1From Thomas Jefferson to William Frederick Ast, [17] September 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
According to your desire I will now state to you the reasons which have induced me to decline engaging finally in the mutual insurance against fire. when I had the pleasure of meeting you at Dumfries in Jany. 1798. you were so good as to sit with me the evening & to go into considerable details on the subject of your plan of insurance . the calculations were of some length & difficulty, I was...