Unbound, numbered 15 on the title-page.

Sent to Jefferson by J. Lithgow, the Secretary of the Society of Artists and Manufacturers of Philadelphia, who wrote from that city on April 29, 1804: “The Society of Artists and manufacturers of Philad ^a have requested me to forward you a copy of “an Essay on the Manufacturing Interest” because it is proper that the chief magistrate should, as far as possible, know the Sentiments of every class in the Nation.

"Notwithstanding what has passed for the last twenty years some of our Society has yet hopes. It was with a view to convince them that there was no rational ground of hope, that I first proposed in the Society a General Memorial to Congress; and, since the curious Report of the Committee, urged the publication of the enclosed Essay.

"Nothing, I am convinced, but necessity,--poverty staring us in the face, as in Rhode Island 1787, will ever make the Legislature turn their attention to the fine arts. When the money is gone out the Country, the people will blame the Administration and lay the fault on a thousand innocent things till somebody will at last find out, that it would be a great saving to the Nation if the idlers were employed in making Cloths, in making Cutlery Locks keys; nay everything for ourselves within the Nation. The Tide will then run in an opposite direction to what it does at present. My wish is to avoid those Extremes by a timely and judicious excitement of the National industry and although I have no hopes of doing good, I am contented with having done what I conceive be my duty.

"The Society are to a man friends to your administration & I am Sir y ^r Humble Serv ^t J Lithgow Sec ^y.”

Jefferson replied from Monticello on May 10: “ Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to m( ^~ r) Lithgow and acknoleges with thanks the reciept of his pamphlet which he shall peruse with attention. the interests of the agriculturalist, the manufacturer, the merchant & the navigator are so intimately blended together, that to keep them all in just balance, by giving encouragements to some which shall not be discouragements to others, requires a knolege of facts as well as possession of sound principles rarely to be found. this justifies a legislature in intermedling with great caution, and never taking a measure till all it’s bearings are understood. it accounts too for all the differences of opinion honestly entertained, not only among legislators, but the individuals of these different sections. there is no doubt but that the interests of all of them, when well understood, are in perfect harmony, and that no act can ultimately benefit the one branch which injures the others. little doubt can be entertained that the legislature of the union will proceed in the just patronage of the whole as far as it can do it understandingly. ”

Unbound, numbered 16.

Begins: Judge Bowen having ordered the Charge given to the Grand Jury on Monday last, to be published in the Georgia Republican, the Editor felt himself bound by his duty to refuse the publication, and returned his honor the following reasons for his refusal.

Signed Samuel Morse.