Chapter 2

As a delegate to the Second Continental Congress Mr. Jefferson had a leading share in its deliberations, although that body embraced many of the most distinguished men of that period. The most important act of that assembly was the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which, as I have already stated, he himself drafted. It is said, however, that he was most valuable in committee work, because of the aptness of his sensible and methodical mind, and the ingenuity he possessed in putting his ideas upon paper, and doing it in such a way as to create but little, if any, antagonisms. In all of the official stations in which he was placed by his fellow citizens, by means of his talents for constructive statesmanship, and his persuasive and conciliatory spirit, he invariably displayed a remarkable talent for tact in parliamentary leadership.

Military chieftains often win immortal renown as the result of a single important battle, and often flash like rush-light stars across the sky of history. But this is not true of men like Jefferson and others of his class. They _grow_ into great characters, and they build monuments to their memories which the tooth of time cannot destroy. There is nothing ephemeral or evanescent in the makeup of their records. They build not for a day nor a year, but for the centuries. Indeed, it may be said that they build for eternity, and thus many of them have builded wiser than they knew. The following is a summary of Jefferson's achievements:

1. Jefferson, although eight years at the bar, became a lawyer of renown, and an acknowledged leader in the profession.

2. For many years he was a member of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, and possessed therein an influence almost supreme.

3. He was a member of different conventions, selected by the people of Virginia, to consider the state of the colony, to provide against taxation without representation, and to secure greater liberties for the people, and was a leader in them all.

4. He was chairman of the three committees appointed in 1774 by the Virginia Convention, (1) to provide for the better education of the people; (2), for the arming of the militia of the colony; and (3), to draw up a statement of the causes which had impelled the colonies to take up arms against the mother country.

5. He was a member of the Continental Congress which adopted the Declaration of American Independence, and was the writer of that immortal document, which of itself entitles him to enduring fame. For more than a century and a quarter it has been read every year in all parts of the Republic to assembled multitudes on the anniversary of its ratification, and it has been used as a model by all peoples since its adoption, who have sought to secure for themselves freedom and self-government.

6. He was Governor of Virginia during the latter part of the Revolution, and at the end of his term of office, the House of Burgesses publicly thanked him for the able and patriotic services rendered by him during his administration of that exalted station.

7. He, while a member of the American Congress after the adoption of our present Constitution, was the author of the system of coinage which, with some amendments, is still in vogue in the United States.

8. He was, in the early years of the Republic, twice commissioned by Congress as Minister Plenipotentiary to negotiate treaties of commerce with European States, and in this, as in all other public undertakings, he exhibited the highest character of tact and diplomacy.

9. He was five years Minister to France, was exceedingly popular, and secured several important modifications of the French tariff in the interests of American commerce.

10. As the first Secretary of State under Washington, he handled, with consummate skill, the perplexing international questions which grew out of the war declared by France in 1793, against Holland and Great Britain.

11. In 1796 he became Vice-President, and was elevated to the Presidency in 1800, and was reelected in 1804. In this great office he regarded himself purely as a trustee of the public, and the simplicity of his customs and his manly demeanor in office brought to him the confidence of the people of the country at large.

12. The crowning glory of his administration was the purchase of the territory of Louisiana from France. This single act made his administration historic, and the people are even now only beginning to fully appreciate it as they should.

13. In the manner in which he controlled politics during his two terms as President, which resulted almost in the total absorption or annihilation of the Federalist party, he exhibited the qualities of a tactician rarely, if ever, equaled.

14. After forty years of public life, the illustrious Commoner retired to private life upon his farm at Monticello, and gave his remaining years to the establishment and building up of the University of Virginia, which became a noted centre of learning before his death, and has been, for over three quarters of a century, the leading university of the South.

