Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-08-02-0233

Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Milligan, 27 February 1815

To Joseph Milligan

Monticello Feb. 27. 15.

Dear Sir

The library committee of Congress having concluded to take my library without further1 valuation, at the amount of your estimate, I shall on reciept of the catalogue proceed to review it, arrange and number all the books according as they stand in the catalogue. as on this review many will doubtless be found missing & irrecoverable, deductions proportioned to their size and number must of course be made from the amount of compensation. besides this there should be some one skilled in packing to attend to that and see that the fine bindings should not2 be destroyed by the joultings of the waggons. you were so kind, in one of your letters, as to say you would come and see to this. I have therefore proposed to mr Smith to have you authorized by the committee as their agent, and I hope if it meets their approbation that yours will not be wanting. when I have finished the review I am to give him3 notice that all is ready. I have mentioned to him too that waggons can be had here at 4.D. to take 2500.℔ each, and an accurate estimate makes 11. such waggon loads. but I have suggested to him the necessity of sending on a waggon load of bookbinders paper-parings and waste paper, the former to fill the interstices between the books and shelves, the latter to wrap the best bindings, and for slips between all the books. I should be very sorry to have them injured by the way. I suppose the review will employ me near a fortnight, and immediately after that and before the possibility of any new derangement I should be anxious to have the delivery made. if these propositions should be accepted I hope your concurrence will not be wanting, and that we shall have the pleasure of recieving you here in the course of the next month. Accept the assurance of my great esteem and respect.

Th: Jefferson

RC (DLC: TJ Papers, ser. 10); at foot of text: “Mr Millegan.” PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of Joseph Dougherty to TJ, 15 Feb. 1815; torn at seal; endorsed by TJ.

In his letter of 14 Dec. 1814 Milligan offered to “Send a young man” to assist in the packing of TJ’s library, not to come and see to this himself.

1Word interlined.

2Word interlined.

3Word interlined.

Index Entries

  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; catalogue of search
  • Library of Congress; and library committees of Congress search
  • Library of Congress; TJ prepares books for transportation search
  • Library of Congress; TJ sells personal library to search
  • Library of Congress; TJ’s catalogue of books sold to search
  • Library of Congress; transportation of TJ’s books to Washington search
  • Milligan, Joseph; and catalogue of TJ’s books search
  • Milligan, Joseph; assists with packing and transportation of TJ’s library search
  • Milligan, Joseph; letters to search
  • paper; waste search
  • Smith, Samuel Harrison; and transportation of TJ’s library search
  • wagons; and transportation of TJ’s library search