“ sioned by the press of other avocations which the printers have been obliged to turn their more immediate attention to &
particularly periodical works. My reason for troubling your Excellency is an apprehension that you would deem me neglectful
of your request of which believe me Sir I am utterly incapable. With regard to the biographick [sketch] which you so condescendingly
furnished me with, I have to offer my sincerest thanks accompanied I must confess with some little chagrin that it was out
of my power to requite the obligation. My mind was for sometime wavering on the propriety of annexing to your biographick
sketch a particular account of the melancholy death of Capt. Lewis. That account has already been published by the late Alexander
Wilson Esqr the celebrated ornithologist. But as this might notwithstanding in all human probability wound the sensibility
of surviving relatives & friends, I deemed it the most expedient to err on the side of humanity & rather to veil the severity
of biographick fact than to have my motives misunderstood by the recital.--I should have been much gratified by annexing a
sketch of the life of Gov. Clarke but that has been long time abandoned as unobtainable . . .”
The volumes were published in February of the following year. Jefferson had not received his copy when he addressed a letter
to Henry Muhlenberg on March 16, 1814, thanking him for his
Catalogus Plantarum
[see no. 1088]: “
I thank you for your catalogue of North American plants. it is indeed very copious, and at the same time compendious in its
form. I hardly know what you have left for your “Descriptio uberior.” the discoveries of Gov
r. Lewis may perhaps furnish matter of value, if ever they can be brought forward. the mere journal of the voyage may be soon
expected; but in what forwardness are the volumes of the botany, natural history, geography and meteorology of the journey
I am uninformed . . .
”
On April 12, Bradford & Inskeep, the publishers, wrote to Jefferson from Philadelphia: “At the request of M
r Paul Allen we have packed & sent to the care of Gibson & Jefferson as directed thirteen copies, one of which we beg you will
accept, they were forwarded by mail stage & we think will go safe.”
The bill, dated April 7, reads:
“Thomas Jefferson Esq
r
To Bradford & Inskeep dr.
| For 10 Lewis & Clarkes travles bds @ 6.00... |
60.00 |
| 2 ditto do “ cf g 10.00................................... |
20.00 |
|
------- |
|
80.00 |
| 15% off......................................................... |
12.00 |
|
------- |
|
68.00 |
| Box &c......................................................... |
75 |
|
------- |
|
$68.75 |
”
It was not until August 15 that Jefferson received the books. On August 17 he wrote to the publishers from Monticello: “
Your favor of Apr. 7. was recieved Apr. 22. the books never got to hand, or were heard of by me till the day before yesterday.
I deferred remitting the amount in the hope of acknoleging the reciept at the same time. having to make a remittance to m
(
~
r)
Dufief, bookseller in Philadelphia, I have included in it 68
D.75
C for you, for which I must ask the favor of you to call on him within a few days after your reciept of this, by which time
it will have got to hand from mess
rs. Gibson and Jefferson
”
