“ Since its matter is merely intended to elucidate the Holy Scriptures, and not to favor the favourite dogmas of sect or party, I am enduced to believe the encouragement for the work will be very general, but I feel particularly anxious to consider thee one of my first Subscribers.

"The edition contemplated to be printed will most probably be copied from one lately published in Dublin, and which has received very considerable enlargements from the Dictionaries of Calmet, Symon, &c. together with many new Articles.

"My intention is to have it neatly done, and printed on paper made within thirty miles of this place, and bound in skins of the growth of our hills & vallies, and as cheap as the same work could be done in Philadelphia.

"Pittsburgh is becoming a place of business--much of a manufacturing town--I want to lend my assistance in my way, to forward its progress, and shall proceed with the greater alacrity with thy approval.

"I am thy unknown friend Zadok Cramer.”

Jefferson replied from Washington on March 8: “ Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to m( ^~ r) Cramer and subscribes with pleasure for a copy of Brown’s dictionary of the bible which he proposes to print at Pittsburg.”

To this Cramer answered from Pittsburgh on March 21: “Zadok Cramer hopes he will justly appreciate the honor conferred on him by Thomas Jefferson in the receipt of his very polite note of the 8th 2mo. [ sic -- Ed. ] in which he says he "subscribes with pleasure for a copy of Brown’s Dictionary of Bible, proposed to be printed at Pittsburgh."

"N. B. Enclosed is a printed proposal for said work.”

The printed proposal is in broadside form, dated February 22, 1805.

On February 18, 1808, Cramer wrote from Pittsburgh, to his “much respected friend”: “This day’s mail encloses to thee the first volume of Brown’s Dictionary of the Holy Bible--the second volume should accompany the first, but I am detained in the binding of it, for the want of the engravings, which have not yet come to hand--but it shall be forwarded by a future mail.

"Thee will be good enough to accept a copy of this work as a trifling consideration for the obligation I was obligingly brought under by the receipt of thy esteemed note signifying thy wish to become a subscriber to the publication.

"As I promised thee, the book is altogether a western manufactory the gold leaf excepted.--This shews what can be done in this our new country when the channel of industry is conducted to a proper point.

"Consider me much obliged by thy condescension and goodness, and with high esteem for thy person and character, public and private, I remain thy friend, Zadok Cramer.”

“Jefferson replied from Washington on March 12: “ Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to m( ^~ r) Cramer and his thanks for the volume of Brown’s dictionary of the Bible which he has been so kind as to present him. it was certainly his intention in subscribing to that work to do it on the footing of all others, and however sensible and thankful for the kind intentions expressed in m ( ^~ r) Cramer’s letter, yet knowing that the artist cannot live but by his profits, he would unwillingly become an additional tax on an enterprize which his subscription was meant to aid. at any rate he prays m ( ^~ r) Cramer not to add to his own part of the work the expense of binding which can be so well supplied here, and the volumes come more safely by the post . . . ”

The second volume was sent to Friend Jefferson on May 18: “This mail will deliver thee the second volume of Brown’s Dictionary, second only, agreeably to thy request--

"As a token of respect please receive it from thy friend Zadok Cramer.”

The binding was done by Milligan on September 3, 1808, price $2.00.