Gerry, who wrote from Cambridge on May 1, 1812, to acknowledge Jefferson’s pamphlet on the intrusion of Edward Livingston [see no. 3501]. The letter continued: “We are in anxious expectation of the final decision of the national Government, on the present state of our political affairs. My ideas on this subject, were expressed to the Legislature at their last session, in the speech which I have the honor to enclose. That, & a message on the subject of libels published in the Boston Newspapers, in regard to which it may be said “Quorum pars magna fui”, may amuse you in a leisure moment . . .”

Jefferson replied from Monticello on June 11: “ It has given me great pleasure to recieve a letter from you. it seems as if, our antient friends dying off, the whole mass of the affections of the heart survives undiminished to the few who remain. I think our acquaintance commenced in 1764. both then just of age. we happened to take lodgings in the same house in New York. our next meeting was in the Congress of 1775. and at various times afterwards in the exercise of that & other public functions, until your mission to Europe. since we have ceased to meet, we have still thought and acted together, ‘et idem velle; atque idem nolle, ea demum amicitia est’. of this harmony of principle, the papers you inclosed me are proof sufficient. I do not condole with you on your release from your government. the vote of your opponents is the most honorable mark by which the soundness of your conduct could be stamped. I claim the same honorable testimonial. there was but a single act of my whole administration of which that party approved. that was the proclamation on the attack of the Chesapeak. and when I found they approved of it, I confess I began strongly to apprehend I had done wrong, & to exclaim with the Psalmist, ‘Lord, what have I done that the wicked should praise me!’ . . . ””

Elbridge Gerry, 1744-1814, Massachusetts statesman, was a Jeffersonian in politics. In 1810 he became Governor of Massachusetts and in 1812 was chosen vice-presidential candidate under Madison. The news reached Jefferson on June 13, and he added congratulations in a postscript to the above quoted letter.

Presentation copy from the author, who has written From the Author on the title-page. The author’s name is supplied by Jefferson at the end of the title.

Pages 7-10 contain the Proclamation of Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America, on this trial, of which an original draft in his hand, dated May 3, 1806, two pages 4to., is in the Jefferson Papers in the Library of Congress.

Henry Whitby was commander of the Leander, from which vessel a cannon shot killed John Pierce. The pamphlet was copyrighted to William Sampson (q.v.) as author. This copy is without the copyright slip pasted on the verso of the title leaf in some copies.

For a note on William Sampson, see no. 441.

The pamphlet is addressed in ink to Thomas Jefferson Esq ^r Monticello Virginia , probably by the author as the frank is dated from Pittsburgh, Oct. 30.

A commentary on a pamphlet by Eligius Fromentin, a late delegate of New Orleans, published in Pittsburgh, addressed to The Electors of President and Vice-President of the state of Louisiana and dated October 5th, 1812. According to the writer, Fromentin’s pamphlet is intended to throw suspicion on the character of DE WITT CLINTON, and to shew the propriety of the re-election of JAMES MADISON to the presidency .

Jefferson is mentioned twice in the pamphlet. On page 2 the author writes: