Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to Sidney E. Morse, 9 March 1823

To Sidney E. Morse

Monticello Mar. 9. 23.

I thank you, Sir, for the copy of your geography which you have been so kind as to send me. I have examined the Statistical part to which you particularly refer my attention, and I find it truly a very valuable addition to the book, and constituting a convenient Repertory of the matters of which tabular views are presented. there is yet one table which has never been given, and would be equally1 curious and interesting.2 it is that of the produce or exchangeable matter of each state respectively3 exported either to other states or to foreign countries. the tables pa. 624. 626. furnish some views towards it, but too general for special comparisons.4

In your list of colleges pa. 645. you have omitted that of William and Mary in Virginia, founded by the sovereigns of those names about 1692, and probably the most liberally endowed of5 any one in the US. it is now much reduced by ill management of it’s funds,6 and less resorted to on account of climate. it has generally had from 60. to 80. students and has furnished constantly from it’s first institution it’s full quota of distinguished characters.

You ask for such hints as I could furnish on the subject of these tables; but, good7 Sir, I am past that service. the torpitude of 80. years has relaxed the habits of research, and two crippled wrists render writing the most tedious and painful operation I can undertake. with my regrets therefore that I cannot be useful to you in this way be pleased to accept the assurance of my esteem and respect.

Th: Jefferson

RC (ViW: TC-JP); addressed: “Mr Sidney Morse Newhaven”; franked; postmarked; endorsed by Morse. Dft (CSmH: JF-BA); on verso of bottom half of reused address cover of John Griffiths to TJ, 13 Aug. 1821; undated; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 9 Mar. 1823.

The tables pa. 624. 626. of Morse’s A New System of Modern Geography (Boston, 1822; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library, 1829 description ends , 7 [no. 311]) gave the “Exports and Shipping of each state” and a “List of Articles Exported.”

1Word interlined in Dft.

2Word interlined in Dft in place of “satisfactory.”

3Remainder of sentence interlined in Dft.

4Reworked in Dft from “for the special objects in view.”

5Manuscript: “of of.”

6Remainder of sentence interlined in Dft.

7Word interlined in Dft in place of “Dear.”

Index Entries

  • A New System of Modern Geography, or a View of the Present State of the World (S. E. Morse) search
  • books; on geography search
  • geography; books on search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; receives works search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; fatiguing or painful to search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Health; wrist injury search
  • Mary II, queen of Great Britain; and College of William and Mary search
  • Morse, Sidney Edwards; A New System of Modern Geography, or a View of the Present State of the World search
  • Morse, Sidney Edwards; letter to search
  • United States; exports of search
  • William and Mary, College of; TJ on search
  • William III, king of Great Britain; and College of William and Mary search