“ thought me accessory to its’ being published, along with your Notes on Virginia.

"Of any thing so vain and indelicate, I could not be capable--I felt much mortified on the Occasion--and was almost tempted to a public remonstrance against its’ being Done--and more especially on observing that the style or structure of some sentences differed from the Manuscript--and that it was, otherwise, inaccurately printed.

"It is probable that nothing respecting it ever came to your knowledge-- But lest it should, I have often longed for an Occasion, when without any impertinent Intrusion, the circumstance might be submitted as it really happened. With M ^r. Pechin’s publication of it I had no acquaintance nor concern whatever . . .”

Jefferson replied on February 12: “ . . . amidst the immense mass of detraction which was published against me when my fellow citizens proposed to entrust me with their concerns, & the efforts of more candid minds to expose their falsehood, I retain a remembrance of the pamphlet you mention. but I never before learned who was it’s author; nor was it known to me that m ( ^~ r) Pechin had ever published a copy of the Notes on Virginia. but had all this been known, I should have seen myself with pride by your side. wherever you lead, we may all safely follow, assured that it is in the path of truth & liberty. m ( ^~ r) Pechin knew well that your introduction would plead for his author, and only erred in not asking your leave . . .”

Pechin’s edition had been published in Baltimore in 1800, with title: Jefferson’s Notes, on the State of Virginia; with the Appendixes Complete. To Which is Subjoined, a Sublime and Argumentative Disertation, [ sic -- Ed. ] on Mr. Jefferson’s Religious Principles.

Another letter concerning the Appendix was written by William O. Allens to Jefferson from St. Louis on February 9, 1810: “On the 28-9 p. of the enclosed Book you will find “the Speech of Logan”--it bears date in London, 1780.

"Your first addition, of the “Notes on Virginia” was, I believe, printed in Paris, 1783. A long time posterior to their appearance, the Authenticity of that much admired speech, was questioned, by the calumny, of L. Martin Esq. ^r.

"In a subsequent addition of the Notes, I have, with great pleasure, read, proof positive, as to the certainty of, and the transactions, attendant on, Logans speech. But Sir, I have thought, that the Vagrant production, now sent, had not found its way to your library, at the date of the last addition. For that reason, I now intrude it, on your attention.--It recently fell into my hands.

"An American, a Virginian, feels proud at the recollection, of his State and Country. And, that pride, is much elevated, by the honor of calling Author, of the “Notes on Virginia” his fellow-statesman . . .”

[For the Appendix to the Notes on Virginia, and the controversy caused by this publication, see nos. 3225 and 4050.]

Jefferson eventually gave up the idea of himself bringing out a new edition of his Notes. In a letter from William Duane, dated from Philadelphia, August 17, 1810, Duane had mentioned: “. . . You may remember that I once proposed printing your Notes--I hold myself bound by that promise, and am now ready for it . . .”

To this, Jefferson replied in a long letter dated September 16: “ . . . with respect to the Notes on Virginia, I do contemplate some day the making additions & Corrections to them; but I am inclined to take the benefit to my whole life to make collections & observations, and let the editing them be posthumous . . . ”

On November 12, 1814, John Melish of Philadelphia, planning a series of geographical books and of maps, wrote to Jefferson on the same subject: “. . . In turning this subject in my mind it has occurred to me that a new Edition of your Notes on Virginia accompanied by a map of the kind alluded to would be an excellent subject to begin with. The estimation in which I hold this work is well known, and it would give me real pleasure to contribute my aid in bringing forward a New Edition of it embracing a view of the present State of Virginia. I hope I will not be deemed ”