MEMOIR, CORRESPONDENCE, AND MISCELLANIES,

FROM THE PAPERS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Edited by Thomas Jefferson Randolph.

1829

Volume One

     EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA, to wit:

     Be it remembered, that on the seventeenth day of January, in
     the fifty-third year of the Independence of the United
     States of America, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, of the said
     District, hath deposited in this office the title of a book,
     the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words
     following, to wit:

     “Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, from the Papers
     of Thomas Jefferson. Edited by Thomas Jefferson Randolph.”

     In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United
     States, entitled “An act for the encouragement of learning,
     by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the
     authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times
     therein mentioned.”

     RD. JEFFRIES, Clerk of the Eastern District of Virginia.

     CAMBRIDGE: E. W. Metcalf & Company.

CONTENTS

PREFACE.   



MEMOIR.   

APPENDIX   TO THE MEMOIR.

[NOTE A.]   Letter to John Saunderson, Esq.

[NOTE B.]  Letter to Samuel A. Wells, Esq.

[NOTE C]  August, 1774, Instructions to the first Delegation

[NOTE D.]  August, 1774., Instructions for the Deputies

[NOTE E.]  Monticello, November 1, 1778. [Re: Crimes and Punishment]

[NOTE F.]  Coinage for the United States

[NOTE G.]  

[NOTE H.]  

CORRESPONDENCE

LETTER I.  TO DR. WILLIAM SMALL, May 7, 1775

LETTER II.  TO JOHN RANDOLPH, August 25,1775

LETTER III.  TO JOHN RANDOLPH, November 29, 1775

LETTER IV.  TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, August 13, 1777

LETTER V.  TO PATRICK HENRY, March 27, 1779

LETTER VI.  TO JOHN PAGE, January 22, 1779

LETTER VII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, June 23, 1779

LETTER VIII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, July 17, 1779

LETTER IX.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 1, 1779

LETTER X.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 2, 1779

LETTER XI.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 1779

LETTER XII.  TO COLONEL MATHEWS, October, 1779

LETTER XIII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 28, 1779

LETTER XIV.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 10,1779

LETTER XV.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 10, 1780

LETTER XVI.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, June 11, 1780

LETTER XVII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, July 2, 1780

LETTER XVIII.  TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, August 4, 1780

LETTER XIX.  TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES, August 15, 1780

LETTER XX.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, September 8, 1780

LETTER XXI.  TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, September 12,1780

LETTER XXII.  TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, September 15, 1780

LETTER XXIII.  TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES, September 23, 1780

LETTER XXIV.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, September 23, 1780

LETTER XXV.  TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON, September 26,1780

LETTER XXVI.  TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES, October 4, 1780

LETTER XXVII.  TO GENERAL GATES, October 15, 1780

LETTER XXVIII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 22, 1780

LETTER XXIX.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 25,1780

LETTER XXX.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 26, 1780

LETTER XXXI.  TO GENERAL GATES, October 28, 1780

LETTER XXXII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 3,1780

LETTER XXXIII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 10, 1780

LETTER XXXIV.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 26, 1780

LETTER XXXV.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 15,1780

LETTER XXXVI.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, January 10, 1781

LETTER XXXVII.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 15, 1781

LETTER XXXVIII.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 15, 1781

LETTER XXXIX.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 17, 1781

LETTER XL.  TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, Jan. 18, 1781

LETTER XLI.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 8, 1781

LETTER XLII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 12, 1781

LETTER XLIII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 17, 1781

LETTER XLIV.  TO GENERAL GATES, February 17, 1781

LETTER XLV.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 26,1781

LETTER XLVI.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, March 8, 1781

LETTER XLVII.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 19,1781

LETTER XLVIII.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 21, 1781

LETTER XLIX.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 26,1781

LETTER L.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 28, 1781

LETTER LI.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 31, 1781

LETTER LII.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, April 7, 1781

LETTER LIII.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, April 18, 1781

