1801 Letters

Dartmouth College, NH - 7 January 1801

I FIND, brother George, that if I would allure an answer to my letters, I must exalt my subject from those trifles which effeminate our sex, to those affairs which mark the man of information and business.

New York, NY - 12 January 1801

I was taken sick on the 30th of last month, so that I have not been able to go to school; and as I am better than I have been, to write these few lines

New York, NY - 13 January 1801

I have already written to you by the post to tell you that I shall be happy to see you whenever you choose

New York, NY - 15 January 1801

We are about to begin our journey to Albany.

Hanover, NH - 17 January 1801

Next Monday, health permitting, I set out for Salisbury, not blessed, as the last year, with the company of my Hervey.

Poughkeepsie, NY - 24 January 1801

Thus far have we advanced on this "terrible" journey, from which you predicted so many evils, Without meeting even with inconvenience. How strange that Mr. Alston should be wrong.

Salisbury, NH - 26 January 1801

WHY, brother Fuller, what should induce you to present to me such a request, at this time ? Surely, if you knew my situation you would not think me able to write a letter all in rhyme.

Washington, MD - 16 February 1801

The election will be decided this day in favor of Mr. Jefferson, as it is given out by good authority.

Albany, NY - 17 February 1801

You are to wait in Baltimore, until I overtake you, which will be on the 28th at the latest.

Albany, NY - 3 March 1801

The eighteenth century has been distinguished, as you observe, by great events.

Washington, MD - 8 March 1801

Would Mr. Alston be willing to go as secretary to Chancellor Livingston?

Washington, MD - 11 March 1801

Your Dumfries letter was received yesterday. To pass a day in Dumfries is what you could not at any time very much desire

Washington, MD - 14 March 1801

The weather having detained me here to-day, I have employed it in making some rough sketches relative to our financial situation, which I have the honor to enclose.

New York, NY - 29 March 1801

The ferrymen pronounced it to be impossible to pass with horses, and unsafe to attempt it. By the logic of money and brandy I persuaded them to attempt it.

New York, NY - 15 April 1801

The ship South Carolina is now in port, and will sail on Monday next. I wish to take passage in her; but a thousand concerns of business and obstacles of various kinds appear to oppose.

New York, NY - 27 April 1801

Our election commences to-morrow, and will be open for three days.

New York, NY - 29 April 1801

I had like to have forgotten to say a word in reply to your inquiries of matrimony, which would seem to indicate that I have no plan on the subject. Such is the fact.

Quincy, MA - 3 May 1801

I have to acknowledge the receipt of the raspberry bushes, and the pot of strawberry vines, for which accept my thanks. I have had them placed in a good part of the garden

New York, NY - 26 May 1801

Who should present himself a few days ago but A. Burr Reeve. He has come, with the consent of his father, to pass some weeks with me--more astonishment.

Treasury Department, MD - 12 June 1801

The complaints for want of stamps are certainly well grounded, yet difficult to remedy, at least by this Department.

Salisbury, NH - 14 June 1801

I have next to tell you that I am in no inconsiderable consternation.

unknown - 25 June 1801

The enclosed is the rough draft of a circular to the collectors, and is intended to correct several abuses which have crept in many ports.

Washington, MD - 26 June 1801

I do not see sufficient reasons for preserving a revenue cutter at Charleston on a larger scale than elsewhere. I see no reason to expect pirates from St. Domingo, no instance of it having yet occurred

Quincy, MA - 12 July 1801

You will find your father in his fields, attending to his hay-makers, and your mother busily occupied in the domestic concerns of her family.

Washington, MD - 10 August 1801

I have the honor to enclose the following papers...

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

Washington, MD - 17 August 1801

Clay has also been here : the number of young men of true merit and some scientific knowledge is so small in our middle States, that I cannot help being very desirous that something for which he may be fit might be done for him.

New York, NY - 20 August 1801

I was so very solicitous that you should see Niagara, that I was constantly filled with apprehension lest something might prevent it. Your letter of the 29th of July relieves me.

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.

Washington, MD - 7 September 1801

I received a letter from Mr. Milledge, of Georgia, recommending, without any remarks, four persons as proper to succeed Mr. Powell, the collector of Savannah.

