Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Greenhow, 31 January 1814
To Samuel Greenhow
Monticello Jan. 31. 14.
Sir
Your letter on the subject of the Bible society arrived here while I was on a journey to Bedford which occasioned a long absence from home. since my return it has lain with a mass of others accumulated during my absence, till I could answer them. I presume the views of the society are confined to our own country, for with the religion of other countries, my own forbids intermedling. I had not supposed there was a family in this state not possessing a bible and wishing without having the means to procure one. when, in earlier life I was intimate with every class, I think I never was in a house where that was the case. however, circumstances may have changed, and the society I presume have evidence of the fact. I therefore inclose you chearfully an order on Messrs Gibson and Jefferson for 50.D. for the purposes of the society, sincerely agreeing with you that there never was a more pure & sublime system of morality delivered to man than is to be found in the four evangelists. Accept the assurance of my esteem & respect
Th: Jefferson
PoC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr Samuel Greenhow.” Enclosure not found.
Index Entries
- Bible; societies for distribution of search
- Bible Society of Virginia search
- charity; TJ gives search
- Gibson & Jefferson (Richmond firm); payments made for TJ search
- Greenhow, Samuel; and Bible Society of Virginia search
- Greenhow, Samuel; letters to search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; religion search
- Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); TJ visits search
- religion; societies for Bible distribution search
- religion; TJ on search
- Virginia; religious societies in search