Philippe Reibelt to Thomas Jefferson, with Jefferson’s Note, 15 October 1805
From Philippe Reibelt, with Jefferson’s Note
Baltimore le 15e. Oct. 1805.
Monsieur!
J’ai par çelle çi l’honneur de repondre a la Votre du 12, qui m’est parvenue hier midi.
1) Mr. Du Catel, un de mes Connaissançes particuliéres, m’a dit, çes jours çi d’avoir offert a l’Auctionaire pour le Grand buste en question (il y en a encore 2 petits) au Nom, je ne sais pas du Ministre ou Consul de sa Majestè Imper. de France, supposant, que personne d’autre jamais n’en voudroit, 25 Gourdes, mais qu’on lui avoit repondû, qu’il etoit deja vendu (Ces Mess. veulent maintenant prendre les petits)—Mr. Schwarze m’a invitè, de prononcer Sur le prix—sachant çela je puis donc de Conscience le fixer à 25 Gourdes, et pas plus haut.
2) Mr. de La Tullaye n’a pas de Semence d’Estragon, mais il en attend des pieds, et il sera tres flattè, de pouvoir Vous en envoyer.
3) Mr. de Lapoype m’avoit parlè d’une grande Lettre de Vous a l’Institut de France, dont Vous lui aviez donnè une Copie. c’est celle que j’aurois desirè d’avoir.
4) Je Vous prie de regarder les deux Mengotti, qui sortent de ma petite bibliotheque—comme faisant partie de votre Grande. (Les Ouvrages de çet Auteur sont extrement rares)—et
5) de me les preter (a son tems)—ainsi que Votre Exempl. de l’Econ. politique de Say (celui toute de Suite) pour le Professeur Girardin.
6) Je Vous prierais aussi, de me permettre de garder come proprieté Vos observations Sur la Virginie en francais, que Vous avez eû la bontè de me preter, par le Motif, que c’est un Exempl. qui a fait partie de votre bibliotheque.
7) Vous vous rappellerez, de m’avoir dit, a Monticello a Table, que l’Edition in Quarto de l’hist. nat. des peroquets—etant, la plus grande marge exceptée— absolument la même, que çelle in folio, si elle ne seroit pas si chere, conviendroit bien pour decorer votre Salle a Manger; Permettez donc, que je Vous offre çette edition in 4to. au prix d’Editeur, Savoir 48 Gourdes.—au quel la Maison, parce qu’elle en est l’editeur, me l’a fixè?
8) Avez vû recu Parkyns en Allemand—?
9) Messieurs de La Tullaye Botaniste, et Mr. Du Catel Chymiste, desirent de Vous presenter leurs respects a Federal City—et m’engagent, de les y accompagner.
Je suis penetrè des Sentimens de la plus profonde Veneration.
Reibelt
[Note in TJ’s hand:]
| ✓ | bust |
| ✓ | lre to institute |
| Mengotti. Notes Virga. Say | |
| ✓ | Peroquets |
| Parkins | |
| his visit | |
| Phaeton | |
| Aristotle by Camus. 2. v. 4to. hist. des animaux | |
| Plin. Fr. N. |
Editors’ Translation
Baltimore, 15 Oct. 1805
Sir!
I have the honor of replying to your letter of the 12th, which reached me yesterday noon.
1. Mr. Ducatel, whom I know well, told me recently that he offered the auctioneer $25 for the large bust in question (there are also two small ones) on behalf of the minister or consul (I do not know which) of his French imperial majesty, assuming no one else would want it. But he was told it had already been sold. These men now want to buy the small ones. Mr. Schwarze invited me to state a price. Knowing this, I can now in good conscience declare $25, and no more.
2. Mr. La Tullaye does not have any tarragon seeds, but he is expecting more and will be honored to send you some.
3. Mr. La Poype told me about your fine letter to the French Institute, of which you gave him a copy. That is the one I would like to have.
4. I ask you to consider the two Mengotti books from my small library as belonging to your great one (works by this author are extremely rare) and
5. to lend them to me at some point, along with your copy of Say’s Économie politique (this one right away) for Professor Girardin.
6. I also ask you to allow me to keep your Notes on Virginia in French, that you were kind enough to lend me, since the copy belonged to your library.
7. You will remember having told me, at the table at Monticello, that the quarto edition of the natural history of parrots, which is exactly the same as the folio edition, except for the wide margins, would be suitable decoration for your dining room if it is not too expensive. Allow me to offer you this quarto edition at the publisher’s price of $48, the amount set by the printer, because he is also the publisher.
8. Did you receive the Parkyns in German?
9. Messrs. La Tullaye, a botanist, and Ducatel, a chemist, wish to present their respects to you in the federal city, and invite me to accompany them.
I am imbued with the deepest esteem.
Reibelt
RC (DLC); with note by TJ below endorsement; endorsed by TJ as received 15 Oct. and so recorded in SJL.
Ministre ou Consul: respectively, Louis Marie Turreau and Louis Arcambal.
The inclusion of references to his Phaeton and to French translations of Aristotle and Pliny indicates that TJ likely compiled the list in conjunction with his response of 19 Oct.