Thomas Jefferson Papers

José Corrêa da Serra to Thomas Jefferson, 29 March 1816

From José Corrêa da Serra

Philadelphia 29 March. 1816

Dear Sir

At Last Mrs Barton has sent me a Little morocco bound volume, part of Capt. Lewis journal containing his observations from April 9 of 1805 to February 17 1806, and the meteorológical observ. for July August September. 1805, together with the drawing of a quadruped which he calls the Fisher. As the chaos of His Library begins to clear, by the separation of printed books which are sold to the hospital i doubt not the remaining papers of Capt. Lewis may be found, but you could help me much by sending me a description of their external appearance, and their probable volume, because Mrs Barton who acts in all this very honestly (but does not permit any body to search the papers of her husband, but by what i understand only herself and her brother who is also a very honest person) will be much helped in finding them. In the mean time i expect your directions about what i am to do with the volume i have got, and the others that may appear.

I hope you have enjoyed perfect health, and your winter probably has not been so capricious as in Pennsylvania, where after very pleasant weather, we have felt two rather severe snow storms since the middle of the month.

Marshall Grouchy has been here a few days in the same hotel with Mr Short whose acquaintance he is. I have spoken with him, and he did not seem to me very sanguine in his expectations about what is going in Europe. From his account Bonaparte’s talents did not shine in the Last years of his political existence.

I remain with the highest respect and esteem

Most sincerely Yours

J. Corrèa de Serra

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 9 Apr. 1816 and so recorded in SJL. RC (MHi); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Levin Gale, 7 May 1816, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Monticello Albemarle Cty Virginia”; franked; postmarked Philadelphia, 29 Mar.

For the little morocco bound volume, see Moulton, Journals of Lewis & Clark description begins Gary E. Moulton, ed., The Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, 1983–2001, 13 vols. description ends , 2:534–5. The drawing of a quadruped which he calls the fisher was created by Charles Willson Peale based on a specimen brought back by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark (PPAmP: Lewis and Clark Journals, vol. 7). Benjamin Smith Barton’s books were sold to the Pennsylvania hospital (Catalogue of the Medical Library of the Pennsylvania Hospital [1829], ix). Mary Pennington Barton’s brother was Edward Pennington.

Index Entries

  • Barton, Benjamin Smith; and journals of M. Lewis search
  • Barton, Benjamin Smith; library of search
  • Barton, Mary Pennington (Benjamin Smith Barton’s wife); and journals of M. Lewis search
  • Clark (Clarke), William; and Lewis and Clark Expedition search
  • Corrêa da Serra, José; and journals of M. Lewis search
  • Corrêa da Serra, José; letters from search
  • fisher (animal) search
  • Grouchy, Emmanuel, marquis de; U.S. travels of search
  • Lewis, Meriwether; and publication of journals search
  • Lewis, Meriwether; Lewis and Clark Expedition search
  • Lewis and Clark Expedition; publication of journals search
  • Napoleon I, emperor of France; criticized search
  • Peale, Charles Willson; depicts specimens from Lewis and Clark Expedition search
  • Pennington, Edward; and journals of M. Lewis search
  • Pennsylvania Hospital search
  • Short, William; Philadelphia residence of search
  • weather; snow search