Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to DeWitt Clinton, 30 April 1823

To DeWitt Clinton

Monticello Apr. 30. 23.

Dear Sir

I have duly recieved your favor of the 11th with the description it covered of the Otsego Basse. born and bred among mountains, I have had less opportunity of becoming acquainted with the fishy tribe, however interesting,1 than with any other the objects of natural history. I should expect that the great inland seas of our country, insulated as they are, would furnish many examples of non-descript species, and afford2 ample matter for the employment of your own attentions, and those of the other literati in the region of those waters. with my thanks, be pleased to accept the assurance of my most3 friendly recollections & great respect

Th: Jefferson

RC (NNC: Clinton Papers); addressed: “His Excellency Governor Clinton Albany”; redirected in an unidentified hand to “new-York”; franked; stamped; postmarked Charlottesville, 2 May, and Albany, 9 May; endorsed by Clinton, with additional notation in an unidentified hand: “acknowledging receipt of description of Otsego Basse”; with apparently unrelated penciled notes in a different unidentified hand. Dft (DLC); on verso of portion of reused address cover; endorsed by TJ.

Clinton’s favor of the 11th was actually dated 12 Apr. 1823.

1Preceding two words interlined in Dft.

2Word interlined in Dft in place of “give.”

3Word interlined in Dft.

Index Entries

  • Account of the Salmo Otsego, or the Otsego Basse (D. Clinton) search
  • books; on fish search
  • Clinton, DeWitt; Account of the Salmo Otsego, or the Otsego Basse search
  • Clinton, DeWitt; letters to search
  • fish; ichthyology search
  • fish; Otsego bass search
  • fish; works on search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; receives works search
  • Otsego bass search