one of our colleagues proposed a change of a part of the plan of the grounds, so as to place the gardens of the Professors adjacent to the rear of their...
28Thomas Jefferson to James Breckinridge, 3 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I learn with sincere pleasure your nomination as a Visitor of our University ; and with the more, as it will give us occasions of seeing you here. I hope you will make Monticello your head quarters, on all those occasions, and indeed I wish you could come a day at least before our meeting of the 29 th instant . the papers being all here, their perusal would put you into possession of the train...
29Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 17 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved a letter from Philadelphia which very much affects our arrangements for this year. mr Ware on whom we relied to come himself and brick bring brickmakers & layers to do a whole range of buildings was it seems under embarrassing circumstances, & on it’s being known that he was coming here, he was arrested by his creditors & was in jail at the date of the letter. what are we to...
30Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 27 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 7 th was recieved in due time. mr Perry is entitled to what we agreed to, not to what he proposed . we agreed that Gen l Cocke ’s bargain with Whately should be ours. that was that he was to find all and do all for 11 ¼
31Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, [after 27 June 1819] (Jefferson Papers)
Palladio ’s measures of the Fortuna virilis are not in Modules & minutes but in quarter inches of the Vicentine foot , this the diameter of the column being 2 f–8 ½ I or 130 quarter inches which he calls minutes. then 130 ¼ I : 60′ :: 95 ¼ I his projection to 43′ 17 20
32Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 29 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to drop me a line the moment the Philadelphia workmen arrive, informing me when they may be expected here, as it might induce me to put off my departure until I see them fixed here. Perry has promised to have dormitories for the master workmen and Cellars ready for the others which was my promise. I salute you with friendship & respect. RC ( ViU: TJP-PP ); dateline at...
33Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 29 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter recommending a mr James Wade of Lynchburg for the conducting water to the University . I have other satisfactory information, of his skill, industry and fidelity to his engagements. he will undertake to work at the Philadelphia prices, whatever they are, altho’ he does not know what they are. he will come the moment you call for him but says the timber had better not be...
34Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 2 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Our two Italian Sculptors arrived at Charlottesville the evening before last and we have to make immediate provision to reimburse to mr Hollins of Baltimore the sums he has been called on for on their arrival. mr Appleton found it necessary to advance to each of them 200.D. apiece to prepare for their voyage and to leave some provision for their families, at a loss of exchange too of 10. p....
35Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 5 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
As it is but lately concluded to commence the Eastern range of pavilions, I h & Dormitories I have not prepared the plans, nor shall I be at leisure to turn to that business till the week after the ensuing one. but those pavilions will vary so little from the dimensions last given, & those of N o I. II. III. of the Western range that if the foundations are dug to that, the trimming them to...
36Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 17 August 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Th Jefferson incloses to mr Brockenbrough two letters merely because they relate to his department. Andrei who writes one, is a great artist & excellent man, and his recommendation would be weighty if we wanted the workmen he recommends at all. Gorman will be with you within not many days. he has worked here under my eye about 3 weeks, dressing and laying some hearthstones and marble slabs. I...
37Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 28 May 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have great pleasure in informing you that mr Ware is arrived. he tells me he was arrested by creditors & detained some time. he says he has secured as many bricklayers, brickmakers & house joiners as we can find work for, that they are glad to come at our prices, and will be ready to come off at once on his writing back what work we can give them. I des I told him what I had written to you ;...
38Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 28 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved a letter from mr Hollins of Baltimore of the following import ‘The Italians left a case on board the brig Strong , which I understood them to contain a piece of unwrought marble; but the custom house officers on examination find it to contain polished work of some kind; & not having been put in the Captain’s manifest, of course not reported to the Custom house store, I...
39Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 14 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been detained by the indisposition of one of my grandaughters who was to accompany me. she is better but will not be strong enough to proceed till tomorrow, if then. in the mean time I have recieved a letter from mr Appleton informing me that after making his draughts on mr Hollins and sealing his letters, the vessel being delayed a little longer, the he was obliged to advance a further...
40Thomas Jefferson to Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 29 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you yesterday by the Lynchbg mail which was to leave that place the same evening, and I now inclose you a letter from a mr Stokes which ought to have been addressed to you. I have made full enquiry whether proper blocks of marble could be got here should we want them. I find that they cannot, & that the quality is such as would not bear the chissel for delicate work, and is of so...
41Thomas Jefferson to Archibald S. Bulloch, 17 June 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Bulloch and is very sensible of the indulgence with which he has viewed the course he has followed thro’ his political life. if he has deserved any thing of his country it has been fully remunerated by the testimonies of it’s good will so often manifested. he sincerely wishes that the son to whom mr Bulloch has been pleased to give his name may,...
42Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 6 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to have the inclosed inserted immediately in the e Enquirer , and to place the expence to account of your next instalment? affectionate salutations. RC ( ViU: TJP ); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “ Joseph C. Cabell esq. of the Senate of Virginia now in Richmond ”; franked; endorsed by Cabell
43Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, [ca. 26 February 1819] (Jefferson Papers)
M r Cabell is requested to lay the inclosed proceedings of his Collegues before the Governor & Council for the exercise of their power of Controul, should they consider any part of them as requiring. RC ( Vi : RG 79, House of Delegates, Speaker, Executive Communications); undated. Tr (
44Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 19 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 15 th was rec d yesterday. the appointment of Visitors of the University is entirely unexceptionable; the only fear is that the distance of Gen l Breckenridge & mr Taylor will render their attendances uncertain. I should have been sorry indeed if either yourself or Gen l Cocke had been left out:
45Thomas Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell, 1 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return yesterday from our Visitorial call I found here your favor of Feb. 22. and I now inclose you a copy of our proceedings with the request of our collegues to lay them before the Gov r & Council . for altho’ their assent is not by the law necessari necessary to give them validity, yet they have a right to negative which makes it a duty to communicate them that they may have an...
46Thomas Jefferson to John C. Calhoun, 4 April 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your favor of Mar. 20. returning the papers of mr Poirey , and informing me that his claim has been allowed by Congress . on seeing in the public papers the title of the act among those said to be past, I immediately wrote to mr Poirey , informing him of it, and recommending his sending a power of Attorney to some one to recieve & remit the money to him. I excused myself...
47Thomas Jefferson to Peter Cardelli, 29 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Your l e tter of the 8 th found me yesterday only at this place. soon after your departure from Monticello , I deposited your box with mr W m D. Fitch at Milton and recieved his promise that it should be forwarded to Cap t
48Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 11 July 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Carey and his thanks for the copy of his Vindiciae which came to hand safely and in due time. the demands on his time by letters more numerous than his present enfeebled existence can meet, occasions sometimes a tardiness in the acknolegement of favors which he neverth e less highly values. he prays mr Carey to accept this as his apologey apology ,...
49Thomas Jefferson to Mathew Carey, 11 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Carey to forward him by mail a copy of the House carpenter’s book of prices printed by him in 1812. it is of importance to us as being the standard to which we refer for prices in our contracts for all the buildings of our University . he salutes mr Carey with esteem & respect. RC ( MWelC ); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “M r Matthew Carey Philadelphia
50Thomas Jefferson to Dabney Carr, 11 March 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to have the inclosed advertisement inserted once in the Winchester newspaper, and to deduct the cost from your next instalment? Accept thanks for the nuts which came safely and assurances of constant affection. PoC ( ViU: TJP-CC ); on verso of reused address cover of William Wirt to TJ, 28 Dec. 1818 ; dateline at foot of text; endorsed by TJ. Enclosure: Nelson Barksdale...