Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to David Rittenhouse, 26 June 1790

To David Rittenhouse

New York June 26. 1790.

Dear Sir

Your favor of the 21st. came duly to hand, and I admit all your corrections with great thankfulness. The first was an inaccuracy of expression. I meant to say that there existed not in nature any one species of body or thing, such as a digit, palm, span, foot, cubit, barley corn &c. which furnished us with a constant uniform dimension. I have corrected it accordingly. The statement of the expansion of the rod was an error in having multiplied the number only once, instead of twice, by 12. I have stated in a note the reason for continuing the double expressions, and having made the other corrections, all of which fall within the first sheet, I send you a third edition of that sheet, to be substituted in place of the former. I do this in order to save time, wishing to have your corrections of my corrections. I am in hopes this will not be the last trouble which this business is to give you, and that you will feel some interest in seeing that we set out right. I am my dear sir with great affection your sincere friend & servt.,

Th: Jefferson

PrC (DLC). For a note on the enclosure, see note, Document vii, under 4 July 1790.

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