Joseph G. Swift to Thomas Jefferson, 15 February 1824
From Joseph G. Swift
New York 15. Feby 1824
Dear Sir,
I have lately received a message from the marquis de la Fayette in relation to the sale of a valuable mathematical & Philosophical Library, now in my possession, belonging to the Estate of the late John Garnett Esqr of New Brunswick;—The widow & daughter of Mr Garnett are now near the residence of the marquis, & he takes an interest in their welfare.—Your solicitude for the interests of the Virginia University induces me to state to you that this collection of Books, together with one belonging to Professor Hassler, (also in my possession) can be purchased at an extremely reasonable price;—if such would be an object with the directors of the University, the Books might remain upon any desired credit, the Interest being paid annually.—
The collection belonging to Mr Hassler (who is in very straitened circumstances) commences in time with the art of Printing & includes the Basle & other valuable European Editions of the mathematics & Philosophy of the Antients, important for reference in studying the progress of Science, & to show how much of modern things may justly be referred to former days.—
In closing this communication may I be permitted to recall myself to your recollection by mentioning, that I had the honour of a slight personal acquaintance with you when, during your first Presidency, by your favour I was first promoted, from the Military Academy in the Corps of Engineers—
J: G: Swift
RC (CtY: Franklin Collection); at foot of text: “President Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as a letter from “Swift D. J.” and so recorded (as received 26 Feb. 1824) in SJL.
Joseph Gardner Swift (1783–1865), soldier and engineer, was born in Massachusetts on the island of Nantucket. His family relocated to Taunton in 1792. Eight years later Swift became a cadet in the United States Army Corps of Artillerists and Engineers and was one of the first students to study at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In 1802 he became the institution’s first graduate, at which point he was appointed a second lieutenant in the reconstituted Corps of Engineers. Swift worked as an instructor at West Point from 1802–04 and again in 1807. He rapidly moved up the ranks, winning promotion to first lieutenant in 1805 and eventually to colonel and chief engineer of the United States Army in 1812. Swift served in 1813 under James Wilkinson in the American defeat at the battle of Crysler’s Farm and was brevetted to brigadier general for his conduct there. In addition to his service in the field, Swift oversaw the construction of fortifications at New York City’s harbor late in the war and was ex officio superintendent of the United States Military Academy, 1812–17. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1814. Swift resigned his commission in 1818 and became federal surveyor and inspector of the revenue for the port of New York from that year until 1826. He worked as a civil engineer on various projects from 1819 to 1845, including stints as chief engineer of several railroads. In 1827 Swift moved briefly to Haywood County, Tennessee, hoping to grow cotton, but he soon settled permanently in Geneva, New York. In 1860 his personal property and real estate were worth a total of $10,000 (ANB; DAB; Harrison Ellery, ed., The Memoirs of Gen. Joseph Gardner Swift [1890], esp. 12, 19–20, 201–3; George W. Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N. Y. [3d ed., 1891], 1:51–6; Heitman, U.S. Army, 1:43, 941; APS, Minutes, 15 Apr. 1814 [MS in PPAmP]; JEP, 1:434, 2:22, 50, 69, 296, 3:143 [11 Jan. 1803, 24 Feb. 1806, 25 Feb. 1807, 19 Feb. 1808, 9 Nov. 1812, 27 Nov. 1818]; DNA: RG 29, CS, N.Y., Geneva, 1860; New York Evening Post, 25 July 1865).
Index Entries
- American Philosophical Society; members of search
- books; on mathematics search
- books; on natural philosophy search
- Europe; scholarship in search
- Garnett, John; family of search
- Garnett, John; library of search
- Garnett, Mary (John Garnett’s wife) search
- Hassler, Ferdinand Rudolph; library of search
- Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, marquis de; and J. Garnett’s family search
- mathematics; books on search
- natural philosophy; books on search
- printing; and human progress search
- Swift, Joseph Gardner; identified search
- Swift, Joseph Gardner; letter from search
- Swift, Joseph Gardner; offers to sell books to University of Virginia search
- United States Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.); students at search
- Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; mentioned search
- Virginia, University of; Books and Library; private collections offered for sale to search