Jesse Torrey to Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1816

From Jesse Torrey

Washington April 6, 1816.

Dear Sir,

In compliance with an intention* which I have many years entertained, and also with the advice of one of the Editors† of the National Intelligencer, I now use the freedom of presenting for your consideration, my proposed scheme of a universal and economical system for the general dissemination of knowledge and moral improvement in the United States, through the medium of free Libraries.

The expression of your sentiments, when convenient, on the suggestions1 relative to this subject, contained in the accompanying publication, would be received as a particular favor, by your most obedient servant and friend,

Jesse Torrey Jnr

RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 3 May 1816 and so recorded in SJL. RC (Mrs. T. Wilber Chelf, Mrs. Virginius Dabney, and Mrs. Alexander W. Parker, Richmond, 1944; photocopy in ViU: TJP); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Patrick Gibson, 15 May 1816, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Monticello Virg—.”

The enclosed work, written by Torrey under the pseudonym “Discipulus Libertatis atque Humanitatis (Pupil of Liberty and Humanity.),” was The Intellectual Flambeau, demonstrating that National Happiness, Virtue & Temperance exist, in a Collateral Ratio, with the Dissemination of Philosophy, Science & Intelligence, with an Appendix, containing several Splendid Poems on the Advantages of Mental Improvement, and on Charity (Washington, 1816; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library, 1829 description ends , 9 [no. 489]). It argued that a public system of Lancasterian schools and free libraries should be underwritten by taxes on strong alcoholic beverages, thereby “extracting the greatest Good from the worst Evil” (p. 100).

1. Word interlined in place of “propositions.”

Authorial notes

[The following note(s) appeared in the margins or otherwise outside the text flow in the original source, and have been moved here for purposes of the digital edition.]

* *The object of carrying this intention into effect, by communicating with you personally on the subject, formed a great share of the inducements which led me to visit your residence at Monticello, in August last. But from your having declined an investigation of the physiological problems, which I proposed to suggest, and from your being under an engagement to ride from home soon, I conceived it to be improper to introduce the subject at that moment, or to obtrude a proposal for a second call; and therefore concluded to defer the execution of my purpose to a future period.

† †Mr Seaton.

Index Entries

alcohol; taxation of search
education; Lancasterian model search
Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; receives works search
libraries; free search
Monticello (TJ’s estate); Visitors to; Torrey, Jesse search
National Intelligencer (Washington newspaper); editors of search
physiology; study of search
Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); TJ plans visit to search
Seaton, William Winston; editor of WashingtonNational Intelligencer search
taxes; on alcohol search
The Intellectual Flambeau (“Discipulus Libertatis atque Humanitatis” [J. Torrey]) search
Torrey, Jesse; letters from search
Torrey, Jesse; physiological studies by search
Torrey, Jesse; The Intellectual Flambeau (written under pseudonym of “Discipulus Libertatis atque Humanitatis”) search
Torrey, Jesse; visits Monticello search
“Discipulus Libertatis atque Humanitatis” (J. Torrey); The Intellectual Flambeau search

You Are Looking At

Source Project: Jefferson Papers
Title: Jesse Torrey to Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1816
Author: Torrey, Jesse
Recipient: Jefferson, Thomas
Date: 6 April 1816

Reference

Cite as: “Jesse Torrey to Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1816,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-09-02-0437. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Retirement Series, vol. 9, September 1815 to April 1816, ed. J. Jefferson Looney. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2012, pp. 641–642.]

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