LETTER LIV.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, April 23,1781

LETTER LV.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 9, 1781

LETTER LVI.  TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, May 10, 1781

LETTER LVII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 28,1781

LETTER, LVIII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, April 16, 1784

LETTER LIX.  TO COLONEL URIAH FORREST, October 20, 1784

LETTER LX.  TO JOHN JAY, May 11, 1785

LETTER LXI.  TO GENERAL CHASTELLUX, June 7,1785

LETTER LXII.  TO JOHN ADAMS, June 15, 1785

LETTER LXIII.  TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, June 16, 1785

LETTER LXIV.  TO COLONEL MONROE, June 17, 1785

LETTER LXV.  TO CHARLES THOMSON, June 21, 1785

LETTER LXVI.  TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, June 22, 1785

LETTER LXVII.  TO JOHN ADAMS, June 23, 1785

LETTER LXVIII.  TO COLONEL MONROE, July 5, 1785

LETTER LXIX.  TO MRS. SPROWLE, July 5,1785

LETTER LXX.  TO JOHN ADAMS, July 7, 1785

LETTER LXXI.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, July 10, 1785

LETTER LXXII.  TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, July 11, 1785

LETTER LXXIII.  TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, July 12, 1785

LETTER LXXIV.  TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, July 12,1785

LETTER LXXV.  TO JOHN JAY, July 12,1785

LETTER LXXVI.  TO MONSIEUR BRIET, July 13, 1785

LETTER LXXVII.  TO MESSRS. FRENCH AND NEPHEW, July 13,1785

LETTER LXXVIII.  TO DR. STILES, July 17,1785

LETTER LXXIX.  TO JOHN ADAMS, July 28, 1785

LETTER LXXX.  TO HOGENDORP, July 29, 1785

LETTER LXXXI.  TO MESSRS. N. AND J. VAN STAPHORST, July 30, 1785

LETTER LXXXII.  TO JOHN ADAMS, July 31, 1785

LETTER LXXXIII.  TO M. DE CASTRIES, August 3,1785

LETTER LXXXIV.  TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 3,1785

LETTER LXXXV.  TO JOHN ADAMS, August 6, 1785

LETTER LXXXVI.  TO DR. PRICE, August 7,1785

LETTER LXXXVII.  TO JOHN ADAMS, August 10,1785

LETTER LXXXVIII.  TO MRS. SPROWLE, August 10, 1785

LETTER LXXXIX.  TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 13, 1785

LETTER XC.  TO MESSRS. BUCHANAN AND HAY, August 13, 1785

LETTER XCI.  TO JOHN JAY, August 14, 1785

LETTER XCII.  TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, August 15, 1785

LETTER XCIII.  TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 17, 1785

LETTER XCIV.  TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, August 18, 1785

