Thomas Jefferson Papers

Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Extract from Theodor de Bry’s Preface to Americae Pars Quinta, with a Drawing Depicting Christopher Columbus, [ca. 28 August 1814]

Enclosure

Extract from Theodor de Bry’s Preface to Americae Pars Quinta, with a Drawing Depicting Christopher Columbus

PRÆFATIO

In superiore libro historiae Americanae (benevole lector) in qua res novi orbis nuper inventi mirandae atq; insignes non tantum scripto recitantur sed et iconibus exprimuntur et repraesentantur, dictum est eas terras Christophori Columbi Genuensis industria mirabiliter ac praeter spem eorum omnium quos ea de re compellarat, repertas fuisse. Quoniam autem ille Columbus vir erat cordatus magnique ingenii et animi, Rex et Regina Castiliae antequam ab illis discederet, ejus effigiem ab eximio aliquo pictore ad vivum exprimi jusserunt, ut si ab illa expeditione non rediret aliquod ejus monumentum apud se haberent. hujus autem effigiei exemplar nuper post absolutum quartum librum superiorem, à quodam amico meo qui illud ab ipso pictore acceperat magno cum gaudio nactus sum, cujus te quoque participem facere volui, atque in hunc finem eam effigiem à filio meo exigua forma quam fieri potuit perfectissimé in aes incidi curavi, quam et tibi hoc libro offero atque exhibeo. et revera digna est viri virtus cujus imago bonorum oculis obversetur. fuit enim ille vir probus, comis, magnanimus, ac moribus honestis, pacis justitiaeque amantissimus. quòd si Hispani ejus aemuli consilium ipsius secuti fuissent, tot tantaque mala in novo illo orbe non accidissent, neque ipsi tanta rabie non solùm in sua mancipia et in miseros Indos sed et in semetipsos mutuis caedibus saeviissent. Etc [the residue of the preface has no relation to the print.]

Editors’ Translation

PREFACE

In the previous book of American history (kind reader) in which the wondrous, extraordinary facts of the recently discovered New World are not only recounted in writing but also reproduced and depicted with images, it was said that those lands had been found through the industry of Christopher Columbus of Genoa, amazingly and against the expectations of all those to whom he had appealed concerning that project. Since, however, Columbus was a prudent man and endowed with a great intellect and spirit, the king and queen of Castile ordered a lifelike portrait of him to be executed by an outstanding painter before he took his leave of them, so that, if he did not return from that expedition, they would have some memorial of him at their court. Shortly after completing the fourth book, moreover, I very happily obtained a copy of this portrait from a certain friend of mine who had received it from the painter himself, a copy which I wanted to share with you as well. To that end, I had this portrait etched in bronze in miniature by my son as perfectly as possible, and in this book I offer and display it also to you. Worthy indeed is the virtue of a man whose image is shown to the eyes of the good. For he was an upright man, kind, magnanimous, with a respectable character, and very devoted to peace and justice. If the Spaniards emulating him had followed his advice, so many and such great evils would not have happened in that New World, nor would they have brutalized with such great fury not only their own slaves and the wretched Indians, but also themselves by mutual slaughter. Etc [the residue of the preface has no relation to the print.]

MS (LNT: George H. and Katherine M. Davis Collection); entirely in TJ’s hand; undated; with following enclosure subjoined; brackets in original. Translation by Dr. John F. Miller. The Editors express their appreciation to the Louisiana Research Collection, Tulane University Libraries, for permission to use the image from this text reproduced above.

TJ copied the above from Theodor de Bry, Americae Pars Quinta, the fifth part (Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends no. 3977) of The Great or American Voyages, Parts I to XI, in Latin (Frankfort and Oppenheim, 1590–1619). The first page is reproduced elsewhere in this volume.

Index Entries

  • Americae Pars Quinta, part five of The Great or American Voyages, Parts I to XI, in Latin (T. de Bry) search
  • Bry, Theodor de; Americae Pars Quinta, part five of The Great or American Voyages, Parts I to XI, in Latin search
  • Columbus, Christopher; and portrait for J. Delaplaine’s Repository search
  • Columbus, Christopher; described by T. de Bry search
  • Columbus, Christopher; portraits of search
  • Ferdinand II, king of Aragon and Castile; and C. Columbus search
  • Isabella I, queen of Aragon and Castile; and C. Columbus search
  • Latin; documents in, by; T. de Bry search