Thomas Jefferson Papers

Robert Walsh to Thomas Jefferson, 25 January 1819

From Robert Walsh

Philadelphia Jany 25th 1819

Dear Sir

I send the Analectic Magazine for the present month. Circumstances have induced me to decline any further Co-operation in that journal, but Judge Cooper will still continue to supply it with an article from time to time. He has written for it a critique on De Tracy’s Political Economy. I do not know what representation he has made of the book, or whether his studies have been of such a nature as to qualify him to pronounce judgment.

I have undertaken an Octavo of 500 or more pages—to be devoted to an exposition of the Historical & Moral Character, the Public Economy, and probable destinies, of these United States. An Outline is all that [can]1 be given within the time & space to which I am obliged to restrict myself, but I hope to demonstrate that we are the most respectable and flourishing people on earth. The “Statistics” of Pitkin are too dry and technical; the “Statistical Annals2 of Seybert too ponderous & particular.

I need not say how grateful I should be for any hints from you with regard to the best plan for the attainment of what I venture to call my patriotic object.

Mr Benjamin Vaughan, and Dr Kirkland of the Harvard University are now in this City. On their way hither, they visited Mr Jay, & interrogated him concerning the Cooperation of Dr Franklin in the peace of 82. The testimony of Mr Jay corroborates the opinions which you were so kind as to communicate to me on the Subject. He attests that Franklin Seemed as tenacious of all points as his Colleagues, & had no intercourse with the French Cabinet other than that to which all the Commissioners were parties.

I am happy to find that the Legislature of Virginia have consulted the interests of the state and their own reputation, in the question of the University. What you have so skilfully and philanthropically projected, you will, I trust and expect, live to See either completely realized, or in a course of certain execution.

very faithfully & respectfully

Robert Walsh Jr

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “T. Jefferson Esqre”; endorsed by TJ as received 31 Jan. 1819 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Analectic Magazine, vol. 13, no. 1 (Jan. 1819; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library, 1829 description ends , 14 [no. 925]).

The review by Thomas cooper of Destutt de Tracy’s Treatise on Political Economy appeared, signed with his initials, on pp. 177–91 of the March 1819 number of the Analectic Magazine. In it Cooper agreed with TJ’s own displeasure with the style of the English translation, noting that “a more harsh and inelegant translation of any book we have seldom met with,” and he questioned the “strange affectation of Destutt Tracy himself, in making the subject of political economy a part of the metaphysics of ideas. To us it appears, that a treatise on confectionary or on the art of dancing, is just as much connected with the nature of the will, and the physical formation of our wants and our means, as political economy” (p. 179). Nevertheless, Cooper recommended the work as “interesting to us, from the high standing and great respectability of the gentleman who edits it: for the importance of the subjects treated; and the ability with which they are discussed” (pp. 190–1).

Describing it as preliminary to a fuller discussion, Walsh eventually published his octavo work, entitled An Appeal from the Judgments of Great Britain respecting the United States of America. Part First, containing an Historical Outline of their Merits and Wrongs as Colonies; and Strictures Upon the Calumnies of the British Writers (Philadelphia, 1819; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library, 1829 description ends , 11 [no. 685]). The Treaty of Paris concluding the Revolutionary War was signed in 1783, not 82 (Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and other International Acts of the United States of America [1931–48], 2:151–7).

1Omitted word editorially supplied.

2Omitted closing quotation mark editorially supplied.

Index Entries

  • An Appeal from the Judgments of Great Britain respecting the United States of America (R. Walsh) search
  • A Statistical View of the Commerce of the United States (T. Pitkin) search
  • A Treatise on Political Economy (Destutt de Tracy) search
  • books; on history search
  • Cooper, Thomas; andAnalectic Magazine search
  • Cooper, Thomas; on Destutt de Tracy’s publication search
  • Destutt de Tracy, Antoine Louis Claude; A Treatise on Political Economy search
  • Franklin, Benjamin; as minister to France search
  • Jay, John; relationship with B. Franklin search
  • Kirkland, John Thornton; and B. Franklin search
  • Paris; Treaty of (1783) search
  • Pitkin, Timothy; A Statistical View of the Commerce of the United States search
  • political economy; works on search
  • Seybert, Adam; Statistical Annals search
  • Statistical Annals (A. Seybert) search
  • The Analectic Magazine search
  • United States; historiography of search
  • Vaughan, Benjamin; and B. Franklin search
  • Virginia, University of; Establishment; and General Assembly search
  • Virginia; General Assembly search
  • Walsh, Robert; An Appeal from the Judgments of Great Britain respecting the United States of America search
  • Walsh, Robert; andAnalectic Magazine search
  • Walsh, Robert; as B. Franklin’s biographer search
  • Walsh, Robert; letters from search