From Thomas Jefferson to James Mease, 28 June 1803
To James Mease
Washington June 28. 1803.
Sir
I recieved lately the inclosed pamphlet from the Author at Lingen in Westphalia. not understanding the German myself, I submitted it to a gentleman who does, and he assures me it contains valuable matter on the subject of rendering wood incombustible, preventing the rot &c. as this might come within the plan of the Domestic Encyclopedia you are publishing, I have supposed it might be acceptable to you & therefore tender it with my salutations & assurances of respect.
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); at foot of text: “Doctr. Maese”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso. Enclosure: Johann Gotthilff Angerman, Anweisung, wie das Holz zum Haus- und Schiffsbau so zubereitet werden könne, dass es vor Feuer, Faulniss und Wurmfrass…verwahrt bleibe: nebst einer Anweisung, wie Stroh-, Rohr- und Schindeldächer feuerfest…auszuführen, auch die Feueranstalten zu verbessern seyn (Lingen, 1802; see Angerman to TJ, 20 Dec. 1802).
gentleman who does: see Jacob Wagner to TJ, 28 June 1803.
domestic encyclopedia: Mease’s American edition of Anthony F. M. Willich’s five volume, Domestic Encyclopædia; or, A Dictionary of Facts, and Useful Knowledge, was printed in Philadelphia in 1803–04 (Vol. 39:128).