“ but as your Receipt of the Plate renders that impracticable, they must consequently be done by one of the Map Engravers at Paris;

"The Drawing was unfortunately made on a paper much too soft, so that, (after it was rubbed down on the Wax prepared on the plate to receive its Impression previous to traceing), in taking it off, some Parts of its surface tore away, & remained on the Wax, & of course obliterated the Drawing in those Parts.

"In consequence of this accident, you will find in the body of the Map tw. [ sic -- Ed. ] Names unfinished & a few on the Coast to the Eastward of Delaware Bay, all of which, as well as every other necessary Correction may be made in a few Hours--Col. Smith has expressed his approbation of the Engraving, I therefore flatter myself it will likewise meet with yours & be a means of securing your future Favors, which will add to the Obligation already confered on, Sir, Yours (with much respect), S. J. Neele.”

This map, with the text in English, was first issued with the Abbé Morellet’s French translation of the Notes , published in Paris by Barrois in this same year, 1786. In the Jefferson Papers in the Library of Congress are seven pages written by Jefferson with English and French text in parallel columns, headed Errors in the Abbé Morellet’s translation of the Notes on Virginia the correction of which is indispensable.

The Abbé Morellet commented on these corrections in an undated letter from Paris to Jefferson, also in that city: “Mr. de Crevecoeur m’a dit hier que dans la lecture plus suivie que vous aves faite de notre traduction vous aves eté mécontent de quelques articles où je vous ai mal entendue et de l’insertion que j’ai faite dans votre texte des notes de mr. Thomson et peut etre de quelques autres points.

"je vous prie de m’envoyer les corections que vous croires necessaires. je ferai faire des cartons. quant aux notes si j’ai mal fait de les placer dans le texte c’est un mal aujourd’hui irremediable mais je vous en avois demandé la permission et vous me l’avies accordée. S’il y a quelque autre faute de ma part a laquelle ou puisse apporter remede vous n’aves qu’á ordonner. j’oubliois de vous dire que les notes de mr. Thomson etant toujours distinguées de votre texte par des crochets qui les enferment il me semble que le lieu qu’elles occuppent dans l’ouvrage est bien indifferent. faites moi savoir vos intentions je me conformerais avec le zele que j’aurai toujours à vous montrer mon respectueux devouement.”

After examining the plate sent by Neele, Jefferson wrote on January 15, 1787, to Colonel Smith: “ Col ^o. Franks’s delay here, occasioned by that of his baggage, gives me an opportunity of acknowleging the receipt of the map. I am now occupied in correcting it. I have got thro about two thirds of the map & have a list of 172 errors, so that we may expect in the whole about 250, & I reckon only those which are material. small & immaterial changes of orthography I do not correct. except as to the errors, the work is fairly & neatly done. I shall try to have the corrections made by a French workman. if he cannot do it, I must send it again to m ( ^~ r) Neele to be done . . .”

This was answered by Colonel Smith on January 29: “. . . forget & forgive my errors and accept of my thanks for the map, I will guard it with great attention, and give particular directions on the subject of its publication, it is very valuable & shall be done in the best manner possible. I am very sorry that there are so many errors in Neles map, if you think best to send it back, it shall be immediately Attended to . . .”

Meanwhile, Stockdale had been suggesting to Jefferson the possibility of having an edition printed by him in London. On August 8, 1786, he wrote: “. . . I have had some thoughts of printing your Work in England, which is highly spoke of except those parts that relate to our Country, but I had some doubts wether [ sic -- Ed. ] it would sell sufficient to defray the expences, at a convenient opportunity shall be glad to have your opinion on it . . .”

Again, in a letter dated November 28, he wrote: “. . . some time past two French Gent ⁿ. call’d upon me, with a Copy of your Minutes of Vir- ”