LETTER XCV.  TO PETER CARR

LETTER XCVI.  TO JOHN PAGE, August 20 1785

LETTER XCVII.  TO JOHN JAY, August 23, 1785

LETTER XCVIII.  TO COLONEL MONROE, August 28, 1735

LETTER XCIX.  TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 29,1785

LETTER C.  TO JOHN JAY, August 30,1785

LETTER CI.  TO JAMES MADISON, September 1,1785

LETTER CII.  TO MESSRS. DUMAS AND SHORT, September 1, 1785

LETTER CIII.  TO JOHN ADAMS, September 4, 1785

LETTER CIV.  TO DAVID HARTLEY, September 5, 1785

LETTER CV.  TO BARON GEISMER, September 6, 1785

LETTER CVI.  TO JOHN LANGDON, September 11, 1785

LETTER CVII.  LISTER ASQUITH, September 14, 1785

LETTER CVIII.  TO JOHN ADAMS, September 19, 1785

LETTER CIX.  TO JAMES MADISON, September 20, 1785

LETTER CX.  TO EDMUND RANDOLPH, September 20,1785

LETTER CXI.  TO JOHN ADAMS, September 24, 1785

LETTER CXII.  TO JOHN ADAMS, September 24,1785

LETTER CXIII.  TO F. HOPKINSON, September 25, 1785

LETTER CXIV.  TO LISTER ASQUITH, September 26,1785

LETTER CXV.  TO R. IZARD, September 26,1783

LETTER CXVI.  TO RICHARD O’BRYAN, September 29, 1785

LETTER CXVII.  TO MR. BELLINI, September 30,1785

LETTER CXVIII.  JAMES MADISON, October 2, 1785

LETTER CXIX.  TO DR. FRANKLIN, October 5,1785

LETTER CXX.  TO SAMUEL OSGOOD, October 5, 1785

LETTER CXXI.  TO JOHN JAY, October 6, 1785

LETTER CXXII.  TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, October 11, 1785

LETTER CXXIII.  TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, October 11, 1785

LETTER CXXIV.  TO JOHN JAY, October 11,1785

LETTER CXXV.  TO MESSRS. VAN STAPHORST, October 12, 1785

LETTER CXXVI.  TO MONSIEUR DESBORDES, October 12,1785

LETTER CXXVII.  TO HOGENDORP, October 13,1785

LETTER CXXVIII.  TO J. BANNISTER, JUNIOR, October 15,1785

LETTER CXXIX.  TO MR. CARMICHAEL, October 18, 1785

LETTER CXXX.  TO MESSRS. VAN STAPHORSTS, October 25,1785

LETTER CXXXI.  TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, November 4, 1785

LETTER CXXXII.  TO RICHARD O’BRYAN, November 4, 1785

LETTER CXXXIII.  TO W. W. SEWARD, November 12,1785

LETTER CXXXIV.  TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, November 14,1785

LETTER CXXXV.  TO JOHN ADAMS, November 19, 1785

LETTER CXXXVI.  TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, November 20, 1785

LETTER CXXXVII.  TO LISTER ASQUITH, November 23, 1785

LETTER CXXXVIII.  TO JOHN ADAMS, November 27, 1785

LETTER CXXXIX.  TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, December 4,1785

LETTER CXL.  TO JOHN ADAMS, December 10, 1785

LETTER CXLI.  TO JOHN ADAMS, December 11, 1785

LETTER CXLII.  TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, December 21, 1785

LETTER CXLIII.  TO THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA, December 22, 1785

LETTER CXLIV.  TO THE GEORGIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, Dec. 22, 1785

LETTER CXLV.  TO JOHN ADAMS, December 27, 1785

LETTER CXLVI.  TO JOHN JAY, January 2,1786

LETTER CXLVII.  TO T. HOPKINSON, January 3, 1786

LETTER CXLVIII.  TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, January 4, 1786

LETTER CXLIX.  TO A. CARY, January 7, 1786

LETTER CL.  TO MAJOR GENERAL GREENE, January 12, 1786

LETTER CLI.  TO LISTER ASQUITH, January 13, 1786

RE QUESTIONS   FOR ECONOMIE POLITIQUE ET DIPLOMATIQUE

ARTICLE   BY JEFFERSON: ‘Etats Unis,’ FOR THE Encyclopédie Méthodique

LETTER CLII.  TO MR. RITTENHOUSE, January 25,1786

LETTER CLIII.  TO A. STEWART, January 25, 1786

LETTER CLIV.  TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY, January 26, 1786

LETTER CLV.  TO MESSRS. BUCHANAN AND HAY, January 26, 1786

LETTER CLVI.  TO JOHN ADAMS, February 7, 1786

LETTER CLVII.  TO JAMES MADISON, February 8, 1786

LETTER CLVIII.  TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, February 9, 1786

LETTER CLIX.  TO MONSIEUR HILLIARD d’AUBERTEUIL, Feb. 20, 1786

LETTER CLX.  TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, February 28,1786

LETTER CLXI.  TO MONSIEUR DE REYNEVAL, March 8, 1786

LETTER CLXII.  TO JOHN JAY, March 12, 1786

LETTER CLXIII.  TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 14, 1786


APPENDIX.

