Jefferson’s copies of these books were gifts from the author, with whom he was in correspondence during 1794 and 1795 concerning the proposal of d’Ivernois [ sic ] to remove the University of Geneva from that city to the State of Virginia.

During this period d’Ivernois [ sic ] sent to Jefferson, in addition to the plans for the University, much manuscript material on the revolution in Geneva, including portions of his history and translations into English intended for the American papers. The letters and other manuscripts of d’Ivernois [ sic ] were all sent in duplicate, an original under cover to John Adams at Philadelphia, and the duplicate directly to Jefferson.

On November 21, 1794, John Adams wrote to Jefferson: “I am desired by our old acquaintance Mr. D’Ivernois to transmit you the inclosed Papers for your inspection Opinion and Advice. The poor Fellow has been obliged to fly a Second time into Banishment. The first time, he was driven out as a Democrat: but it is now Day about as they say, in Geneva, and he is compelled to run as an Aristocrat.

"Shall we print his History? What shall we do with his Academy? . . .”

D’Ivernois’ letter was dated from London, October 11, 1794, and read in part: “J’ai l’honneur de vous addresser le tableau de la Révolution française à Geneve qu’on m’a fortement invité à faire imprimer dans ce pays cy, et où en rectifiant quelques erreurs legeres qui s’etaient glissées dans la premiere narration Anglaise, j’ai ajouté beaucoup de faits que j’ignorais encore lors que je vous l’adressai. . . Dès qu’il le sera, j’aurai l’honneur de vous en envoyer un exemplaire, et si vous pensiez que la réimpression de cette traduction Anglaise en Amérique put y etre de quelqu’ utilité, j’en serais d’autant plus flatté . . .”

On February 5, 1795 Adams wrote to Jefferson: “The inclosed Pamphlet and Papers I have received this week from the Author [d’Ivernois], with the request to transmit them to you . . .”

This was acknowledged by Jefferson on the following day.

On January 31, 1796 Adams sent to Jefferson the copy of Des Revolutions de France et de Genève, with a letter beginning: “I have received from our old Acquaintance D’Ivernois the inclosed volume for you in the Course of the last Week . . .”

Jefferson replied on February 28: “ I am to thank you, my dear Sir, for forwarding Mr. D’Ivernois’ book on the French revolution. I recieve everything with respect which comes from him. but it is on politics, a subject I never loved, & now hate. I will not promise therefore to read it thoroughly . . . ”

The first part of this work is written in the form of letters, and the Introduction, dated from Londres, ce 25 Juillet 1795, begins: Les trois Lettres suivantes furent addressées à un Américain, à l’époque où les émissaires Français prêchaient ouvertement à la République de noveau monde les mêmes principes de soulèvement sous lesquels venait de succomber celle de Genève. Graces immortelles en soient rendues à Washington!

The copy collated is of the third edition; the second edition, published in July of the same year, was without the Reflexions sur la Guerre. Jefferson’s manuscript entry calling for 3. to. in 2. v. makes it clear that his must have been the third edition, which was published in London in October, and received in Philadelphia by John Adams in the following January.

Sir Francis D’Ivernois, 1757-1842, a Genevan, became a naturalized British subject when exiled from his native country, and was knighted by George III. He was introduced by Richard Price [q.v.] in 1785 to Jefferson, who thus describes him to Wilson Cary Nicholas, in a letter written from Monticello on November 23, 1794, for the discussion of the Geneva University proposal: “ . . . a Mr. D’Ivernois, a Genevan, of considerable distinction for sciences and patriotism, & that too of the republican kind, tho you will see that he does not carry it so far as our friends of the National assembly of France. while I was at Paris, I knew him as an exile for his democratic principles, the aristocracy having then the upper hand, in Geneva. he is now obnoxious to the Democratic party . . . ”