“ will enable me to obtain a copy annually. wishing you an encoraging remuneration of your undertaking I tender you the assurance of my respect. ”

On October 21, 1811, Blunt again sent Jefferson a copy: “Permit me respectfully to beg your acceptance of Nautical Almanac for 1813--if consistent with rules of propriety may I beg your influence with Secretary of the Navy for his order for my Edition, to be used by the Officers--Mr Garnetts Edition for 1813, contains no less than 45 errors, all of may [sic] I have pointed out.”

Meanwhile Robert Patterson continued to send Jefferson copies of Garnett’s edition, while Blunt sent his own publication.

On March 12, 1811, Patterson sent Garnett’s almanacs for the years 1811 and 1812. On November 10 of the same year Jefferson wrote to Patterson to request him to send the copy for 1813. On October 2, 1813 Blunt sent a copy of his edition for 1814, and in his letter of thanks, dated October 19, Jefferson wrote: “ Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to m( ^~ r) Blunt, and returns him many thanks for the copy of his edition of the Nautical Almanac for 1814. which he has been so kind as to send him. it is a very acceptable present as his inland situation renders it difficult to procure the English edition, to which m ( ^~ r) Blount’s is made entirely equivalent by it’s exact conformity with the original. he salutes him with respect & with his best wishes for the continuance of success in this useful publication. ”

The following year, 1814, Jefferson was buying both almanacs. A note in his handwriting reads: 1814. Dec. 1. wrote to m( ^~ r) Milligan to procure me

Garnet’s Naut. Almanac 15. to be forwarded by mail.

his d o for subseq t years.

Blount’s Naut. Alm. for 1815 & subsequent

Stewart’s elements of the Philos. of the human mind. 8 vo. ”

Two weeks later, on December 14, Milligan reported ordering the almanacs from Philadelphia and New York respectively.

On December 17, 1814, John Garnett wrote to Jefferson from New Brunswick: “I take the liberty to inclose a new method of reducing the “Moon’s distance” which I flatter myself is more simple and uniform than any hitherto used.

"Having conducted the American Edition of the Nautical Almanac from its beginning in 1803 at a considerable pecuniary loss, besides the great attention it necessarily takes, M ^r. Patterson the Professor at Philadelphia has recommended it to published [sic] in future by subscription, from the present situation of commerce, and the Necessity of it’s being continued for its great use in the Navy of the United States.

"If at your suggestion the Secretary of the Navy would so far promote it by takeing a Certain number yearly, it would assist me essentially; a former secretary took 150 copies for the use of the Navy but it was not continued for more than that year. Your well known attachment to Science and the kind attention shewn me when I was introduced to you at Washington, and in your correspondence with the late General Gates which he shew’d me, has encouraged me to make this application.”

Jefferson replied on January 4 of the following year: “ Your favor of Dec. 17. was recieved on the 30 ^th. with the copy of your new method of correcting the Moon’s apparent distance which you were so kind as to inclose. everything which can facilitate to the mariner the ascertainment of his place at sea is a valuable present to him. I had written some days ago to m ( ^~ r) Milligan, my corresponding bookseller at Georgetown, to procure me your Nautical Almanac for this year, & am in the daily expectation of recieving it. as you propose to publish it in future by subscription, I shall gladly become a subscriber, the copy to be always forwarded to m ( ^~ r) Milligan whose correspondence in the book-line in Philadelphia will render the payment for it more easy.--I have no acquaintance with the new Secretary of the Treasury, having never either seen him or had any communication with him. I do not therefore feel myself free to undertake to recommend to him what his duty will of course suggest, to wit, to subscribe for as many of your almanacs as may be requisite annually for the navy. but I have no question he will do it and especially if you forward the subscription paper to him. it is possible that Blount’s edition of N. York may enter into competition ”