Thomas Jefferson to William Lambert, 29 March 1822
To William Lambert
Monticello. Mar. 29. 22.
Th: Jefferson returns his thanks to mr Lambert for the two copies of the very able and learned pamphlet he has been so kind as to send him on the subject of the first Meridian. they shall be disposed of as he directed.1 he was pleased to see that the Legislature had considered this object as one of necessary attention, and is still more so to find it so accurately carried into execution. he salutes mr Lambert with assurances of his continued esteem and respect.
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1817–25); addressed: “Mr William Lambert Washington”; franked; postmarked Charlottesville, 2 Apr. PoC (DLC); on verso of portion of a reused address cover from Alexander Garrett to TJ; endorsed by TJ. Printed in Washington Daily National Intelligencer, 9 Apr. 1822, with an editorial headnote reading “We are glad to find, by the subjoined note from Mr. Jefferson to Mr. Lambert, that the measures which Congress have adopted towards the establishment of a First Meridian for the United States receive the approbation, and are supported by the opinion, of that venerable and enlightened citizen.”
The United States legislature passed a joint resolution on 3 Mar. 1821 authorizing President James Monroe “to cause astronomical observations to be made to ascertain the longitude of the Capitol in the City of Washington from some known meridian in Europe” (, 14:319).
1. In the Daily National Intelligencer a note is keyed here with an asterisk: “One copy for his own use, and the other for the use of the University, or Seminary of Learning near Charlottesville, in Virginia.”
Index Entries
- Capitol, U.S.; latitude and longitude measurements at search
- Congress, U.S.; and calculation of longitude of U.S. Capitol search
- Congress, U.S.; and prime meridian search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; receives works search
- Lambert, William; andMessage from the President of the United States, transmitting a Report of William Lambert, on the subject of the Longitude of the Capitol of the United States. January 9, 1822 search
- Lambert, William; and prime meridian search
- Lambert, William; calculates latitude and longitude of U.S. Capitol search
- Lambert, William; letters to search
- longitude; calculations for U.S. Capitol search
- Message from the President of the United States, transmitting a Report of William Lambert, on the subject of the Longitude of the Capitol of the United States. January 9, 1822 (1822; J. Monroe) search
- Monroe, James (1758–1831); presidency of search
- prime meridian search
- Virginia, University of; Books and Library; books and manuscripts for search