Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Thomas Jefferson to Robert H. Saunders, 23 June 1817

To Robert H. Saunders

Monticello June 23. 17.

Sir

Your letter of May 9. did not get to hand until the 15th instant, and your post office not being named in your letter I must direct this to Goochland courthouse where it mentions that you have a plantation. having trees so near as you describe to your house, and higher than the chimnies, I should certainly prefer fixing the Conductor to a tree, as a higher object, and because should the rod be at any time overcharged, the tree itself is a good conductor for the surplus matter. it saves also all connection with the house by the supporting staples. the rod should have it’s point tipped with gold or silver leaf to prevent rusting, and should rise 6. or 8. feet above the top of the tree. if the rod is not all in one piece it is better the pieces should be socketed into one another than linked. where it enters the ground it should bend off from the foundation of the house 5. or 6. feet, and no coating in the ground is material as it there delivers it’s charge to the body of the earth where it [is] dissipated at once Accept the assurance of my respect.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (MHi); on verso of reused address cover of otherwise unlocated letter from David Higginbotham to TJ, 22 May 1817 (addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esquire Monticello”; franked; postmarked Richmond, 2 June; recorded in SJL as received 5 June 1817 from Richmond); mutilated at seal; at foot of text: “Mr Ro H. Saunders”; endorsed by TJ.

Index Entries

  • Higginbotham, David; letters from accounted for search
  • household articles; lightning rods search
  • lightning rods search
  • Saunders, Robert Hyde; and lightning rods search
  • Saunders, Robert Hyde; letter to search
  • weather; lightning rods search