Monticello Letters for the years 1775 thru 1825

Monticello, VA - 17 May 1775

Thomas Jefferson letter to William Small... Within this week we have received the unhappy news of an action of considerable magnitude, between the King's troops and our brethren of Boston...

Monticello, VA - 5 August 1775

Thomas Jefferson letter to John Randolph... I am sorry the situation of our country should render it not eligible to you to remain longer in it.

Monticello, VA - 1 November 1778

Thomas Jefferson letter to George Wythe, Esq... I have got through the bill for proportioning crimes and punishments in cases heretofore capital, - and now enclose it to you with a request

Monticello, VA - 14 August 1801

my opinion is generally that when a case is exactly that which the law meant to punish, it is one for which the power of pardon was not intended

Monticello, VA - 21 August 1801

I like much the idea of giving Clay the consulship of Lisbon. I deem it the most important consulship in our gift.

Monticello, VA - 28 August 1801

I am sorry Mr. Clay declines the consulship ; it would have been very pleasing to us to replace our minister at Lisbon by such a consul as Clay.

Monticello, VA - 5 September 1801

I learn with sincere regret the continued illness of your child. My sympathies with you in that distress flow from great trials in the same school at a former period of my life.

Monticello, VA - 18 September 1801

I approve of your intended application to General Heard for a successor to White, and wish you to appoint any one whom his recommendation or other better evidence shall place in your view as the best.

Monticello, VA - 3 August 1802

What are the subjects on which the next session of Congress is to be employed ?

Monticello, VA - 9 August 1802

We have received information that the Emperor of Morocco, having asked, and been refused, passports for two vessels loaded with wheat to go to Tripoli while blockaded by us, has ordered away our consul.

Monticello, VA - 14 August 1802

I have duly considered the regulations concerning the Mississippi trade enclosed in your letter of the 7th, and should have signed them but that a single fact

Monticello, VA - 14 August 1802

I have been taught to have great confidence in him, yet we all know how frequent it is for the best persons to be warped as to personal character by views peculiar to themselves, and not agreeing with the general opinion.

Monticello, VA - 20 August 1802

Your favors of the 16th and 17th were received the last night ; the contents of the latter shall now be distinctly noted.

Monticello, VA - 23 August 1802

I had written yesterday to Mr. Smith, after a conference with Mr. Madison on the measures to be pursued with respect to the Barbary powers

Monticello, VA - 30 August 1802

The commission for Bloodgood for Albany is approved, the application for it left to yourself, as you are on the spot.

Monticello, VA - 8 September 1802

I have received from Delaware another application on the subject of the piers, &c., to be erected in their river. It is on behalf of Wilmington

Monticello, VA - 13 September 1802

I have always forgotten to ask of you a general idea of the effect of the peace on our revenues so far as we have gone.

Monticello, VA - 17 September 1802

Mine of the 8th will have informed you that I had countermanded the sailing of the John Adams on an invitation of the Emperor of Morocco to Simpson to remain.

Monticello, VA - 20 September 1802

In my last I informed you I should have an opportunity of getting Mr. Madison's opinion on the expediency of the sailing of the John Adams. I have done so

Monticello, VA - 28 March 1803

I am in all cases for a liberal conduct towards other nations, believing that the practice of the same friendly feelings and generous dispositions which attach individuals in private life will attach societies on the large scale, which are composed o

Monticello, VA - 24 June 1803

The address of the ward committees of Philadelphia city the subject of removals from office was received at Washington on the 17th inst. I cannot answer it, because I have given no answer to the many others I have received

Monticello, VA - 25 June 1803

We agreed that the address of the ward committees ought not to be formally answered. But on further reflection I think it would be better to write a private letter to one of the members

Monticello, VA - 18 August 1803

There ought to be no further hesitation with E. Livingston. The importation of negroes from the French islands ought to be vigorously withstood

Monticello, VA - 23 August 1803

The appointment of a successor to Samuel Bishop must await our reassembling at Washington.

Monticello, VA - 15 April 1804

According to the letter of Mr. Wagner enclosed in yours of the 7th inst., on the subject of the misnomer of the inspector for Indiantown, a commission should have been enclosed ; but none came.

Monticello, VA - 27 April 1804

The case of the Louisiana squatters is a serious one from its magnitude, yet to be touched with a hand as careful as firm. A proclamation must doubtless precede any act of force.

Monticello, VA - 1 September 1804

I am just returned from a visit to Mr. Madison, whom I went to consult on certain matters.

Monticello, VA - 3 April 1805

I learn with real concern the danger that a temporary loan may be necessary, because we know how it will be perverted to throw dust in the eyes of the people.

Monticello, VA - 7 August 1805

You have probably learnt through other channels that our Commissioners to Spain have terminated their mission without success in a single point.

Monticello, VA - 15 August 1806

The skill and spirit with which Mr. Sandford and Mr. Edwards conducted the prosecution give perfect satisfaction, nor am I dissatisfied with the result.

Monticello, VA - 16 August 1806

I have made it a rule to grant no pardon in any criminal case but on the recommendation of the judges who sat on the trial

Monticello, VA - 28 August 1806

I am much pleased with the expectation of Mr. Thompson's continuance in office in the Orleans land office.

Monticello, VA - 31 August 1806

I now return you the papers respecting the Louisiana Board of Commissioners, with only the alteration of omitting the words in the Xth instruction, about which you had doubted yourself.

Monticello, VA - 16 May 1808

This draft I enclose for your perusal. I salute you affectionately.

Monticello, VA - 2 September 1808

I appoint Eugene Sullivan at West Point. Rose turns out to be a great sot.

Monticello, VA - 27 September 1810

Yours of the 10th came safely to hand and laid me under new obligations for the valuable observations it contained.

Monticello, VA - 19 March 1815

This letter will be presented to you by Mr. George Ticknor, a young gentleman of Boston. He favored me with a visit here, and brought high recommendations from Mr. Adams and others

Monticello, VA - 11 April 1816

Louis XVIII. is a fool and a bigot, but, bating a little duplicity, he is honest and means well. He cannot but feel the heavy hand of his masters

Monticello, VA - 18 May 1816

I have just received a request from M. de la Fayette to send him two copies of the Review of Montesquieu, published in Philadelphia about four or five years ago

Monticello, VA - 13 November 1818

Thomas Jefferson letter to John Adams... I know well, and feel what you have lost, what you have suffered, are suffering, and have yet to endure.

Monticello, VA - 12 May 1819

Thomas Jefferson letter to Samuel A. Wells, Esq.... One of the enquiries in your letter, however, may be answered without an appeal to the memory

Monticello, VA - 31 August 1820

Thomas Jefferson letter to John Saunderson, Esq.... I wish it were in my power to furnish you more fully, than in the enclosed paper, with materials for the biography of George Wythe

Monticello, VA - 23 December 1821

I thank you for your discourse, delivered at Plymouth on the termination of the second century of the landing of our forefathers. Unable to read it, from defect of sight, it was last night read to me, by our friend Shaw.

Monticello, VA - 4 April 1824

It was with great pleasure I learnt that the good people of New Orleans had restored you again to the councils of our country.

Monticello, VA - 10 November 1824

As soon as I found myself once more on the happy shore of America, one of my first inquiries was after you, and the means to get to my old friend.

Monticello, VA - 25 March 1825

I know how apt we are to consider those we knew long ago, and have not since seen, to be exactly still what they were when we knew them, and to have been stationary in body and mind, as they have been in our recollections.