1Editorial Note: The Article on the United States in the Encyclopédie Méthodique (Jefferson Papers)
On 25 Oct. 1786 William Short wrote to William Nelson: “You speak of the Encyclopedia. It will be a valuable work Sir in as much as all human science will be there brought together and arranged in a methodical manner. The different parts of the work are allotted to different persons to execute, and as it is impossible to find a sufficient number of learned men fit for and willing to engage in...
2I. Answers to DéMeunier’s First Queries, 24 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
1. On the original establishment of the several states, the civil code of England, from whence they had emigrated, was adopted. This of course could extend only to general laws, and not to those which were particular to certain places in England only. The circumstances of the new states obliged them to add some new laws which their special situation required, and even to change some of the...
3II. Additional Queries, with Jefferson’s Answers, [ca. January–February 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Additional questions of M. de Meusnier, and answers 1. What has led Congress to determine that the concurrence of seven votes is requisite in questions which by the Confederation are submitted to the decision of a Majority of the U.S. in Congress Assembled? The IXth. article of Confederation, §. 6. evidently establishes three orders of questions in Congress. 1. The greater ones, which relate...
4III. From Jean Nicolas DéMeunier, [February? 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
M. Démeunier est penetré de reconnoissance de tout ce que Monsieur Jefferson a La bonté de faire pour Lui. Il est si agreable et si heureux, d’avoir L’honneur de Causer avec un homme si parfaitement instruit, si Zelé pour Les choses interessantes, et si interessant Lui même à tous égards, que M. Démeunier prendra peutêtre La Liberté de Lui demander encore quelques momens. Il va Corriger et...
5IV. Jefferson’s Observations on DéMeunier’s Manuscript, 22 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Observations on the article Etats-unis prepared for the Encyclopedie Pa. 8. The Malefactors sent to America were not in sufficient number to merit enumeration as one class out of three which peopled America. It was at a late period of their history that this practice began. I have no book by me which enables me to point out the date of it’s commencement. But I do not think the whole number...
6V. To Jean Nicolas Démeunier, [26 June 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson presents his compliments to M. de Meusnier and sends him copies of the 13th. 23d. and 24th. articles of the treaty between the K. of Prussia and the United States. In the negociation with the minister of Portugal at London, the latter objected to the 13th. article. The observations which were made in answer to his objections, Mr. Jefferson incloses. They are a commentary on the...
7VI. From Jean Nicolas DeMeunier, [26 June 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Je Venois d’ecrire Les traits de Cruauté dont Monsieur Jefferson m’a fait L’honneur de me parler hier. Lorsque j’ai reçu son billet, Je L’ai placé à L’endroit où je Felicite Les americains des devastations, des incendies, et des forfaits que se sont permis Les Anglois, et je dirai en parlant du traité avec Le roi de prusse quel heureux effet ont produit ces abominables violences. J’avois...