octavo, price Five Dollars, in Boards, Travel in the United States of America. His letter reads in part: “I duly received your esteemed letter of the 10 ^th. March; and I now write you with pleasure, from an opinion that the subject is congenial to your present pursuits.--

"I have lately returned from a very extended Tour to the Western Country, and now intend to prepare my whole Travels for the Press, as you will see by the enclosed Prospectus, and Plan.--I have commenced procuring Subscribers here with considerable success, and intend soon to visit the Seat of Government in prosecution of that object, when I will, perhaps, also go into Virginia. In the meantime it will of [sic] considerable importance if you will permit me to add your name to the List of Subscribers, for one or more Copies; and it would be esteemed a very particular favour if you would condescend to give me any information regarding the chance of procuring Subscribers in your State. The design of the Work I submit to your judgement without Comment. I intend to have it also published in Britain, provided I can make arrangements to that effect; and my object is to render a service to the Inhabitants of both Countries.-- . . .”

Jefferson replied from Monticello on February 14: “ Your favor of Jan. 18. came duly to hand. I very willingly become a subscriber to your intended publication, judging from the table of contents, and your familiarity with the subjects treated of, that the work cannot fail to be useful to ourselves by pointing out advantageous pursuits not yet attended to, and to Great Britain by shewing what their ignorance and injustice have lost to them here, and laying open to their wiser successors the interests they yet may cherish by peace & justice, advantageously for both nations. with respect to the probability of your obtaining subscriptions in this state I am less able to inform you than any other person, being chiefly confined at home by the natural effects of age. at Richmond I should expect many might be obtained, so also in the country, but so sparse as to render difficult the collection either of the signatures or the sums. a good agent in Richmond, with which the whole state communicates, might do a good deal without going from home. with my wishes for your success accept the assurances of my respect. ”

On December 15, 1812, Melish sent Jefferson a copy of the book: “I duly received your esteemed favour of February last, and thank you for the information it contained, which I availed myself of in appointing an agent at Richmond.

"The “Travels in the United States” is now compleated and will be published tomorrow. By this Post I have sent you a Copy, with a map of the Seat of War, and explanatory Pamphlet:--all of which I beg you will accept; and I shall be happy should they meet your approbation . . .”

Jefferson acknowledged the receipt of the book (and of the map sent at the same time) from Monticello, on January 13, 1813: “ I recieved duly your favor of Dec. 15. and with it the copies of your map and travels, for which be pleased to accept my thanks. the book I have read with extreme satisfaction and information. as to the Western States particularly, it has greatly edified me; for of the actual condition of that interesting portion of our country I had not an adequate idea. I feel myself now as familiar with it as with the condition of the maritime states. I had no conception that manufactures had made such progress there, and particularly of the number of carding and spinning machines dispersed thro’ the whole country . . .

" . . . the candour with which you have viewed the manners & conditions of our citizens, is so unlike the narrow prejudices of the French & English travellers preceding you, who, considering each the manners and habits of their own people as the only orthodox, have viewed every thing differing from that test as boorish and barbarous, that your work will be read here extensively, and operate great good. amidst this mass of approbation which is given to every other part of the work, there is a single sentiment which I cannot help wishing to bring to what I think the correct one; and, on a point so interesting, I value your opinion too highly ”