Thomas Jefferson was a great man, a great diplomatist, a great tactician and an illustrious citizen and patriot. His name and his deeds will be cherished and admired as long as the English language is read or spoken, and as long as human lips lisp the name of liberty.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

JEFFERSON AS A TACTICIAN. By Hon. George W. Atkinson, ex-Governor of West Virginia i

LETTERS WRITTEN WHILE IN EUROPE, 1784-1790 1-460

To General Washington, Nov. 14, 1786 1 To Monsieur Chas, Dec. 7, 1786 5 To Monsieur Duler, Dec. 8, 1786 6 To Messrs. Wilt, Delmestre and Co., Dec. 11, 1786 7 To James Madison, Dec. 16, 1786 8 To Charles Thompson, Dec. 17, 1786 11 To Colonel James Monroe, Dec. 18, 1786 15 To John Adams, Dec. 20, 1786 18 To Francis Hopkinson, Dec. 23, 1786 20 To Benjamin Franklin, Dec. 23, 1786 23 To Ezra Stiles, Dec. 24, 1786 25 To C. W. F. Dumas, Dec. 25, 1786 26 To William Carmichael, Dec. 26, 1786 29 To Benjamin Vaughan, Dec. 29, 1786 32 To John Jay, Dec. 31, 1786 35 To Samuel Osgood, Jan. 5, 1787 38 To M. de Calonnes (Controlleur Générale), Jan. 7, 1787 40 To John Jay, Jan. 9, 1787 41 To John Adams, Jan. 11, 1787 47 To Colonel David S. Franks, Jan. 11, 1787 49 To Monsieur L. W. Otto, Jan. 14, 1787 50 To Monsieur le Duc D'Harcourt, Governeur du Dauphin, Jan. 14, 1787 52 To Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, Jan. 15, 1787 53 To Colonel Edward Carrington, Jan. 16, 1787 55 To M. Du Rival, Jan. 17, 1787 59 To Messrs. S. and J. H. Delap, Jan. 17, 1787 60 To Monsieur Soulés, Jan. 19, 1787 61 To Monsieur Hilliard d'Auberteuil, Jan. 27, 1787 62 To Chevalier de Segond, Jan. 27, 1787 62 To James Madison, Jan. 30, 1787 63 To John Jay, Feb. 1, 1787 73 To Monsieur Soulés, Feb. 2, 1787 78 To John Adams, Feb. 6, 1787 79 To Mrs. William Bingham, Feb. 7, 1787 81 To Governor Edmund Randolph, Feb. 7, 1787 84 To John Jay, Feb. 8, 1787 85 To C. W. F. Dumas, Feb. 9, 1787 86 To Messrs. Borgnis Desbordes Frères, Feb. 12, 1787 88 To John Adams, Feb. 14, 1787 89 To John Jay, Feb. 14, 1787 89 To M. le Prevôt des Marchands et Echevins de Paris, Feb. 18, 1787 90 To William Carmichael, Feb. 18, 1787 91 To Thomas Barclay, Feb. 18, 1787 93 To John Adams, Feb. 20, 1787 95 To John Adams, Feb. 23, 1787 96 To John Jay, Feb. 23, 1787 98 To Richard Peters, Feb. 26, 1787 100 To the Marquis de La Fayette, Feb. 28, 1787 101 To Madame la Comtesse de Tesse, March 20, 1787 102 To the Marquis de La Fayette, April 11, 1787 106 To William Short, April 12, 1787 110 To John Jay, May 4, 1787 111 To Pierre Guide, May 6, 1787 123 To William Carmichael, June 14, 1787 125 To C. W. F. Dumas, June 14, 1787 128 To John Bannister, Junior, June 19, 1787 129 To James Madison, June 20, 1787 131 To John Jay, June 21, 1787 138 To Madame de Corny, June 30, 1787 145 To John Adams, July 1, 1787 146 To David Hartley, July 2, 1787 150 To Benjamin Vaughan, July 2, 1787 152 To Dr. William Gordon, July 2, 1787 154 To T. B. Hollis, Esq., July 2, 1787 155 To John Bondfield, July 2, 1787 156 To James Manny, July 2, 1787 157 To Monsieur l'Abbé Morellet, July 2, 1787 158 To T. M. Randolph, Junior, July 6, 1787 165 To Edward Rutledge, Esq., July 14, 1787 169 To John Adams, July 17, 1787 173 To Joseph Fenwick, July 21, 1787 174 To Stephen Cathalan, Junior, July 21, 1787 175 To the Delegates of Rhode Island, July 22, 1787 178 To the Count de Montmorin, July 23, 1787 180 To Fulwar Skipwith, July 28, 1787 187 To J. W. Eppes, July 28, 1787 189 To Alexander Donald, July 28, 1787 191 To William Drayton, July 30, 1787 193 To Francis Hopkinson, Esq., Aug. 1, 1787 205 To R. Izard, Esq., Aug. 1, 1787 209 To James Madison, Aug. 2, 1787 212 To Thomas Barclay, Aug. 3, 1787 216 To Thomas Barclay, Aug. 3, 1787 218 To Edward Randolph, Aug. 3, 1787 218 To the Governor of Virginia (Edmund Randolph), Aug. 