Again, on May 4 of the same year Jefferson wrote from Paris to John Page: “ Your two favours of Mar 19. and Aug. 23. 1785. by Monsieur de la Croix came to hand on the 15 ^th. of November. his return gives me an opportunity of sending you a copy of the Nautical almanacs for 1786. 7. 8. 9. . . . ”

On his return to the United States in 1789, Jefferson continued to purchase the English Nautical Almanac until the issue for 1808, after which he preferred the reprint issued annually since 1803 by John Garnett of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Dr. Robert Patterson, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania, supplied Jefferson with a number of issues.

On October 21, 1806, Patterson wrote from Philadelphia to Jefferson: “According to your desire I have sent you by post, N. As. for 98. 99. 06. 07. & 08. The two first have seen service and bear the usual marks. English Almanacs for .09 & 10 may be had, but our own will soon be published, and will be preferable in many respects. Of the above five, two only have been purchased $ 2.50--the others are duplicates which I can spare without the least inconvenience.”

On November 5, Jefferson wrote his thanks to Patterson, sent money in payment, and ordered more almanacs: “ I thank you for the Nautical almanacs, and for the two small tracts sent me since. it is only when science is contracted into the volume of a nutshell, as in these tracts, that I can indulge myself with a look into it. having no means of sending the fractional sum of 2.50D the cost of the Nautical almanacs, I inclose a 5.D bill which will pay for them & for those of the years 9. & 10. which you say can be had either of the English or American editions & which I will therefore pray you to forward to me at your convenience . . . ”

In 1811 Jefferson was still receiving his Nautical Almanacs through Robert Patterson. On March 21 he wrote to the latter: “ Your favor of the 12 ^th. is recieved and also the Nautical Almanacs for 1811. 12. for which accept my thanks . . . ”

In 1811 Edmund M. Blunt, publisher of the American Coast Pilot , the New Practical Navigator and other works on Navigation, began the publication of a Nautical Almanac which would not be merely a reprint of the English editions. On June 28, 1811, Blunt wrote from New York to Jefferson: “Permit me to enclose for inspection a copy of the Nautical Almanac for 1812--I confess myself governed principally by interest in soliciting your opinion of a work which, if incorrect, is not only useless, but extremely dangerous. I was this day informed at the Navy Office the Officers were furnished by government, and they used that published by Mr John Garnett--His Almanac for 1811 contains Nine, and for 1812, Thirteen errors, one of which is an error of 90 ^o--Should you consider my work entitled to the patronage of the country your approbation will sanction its sale; if, like the one to which I refer, you should discover the least deviation from what it should be, I will consign the whole edition to the flames, where every work should be that misleads the Mariner on the pathless ocean.”

To this Jefferson replied from Monticello on July 25: “ I have duly recieved your favor of June 28. accompanied by a copy of your edition of the Nautical Almanac for the next year. for this be pleased to recieve my thanks. the present is acceptable, the book being in the form to which I have been the most accustomed. I have, for 3. or 4. years, been in the habit of using Garnet’s edition, without observing the errors you ascribe to it. the misfortunes to which such errors may expose the mariner are certainly serious, but their entire avoidance is all but impracticable. we are obliged to take those things on trust, and run the risks attending them. yet he undoubtedly who avoids most of them, deserves best of the public. the British Requisite tables have two pages of errata closely printed. their Ephemeris is probably nearer being correct. I think you have done wisely in adhering strictly to it’s form. seamen are taught to use it mechanically, and what may be real improvements of form to men of science, are, with them, obstacles to it’s use. as so much of the merit of your edition depends on the accuracy of the copy, you are sensible I can say nothing on that head. even an habitual use furnishes but accidental detections of figures. nothing less than the liberal examination which should be used by the corrector of the press, can authorise a recommendation on that head. I shall be glad to be an annual customer for your edition, & presume the deposit you propose to make at Norfolk ”