Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to Robert Mills, 25 September 1822

To Robert Mills

Monticello Sep. 25. 22.

Dear Sir

Your favor of Aug. 8. has been duly recieved, and I thank you for the pamphlet inclosed on the subject of canals. the plan it proposes is great, and I sincerely wish it may be prosecuted with success. I hope these states will prove to the world how much more it will contribute to it’s happiness to lay out the contributions of the people in opening canals for communication and irrigation, making good roads, erecting1 public buildings for science and the arts Etc than in slaughtering men, burning their houses, and wasting their lands. I sincerely wish you may find constant employment in this system of improvement, and derive the due reward to your merits for the useful services you may render in improving your native state. accept the assurances of my great esteem and respect.

Th: Jefferson

RC (ICHi); at foot of text: “Mr Mills.” PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover to TJ; endorsed by TJ.

Mills’s previous letter was of 28 Aug. 1822, not aug. 8.

1Reworked from “creating.”

Index Entries

  • Internal Improvement of South-Carolina, Particularly Adapted to the Low Country (R. Mills) search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; receives works search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; internal improvements search
  • Mills, Robert; and S.C. Board of Public Works search
  • Mills, Robert; Internal Improvement of South-Carolina, Particularly Adapted to the Low Country search
  • Mills, Robert; letters to search
  • South Carolina; Board of Public Works search
  • South Carolina; canals in search
  • South Carolina; internal improvements in search