son to say that the work of printing was temporarily suspended: “I have just received the last packet of the Manuscript but it appears as if I was doomed to be the sport and the victim of my faithful adherence to those principles which that work so admirably illustrates. I should not invade your merited repose and happiness, with any complaints of mine, were it not necessary to account to you for the suspension of the work even after it had been begun . . .”

His letter explains at length his financial embarrassment caused by the hostility of his former friends and patrons due to his attacks in the Aurora on Mr. John Randolph.

Jefferson answered the political part of this letter on March 28, and referred to the printing of the book in the postscript: “ P. S. absorbed in a subject more nearly interesting, I had forgotten our book on the heresies of Montesquieu. I sincerely hope the removal of all embarrassment will enable you to go on with it, or so to dispose of it as that our country may have the benefit of the corrections it will administer to public opinion. ”

On July 5, Duane sent one copy of the completed book to Jefferson: “By the Mail of this day, I forward you a single copy of the Review of Montesquieu, I hope you will find it executed in a style of neatness not discreditable to the work or to the American press. By printing it in a larger type and a smaller page, it might have been made a larger volume, but I believe it will be considered as preferable in its present form by those who prefer a book for its contents rather than by weight or measure.

"I have ventured to place two short paragraphs from Hobbes & Beccaria, as mottoes to the title-page--containing applicable truths, and at least not inconsistent with its Spirit: it was done merely to comply with a fashion, rather than any other motive.

"The price which I have put it for sale at, is governed by two considerations. the expence incurred, and the expence to be incurred in circulating it. I have printed 750 copies, & must pay 25 per cent out of the price only for circulating it, that being the sum agreed upon with the man I employ to obtain subscribers and deliver works, should should [sic] this edition sell sufficiently soon it will determine whether or not it would be advisable to print another edition at a lower price, and that will be known by the demand and the impression which the work makes; it is too soon to form any judgment here, as my political sins of several years prevents the light of my door from being ever darkened by federal shadows . . .

"If the book is in the form which you suggested as adapted for sending abroad, I shall send you the ten copies which you were pleased to order; or if there should be any other form of binding or putting together, with thinner covers in the manner of French works, I shall have these executed to your wish, having bookbinders in my own house.”

Jefferson immediately sent this copy to the author through D. B. Warden (United States Consul in Paris), and Lafayette. To the latter he wrote on July 10: “ Since writing my letter of the day before yesterday I have recieved by post the inclosed copy of the Review of Montesquieu which I hasten to forward thro’ you to M. Tracy. had I another it should have been devoted to you . . . ”

On July 25 he acknowledged the receipt of the book to Duane and arranged for other copies to be sent to him: “ Your letter of the 5 ^th. with the volume of Montesquieu accompanying it, came to hand in due time; the latter indeed in lucky time as, inclosing it by the return of post, I was enabled to get it into m ( ^~ r) Warden’s hands before his departure, for a friend abroad to whom it will be a most acceptable offering. of the residue of the copies I asked, I could wish to recieve one well bound for my own library, the others in boards as that before sent. one of these in boards may come to me by post, for use until the others are recieved . . . ”

Destutt de Tracy wrote on October 21 to thank Jefferson for the copy sent him: