From Thomas Jefferson to Giovanni Fabbroni, 2 March 1786
To Giovanni Fabbroni
Paris Mar. 2. 1786.
Sir
I have for sometime deferred the honor of addressing you, in expectation that our friend Mr. Mazzei on his return from Holland, would go on immediately to Florence. He is now returned, but proposes staying here two months. I must therefore adopt an earlier conveiance to return you my thanks for the pamphlets you were so kind as to inclose to me, and from the perusal of which I received very great satisfaction. That relative to the value of lands, being particularly applicable to our plan of taxation in America, I consider as very precious, and filled with useful ideas. I hope you have before this received the book I took the liberty of sending you thro’ Mr. Favi; a medley little worth your notice but of some avail to me as it has furnished me an occasion of testifying the sentiments of esteem and respect with which I have the honour to be Sir Your most obedient & most humble servant
Th: Jefferson
RC (Paul Francis Webster, Beverly Hills, California, 1972); at foot of text: “Mr. Fabbroni.”
The pamphlet relative to the value of lands was Adamo Fabbroni, Dissertazione sopra il Quesito Indicare le vere Teorie con le quali devono eseguirsi le stime dei terreni, stabilite le quali abbiano i pratici stimatori delle vere guide, che gli conducono a determinarne il valore … (Florence, 1785). Fabbroni had probably also enclosed two other pamphlets by his brother on “ancient things” promised in his 5 July 1785 letter to TJ: Del Bombice e del Bisso degli Antichi Dissertazione di Adamo Fabbroni … (Perugia, 1782); and Della Farfalla Simbolo Egiziano Dissertazione di Adamo Fabbroni … (Florence, 1783). See Nos. 816, 119, 120. book: see TJ to Fabbroni, 23 May 1785, printed above.