" After bringing the history down to where Hume leaves it, Baxter has continued it thro the intermediate time to the early part of the French revolution. but as he had no remarkable talent for good writing, the value of this part of his work is merely as a Chronicle.

" On the whole, my opinion is that in reprinting this work, you will deserve well of our country; and, if you think that my presumption in giving an opinion as to a book worth the attention of our historical students will recieve their pardon from the motives on which it is risked, you are free to use this letter in justification of the opinions it professes; and with every wish for the publication of the work, and it’s salutary effect on the minds of our youth, I salute you with sentiments of great esteem & respect. ”

Carey replied on January 18, 1819: “We hope you will have the goodness to excuse the long delay of an answer to your favour on the subject of Baxter’s Edition of Hume’s England. The arrangements of our business are incompatible with the undertaking such a work at present. Should any new plan take place, we shall give the subject that serious consideration, to which the high character you bestow on the work entitles it . . .”

On March 13 of the following year, 1820, Jefferson, in a letter to Mathew Carey, wrote: “ . . . when Baxter’s history is recieved you will be so good as to forward it to me and my account at the same time . . .”

On July 31, Jefferson again wrote to Carey: “ I presume you import from time to time books from England, and should be glad if on the first occasion you would write for a copy of Baxter’s history of England for me. and if there be an 8 ^vo. edñ of it I should greatly prefer it. if none, I must be contented with the original 4 ^to. I doubt whether it went to a 2 ^d. edition, even the whigs of England not bearing to see their bible, Hume, republicanised . . . ”

To which Carey replied on August 5, that they would order “Baxter’s Hume” immediately from London.

On March 30 of the following year Carey wrote: “. . . When Baxter’s work arrives it shall be forwarded . . .”

On June 30 Carey reported that “ Baxter’s history cannot be procured.”

On August 14, 1821, Jefferson tried to get a copy through Richard Rush, at that time in London. He asked for several books, including: “ Baxter’s history of England. he was one of the 20. prosecuted with Horne Tooke; and published his history about that time. if there be an 8 ^vo. edition. [punct. sic] I should prefer it; if not, the original 4 ^to. may be sent. ”

At the same time Jefferson was recommending the reprinting of Baxter’s History to Thomas W. White, of Richmond, Virginia, who had written for suggestions as to suitable books for reprinting. On February 5, 1820, Jefferson wrote to White: “ The state of my health permits me, but with pain to write even the short acknolegement of a letter. I am moreover too much unacquainted with the general taste to know what would suit it, or to judge what book would be of ready sale; and I should be sorry to advise an unprofitable one. there is a valuable history of England Baxter’s, which I have long wished reprinted here. it was too republican for the meridian of England, and therefore never went there beyond the Original edition, which was a single 4 ^to. vol. but would make 3. or 4. 8 ^vos. this has prevented it’s becoming known here, & I do not know of a single copy but the one which went to Congress with my library. it would be singularly valuable in the US. as a substitute for Hume, but it’s particular merits would require a longer letter than I am able to write, and might moreover be of too slow sale here . . . ”

On December 11, 1823, Jefferson again wrote to Thomas W. White, who had rewritten him on the same subject: “ In answer to your letter of Nov. 29. I can say no more than I did to that of Jan. 26. 20. I know no book particularly interesting to us to be reprinted here but Baxter’s history of England which I then mentioned. it’s principles were too republican for the meridian of London, and it therefore has never been reprinted there as far as I have been able to learn. it would make 3. or 4. vols 8 ^vo. nor do I know whether it would be a book of ready sale here at first, ”