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own soil by the side of the grower of produce; are so palpable; that

no temporary suspension of injuries on her part; or agreements

founded on that; will now prevent our continuing in what we have

begun。  The spirit of manufacture has taken deep root among us; and

its foundations are laid in too great expense to be abandoned。  The

bearer of this; Mr。 Ronaldson; will be able to inform you of the

extent and perfection of the works produced here by the late state of

things; and to his information; which is greatest as to what is doing

in the cities; I can add my own as to the country; where the

principal articles wanted in every family are now fabricated within

itself。  This mass of _household_ manufacture; unseen by the public

eye; and so much greater than what is seen; is such at present; that

let our intercourse with England be opened when it may; not one half

the amount of what we have heretofore taken from her will ever again

be demanded。  The great call from the country has hitherto been of

coarse goods。  These are now made in our families; and the advantage

is toosensible ever to be relinquished。  It is one of those obvious

improvements in our condition which needed only to be once forced on

our attention; never again to be abandoned。




        Among the arts which have made great progress among us is that

of printing。  Heretofore we imported our books; and with them much

political principle from England。  We now print a great deal; and

shall soon supply ourselves with most of the books of considerable

demand。  But the foundation of printing; you know; is the

type…foundry; and a material essential to that is antimony。

Unfortunately that mineral is not among those as yet found in the

United States; and the difficulty and dearness of getting it from

England; will force us to discontinue our type…founderies; and resort

to her again for our books; unless some new source of supply can be

found。  The bearer; Mr。 Ronaldson; is of the concern of Binney &

Ronaldson; type…founders of Philadelphia。  He goes to France for the

purpose of opening some new source of supply; where we learn that

this article is abundant; the enhancement of the price in England has

taught us the fact; that its exportation thither from France must be

interrupted; either by the war or express prohibition。  Our

relations; however; with France; are too unlike hers with England; to

place us under the same interdiction。  Regulations for preventing the

transportation of the article to England; under the cover of supplies

to America; may be thought requisite。  The bearer; I am persuaded;

will readily give any assurances which may be required for this

object; and the wants of his own type…foundry here are a sufficient

pledge that what he gets is _bona fide_ to supply them。  I do not

know that there will be any obstacle to his bringing from France any

quantity of antimony he may have occasion for; but lest there should

be; I have taken the liberty of recommending him to your patronage。

I know your enlightened and liberal views on subjects of this kind;

and the friendly interest you take in whatever concerns our welfare。

I place Mr。 Ronaldson; therefore; in your hands; and pray you to

advise him; and patronize the object which carries him to Europe; and

is so interesting to him and to our country。  His knowledge of what

is passing among us will be a rich source of information for you; and

especially as to the state and progress of our manufactures。  Your

kindness to him will confer an obligation on me; and will be an

additional title to the high and affectionate esteem and respect of

an ancient and sincere friend。







        AN EDITION OF WRITINGS




        _To John W。 Campbell_

        _Monticello; September 3; 1809_




        SIR;  Your letter of July 29th came to hand some time since;

but I have not sooner been able to acknowledge it。  In answer to your

proposition for publishing a complete edition of my different

writings; I must observe that no writings of mine; other than those

merely official; have been published; except the Notes on Virginia

and a small pamphlet under the title of a Summary View of the rights

of British America。  The Notes on Virginia; I have always intended to

revise and enlarge; and have; from time to time; laid by materials

for that purpose。  It will be long yet before other occupations will

permit me to digest them; and observations and inquiries are still to

be made; which will be more correct in proportion to the length of

time they are continued。  It is not unlikely that this may be through

my life。  I could not; therefore; at present; offer anything new for

that work。




        The Summary View was not written for publication。  It was a

draught I had prepared for a petition to the king; which I meant to

propose in my place as a member of the convention of 1774。  Being

stopped on the road by sickness; I sent it on to the Speaker; who

laid it on the table for the perusal of the members。  It was thought

too strong for the times; and to become the act of the convention;

but was printed by subscription of the members; with a short preface

written by one of them。  If it had any merit; it was that of first

taking our true ground; and that which was afterwards assumed and

maintained。




        I do not mention the Parliamentary Manual; published for the

use of the Senate of the United States; because it was a mere

compilation; into which nothing entered of my own but the

arrangement; and a few observations necessary to explain that and

some of the cases。




        I do not know whether your view extends to official papers of

mine which have been published。  Many of these would be like old

newspapers; materials for future historians; but no longer

interesting to the readers of the day。  They would consist of

reports; correspondences; messages; answers to addresses; a few of my

reports while Secretary of State; might perhaps be read by some as

essays on abstract subjects。  Such as the report on measures; weights

and coins; on the mint; on the fisheries; on commerce; on the use of

distilled sea…water; &c。  The correspondences with the British and

French ministers; Hammond and Genet; were published by Congress。  The

messages to Congress; which might have been interesting at the

moment; would scarcely be read a second time; and answers to

addresses are hardly read a first time。




        So that on a review of these various materials; I see nothing

encouraging a printer to a re…publication of them。  They would

probably be bought by those only who are in the habit of preserving

State papers; and who are not many。




        I say nothing of numerous draughts of reports; resolutions;

declarations; &c。; drawn as a Member of Congress or of the

Legislature of Virginia; such as the Declaration of Independence;

Report on the Money Mint of the United States; the act of religious

freedom; &c。; &c。; these having become the acts of public bodies;

there can be no personal claim to them; and they would no more find

readers now; than the journals and statute books in which they are

deposited。




        I have presented this general view of the subjects which might

have been within the scope of your contemplation; that they might be

correctly estimated before any final decision。  They belong mostly to

a class of papers not calculated for popular reading; and not likely

to offer profit; or even indemnification to the re…publisher。

Submitting it to your consideration; I tender you my salutations and

respects。







        INDIAN VOCABULARIES




        _To Dr。 Benjamin S。 Barton_

        _Monticello; September 21; 1809_




        DEAR SIR;  I received last night your favor of the 14th; and

would with all possible pleasure have communicated to you any part or

the whole of the Indian vocabularies which I had collected; but an

irreparable misfortune has deprived me of them。  I have now been

thirty years availing myself of every possible opportunity of

procuring Indian vocabularies to the same set of words: my

opportunities were probably better than will ever occur again to any

person having the same desire。  I had collected about fifty; and had

digested most of them in collateral columns; and meant to have

printed them the last year of my stay in Washington。  But not having

yet digested Captain Lewis's collection; nor having leisure then to

do it; I put it off till I should return home。  The whole; as well

digest as originals; were packed in a trunk of stationary; and sent

round by water with about thirty other packages of my effects; from

Washington; and while ascending James river; this package; on account

of its weight and presumed precious contents; was singled out and

stolen。  The thief being disappointed on opening it; threw into the

river all its contents; of which he thought he could make no use。

Amon

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