To Thomas Jefferson from William Prentis, 3 June 1805
From William Prentis
Petersburg, June, 3, 1805.
Sir,
Some time ago [I] took the liberty of writing to you on the subject of a History [of] Virginia—I have no other interest in the work than that of a [wish] to see a faithful and well digested History published. Mr. Burke has long since published the first volume, and I am sorry he does not progress faster—it is not however for want of a liberal subscription.
Since then I have been employed in endeavors to effect a Map of Virginia, a work I well knew was much wanting, and which would not fail, if accomplished, of rewarding the undertaken. With some difficulty and solicitude I at length prevailed on Mr. Madison, of Wmsbg. in the work—he is equally interested in its publication, and I am well persuaded has spared no pains to render it as complete as possible, considering the difficulties we had to encounter in procuring correct materials for such a work. The Map has been examined by several gentlemen in Richmond; and other places, and very generally approved. Some small errors, however, are some times pointed out, which are occasionally corrected.
The bearer, Mr. William Davis, sets off to-morrow for the purpose of passing through all the principal towns in this State, with the Map, and it will give me much pleasure, Sir, if you will devote a short time to examine its merits. I am well assured of your disposition to promote works of real utility, and I am not disposed to bring forward one, which does not merit that character.
A Mr. Bossler, from Switzerland, who I have understood came recommended to you, is engaged to engrave the Map, and [. . .] I can discover, [. . .]1 the work will do credit to the State.
[With] sentiments of the highest respect, I am your most obedt. Servt.
William Prentis.
RC (ViW: Tucker-Coleman Collection); mutilated; endorsed by TJ. Recorded in SJL as a letter of 20 June received that day “by mr Davis.”
writing to you: see Prentis to TJ, 14 Nov. 1803.
To compile a Map of Virginia Bishop James Madison, in 1803, enlisted the aid of draftsman William Davis. Madison also recruited Prentis, who collected materials and promoted the subscriptions, which sold for eight dollars including a one-dollar deposit. On 22 June 1805, TJ paid Davis two dollars for his own subscriptions. The final work, A Map of Virginia Formed from the Actual Surveys and the Latest as Well as Most Accurate Observations, measuring almost four feet by six feet and consisting of six sheets, included a map of Ohio and a plan of Richmond. Madison, Davis, and Prentis submitted a preliminary version to the Virginia General Assembly for approval and employed Frederick Bossler, a Richmond engraver from Bern, Switzerland. According to Bishop Madison, Bossler, who had taught drawing and painting in Norfolk in 1803, had been recommended to TJ by Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The final authoritative version of the map was later printed, copyrighted, and hand-colored in Richmond in 1807, with a corrected and revised edition produced in 1818 (Richmond Enquirer, 1 Mch. 1805; Medical Repository, 2d hexade, 5 [1808], 302; Walter Ristow, American Maps and Mapmakers: Commercial Cartography in the Nineteenth Century [Detroit, 1985], 121; R. Lewis Wright, Artists in Virginia before 1900: An Annotated Checklist [Charlottesville, 1983], 14; Earl G. Swem, comp., “Maps Relating to Virginia in the Virginia State Library and other Departments of the Commonwealth, with the 17th and 18th Century Atlas-Maps in the Library of Congress,” Virginia State Library Bulletin, 7 [1914], 84-6, 88; L. Minerva Turnbull, “Private Schools in Norfolk, 1800-1860,” , 2d ser., 11 [1931], 295; , 6:249, 468-9; , 2:1157; Bishop James Madison to TJ, 23 Sep. 1805).
1. Several words lost.