1From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 16 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
Having lately recieved from Count Rumford , one of the managers of the Royal institution of Great Britain a prospectus of that institution, with a letter expressing their desire to cultivate a friendly correspondence with the American Philosophical society, I have now the honor of forwarding them for the society. the application of science to objects immediately useful in life, which seems to...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 16 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have written you a letter of this date to be laid before the society. this is for yourself only. I have proposed so many members at different times that I am afraid to add to the number. yet Dunbar ought to be associated to us. I inclose you a letter with some communications of his to a mr Smith of London, which he sent to me open for perusal, desiring me when read to forward them as...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 3 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
According to your desire I wrote to Chancellor Livingston on the subject of the bones. the following is an extract from his letter dated Jan. 7. ‘I have paid the earliest attention to your request relative to the bones found at Shawangun, & have this day written to a very intelligent friend in that neighborhood. I fear however that till they have finished their search there will be some...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 31 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
By the preceding post you will have recieved some Observations transmitted [here] by Mr. Legaux, [& also] two precious volumes of Comparative anatomy presented to the Society by mr Cuvier , the author. I now inclose you a letter from Chancellor Livingston on the subject of the large [bones] lately found [in New York] with a drawing, & also a paper enclosed me in a former [private] letter, but...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 4 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure to inclose for communication to the society observations made on a lunar eclipse at the Observatory of Philadelphia on the 21st of Sep. last by messrs. Patterson & Ellicot. Also some extracts from a letter I recieved from mr Dunbar of the Natchez with Meteorological observations for the year 1800. made there by him, and remarks on the soil, climate & productions of the...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 22 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
What I am now to write about will be in perfect confidence between ourselves. the legislature is likely to establish a marine hospital at New Orleans, where we lose about 400. boatmen & seamen annually by sickness. I think it probable that we shall have a run on us, of recommendations of young men, just from their lectures, unsettled, and without experience, to obtain the superintendance of a...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 13 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to Doctr. Wistar and incloses him a letter from the Vice President of the Agricultural society of N.Y. on the subject of uniting all the Agricultural societies of the United States by the link of a Central society at the Seat of the Genl. government: to be communicated to the American Philosophl. society. he has recieved Dr. Wistar’s letter of...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 14 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10th. of Apr. in answer to mine of Mar. 22. satisfied me perfectly as to Doctr. Barnwell whom therefore I then concluded to appoint to the hospital of N. Orleans, if established. but learning afterwards that Doctr. Bache had determined to remove to the Missisipi, I could have no hesitation to offer the place to him, as eminently qualified for it. I did so, and he has accepted...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 28 February 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed sheets may contain some details which perhaps may be thought interesting enough for the transactions of our society. they were forwarded to me by mr Dunbar with a couple of vocabularies which I retain to be added to my collection. What follows is to be perfectly confidential. I have at length succeeded in procuring an essay to be made of exploring the Missouri & whatever river,...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 18 February 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Having recieved the inclosed essay on public education from it’s author, the revd. mr Knox , &, as I presume with a view that it should be communicated to the Philosophical society, I take the liberty of putting it under cover to you for that purpose, and to present you my salutations & respect. RC (William Reese Company, New Haven, Connecticut, 2001); at foot of text: “Doctr. Wistar.” PrC (...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 24 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose for communication to the Philosophical society a paper from mr Dunbar of Natchez, on the subject of the Missisipi river which will be found a valuable addition to what we have already recieved from him relative to the lower country on it’s banks. At the request of mr Lewis also of Campbell county Virginia, I inclose a paper which was accompanied by the specimens it refers to. tho’...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 27 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night your favor of the 22d. and believe it will be as well to send the books from Cepede by one of the vessels which habitually ply between Philadelphia & this place. Capt. Hand often brings things for me. I send you by post herewith an interesting volume of Faujas de St. Fond on the great fossil bones, which after reading may be returned either with La Cepede’s or otherwise...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 7 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to Doctr. Wistar for the copy of Segur’s Frederic which he shall read with great satisfaction knowing the author to be a man of talents and information. Baron Humboldt, Doctr. Fothergill and their companions arrived here some days ago. the Doctr. was already known by his works, and the emigration of such men as he & Priestly to end their days with us is an...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 4 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. T. M. Randolph being desirous of perusing the work of Faujas which I sent you some time ago, if you are done with it, I will ask the favor of you to inclose it to me by post: but if you have any further use for it, he will wait your convenience. have you seen a work of Morveau’s Sur les moyens de desinfecter l’air &c? it is a work of great interest to cities subject to infection, to...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 15 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed papers, with some eggs of the silk-worm of Italy were sent to me from Siena, by mr Robert K. Lowry travelling in that country. the eggs I have disposed of in their proper climate: and I do not know that I can better second the benevolent views of the writer than by committing his papers to the A. Philosophical society. should they deem them proper for publication, their benefit...
16Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 31 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
My grandson being on his return to attend the botanical lectures gives me a safe opportunity of forwarding a livraison of a botanical work of M. Tussac for the Philosophical society
17Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 11 October 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter is from mr W m A. Burwell , one of the members of Congress from our state . he lived with me at Washington as Secretary, perhaps at the time you paid us a visit there, or perhaps he may be known to you thro’ the medium of his speeches in Congress , where he distinguishes himself by his good sense, his devotion to his country united with the most conciliatory conduct towards...
18Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 29 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
On my return from a journey on the 22 d inst. I found here your letter of the 9 th and lost no time in communicating it’s object to the President . mr Matlack is among my oldest acquaintances, dating from the year of Independance when he was an assistant Secretary to the old Congress . I have ever since known him to be a steady republican and as correct in his morals as politics. I have...
19Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 17 August 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved your favor of June 29. by mr Correa , it’s bearer. I found him what you had described in every respect; certainly the greatest collection, and best digest of science in books, men, and things that I have ever met with; and with these the most amiable and engaging character. the only alloy to the pleasure of his society was the reflection that we were never more to enjoy it. it is a...
20Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 19 September 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from mr Brackenridge on the subject of the mounds & remains of fortifications in the Western country, came to me without any indication whether meant, or not, for communication to the Philosophical society . considering it’s subject and the information it contains as meriting the attention of the society, I take the liberty of requesting your communication of it to them;...
21Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 25 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
It seems an age since I have had particular occasion to recall myself to your memory; and to that circumstance must be ascribed my long silence; and not to any abatement of my great esteem for you. perhaps the desire to say so may have entered somewhat into the motives for giving you the trouble I am now about to propose. we are desirous of establishing in my neighborhood an academy, on a...
22Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 23 November 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I am glad of opportunities of recalling myself to your recollection altho’ it should even be when I am to give you some trouble. mr Francis Gilmer a young neighbor of mine; is about to visit Philadelphia , & wishes the honor of being presented to you. altho his being with mr Correa would be a passport for him to every friend of science, I should not fulfil my duties to his deceased father, my...
23Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 22 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9 th is received, and I am much amused with the anecdotes of Logan , and other circumstances relative to the Indians. it is a great pity, and indeed a scandal that we let that race of men disappear without preserving scarcely any trace of their history. what an opportunity Hawkins has had to have given us the history of the Creeks during the period he has been with them: to...
24Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 10 June 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 20. has been recieved, and with it the specimen of the letters of Doct r Franklin which we are likely to have published. I wish we may have all ; but I am not yet relieved from the fear of suppressions. the anecdotes of his life would also be pleasing and instructive, and would place him in still another, and more amiable attitude before us. I shall be glad indeed if you...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 30 April 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved from a scientific gentleman in Copenhagen a box containing 150. pieces of Roman coin in bronze of different sizes from the reign of Augustus to that of Theodosius, comprehending a space of 400. years. though addressed to me personally, I am sure I shall better fulfill the enlarged views of that gentleman by placing them where they may be of more extensive use. I ask permission...
26From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 6 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a pamphlet from mr Biot a member of the National institute which he desires to have presented to the society. I inclose also his letter containing a request, which perhaps was meant to be addressed to the members individually, or such of them as might have an opportunity of making the observations he wishes for. Accept my friendly salutations & assurances of esteem & respect. PPAmP .
27From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 15 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his friendly salutations to Doctr. Wistar incloses him a paper for the Society from Dr. Mitchell on the ice-islands. By mr Wingate who goes on in a few days he shall send for the society addressed to mr Peale a horned or rather thorny lizard, living. it comes nearer to the Lacerta amphibia of Linnaeus than any thing else. it differs materially in the tail which is conical &...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 26 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter from Colo. Tatham and the fac simile it covers, being intended for the A. Philosophical society, I take the liberty of communicating them through you, and tender you my friendly salutations & assurances of great esteem & respect. PPAmP .
29From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 20 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
While visiting some parts of Europe, I thought it might be useful to bring home some specimens of the different coins I met with, some of copper, some of silver, & others of a mixture of both called billon. having then a mint to established I supposed they might furnish subjects for consideration, & sometimes imitation. to these have been since added some other coins & some medals which have...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, 9 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have written this day to Doctr. Brown and to mr John Brown to take measures for ascertaining where the bones which are the subject of your letter now are, whether there be among them any bones of the Megalonyx or of the head of the Mammoth, to sound the owner as to price, & to communicate to us the result. it would have been desirable for me to have been able to state to Dr. Brown the...