Salisbury, NH - 10 September 1801

My present business is the perusal of Vattel on National Law. I expect next to review Burlamaqui and Montesquieu

Washington, MD - 12 September 1801

The reason he gives for his anxiety is that, immediately after the adjournment of Congress, E. Livingston and others mentioned to him that a positive arrangement was made by the Administration by which he was to be appointed to that office

Washington, MD - 14 September 1801

Under those circumstances the Auditor thinks that to make room for them by the removal of others would be doing an act of injustice, in which he cannot consent to have any agency.

New York, NY - 18 September 1801

Mr. Vanderlyn, the young painter from Esopus, who went about six years ago to Paris, has recently returned

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.

Washington, MD - 21 September 1801

I can go on with the routine of this Department, but I have not been used to be so long left to myself for everything, and, besides the pleasure I will feel in seeing you, am on public accounts extremely anxious for your arrival.

Salisbury, NH - 22 September 1801

I have precipitated myself into an office, with how much prudence I do not now allow myself to reflect. I am not like you, harassed with dreams, nor troubled with any waverings of inclination ; but am rather sunken in indifference and apathy.

Salisbury, NH - 3 October 1801

I fell into a law office, pretty much by casualty, after Commencement, where I am at present.

unknown - 3 October 1801

The inducement which you propose in order to engage Powell to bring up his accounts is approved; so is also the idea of collecting men of talents about us, even in offices which do not need them.

Washington, MD - 9 October 1801

I return you Mr. Dallas's opinion on the question whether the goods of a citizen taken by one belligerent in the bottom of another may be received here, with the consent of the captor, by the owner.

Albany, NY - 15 October 1801

Our Convention met on Tuesday the 13th, and will probably continue in session five or six days longer.

Salisbury, NH - 26 October 1801

There is a kind of magic in your pen ; I know not how it is, but if you write in a language perfectly unknown, you afford me more pleasure than a well-penned and intelligible letter from a common friend.

unknown - 0 November 1801

But, for causes already assigned, I dare not estimate the impost for the eight years 1802-1809 at more than an average of $9,000,000 to $9,250,000.

New York, NY - 3 November 1801

You made two, perhaps more conquests on your Northern tour--King Brandt and the stage-driver; both of whom have been profuse in their eulogies.

New York, NY - 9 November 1801

It is quite consoling to find that you will have taken the precaution to inquire the state of health before you venture your precious carcass into Charleston

unknown - 9 November 1801

I send along with this a bundle of what we call public letters, also received by mail. The greater part of these are endorsed so as to be distinguishable, and are opened by the principal clerks.

unknown - 12 November 1801

The supervisor of New Hampshire (Rogers) was a Revolutionary Tory. I am therefore ready to change him.

unknown - 14 November 1801

Thomas Jefferson asks the favor of Mr. Gallatin to examine the enclosed rough draft of what is proposed for his first communication to Congress

New York, NY - 15 November 1801

That, in New-England, men should be found hardy enough to oppose, in public speeches, the recommendation of a thanksgiving sanctioned by the usage of one hundred and fifty years

unknown - 15 November 1801

I have found so much difficulty in arranging, or rather procuring correct statements amongst the Treasury documents, that I cannot yet give any probable estimate of the revenue within half a million

unknown - 16 November 1801

The incorrectness of the documents of exports of foreign articles compels me, after much labor, to abandon the plan on which I had intended to calculate the impost

New York, NY - 20 November 1801

From appearance, she has been used to count her beads and work hard, and never thought of love or finery.

Philadelphia, PA - 26 November 1801

The great business, as you are pleased to call it, has brought me hither.

unknown - 28 November 1801

Your own opinion and that of the Attorney-General are sufficient authorities to me to approve of prosecuting in the case of the schooner Sally.

New York, NY - 8 December 1801

Your interesting letter of the 23d is this day received. It brings me to the familiar acquaintance with your amiable circle, and admits me to your fireside more than any thing you have written.

Salisbury, NH - 8 December 1801

Having found myself at home after Commencement, I found on consideration, that it would be impossible for my father, under existing circumstances, to continue Ezekiel at college.

New York, NY - 13 December 1801

Herewith is enclosed a duplicate of the bill of lading, specifying the articles shipped for you on board the Protectress

New York, NY - 15 December 1801

Yesterday Mr. Phelps, mentioned in the enclosed, delivered to me two pairs of moccasins, directed-- From Captain Joseph Brandt to Mr. and Mrs. Alston.

Lexington, KY - 30 December 1801

Henry Clay letter to Francis Brooke... I must request the favor of you to execute a small commission for me.