Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Thomas Jefferson to Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 24 November 1816

To Francis Adrian Van der Kemp

Poplar Forest near Lynchburg Nov. 24. 16.

Dear Sir

I recieve your favor of Nov. 1. at this place at which I make occasionally a temporary residence; and I have perused with great satisfaction the magnificent skeleton you inclose me of what would indeed be a compleat Encyclopedia of Christian philosophy. it’s execution would require a Newton in physics a Locke in metaphysics, and one who to a possession of all history, adds a judgment and candor to estimate it’s evidence and credibility in proportion to the character of the facts it presents1 and he should have a long life before him. I fear we shall not see this canvas filled in our day, and that we must be contented to have all this light blaze upon us when the curtain shall be removed which limits our mortal sight. I had however persuaded myself to hope that we should have from your own pen, one branch of this great work, the mortal biography of Jesus. this candidly and rationally written, without any regard to sectarian dogmas, would reconcile to his character a weighty multitude who do not properly estimate it; and would lay the foundation of a2 genuine christianity.

You ask if I have ever published any thing but the Notes on Virginia? nothing but official State papers, except a pamphlet at the commencement of our difference with England & on that subject, and another at the close of the revolution proposing the introduction of our decimal money, of neither of which do I possess a copy.—should a curiosity to see our part of the union tempt your friend Dr Willoughby to come as far as Monticello, I shall be very happy to recieve him there and to shew my respect for his worth as well as for your recommendation of it. Accept the assurance of my great esteem and consideration.

Th: Jefferson

RC (NBuHi: Van der Kemp Papers); addressed: “MrFr. Adr. Vanderkemp at Oldenbarneveld State of New-York”; franked; postmarked (faint) Lynchburg, 2[7] Nov.; with notes in Van der Kemp’s hand relating to his letter to TJ of 2 Feb. 1817: “Porter le ruban gris-de-lin Voy. du Chev. de Parny. P. 146 & 153. Epicurean dress. La grappe de raisin Couronné de myrthe— Constit. of the Un. Neth:.” PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of Martha Jefferson Randolph to TJ, 20 Nov. 1816; mutilated at seal, with missing text rewritten by TJ; endorsed by TJ.

TJ’s earlier pamphlet was A Summary View of the Rights of British America (Williamsburg, [1774]; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends no. 3085; PTJ description begins Julian P. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara B. Oberg, and others, eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 1950– , 39 vols. description ends , 1:121–37), while his work calling for the introduction of decimal money was entitled Notes on the Establishment of a Money Unit, and of a Coinage for the United States ([Paris, 1785]; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends no. 3755; PTJ description begins Julian P. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara B. Oberg, and others, eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 1950– , 39 vols. description ends , 7:175–88).

1Remainder of sentence interlined, with superfluous terminal punctuation editorially omitted.

2Word interlined.

Index Entries

  • American Revolution; TJ on search
  • A Summary View of the Rights of British America (Thomas Jefferson) search
  • Christianity; TJ on search
  • coinage; TJ and search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; American Revolution search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; Christianity search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; Jesus search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; weights, measures, and coinage search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; A Summary View of the Rights of British America search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Notes on the Establishment of a Money Unit, and of a Coinage for the United States search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Notes on the State of Virginia search
  • Jesus; F. A. Van der Kemp on study of search
  • Jesus; TJ on search
  • Locke, John; mentioned search
  • Newton, Sir Isaac; mentioned search
  • Notes on the Establishment of a Money Unit, and of a Coinage for the United States (Thomas Jefferson) search
  • Notes on the State of Virginia (Thomas Jefferson); mentioned search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); TJ visits search
  • religion; works on search
  • United States; state papers and public documents search
  • Van der Kemp, Francis Adrian; and TJ’s writings search
  • Van der Kemp, Francis Adrian; letters to search
  • Van der Kemp, Francis Adrian; proposed work on Jesus search
  • Van der Kemp, Francis Adrian; Synopsis of a Proposed Book search
  • weights, measures, and coinage; TJ’s report on search
  • Willoughby, Westel; as U.S. representative from N.Y. search