Jefferson’s copy was sent to him in 1807 by Thomas Cooper, after the latter had learned that the one intended for Jefferson by Priestley’s son had not been received. According to the Library of Congress catalogues of 1831 and later it was of the American edition [the date 1805 in those catalogues is an error; the book was copyrighted on December 28, 1805 and published in 1806], which was published without a portrait frontispiece. The English edition of the same year has an engraved portrait frontispiece by Partridge after Stewart. This is explained in a letter to Jefferson written by Priestley from Northumberland on January 6, 1806, before the publication of the work: “I intended to have prefixed to the Memoirs of my father’s life, which will shortly be published, an Engraving of a likeness of him taken by Mr Stewart the painter for the American Philosophical Society. I have repeatedly applied for a copy of that portrait, or for permission to have an engraving taken from it; but Mr Vaughan & Dr. Wistar inform me that in consequence of the Society having paid Mr Stewart in advance they cannot prevail upon him to finish it & that it remains in the same state in which it was two years ago. I rather fear that his necessities have induced him to sell it, and that he has it not in his power either to fulfil his engagements to the Society, or to furnish copies.

"All the likenesses which I have seen of my father fall so far short, in my opinion, of that taken by Mr Stewart that I feel very desirous of having an engraving taken from that, and understanding that Mr Stewart is at Washington, I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in requesting you to endeavour to procure a copy for me . . .

"I have desired Mr Vaughan to forward you a copy of the Memoirs, of which I beg your acceptance, with the view of securing the sale in England, I shall not publish them in this country of two or three months, by which time I hope to have an engraving finished.”

Jefferson acknowledged this letter from Washington on January 11, and explained that Mr. Stewart was not in Washington at the time but in Boston: “ . . . his portraits are so fine that I should be sorry that the engraving should be from any other. but he is now at Boston . . . it is probable if you have a correspondent there, that you may obtain either the original or a copy. for I am satisfied you need be under no apprehension of the former having been disposed of . . . ”

The copy mentioned in the last paragraph of Priestley’s letter was not forwarded, and on June 23, 1807, Thomas Cooper wrote from Northumberland: “From some late circumstances, I have reason to believe that neither Mr. Priestley’s directions nor mine to transmit to you a copy of the memoirs of his father’s life have been complied with, though a set was appropriated for you to be sen[ t] at the first moment of publication. If you have not received one, be good enough to let me know . . .”

To which Jefferson replied on July 9 from Washington: “ Your favor of June 23. is recieved. I had not before learned that a life of D ^r. Priestly had been published or I should certainly have procured it; for no man living had a more affectionate respect for him. In religion, in politics, in physics, no man has rendered more service . . . ”

The book was sent to Jefferson from Northumberland on August 9, with a letter from Cooper: “. . . I send you my Copy of the Memoirs, with some corrections and marginal notes, which tho’ they do not ornament the page, will serve to explain some passages which the errors of the press converted into nonsense. I laboured under a very dangerous, and very painful illness while I composed my part, and I was too impatient of labour to attend to the Subjects as much as I could have wished . . . I send you the book in conjunction with Mr. Priestley who always wishes to join me in any mark of respect to you . . .”

Jefferson replied from Monticello on September 1: