Thomas Jefferson to Thomas W. White, 7 January 1824
To Thomas W. White
Monticello Jan. 7. 24.1
Sir
The copy of Baxter’s history which is in the Library of Congress cannot possibly be borrowed. it is against the law establishing their library. but you might get it from London, within 4. months, thro’ any importing merchant or bookseller of Richmond.
There is a new work in Law published in England, which will be of extensive sale in this country among the Lawyers. it is a Digest of Coke Littleton by Thomas, a most masterly work, and which will become the first elementary book for a student and indispensable in every lawyer’s library. it is in 3. large 8vos of mostly small print and costs 4. guineas in London in boards.2 the printing it would be a considerable undertaking. but it would be a safe one, were there no danger of printing a rival edition to the North. the merit of the work is so great that this will probably be done. the reprinting of Baxter would be safer. accept my respectful salutations.
Th: Jefferson
RC (NjP: Andre deCoppet Collection). FC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover to TJ; in TJ’s hand; at foot of text: “Thos W. White”; endorsed by TJ.
1. Reworked in FC from “23.”
2. Preceding two words not in FC.
Index Entries
- A New and Impartial History of England (J. Baxter) search
- A Systematic Arrangement of Lord Coke’s First Institute of the Laws of England (J. H. Thomas) search
- Baxter, John; A New and Impartial History of England search
- books; on history search
- Coke, Sir Edward; A Systematic Arrangement of Lord Coke’s First Institute of the Laws of England (J. H. Thomas) search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; advice for publishers search
- law; books on search
- Library of Congress; works owned by search
- Richmond, Va.; booksellers in search
- Thomas, John Henry; A Systematic Arrangement of Lord Coke’s First Institute of the Laws of England search
- White, Thomas Willis; letters to search
- White, Thomas Willis; proposed edition of J. Baxter,A New and Impartial History of England search
- White, Thomas Willis; proposed edition of J. H. Thomas,A Systematic Arrangement of Lord Coke’s First Institute of the Laws of England search