Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Echols, 23 May 1822
To Joseph Echols
Poplar Forest May 23. 1822:
Sir
I recieve here your favor of the 20th expressing your desire to enlarge your stock of knolege, than which nothing can be more commendable; but I should not think your purpose of attending an Instructor at all necessary. we have now such excellent elementary books in every branch of science as to make every subject as plain as a teacher can make it. in Natural philosophy we have Joyce’s Scientific dialogues and Nicholson’s Philosophy
in Chemistry the Conversations in Chemistry.
in Natural history Buffon.
| in Antient history | the first 20. vols of the Universal history. |
| Gillies’s history of the world, | |
| Gillies’s history of Greece. | |
| Livy, Sallust, Cæsar, Tacitus, Suetonius. | |
| Gibbons’s decline of the Roman empire | |
| in Modern history | Robertson’s Charles V. |
| Russel’s Modern Europe | |
| Hallam’s history of the middle ages. | |
| in English history | Rapin’s history of England 15. v. 8vo |
| Belsham’s histories of the 3. Georges |
Baxter’s history of England. I omit Hume as too false in his matter, and too seducing in his style to be trusted
in Astronomy, Ferguson’s Astronomy.
in Mathematics and geometry alone I do not know what are the best English books. at your age I presume you do not propose to throw away 5. or 6. years in Latin and Greek. I am persuaded you will find science enough in the English language to employ your life and especially if you avoid wasting time on books of little merit. I pray you to accept this short sketch as a proof of my respect for your request rather than as worthy your acceptance from one to whom writing is not easy and who tenders you respectful salutations
Th: Jefferson
RC (Anonymous, Boise, Idaho, 2013); corner torn and damaged at crease, with missing text supplied from PoC; addressed: “Mr Joseph Echols Lynchburg.” PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of Joseph Milligan to TJ, 27 Nov. 1820; edge trimmed.
Index Entries
- A New and Impartial History of England (J. Baxter) search
- An Introduction to Natural Philosophy (W. Nicholson) search
- An Universal History, from the Earliest Account of Time to the Present search
- astronomy; books on search
- Astronomy explained upon Sir Isaac Newton’s principles (J. Ferguson) search
- Baxter, John; A New and Impartial History of England search
- Belsham, William; TJ recommends search
- books; on astronomy search
- books; on chemistry search
- books; on history search
- books; on mathematics search
- books; on natural history search
- books; on natural philosophy search
- Buffon, Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de; and natural history search
- Caesar, Julius; writings of search
- chemistry; books on search
- Conversations on Chemistry: in which the elements of that science are familiarly explained (J. H. Marcet) search
- Echols, Joseph; letter to search
- Echols, Joseph; seeks educational advice from TJ search
- Europe; works on search
- Ferguson, James; Astronomy explained upon Sir Isaac Newton’s principles search
- Gibbon, Edward; The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire search
- Gillies, John; The History of Ancient Greece, its Colonies, and Conquests search
- Gillies, John; The History of the World, from the reign of Alexander to that of Augustus search
- Greece, ancient; history of search
- Greek language; study of search
- Hallam, Henry; View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages search
- History of Modern Europe (W. Russell) search
- Hume, David; The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688 search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; recommends books search
- Joyce, Jeremiah; Scientific Dialogues, intended for the Instruction and Entertainment of Young People search
- Latin language; study of search
- Livy (Titus Livius); works of search
- Marcet, Jane Haldimand; Conversations on Chemistry: in which the elements of that science are familiarly explained search
- mathematics; books on search
- mathematics; geometry search
- natural history; books on search
- natural philosophy; books on search
- Nicholson, William; An Introduction to Natural Philosophy search
- Rapin Thoyras, Paul de; The History of England (trans. N. Tindal) search
- Robertson, William (1721–93); The History of the Reign of Charles V search
- Rome, ancient; history of search
- Russell, William (1741–93); History of Modern Europe search
- Sallust; works of search
- Scientific Dialogues, intended for the Instruction and Entertainment of Young People (J. Joyce); TJ recommends search
- Suetonius (Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus); writings of search
- Tacitus, Cornelius; writings of search
- The History of Ancient Greece, its Colonies, And Conquests (J. Gillies) search
- The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688 (D. Hume) search
- The History of England (P. de Rapin Thoyras; trans. N. Tindal) search
- The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (E. Gibbon) search
- The History of the Reign of Charles V (W. Robertson) search
- The History of the World, from the reign of Alexander to that of Augustus (J. Gillies) search
- Tindal, Nicholas; translatesThe History of England (P. de Rapin Thoyras) search
- View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages (H. Hallam) search