Sent to Jefferson by the author, who wrote from Abingdon, Virginia, on July 10, 1807: “I take the liberty of transmitting to you, Sir, by this day’s mail, the first pages of a little work which I have undertaken to write in the midst of professional labors and great bodily infirmity. In doing this I am well aware, that I should subject myself, in the estimation of some, to the imputation of gratifying my own vanity, at the expence of your time and trouble in glancing over this ephemeral work. The habits and expectations of my former life were such as would not justify the conclusion. Without arrogating much, I might, with truth say, that my present situation resulted from the wanton dissipation of time, and of money. Popularity and preferment were sacrificed to pleasure, they were offered and rejected. The characters I have attempted to delineate are the first effort of my mind, which I have ventured to give to the public. How far it may entitle me to hope for future patronage in a more extensive work, which I now contemplate, remains to be decided by those who will favor me with their opinions on it. The Delicacy of your situation, and the nature of the subject, will of course preclude me from the knowledge of your sentiments . . .”

Jefferson replied from Monticello on September 26: “ Your favor of July 10. came safetly to hand and with that the first 72. pages of your view of Burr’s trial. I have read this with great satisfaction, and shall be happy to see the whole subject as well digested. from this specimen of your writing I have no doubt you will do justice to any subject you undertake, and think you cannot find a better than the one you have fixed on, the history of the Western country. we have been too long permitting it’s facts to go into oblivion. Col ^o. Boon, the first emigrant to it, is I believe still living on the Missouri . . . ”

The pamphlet contains references to Jefferson. On page 10 is printed his message to the Senate and House of Representatives, 22 January 1807, concerning Aaron Burr, and on page 22 a proclamation dated November 27, 1806. Jefferson’s original autograph drafts of these documents, and copies of various letters written by him and quoted in the text, are in the Jefferson Papers in the Library of Congress. On pages 70-72, in the report of the appearance of Luther Martin in court as counsel for the prisoner, is a long account of the feud between Jefferson and Martin, favorable to the former. See An Appendix to the Notes on Virginia , no. 3225.

In his letter to Jefferson William Thomson states that he was the brother of John Thomson of Petersburgh (q.v. no. 3526).

Opens with an extract from the Virginia Inquirer , dated from Richmond, October 27, 1807, and contains extracts from letters to and from General Wilkinson. Copies of some of the quoted letters, including that of Aaron Burr to Governor Harrison, Nov. 27th, 1806, are in the Jefferson Papers in the Library of Congress.

Wilkinson was in constant correspondence with Jefferson during this period, and throughout the trial fo Aaron Burr. On May 4, 1806, Jefferson wrote of Wilkinson to Samuel Smith: “ I recieved your favor covering some papers from Gen ^l Wilkinson. I have repented but of one appointment there, that of Lucas, whose temper I see overrules every good quality & every qualification he has. not a single fact has appeared which occasions me to doubt that I could have made a fitter appointment than Genl. Wilkinson. one qualm of principle I acknowledge I do feel, I mean the union of the civil & military authority. you remember that when I came into office, while we were lodging together at Conrad’s he was pressed on me to be made Governor of the Misipi territory; & that I refused it on that very principle. when therefore the H. of R. took that ground, I was not insensible to it’s having some weight. but on the appointment to Louisiana I did not think myself departing from my principle, because I considered it not as a civil government, but merely a military station . . . ”

The pamphlet is in defence of Wilkinson.