“
not to ambition it’s concurrence with my own. stating in Vol. 1, pa. 63: the principle of difference between the two great
political parties here, you conclude it to be ‘whether the controuling power shall be vested in this or that set of men.’
that each party endeavors to get into the administration of the government, & to exclude the other from power, is true, and
may be stated as a motive of action; but this is only secondary; the primary motive being a real and radical difference of
political principle. I sincerely wish our differences were but personally who should govern, and that the principles of our
constitution were those of both parties. unfortunately it is otherwise; and the question of preference between monarchy and
republicanism, which has so long divided mankind elsewhere, threatens a permanent division here . . .
"
. . . to return to the merits of your work, I consider it as so lively a picture of the real state of our country, that if
I can possibly obtain opportunities of conveyance, I propose to send a copy to a friend in France, and another to one in Italy,
who I know will translate & circulate it as an antidote to the misrepresentations of former travellers. but whatever effect
my profession of political faith may have on your general opinion, a part of my object will be obtained, if it satisfies you
as to the principles of my own action, and of the high respect & consideration with which I tender you my salutations.
”
John Melish, 1771-1822, traveller, merchant and geographer, was born in Perthshire, Scotland. In his first letter to Jefferson, February
16, 1811, he gave a number of autobiographical details. The travels covered by this book began in 1806 when he sailed for
Savannah, Georgia. In 1807 he returned to Scotland, but in 1809 returned to the United States with his family, and eventually
settled in Philadelphia. He wrote this account of his travels with the intention of encouraging British emigration to the
United States, and became famous as a map maker.
[4034]
67
Tracts. America. viz.......................................................................................
}
Palairet’s description of the Eng. & Fr. possessñs in America.
}
State of the Brit. & French colonies in N. America.
}
Extract from Stork’s acc
t of E. Florida with Rolle’s observñs
1766.
}
8
vo.
Barton’s observations on Natural history.
}
Examen des voiages de Chastellux par Warville.
}
Remarks on the travels of Chastellux.
}
Explanation of the map of the federal lands.
}
Articles of association of the Ohio company............................................
}
1815 Catalogue, page 127, no. 179, Tracts on America, to wit, Palairet’s Eng. and Fr. possessions--Br. and French Colonies--Stork’s
E. Florida--Barton Nat. Hist.--Examen de Chastellux--Remarks on Chastellux--Federal Lands, Ohio Company 8vo.
Eight pamphlets bound together for Jefferson in 1 volume, 8vo. The contents of the volume were separated in part between 1831
and 1839. In the Library of Congress catalogue issued in 1831, the entry is similar to that in the Catalogue of 1815; in the
Catalogue of 1839 and in the later catalogues all but two of the tracts have separate entries in their alphabetical place
under the authors. The two tracts still bound together under the heading Pamphlets are the second and third in the above list,
and are followed by
&c. &c.
These tracts are entered by Jefferson in his undated manuscript catalogue in the same order as above.
1. PALAIRET,
John.
A Concise Description of the English and French Possessions in North-America, for the better explaining of the Map published
with that Title. By J. Palairet,
