From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 17 July 1785
To George Washington
Paris July 17. 1785.
Sir
Permit me to add, what I forgot in my former letter, a request to you to be so kind as to communicate to me what you can recollect of Bushnel’s experiments in submarine navigation during the late war, and whether you think his method capable of being used succesfully for the destruction of vessels of war. It’s not having been actually used for this purpose by us, who were so peculiarly in want of such an agent seems to prove it did not promise success. I am with the highest esteem Sir Your most obedt. & most humble servt.,
Th: Jefferson
RC (Mr. Justin G. Turner, Hollywood, California, 1952). PrC (DLC). Recorded in SJL as sent by Houdon; entry in SJPL reads: “Washington Genl. Bushnel’s submarine.”
For David Humphreys’ account of Bushnel’s Experiments (he may have been an eyewitness of the attempt on the British fleet in New York Harbor), see F. L. Humphreys, Life and Times of David Humphreys, i, 73–4. Humphreys probably related a similar account to TJ.