2161“The Querist” to Thomas Jefferson, 7 September 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
Having had my curiosity excited on a few questions which I consider may be explained by those who are conversant with philosophy and Science in general : ; I have from a knowledge of your extensive researches, taken the liberty to request of you a solution of the following queries. 1 st why is the savage state called a state of nature?, 2 d considering that Adam was the first man & he a...
2162Roberts to James Madison, 1 September 1822, with Postscript to Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Papers)
[ Ed. Note : “ Roberts ,” who wrote under an apparent pseudonym and claimed to be a Revolutionary War veteran, composed a letter to former president James Madison dated Pennsylvania , 1 Sept. 1822. Although Madison ’s copy has not been found, a transcription of it was later sent to TJ. In a five-page document received at Monticello in the summer of 1824, the author blamed Madison for both the...
2163Enclosure: Poem by “Laban Stringfellow” on a Footrace between William Darby and Joseph Aborn, [by 19 April 1818] (Jefferson Papers)
F or your edification and amusement, I send the following poem , in which my feeble muse endeavors to describe a Match Race , run about the year 1809, at Oppelousas, in Louisiana , between W illiam D arby , Esq. geographer and map maker, and Mr. J oseph A born , deputy collector of the district of the Teche
2164Account of a Visit to Monticello and Montpellier by “W.” (possibly George Watterston), [before 15 August 1820] (Jefferson Papers)
You request me to give you some account of my late excursion to Virginia . I comply with the request, but am sorry to observe, that the time occupied in making it was too short to enable me to take those views of the country through which I passed that are necessary to render any description pleasing or satisfactory. The observations, however, I had the power to make, in my rapid journey, I...
2165John Adams, A Dirge, 25 July 1826 (Adams Papers)
A DIRGE. Praise to the virtuous dead the Heathen owed, And funeral game, and urn, and chant bestow’d; Praise for the virtuous dead the Christian claims From higher motives, and with holier aims Oh, call’d too soon, how late so e’er thy knell, Our earliest, longest hope, "Hail and Farewell! ” That fiftieth Sun who brought his faithful ray To gild thine own, and Freedom’s fav’rite day, His...
2166“A Republican of 98” to Thomas Jefferson, 6 June 1821 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho you are advanced in life—yet your Vision is clear—& Judgment sound—therefore justice must be felt—& patriotism yet uppermost in your Consideration,—an old personal friend—has made up his mind—to say a few words—on the Subject of our next president—Altho’ Strange as it may appear—the present one has just entered on the last term—but such is the State of man—such his activity in the...
2167“B.” to Thomas Jefferson, [by 1 August 1822] (Jefferson Papers)
The maker of the enclosed speech, accompanied Lewis & Clark , when he was an uneducated boy, over the Rocky mountains . The sentiments contained in it, are so much like your own, that a person unknown to you, is tempted to forward it to you, and it is without mr. S. knowledge. I ought perhaps to add, that he accompanied the party of Pryor with the Mandane chief up the
2168Anonymous (Henry Whiting) to Thomas Jefferson, 7 June 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
There is scarcely a young man in the United States , who is not desirous of having among his future recollections, that he has shown some mark of respect to the Patriot and Sage of Monticello . The person who takes the liberty of presenting to M r Jefferson the accompanying little work, does it with no other view; and only regrets that his humble character & name oblige him to do it thus...
2169“X.Y.Z Cosmopolite” (Christian Schultz) to Thomas Jefferson, [30 December 1821] (Jefferson Papers)
My apology for addressing to you the inclosed extract from a manuscript volume of 300 pages and now in my possession, is, that fame has given you credit for cherishing sentiments too liberal for the age we live in. If this should be the case, and you think the enclosed extracts worthy of your notice, I shall be gratified with your permission to send the whole work for your private perusal— at...
2170“Zed” (“Franklin”) to Thomas Jefferson, 3 February 1819 (Jefferson Papers)
As the publck has gave you the credit of Drafting the Declaration of Independance, and as you have fill d the greatest office s in the power that the people have to their power give you, which dutis you apear to have Discharg d to their Satisfaction, all this has plac d you on a eminance, that your opinion and good Judgment, or recomendation will go further than any one other Citizeen in the U...