To Thomas Jefferson from Antoine Vosse, 28 March 1805
From Antoine Vosse
Philadelphia 28th Mar 1805
Sir
In your next philosophical publication please to inform the Citizens how many beans make five and take three away! The solution of this very important question may be of equal benefit to the United States as the discovery of a bloody Arena or the formation of a dry Dock.
With Compliments to Sally I remain, Dear Sir Your Obedient and humble Servant
Antoine Vosse
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr Thomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 4 Apr. and “scurrilities” and so recorded in SJL; also endorsed by TJ: “(Pseudonymus).”
In the months after TJ’s 17 Oct. 1803 annual message to Congress, Federalist newspapers lampooned his call for Americans to remain neutral in the face of the “bloody Arena” produced by war in Europe. In addition to using the phrase to critique TJ’s reputed pro-French tendencies, these writers increasingly tied it to their opposition to the expense of the purchase of Louisiana (Charleston Courier, 31 Oct. 1803; Utica, N.Y., Patriot, 7 Nov. 1803; Boston Columbian Centinel, 19 Nov. 1803; Connecticut Post and New Haven Visitor, 15 Dec. 1803; Trenton Federalist, 30 Apr. 1804; Vol. 41:538).