Jefferson was one of the subscribers to this work, and his name appears on the list on the last leaf, with Vice-President of the U. States. Other subscribers whose names appear in this Catalogue are Mathew Carey, William Cobbett, Ralph Eddowes, Ebenezer Hazard, B. Henry Latrobe, T. Mifflin, late Governor of Pennsylvania, Dr. William Shippen, The Chevalier d’Yrujo, and others.

William Birch, 1755-1834, enamel painter and engraver, was born in Warwick England, and in 1794 came to the United States and settled in Philadelphia.

A copy was sent by the author to Jefferson, who wrote from Monticello on March 16, 1814: “ Th: Jefferson presents his thanks to m( ^~ r) Brackenridge for the copy of his much esteemed ‘Views of Louisiana’ which he has been so kind as to send him. in doing this he does but render his portion of the general gratitude due for this valuable contribution towards the knolege of a great country which nature has destined to become the most interesting portion of the Western world. he salutes m ( ^~ r) Brackenridge with great respect and esteem.”

On May 30, Brackenridge wrote from Baton Rouge to Jefferson: “I take the liberty of expressing the sum of gratitude which I feel, at the flattering notice you have been pleased to take, of the volume lately published by me, on the subject of Louisiana. I am truly sensible, that it is exceedingly imperfect; and further opportunities, of information, have disclosed many errors. This, induces me, to think of a second edition, should the first, meet with as ready a sale. I regard the work, merely as a contribution towards something of a higher kind, which, I hope, may be undertaken by some one, possessed of the necessary qualifications: should this be the case, instead of attempting a second edition, I will be content, to become a correspondent, and a contributor, in this way, as far as my information will enable me.

"I might make appologies for the defects which occur in the volume, but I know that according to correct principles these are inadmissible, for no man ought to appear before the publick with his work until completely satisfied that it has received all the finish which it may be in his power to bestow. Indeed, I have done wrong in publishing so soon, but I was actuated [by] a belief that a regular work on such a subject could not be expected from one whose pursuits were of a different nature, and in some degree incompatible with this undertaking. My essays were hastily written, and in irregular desultory manner, often in the bar room of a country tavern, or in a boat as I passed along, and not composed in privacy and retirement. They were printed at the distance of two thousand miles from me, the manuscript forwarded by mail generally as it was written . . .”

Henry Marie Brackenridge, 1786-1871, lawyer and author, chiefly noted for his interest in and work on South America, practised law in Missouri and Louisiana from 1810 to 1814.