[NOTE A.]  TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.

IN COUNCIL,   June 18, 1779

[NOTE B]  IN COUNCIL, September 29, 1779.

[NOTE C]  IN COUNCIL, October 8, 1779.

[NOTE D.]  FEMALE CONTRIBUTIONS, IN AID OF THE WAR, probably in 1780

[NOTE E.]  FROM LORD CORNWALLIS

[NOTE F.]  TO LORD CORNWALLIS

---

List of Illustrations

Book Spines, 1829 Set of Jefferson Papers

Steel Engraving by Longacre from Painting of G. Stuart

Titlepage of Volume One (of Four)

Page One of Jefferson’s Memoir, Page001

Draft of Declaration Of Independence, Page016

Draft of Declaration Of Independence, Page017

Draft of Declaration Of Independence, Page018

Draft of Declaration Of Independence, Page019

Draft of Declaration Of Independence, Page020

Draft of Declaration Of Independence, Page021

Facsimile of Declaration in Jefferson’s Handwriting—p1

Facsimile of Declaration in Jefferson’s Handwriting—p2

Facsimile of Declaration in Jefferson’s Handwriting—p3

Facsimile of Declaration in Jefferson’s Handwriting—p4

Financial Projection, American Embassy Paris, Page068

Acts of King George and Parliament, Page107

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page120

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page121

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page122

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page123

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page124

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page125

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page126

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page127

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page128

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page129

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page130

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page131

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page132

Bill for Proportioning Crimes and Punishments, Page133

Monetary Arithmetic

Sir Isaac Newton’s Assay, Page137

Projected Coin Weights, Page138

Suggested Packet Project, Page251

The Plexi-chronometer, Page391

Population Estimates—1775, Page422

Population Estimates—1785, Page424

PREFACE.

The opinion universally entertained of the extraordinary abilities of Thomas Jefferson, and the signal evidence given by his country, of a profound sense of his patriotic services, and of veneration for his memory, have induced the Editor, who is both his Executor and the Legatee of his Manuscript Papers, to believe that an extensive publication from them would be particularly acceptable to the American people.

The Memoir, contained in the first volume, commences with circumstantial notices of his earliest life; and is continued to his arrival in New York, in March, 1790, when he entered on the duties of the Department of State, of which he had been just appointed Secretary.

From the aspect of the Memoir, it may be presumed that parts of it, at least, had been written for his own and his family’s use only; and in a style without the finish of his revising pen. There is, however, no part of it, minute and personal as it may be, which the Reader would wish to have been passed over by the Editor; whilst not a few parts of that description will, by some, be regarded with a particular interest.

The contents of the Memoir, succeeding the biographical pages, may be designated as follows:

I. General facts and anecdotes relating to the origin and early stages of the contest with Great Britain.

II. Historical circumstances relating to the Confederation of the States.

III. Facts and anecdotes, local and general, preliminary to the Declaration of Independence.

IV. An exact account of the circumstances attending that memorable act, in its preparation and its progress through Congress; with a copy from the original draught, in the hand-writing of the Author; and a parallel column, in the same hand, showing the alterations made in the draught by Congress.

The Memoir will be considered not a little enriched by the Debates in Congress, on the great question of Independence, as they were taken down by Mr. Jefferson at the time, and which, though in a compressed form, present the substance of what passed on that memorable occasion. This portion of the work derives peculiar value from its perfect authenticity, being all in the hand-writing of that distinguished member of the body; from the certainty that this is the first disclosure to the world of those Debates; and from the probability, or rather certainty, that a like knowledge of them is not to be expected from any other source. The same remarks are applicable to the Debates in the same Congress, preserved in the same manner, on two of the original Articles of Confederation. The first is the Article fixing the rate of assessing the quotas of supply to the common Treasury: the second is the Article which declares, “that in determining questions, each Colony shall have one vote.” The Debates on both are not only interesting in themselves, but curious, also, in relation to like discussions of the same subjects on subsequent occasions.

