For this book, see chapter 24, no. 2686.

Bound, probably for Jefferson, in tree calf, gilt back, repaired at the joints and with new marbled endpapers at the front (the original papers at the back), and the Library of Congress 1815 bookplate preserved. The initial T inserted by Jefferson before sig. I. [ sic -- Ed. ] A few minor corrections in ink are not by him; some leaves foxed.

Jefferson ordered a copy of this work from Reibelt of Baltimore. In a letter dated from Washington February 9, 1805 he ordered the “ Institutions du droit de la nature &c par Rayneval, No. 1. pa. 4.” in Reibelt’s “ small catalogue.”

On February 19 Reibelt wrote to ask whether Jefferson wished the book in French or in English.

The title appears on an undated list of books “ to be imported for me by M. Reibelt,” and a year later than the previous correspondence, on January 20, 1806, Jefferson wrote to Reibelt that he had “ at length found a moment to revise the catalogue” sent to him by Reibelt on the 11th, and had “ reduced his wants” to a short list, of which this book was one, to be imported immediately from Bordeaux.

A copy of this work, “ 1 vol. 8vo. relié, price 7.10.” is on the bill of Dufour of Amsterdam, June 16, 1806, addressed to T. H. Backer “ pour Monsieur Le President Jefferson.” If Reibelt succeeded in importing his copy from Bordeaux, it is possible that Dufour’s copy was purchased for the Library of Congress.

Jefferson’s copy was borrowed by his friend and lawyer, George Hay, to whom Jefferson wrote from Monticello on February 26, 1815: “ Congress having concluded to replace by my library the one which they lost by British Vandalism, it is now become their property, and of course my duty to collect and put in place whatever belongs to it. this obliges me to ask of you the return of Rayneval’s law of nature and nations of which you asked the reading some time ago. if well wrapped up in paper it will come safely by the mails . . . ”

Hay replied from Richmond on March 8: “I ought to ask your pardon and I do ask it, for not having returned long ago, the book which you were so good as to lend me. M. Rayneval has been of service to me, on more occasions than one: he has more liberality than some of his predecessors: but the science of public law appears to me to be far, very far from that point, to which some very obvious principles are capable of conducting it . . .”

Joseph Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 1746-1812, French publicist, was the brother of Conrad Alexandre Gérard de Rayneval, the Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States. Both brothers were in correspondence with Jefferson.