Thomas Jefferson Papers

John Laval to Thomas Jefferson, 16 April 1823

From John Laval

Philadelphia April 16th 1823

Sir,

After diligent inquiry, I have ascertained that no Bookseller, in Philadelphia, has received a Copy of Las Casas in french, I have reason to doubt that any has been Sent to this Country—the Count de Survilliers (Napoleon’s Brother) to whom, generally all new publications of the kind are addressed, has none, & I do not know that any Edition of the Original has ever been printed.

I can Supply you with the work in english, of which 2 volumes have appeared, & 2 more will in a few days, at $1 per vol. in boards—

Mr Saml F. Bradford has published, for our Joint account, the 25 last volumes of an Edition of the British Poets, in fifty, originally undertaken by Mitchell, Ames & White; if you desire to have a complete Set, or the 25 last Volumes only, I will Send them to you at the Prices mentioned in the annexed circular.

Wilson’s Ornithology, of which a few volumes are wanting, is also to be completed for the Same Concern to a limited number of copies, if you do not possess that Valuable Work & wish to add it to your Collection, I will thank you for your Subscription.

Any Books that may be wanted for the Library of the University of Virginia, I will procure at the lowest Commission & on the most moderate terms that can be obtained.

With the highest Consideration & respect—your hble Servt

John Laval

RC (DLC); dateline adjacent to signature; at foot of text: “Ths Jefferson, Esq.”; endorsed by TJ as received 24 Apr. 1823 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found.

count de survilliers: Joseph Bonaparte. The english translation of the work by Emmanuel Auguste Dieudonné, comte de Las Cases, was Memorial de Sainte Helene. Journal of the Private Life and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon at Saint Helena, 8 vols. (Philadelphia, 1823; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library, 1829 description ends , 4 [no. 102]). The edition of the british poets was Ezekiel Sanford and Robert Walsh, eds., The Works of the British Poets, with Lives of the Authors, 50 vols. (Philadelphia, 1819–23).

Index Entries

  • American Ornithology (A. Wilson) search
  • birds; books on search
  • Bonaparte, Joseph; and works on Napoleon search
  • books; of poetry search
  • books; on birds search
  • Bradford, Samuel Fisher; as publisher search
  • French language; works written in search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; orders books search
  • Las Cases, Emmanuel Auguste Dieudonné Marin Joseph, comte de (A. Le Sage); Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène, ou Journal ou se trouve consigné, jour par jour, ce qu’a dit et fait Napoléon durant dix-huit mois search
  • Las Cases, Emmanuel Auguste Dieudonné Marin Joseph, comte de (A. Le Sage); Memorial de Sainte Helene. Journal of the Private Life and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon at Saint Helena search
  • Laval, John; and books for TJ search
  • Laval, John; as publisher search
  • Laval, John; letters from search
  • Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène, ou Journal ou se trouve consigné, jour par jour, ce qu’a dit et fait Napoléon durant dix-huit mois (Las Cases) search
  • Memorial de Sainte Helene. Journal of the Private Life and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon at Saint Helena (Las Cases) search
  • Mitchell, Ames, and White (Philadelphia firm) search
  • Napoleon I, emperor of France; works on search
  • Sanford, Ezekiel; editsThe Works of the British Poets, with Lives of the Authors search
  • subscriptions, for publications; scientific search
  • The Works of the British Poets, with Lives of the Authors (eds. E. Sanford and R. Walsh) search
  • Virginia, University of; Books and Library; books and manuscripts for search
  • Walsh, Robert; editsThe Works of the British Poets, with Lives of the Authors search
  • Wilson, Alexander; American Ornithology search