“ enquiry than are within my power. the most correct edition is the one originally published at Paris. Stockdale’s London edition is tolerably correct. I know nothing of the American editions, not possessing any of them. I think it might be of some use to publish with them a Report of mine on Weights & Measures, made to Congress in 1790. It was printed in N. York by Childs & Swaine. I have no copy of [ it] here or I would have inclosed it. by getting abroad it might prepare the public mind for adopting something more certain & convenient than the present system of weights & measures. ”

The edition of M. L. & W. A. Davis was published in New York in 1801, with the Appendix at the end.

On December 24, 1804, J. Lithgow wrote from Philadelphia to Jefferson: “I have been informed by M ^r. Duane that there is about to be published a new Edition of Notes on Virginia; and having made some strictures on the 19 ^th. Chapter, if the work is to be printed under your own inspection, I should be glad to lay them before you. If not they shall be buried in Oblivion because out of respect for the General principles of your administration, and differing only in the degree of encouragment due to the arts, I should be sorry to see myself arrayed in opposition to a man, to whom the world is so much indebted . . .”

Lithgow’s letter of comment extended to three closely written pages and was signed: “JLithgow author of the Essay on the manufacturing interest--of Equality a political Romance--of the collected Wisdom of Ages or English Constitution & ^c.””

Jefferson replied on January 4, 1805: “ Your favor of Dec. 4. has been duly recieved. m( ^~ r) Duane informed me that he meant to publish a new edition of the Notes on Virginia, and I had in contemplation some particular alterations which would require little time to make. my occupations by no means permit me at this time to revise the text, and make those changes in it which I should now do. I should in that case certainly qualify several expressions in the 19 ^th. chapter which have been construed differently from what they were intended . . . had I time to revise that chapter this question should be discussed and other views of the subject taken which are presented by the wonderful changes which have taken place here since 1781, when the Notes on Virginia were written. perhaps, when I retire, I may amuse myself with a serious review of this work. at present it is out of the question. ”

On July 29, 1809, John W. Campbell of Petersburg, Va., wrote to Jefferson concerning the publication of a complete edition of his writings. Jefferson replied from Monticello September 3: “ . . . In answer to your proposition for publishing a compleat edition of my different writings, I must observe that no writings of mine, other than those merely official have been published, except the Notes on Virginia, & a small pamphlet under the title of a Summary view of the rights of British America. the Notes on Virginia I have always intended to revise & enlarge, & have from time to time laid by materials for that purpose. it will be long yet before other occupations will permit me to digest them; & observations & enquiries are still to be made which will be more correct in proportion to the length of time they are continued. it is not unlikely that this may be through my life. I could not therefore at present offer any thing new for that work . . . ”

In the same month, on September 29, J. Riley wrote to Jefferson from New York on the same subject: “Experiencing daily, in the course of my business, the constant and increasing demand there is in the Country for your Work, the Notes on Virginia, and of which the copies are becoming exceeding scarce, I am statisfied [ sic -- Ed. ] that a new Edition is wanting.

"Deeming it very probable that in the period which has elapsed since the Original publication of the work, you have collected some manuscript additions, with which you would not be unwilling to favour the public, and presuming upon ths [ sic -- Ed. ] supposition that you have no other arrangement in view, I take the liberty of submitting, that should you condescend to intrust me with said additions, it would be a subject of pride with me, to print an enlarged Edition of the Notes, with an accuracy and elegance creditable to the American Press-- ”