“ truth seem like folly; for, on this occasion, I can hardly refrain from tears.

"Addressing one of the venerable Fathers of our Republic, & one whom I had ardently hoped to see; that Father far advanced in the vale of years, & my prospect reduced to a faintest hope--my hand trembles as if extended for a parting blessing:--& I can only say how sincerely I desire that boon. I am a boy of the Revolution--& still more & more is my wonder & admiration excited, when I survey the difficulties & atchievements of that period, with the aids that my pursuits procure: for I am now writing a History of this State, which embraces that period. If I revere the memory of these worthies, generally, who conducted the Bark of State in such times, why may I not indulge the desire of my heart to see as many as may be, of the few who still survive? I pray thee to let me receive from thee an occasional remembrance, & none of the Sons of our glorious Republic shall retain more lasting & grateful affection. Devoted to the record of remembrance in the past & present history of our Country, I should feel all the value & importance of thy good-will.

"Of they former Letter, I have made a due use in preparing for a second edition of my Geography.”

Jefferson replied on August 15: “ Your favor of the 2 ^d. inst. is duly recieved and I thank you for the mark of attention it expresses in proposing to send me a copy of your new Gazetteer. it will come safely to me under cover by the ordinary mail. but I owe abundant additional thanks for the kind expressions of respect which the letter conveys to me. at the end of a career thro’ a long course of public troubles, if my countrymen are satisfied that my endeavors to serve them have been zealous & pure, I stand fully rewarded . . . ”

On August 27, Spafford sent the book: “Thy favor of the 15. inst., is duly received, & I hasten to send the book, by the Mail. I hope it will arrive safe, & find thee enjoying good health, & all the consolations that belong to a liberal benefactor to his country, in the evening of a well spent life. After thou shalt have examined the Gazetteer, I should be glad to hear thy opinion of its merits. The preface tells of the expense & magnitude of the labor; & as the plan of the work is new, I want thy opinion of its comparative merit. My intention is to pursue the plan of writing, & form Gazetteers of the several States; then separate the parts, & form a Geography, & Gazetteer, of the United States, in separate volumes. An arduous & expensive undertaking; but I am young, ambitious, & formed to habits of industry, adapted to such a Work. The writings of Dr. Morse, are not of the right character for this Nation; & when the Government shall have duly examined & contrasted mine with his, I hope for some patronage from the National Administration . . .” [For Spafford’s General Geography , see no. 3828.]

Spafford wrote again on January 28, 1814: “I am so frequently asked ‘how does President Jefferson like the Gazetteer’, or ‘what does he say of it’, that I hope thou wilt excuse my anxiety to learn. Possibly it may not have reached thee. I sent one in the Mail, a long time since. If that miscarried, I would send another . . .”

Jefferson acknowledged the receipt of the book in a letter dated from Monticello March 17: “ I am an unpunctual correspondent at best. while my affairs permit me to be within doors, I am too apt to take up a book and to forget the calls of the writing table. besides this I pass a considerable portion of my time at a possession so distant and uncertain as to it’s mails that my letters always await my return here. this must apologize for my being so late in acknoleging your two favors of Dec. 17. and Jan. 28. as also that of the gazetteer which came safely to hand. I have read it with pleasure and derived from it much information which I did not possess before. I wish we had as full a statement as to all our states. we should know ourselves better our circumstances and resources, and the advantageous ground we stand on as a whole. we are certainly much indebted to you for this fund of valuable information . . . ”

Before receiving this, Spafford had written on March 22: “Highly as I appreciate the favor of thy friendly regards, I can but feel mortified at the length of ”