Thomas Jefferson to George W. Erving, [12] April 1823
To George W. Erving
Monto Apr. 11. [12] 23.
Dear Sir
Mr Madison, a few days ago, presented me, in your name a case of bronze medals, for which I pray you to accept my best thanks. I shall place them in our University, as soon as it is ready, as a deposit in which, more probably than elsewhere, they will be preserved longer1 to eternize the memory & effigies2 of men who have deserved well of all mankind. the fruits of their labors are now in growth. it is surely3 by the benevolent4 order of providence that the infatuated5 Lewis is now putting the match to a train which will blow up despotism from the fa[ce] of the earth. the insurrection beginng in any one spot will spread like wildfire over the civilised world. the great contest between men & monarchs must now be decided. it can no longer remain in suspense.6 and I trust it will end with the extermination of the Holy conspirators agt the human race and leave not a wreck of their existence behind. I hope you will live to see this great consummation, and live in health, prosperity7 and happiness.
Th:J.
Dft (DLC: TJ Papers, 224:39981); on verso of portion of reused address cover; misdated; one word faint; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 12 Apr. 1823 to “Erving George W.” and so recorded in SJL.
The case of bronze medals that Erving gave TJ contained seven pieces individually honoring George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, William Washington, John Eager Howard, Christopher Columbus, John Paul Jones, and Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The set later passed to TJ’s descendants, however, rather than being deposited at the university of Virginia (, 245–7). Images of this set are reproduced elsewhere in this volume.
lewis: King Louis XVIII of France. The holy conspirators alludes to the Holy Alliance. leave not a wreck of their existence behind: in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, act 4, scene 1, Prospero says “And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind.”
1. Word interlined.
2. Word interlined in place of “figures.”
3. Word added in margin.
4. Word interlined in place of “bountiful.”
5. Word interlined in place of “stupid.”
6. Reworked from “remain suspended.”
7. Manuscript: “properity.”
Index Entries
- Columbus, Christopher; medal honoring search
- Erving, George William; gives medals to TJ search
- Erving, George William; letters to search
- France; and invasion of Spain search
- Franklin, Benjamin; medal honoring search
- Holy Alliance; TJ on search
- Howard, John Eager; medal commemorating Revolutionary War service of search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Literary Quotes; Shakespeare search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; European affairs search
- Jones, John Paul; medal commemorating Revolutionary War service of search
- Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura; medal honoring search
- Louis XVIII, king of France; TJ on search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); forwards medals to TJ search
- medals; commemorating Revolutionary War service search
- medals; sent to TJ search
- Revolutionary War; medals for service in search
- Shakespeare, William; The Tempestreferenced by TJ search
- Spain; invaded by France search
- Virginia, University of; Books and Library; as depository search
- Washington, George; and medals commemorating Revolutionary War search
- Washington, William; medal commemorating Revolutionary War service of search