3, 1787 220 To William Hay, Aug. 4, 1787 223 To Dr. David Ramsay, Aug. 4, 1787 225 To Edward Carrington, Aug. 4, 1787 227 To Dr. James Currie, Aug. 4, 1787 229 To Benjamin Hawkins, Aug. 4, 1787 231 To Colonel James Monroe, Aug. 5, 1787 233 To the Honorable Commissioners of the Treasury, Aug. 5, 1787 235 To John Jay, Aug. 6, 1787 239 To Governor Edward Rutledge, Aug. 6, 1787 250 To Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, Aug. 6, 1787 252 To Colonel Richard Claiborne, Aug. 8, 1787 253 To John Churchman, Aug. 8, 1787 254 To Monsieur de L'Hommande, Aug. 9, 1787 255 To Peter Carr, Aug. 10, 1787 256 To Dr. George Gilmer, Aug. 11, 1787 263 To Colonel T. M. Randolph, Aug. 11, 1787 266 To the Reverend James Madison, Aug. 13, 1787 269 To the Honorable J. Blair, Aug. 13, 1787 272 To Joseph Jones, Aug. 14, 1787 273 To General George Washington, Aug. 14, 1787 274 To Colonel David Humphreys, Aug. 14, 1787 278 To John Jay, Aug. 15, 1787 280 To James Madison, Aug. 15, 1787 281 To the Count del Vermi, Aug. 15, 1787 282 To John Adams, Aug. 30, 1787 285 To Monsieur le Comte de Montmorin, Sept. 8, 1787 289 To Andrew Limozin, Sept. 9, 1787 291 To T. Blake, Sept. 9, 1787 293 To John Bondfield, Sept. 9, 1787 293 To C. W. F. Dumas, Sept. 10, 1787 294 To Don Francisco Chiappi, Sept. 15, 1787 295 To George Wythe, Sept. 16, 1787 296 To David Rittenhouse, Sept. 18, 1787 301 To the Honorable Commissioners of the Treasury, Sept. 18, 1787 303 To John Jay, Sept. 19, 1787 304 To Charles Thompson, Sept. 20, 1787 311 To John Jay, Sept. 22, 1787 314 To John Jay, Sept. 22, 1787 315 To Burrill Carnes, Sept. 22, 1787 318 To Andrew Limozin, Sept. 22, 1787 319 To John Jay, Sept. 24, 1787 320 To John Adams, Sept. 28, 1787 321 To Colonel William S. Smith, Sept. 28, 1787 323 To Monsieur le Comte de Buffon, Oct. 3, 1787 325 To C. W. F. Dumas, Oct. 4, 1787 327 To General John Sullivan, Oct. 5, 1787 328 To John Jay, Oct. 8, 1787 330 To James Madison, Oct. 8, 17S7 335 To John Jay, Oct. 8, 1787 336 To Monsieur le Comte de Moustier, Oct. 9, 1787 339 To Madame de Brehan, Oct. 9, 1787 340 To Andrew Limozin, Oct. 9, 1787 340 To C. W. F. Dumas, Oct. 14, 1787 341 To Madame de Corny, Oct. 18, 1787 342 To the Count de Montmorin, Oct. 23, 1787 344 To Monsieur l'Abbé de Morellet, Oct. 24, 1787 347 To John Jay, Oct. 27, 1787 348 To John Jay, Nov. 3, 1787 349 To John Jay, Nov. 3, 1787 359 To the Count de Montmorin, Nov. 6, 1787 363 To John Jay, Nov. 7, 1787 367 To John Adams, Nov. 13, 1787 368 To Colonel William S. Smith, Nov. 13, 1787 371 To James Maury, Nov. 13, 1787 374 To C. W. F. Dumas, Dec. 9, 1787 376 To William Carmichael, Dec. 11, 1787 378 To John Adams, Dec. 12, 1787 383 To James Madison, Dec. 20, 1787 385 To Edward Carrington, Dec. 21, 1787 393 To John Jay, Dec. 21, 1787 397 To Andrew Limozin, Dec. 22, 1787 400 To the Board of Treasury, Dec. 30, 1787 402 To John Jay, Dec. 31, 1787 404 To Monsieur Lambert (Controller-General), Jan. 3, 1788 411 To the Chevalier de Quesnay de Beaurepaire, Jan. 6, 1788 412 To William Drayton, Jan. 13, 1788 413 To le Comte de Bernstorff, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, Jan. 21, 1788 414 To William Rutledge, Feb. 2, 1788 417 To John Adams, Feb. 6, 1788 419 To the Commissioners of the Treasury, Feb. 7, 1788 421 To Doctor Price, Feb. 7, 1788 424 To Alexander Donald, Feb. 7, 1788 425 To Brissot de Warville, Feb. 12, 1788 428 To C. W. F. Dumas, Feb. 12, 1788 429 To Monsieur de Bertrous, Feb. 21, 1788 431 To Monsieur Trouchin, Feb. 26, 1788 432 To John Adams, March 2, 1788 434 To John Jay, March 13, 1788 435 To John Jay, March 16, 1788 436 To C. W. F. Dumas, March 29, 1788 441 To the Commissioners of the Treasury, March 29, 1788 443 To William Short, March 29, 1788 445 To General George Washington, May 2, 1788 447 To James Madison, May 3, 1788 455

