“ town, who set out to-day for Washington . . . I am ambitious, Sir, to have the honor of inscribing this treatise to you and, therefore, the papers which were committed to the charge of M ^r. Getz, for your inspection, are now followed by my request, that you will pleased to grant me that indulgence . . .”

The copy and pages of preface referred to above are in manuscript and are with the letter in the Jefferson Papers in the Library of Congress.

Jefferson replied from Washington on November 12: “ I have duly recieved your favor of Oct. 30. and the honour of your proposition to address to me your treatise on the law of nations. this proof of respect cannot but be flattering to one who entertains a sincere esteem for your person and character. the subject is important, involved in errors and contradictions, which, for the peace of the world, it is very desirable to see rectified. but the want of a physical test whereby to try principles, and the passions & interests & power of the nations who are called to their bar, makes that rectification very difficult. still every effort is laudable which goes to that object, and tends to promote it by increasing the mass of authorities which bear witness in it’s favor. Accept my best wishes for the success of your work & assurances of my high esteem & respect. ”

On February 20, 1802, Barton sent the book, and explained the inserted engraving: “Amos Slaymaker, Esq ^r. (a respectable inhabitant of this neighbourhood) will have the honor of delivering this to you; together with a copy of my book, which I request you will do me the favor to accept, as a small token of my high respect for your character.--I have accompanied this copy with a small engraved portrait of myself,--executed in a peculiar style, by Mons. S ^t. Memin of Philadelphia,--as a good specimen of the talents of that ingenious artist--The outline of the original drawing (which is as large as life, and finished in chalks,) is made by a mechanical apparatus, called the Physiognotrace; and from this he executes the print, in the reduced size. M ^r. S ^t. Memin’s profiles are, generally, striking likenesses; and, considering the excellence of the workmanship, his price is very moderate.--I have taken the liberty of sending to you, Sir, this specimen of his art (which I procured for the purpose of gratifying my children), presuming that you may not have had an opportunity of seeing one of the kind, before; knowing that, in this case, it will be acceptable to you-- This likeness, my friends say, is an excellent one.--

"I feel very anxious for the fate of my book. Some of my friends--and among these, one worthy Governor,--persuade me it has some merit--Of one thing, however, I am sure;--it is well-intended. The work is now before the world; and I hope, for the sake of the Bookseller (who is a very worthy man), as well as on my own account, it will meet with a favorable reception among my countrymen--M ^r. Conrad has, I expect, sent 80 or 100 copies to Washington . . .”

Several references to Jefferson occur in the text. On page 80 is quoted a letter dated 16 August, 1795, from Jefferson to Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, the American minister at Paris.

Appendix no. xiv consists of a letter from Mr. Jefferson, Secretary of State, to Mr. T. Pinckney, Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States with Great Britain, Philadelphia, September 7, 1793. [A letterpress copy in Jefferson’s hand of a draft of this letter to Pinckney is in the Jefferson Papers in the Library of Congress.]

For a note on William Barton see no. 529.

Charles Balthazar Julien Fevret de Saint-Memin, 1770-1852, engraved Jefferson’s portrait in “physiognotrace” in 1804.