“ the map, because it will belong to it’s original authors, & because I do not wish to place myself at the bar of the public.”

Concerning this map Jefferson wrote from London on March 28, to William Short, acting at the time as his secretary in Paris: “ . . . I wish you could have an opportunity of informing m( ^~ r) Creve-coeur or the Abbé Morellet that I despair almost of having a map ready in time, as the engraving cannot be completed before the last of May. I do not know whether it will not be better for me on my return to sketch a slight one which may be engraved at Paris in a very little time . . . ”

On August 9, Jefferson sent to Colonel William Stephens Smith, at the time in London, instructions as to the engraving of the map: “ . . . I send herewith a map, to be engraved by Samuel Neele engraver N ^o. 352. near Exeter change, strand, with whom I spoke on the subject when in London. I shewed him the map, not then quite finished. he told me he would engrave it, in the best manner possible for from 20. to 25. pounds sterling. I must beg the favour of you to engage him to do it. should he ask a few guineas more I shall not stand about it. but nothing must be wanting in the execution, as to precision, distinctness, exactness, the form of his letters, and whatever else constitutes the perfection of a map. he told me it would take him six weeks. in fact the plate must be here by the middle of October, at which time the work will appear for which it has been constructed . . .

" P.S. the engraver must absolutely have always before his eyes Hutchin’s map of the Western country, Schull’s map of Pennsylvania, Fry and Jefferson’s map of Virginia, and Mouzon’s map of N. Carolina. the two former I send herewith for him. the two latter I will be obliged to you to desire Faden to furnish him, which he will place against some of the new maps to be furnished him. the reason why there is an absolute necessity for the engraver to have these maps before him is that in many instances he will not be able to make out the letters of the manuscript map: he must in those cases have recourse to the maps abovementioned which are the basis of the M.S. map . . . ”

On September 10, Colonel Smith wrote from London to Jefferson: “. . . the maps, occasioned by M ^r. B[ullfinch]’s excurtion in the country after his arrival did not reach me untill the 6 ^th ins ^t. M ^r. Neele took them in hand on the 7 ^th and will finish the plate within the period mentioned and for the sum agreed upon with you . . . If you will send the other map of 12 sheets which you speak of, I can get them done as you wish . . .”

On September 22 he again wrote, and mentioned: “. . . The engraver shall be hurried three times a week, and nothing left undone, that is in my power to forward your wishes--apropos--I have spoke to Faden about the 12 sheet map, and made arrangements for its being engraved, reserving the number of copies for which you requested, the sooner you forward it the better . . .”

Jefferson wrote to Smith from Paris on October 22, and mentioned: “ . . . the twelve sheet map I shall send by the first good opportunity: & hope ere long to receive the plate of mine from m( ^~ r) Neele . . .”

Colonel Smith replied from London on November 11: “. . . I should have waited on M ^r Neele this morning to have seen whether your plate is finished, that I might have embraced this opportunity by M ^r. Derby to have sent it--but I have been tormented with politicians and their long winded story’s & they have scarcely left me time to ans ^r. yours of the 22 ^d ul ^to . . . as I go to leave this letter I will call at M ^r. Neel’s, & if the plate is finished endeavour to forward it . . .”

The plate was one of the items on W. S. Smith’s bill to Jefferson, “ His Excellency Thos. Jefferson in account current with W. S. Smith, 1786. & 1787.” dated from London. Dec ^r. 3 ^d. 1787: “ to Neale for engraving plates for map £28.16.9” On December 21, Samuel J. Neele sent the plate to Jefferson: “Aggreable to Col. Smith’s Order I now send you the Plate of the Map of Virginia & ^c. with the original maps Drawing & a proof.

"As there is in it a very great Number of Words, you will I naturally suppose upon inspecting it critically find some Corrections necessary; I could have wished to have inserted them myself, ”