To Thomas Jefferson from John Vaughan, 8 May 1804
From John Vaughan
Philad: 8 May 1804
Dear Sir,
The Certificates of Election for the members admited into the American Philosophical Society, to which your signature had been affixed as President, having been all used; I have sent on a number by post for your signature seven are immediately wanted to be sent to members chosen since the others were used—You will therefore oblige the Society by an attention to them as early as convenient—
The 1t. pt. of 6th Vol will be out in a very few days Miss Aitken has undertaken it out of her great Zeal to succeed her father as printer to the 3 first Volumes, but I fear from her want of knowledge in the business of Book Selling, she may find it heavy on her hands, altho’ there is more popular matter in it than in any volume we have printed—As Individuals therefore the members endeavor to take as many as they think they can probably place amongst their friends—I was in hopes she would have had it out before congress adjourned, but it was impossible—It will contain from 200 to 210 pages—after this vol. is completed in 4to the future publications will be in 8vo. & great exertions will be made to have it annual.
I remain with the greatest respect, Your ob Serv
Jn Vaughan
Would it be agreeable to you that I should subscribe for & forward One or More Copies when it appears
| David Humphreys—Newhaven | Cevallos Minister of foreign affr |  |
Madrid | |
Members Chosen |
| Joshua Gilpin—Phila. | Prince of Peace | ||||
| Edward Jenner—London | Cavanillos. Botanical profess | ||||
| Webber, Math. Prof. Cambrid, Mass. | |||||
RC (DLC); at foot of first page: “Thomas Jefferson President of the UStates”; endorsed by TJ as received 14 May and so recorded in SJL.
Philadelphia printer Jane aitken presented a “Fine Copy” of the first part of the sixth volume of the American Philosophical Society’s Transactions at the group’s meeting on 18 May (, Proceedings, 22, pt. 3 [1884], 358).
The society elected david humphreys and Joshua Gilpin members on 20 Jan. and Edward Jenner, Pedro Cevallos, Manuel de Godoy (prince of peace), the Spanish botanist Antonio José Cavanilles (cavanillos), and Harvard professor of mathematics Samuel Webber on 20 Apr. (same, 347, 351).