From Thomas Jefferson to Jan Ingenhousz, 14 July 1785
To Jan Ingenhousz
Paris July 14. 1785.
Sir
Doctor Franklin left us two days ago. On his departure he charged me with the inclosed packet to be forwarded to you. His commands will justify the liberty I take of accompanying them with a line, and with assurances of the satisfaction it affords me to do this to a person to whose researches the lovers of science are so much indebted. I have the honour to be with sentiments of the highest respect Sir Your most obedient & most humble servt
Th: Jefferson
RC (PPAmP); endorsed by Ingenhousz.
The inclosed packet, which had been enclosed in Benjamin Frankin to TJ, 11 July 1785, consisted of Franklin to Ingenhousz, 6 July 1785 (NUtM), which in turn enclosed copies of Franklin’s published papers on geology, meteorology, and light and heat (Albert H. Smyth, ed., The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, 10 vols. [New York, 1905–07], viii, 597–602; ix, 215–18, 227–30). TJ indicated in SJL that, in accordance with Franklin’s wish, the packet was forwarded to Ingenhousz by the Imperial ambassador to France, Florimund Claude Charles, Comte de Mercy-Argenteau. Ingenhousz acknowledged its receipt in a letter of 28 Dec. 1786.