ILLUSTRATIONS.

JEFFERSON AT SIXTY-TWO _Frontispiece_ Photogravure from the Original Crayon Drawing by St. Memin

FACING PAGE

THE FIRST PRAYER IN CONGRESS xx Photogravure from the Original Painting by T. H. Matteson

DAVID HUMPHREYS xxvi Photogravure from the Original Painting by Herring

JOHN JAY 366 Photogravure from the Original Painting by Stuart and Trumbull

CORRESPONDENCE.

LETTERS WRITTEN WHILE IN EUROPE.

1784-1789.

JEFFERSON'S WORKS.

LETTERS WRITTEN WHILE IN EUROPE.

1784-1789.

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

PARIS, November 14, 1786.

SIR,--The house of Le Coulteux, which for some centuries has been the wealthiest of this place, has it in contemplation to establish a great company for the fur trade. They propose that partners interested one half in the establishment, should be American citizens, born and residing in the United States. Yet if I understood them rightly, they expect that that half of the company which resides here, should make the greatest part, or perhaps the whole of the advances, while those on our side of the water should superintend the details. They had, at first, thought of Baltimore as the centre of their American transactions. I have pointed out to them the advantages of Alexandria for this purpose. They have concluded to take information as to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, for a principal deposit, and having no correspondent at Alexandria, have asked me to procure a state of the advantages of that place, as also to get a recommendation of the best merchant there, to be adopted as partner and head of the business there. Skill, punctuality and integrity are the requisites in such a character. They will decide on their whole information, as to the place for their principal factory. Being unwilling that Alexandria should lose its pretensions, I have undertaken to procure them information as to that place. If they undertake this trade at all, it will be on so great a scale as to decide the current of the Indian trade to the place they adopt. I have no acquaintance at Alexandria or in its neighborhood; but, believing you would feel an interest in the matter, from the same motives which I do, I venture to ask the favor of you to recommend to me a proper merchant for their purpose, and to engage some well-informed person to send me a representation of the advantages of Alexandria, as the principal deposit of the fur trade.