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"Je viens de communiquer cet ouvrage interessant à M. Thompson qui est trop bon juge pour n’en pas connoitre tout le merite . . .”

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Jefferson not only sent to Marbois the answers to his questions, but he himself also made copies for some of his friends. After his appointment as a Peace Commissioner to Europe on November 12, 1782, he wrote from Ampthill on November 26 to the Marquis de Chastellux: “ . . . it is not certain that by any exertions I can be in Philadelphia by the middle of December. the contrary is most probable. but hoping it will not be much later and counting on those procrastinations which usually attend the departure of vessels of size I have hopes of being with you in time. this will give me full leisure to learn the result of your observations on the Natural bridge, to communicate to you my answers to the queries of Mons ^r. de Marbois to receive edification from you on these and on other subjects of science, considering chess too as a matter of science . . . ”

On September 25, 1783, Jefferson wrote from Monticello to Thomas Walker: “ The inclosed are part of some papers I wrote in answer to certain queries sent me by Monsr. de Marbois in 1781. another foreigner of my acquaintance, now beyond the water, having asked a copy of them, I undertook to revise and correct them in some degree. there are still a great number of facts defective and some probably not to be depended on. knowing nobody so able as yourself to set me right in them I take the liberty of sending you that part of the answers which I am most anxious to have as accurate as possible, and of asking the favour of you to peruse them with a pen in your hand, noting on a peice of paper as you proceed what facts and observations you think may be corrected, or added to, or should be withdrawn altogether. that part particularly which relates to the positions of Monsr. de Buffon I would wish to have very correct in matters of fact. you will observe in the table of animals that the American columns are almost entirely blank. I think you can better furnish me than any body else with the heaviest weights of our animals which I would ask the favour of you to do from the mouse to the mammoth as far as you have known them actually weighed, and where not weighed, you can probably conjecture pretty nearly. it is of no consequence how loose and rough your notes are, as I shall be able to [ ] them into the work and would wish to give you as little trouble as possible. if you could be as pointed as possible as to those circumstances relating to the Indians I should be much obliged to you: as I think it may happen that this may be the subject of further discussions. I fear you will think me too free in giving you trouble and more especially when I further ask the favour of you to get through them by the 4th. of the next month when I shall be returned from a journey I am now setting out on, and shall be preparing for my departure to Philadelphia. I know not what apology to make you unless my necessity be one, and my knowing no body else who can give me equal information on all the points . . . ”

On January 16, 1784, in a letter to the Marquis de Chastellux, to whom he had sent his answers to Marbois in manuscript in 1782 [see above], Jefferson first mentioned printing his Notes: “ . . . I must caution you to distrust information from my answers to Mons ^r. de Marbois’ queries. I have lately had a little leisure to revise them. I found some things should be omitted many corrected, and more supplied & enlarged. they are swelled nearly to treble bulk. being now too much for M.S. copies I think the ensuing spring to print a dozen or 20 copies to be given to my friends, not suffering another to go out. as I have presumed to place you in that number I shall take the liberty of sending you a copy as a testimony of the sincere esteem and affection with which I have the honour to be Dr Sir Your mo. ob. & mo. hbl servt ”

On May 7, 1784, Jefferson was elected Minister Plenipotentiary to France, and before leaving the country made efforts to get the Notes printed.

On May 16, Charles Thomson, in a letter dated from Annapolis, asked: “. . . How does your Work go on? If you get any copies struck off I shall rely on your leaving one for me at my house . . .”

Jefferson replied from Philadelphia on May 21: “ . . . my matter in the printing way is dropped. Aitken had formerly told me he would print it for £4 a sheet. he now asked £5-10 which raised the price from £48 to £66. but what was a more effectual and ”