Thomas Jefferson to John Pickering, 13 February 1822
To John Pickering
Monticello Feb. 13. 22.
I thank you, Sir, for your essay proposing1 an uniform orthography for the Indian languages. it appears to me judiciously2 combined for effect and practice. it would be fortunate could it become the commencement of an uniform orthography for the world. but I suppose we are to despair of seeing such a sacrifice by any one generation for the good of all succeeding ones.3 such an orthography would have added value to the Colossal vocabulary of Catharine, of which the work of Adelung the subject of your review4 seems to be a Sinopsis. his filiation of the languages of our own Indians strengthens our5 confidence in6 his other researches.
I had not before known of the petition from Salem on the subject of the duty on books. about 4. years ago I made an attempt, through our delegates in Congress, to obtain a repeal of that duty, but without effect; and the late7 report of the committee of the Senate on that subject does not augur favorably of the issue of the present combined effort. with my thanks for these communications be pleased to accept the assurance of my great esteem and respect
Th Jefferson
RC (John Pickering, Salem, Mass., 1951). PoC (ViW: TC-JP); on verso of a reused address cover from Stephen Cathalan to TJ; at foot of text: “Mr Pickering”; endorsed by TJ. Dft (ViW: TC-JP); written at foot of RC of Pickering to TJ, 28 Jan. 1822; undated and unsigned.
For TJ’s previous attempt to get Congress to repeal duties on books, see William A. Burwell to TJ, 28 Nov. 1818, and note. For the 8 Jan. 1822 report of the Senate’s Committee of Finance, see enclosure to Anonymous to TJ, [19 Jan. 1822].
1. Word interlined in Dft in place of “on.”
2. Word interlined in Dft in place of “perfectly.”
3. Remainder of paragraph added in margin in Dft.
4. Reworked in Dft from “Adelung reviewed in that.”
5. Preceding two words interlined in Dft in place of “gives.”
6. Dft: “in the exactness of.”
7. RC: “lat.” Dft: “late.”
Index Entries
- Adelung, Friedrich; Uebersicht aller bekannten Sprachen und ihrer Dialekte search
- An Essay on a Uniform Orthography for the Indian Languages of North America (J. Pickering) search
- books; on orthography search
- books; tariffs on search
- Catherine II (“the Great”), empress of Russia; as linguist search
- Congress, U.S.; and tariffs search
- Congress, U.S.; petitions to search
- Indians, American; languages search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; receives works search
- language; Indian (American) search
- language; study of search
- Pickering, John (1777–1846); and tariffs on books search
- Pickering, John (1777–1846); An Essay on a Uniform Orthography for the Indian Languages of North America search
- Pickering, John (1777–1846); letters to search
- Pickering, John (1777–1846); reviewsUebersicht aller bekannten Sprachen und ihrer Dialekte (F. Adelung) search
- Senate, U.S.; and tariffs search
- taxes; on books search
- Uebersicht aller bekannten Sprachen und ihrer Dialekte (F. Adelung) search