Jefferson purchased a copy from Froullé in Paris on October 13, 1788, price 3.12. The remains of a money addition on the last page is probably in Jefferson’s hand.

Jefferson wrote a long account of the Cincinnati in his notes on Demeusnier’s article on the Etats-Unis for the Encyclopédie : Pa. 240. “Les officiers Americains &c.--to pa 264. “qui le meritoient.” I would propose to new-model this Section in the following manner. 1. give a succinct history of the origin & establishment of the Cincinnati. 2. examine whether in its present form it threatens any dangers to the state. 3. propose the most practicable method of preventing them . . .

In his article which follows, Jefferson mentions this work by Ædanus Burke: . . . Politicians, who see in everything only the dangers with which it threatens civil society, in fine the labouring people, who, shielded by equal laws, had never seen any difference between man and man, but had read of terrible oppressions which people of their description experienced in other countries from those who are distinguished by titles & badges, began to be alarmed at this new institution [i.e. the Cincinnati] . a remarkable silence however was observed. their sollicitudes were long confined within the circles of private conversation. at length however a m ( ^~ r) Burke, chief justice of South Carolina, broke that silence. he wrote against the new institution; foreboding it’s dangers very imperfectly indeed, because he had nothing but his imagination to aid him. an American could do no more: for to detail the real evils of aristocracy they must be seen in Europe. Burke’s fears were thought exaggerations in America; while in Europe it is known that even Mirabeau has but faintly sketched the curses of hereditary aristocracy as they are experienced here, and as they would have followed in America had this institution remained. the epigraph of Burke’s pamphlet was “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion.” it’s effect corresponded with it’s epigraph . . .

Ædanus Burke, 1743-1802, congressman and jurist, was born in Ireland. This work was the source material for Mirabeau’s book above.

For Jefferson’s opinion of the Society of the Cincinnati see the previous entry.

Listed by Jefferson, but not numbered on the title-page.

Not listed by Jefferson, but numbered 2 on the title-page.