On the same day Jefferson wrote to Charles Thomson: “
I received notice from the secretary of the American Philosophical society some time ago that they had done me the honour
of appointing me a counsellor of that body . . . in framing answers to some queries which Mons
r. de Marbois sent me, it occurred to me that some of the subjects which I had then occasion to take up, might, if more fully
handled, be a proper tribute to the Philosophical society, and the aversion I have to being counted as a drone in any society
induced me to determine to recur to you as my antient friend, to ask the favor of you to peruse those answers, and to take
the trouble of communicating to me your opinion whether any and which of the subjects there treated would come within the
scope of that learned institution, and to what degree of minuteness one should descend in treating it: perhaps also you would
be so friendly as to give me some idea of the subjects which would at any time be admissible into their transactions.
"
had I known nothing but the load of business under which you labour I should not have ventured on this application, but knowing
your friendly disposition also, I thought you would take some spare half hour to satisfy a friend . . .
"
P.S. I have mentioned to Mons
r. de Marbois my request to you to ask of him the perusal of the papers I sent him without however communicating the purpose
of that request.
”
Thomson replied to this from Philadelphia on March 9, 1782: “I received the letter which you did me the honor to write on the 20 of December last, and immediately waited on M
r. Marbois who informs me that he has not received the answers you refer to . . . With regard to the institution of the society
I can inform you that it has for its object the improvement of useful knowledge more particularly what relates to this new
world. It comprehends the whole circle of arts, science and discoveries especially in the natural world & therefore I am persuaded
your answers to M
r. Marbois queries will be an acceptable present . . . The human mind seems just awakening from a long stupor of many ages
to the discovery of useful arts and inventions. Our governments are yet unformed and capable of great improvements in police,
finance and commerce. The history, manners and customs of the Aborigines are but little known. These and a thousand other
subjects which will readily suggest themselves open an inexhaustible mine to men of a contemplative and philosophical turn.
And therefore though I regret your retiring from the busy anxious scenes of politics, yet I congratulate posterity on the
advantages they may derive from your philosophical researches.”
Meanwhile, on January 29, Marbois had written to Jefferson: “Il y a quelques jours que M. Charles Thompson me parla d’un ecrit contenant des reponses à des questions que j’ay pris la
liberté de vous adresser l’année derniere, et me dit que vous desiriés que je lui en donnasse communication: Je l’aurois fait
avec beaucoup d’empressement, Monsieur; mais elles ne me sont point parvenues quoiqu’il y ait deja quelque tems que M. Thompson
m’en a parlé et que M. le Chevalier d’Annemours m’en a ecrit. Je ne puis vous exprimer combien je suis sensible à cette perte.
Je desire que vous ayiés gardé une copie de ces reponses, et je l’espere: dans ce cas, je vous supplie d’avoir le bonté de
me l’adresser par une voye sûre et d’être bien persuadé de toute ma reconnoissance: Elle est d’autant plus grande que je sais
combien vos momens ont été et sont precieux et nous avons vu avec la plus grande satisfaction que vos compatriotes se sont
empressés à le reconnoitre et à vous marquer la gratitude qu’ils ont des services que vous leur avés rendus pendant la durée
de votre gouvernement . . .”
The delay was explained in a letter to Jefferson from Jacquelin Ambler, dated from Richmond March 16, 1782: “When you left the letters with me you seemed desirous that more attention should be paid to safety than dispatch in the conveyance
of the two larger ones: I was not so particular therefore in forwarding the smaller letters, but reserved those for the President
of Congress and Mons
r. Marbois to be sent by some hand that would not ”