V. Views of the connections and transactions of the United States with foreign nations, at different periods; particularly, a narrative, with many details, personal and political, of the causes and early course of the French Revolution, as exhibited to the observation of the Author, during his diplomatic residence at Paris. The narrative, with the intermingled reflections on the character and consequences of that Revolution, fills a considerable space in the Memoir, and forms a very important part of it.

VI. Within the body of the Memoir, or referred to as an appendix, are other papers which were thought well entitled to the place they occupy. Among them, are, 1. A paper drawn up in the year 1774, as “Instructions to our Delegates in Congress.” Though heretofore in print, it will be new to most readers; and will be regarded by all, as the most ample and precise enumeration of British violations that had then appeared, or, perhaps, that has since been presented in a form at once so compact and so complete. 2. A Penal Code, being part of a Revised Code of Laws, prepared by appointment of the Legislature of Virginia, in 1776, with reference to the Republican form of Government, and to the principles of humanity congenial therewith, and with the improving spirit of the age. Annexed to the several articles, are explanatory and other remarks of the Author, worthy of being preserved by the aid of the press. 3. A historical and critical review of the repeal of the laws establishing the Church in Virginia; which was followed by the “Act for establishing religious freedom.” This act, it is well known, was always held by Mr. Jefferson to be one of his best efforts in the cause of liberty, to which he was devoted: and it is certainly the strongest legal barrier that could be erected against a connection between Church and State, so fatal in its tendency to the purity of both. 4. An elaborate paper concerning a Money Unit, prepared in the year 1784, and which laid the foundation of the system adopted by Congress, for a coinage and money of account. For other particulars, not here noted, the Reader is referred to the volume itself.

The termination of the Memoir, at the date mentioned, by the Author, may be explained by the laborious tasks assumed or not declined by him, on his return to private life; which, with his great age, did not permit him to reduce his materials into a state proper to be embodied in such a work.

The other volumes contain, I. Letters from 1775, to his death, addressed to a very great variety of individuals; and comprising a range of information, and, in many instances, regular essays, on subjects of History, Politics, Science, Morals, and Religion. The letters to him are omitted, except in a very few instances, where it was supposed their publication would be generally acceptable, from the important character of the communication, or the general interest in the views of the writer; or where the whole or a part of a letter had been filed for the better understanding of the answer.

In these cases, such letters are inserted in the body of the work, or in an appendix, as their importance, and connection with the subject discussed by the author, rendered advisable. And where inferences from the tenor of the answer, might in any way affect the correspondent, his name does not appear in the copy filed. The historical parts of the letters, and the entire publication, have the rare value of coming from one of the chief actors himself, and of being written, not for the public eye, but in the freedom and confidence of private friendship.

II. Notes of conversations, whilst Secretary of State, with President Washington, and others high in office; and memoranda of Cabinet Councils, committed to paper on the spot, and filed; the whole, with the explanatory and miscellaneous additions, showing the views and tendencies of parties, from the year 1789 to 1800.

Appended to the publication, is a ‘Facsimile’ of the rough draught of the Declaration of Independence, in which will be seen the erasures, interlineations, and additions of Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams, two of the appointed Committee, in the handwriting of each.

The Editor, though he cannot be insensible to the genius, the learning, the philosophic inspiration, the generous devotion to virtue, and the love of country, displayed in the writings now committed to the press, is restrained, not less by his incompetency, than by his relation to the Author, from dwelling on themes which belong to an eloquence that can do justice to the names of illustrious benefactors to their country and to their fellow men.

Albemarle, Va., January, 1829.