“ friends of human liberty throughout the world owe to the name of Thomas Jefferson, and Irishmen more than any.”

Jefferson replied on December 20: “ Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to m( ^~r ) Sampson and his thanks for the volume of his memoirs which he was so kind as to send him, and which he shall read with pleasure the first moments of leisure. it adds a monument the more of what a country loses, when it loses it’s self-government . . . ”

This book was missing at the time of the sale of Jefferson’s library to Congress, and was included in the list of missing books sent by Jefferson to Joseph Milligan on March 28, 1815, with the request that he should try to procure copies and bring them in. Milligan supplied a copy on April 7, price $2.50, which was delivered to Congress.

A copy with Jefferson’s initials at signatures I and T is now in a private library. This may be the original presentation copy missing from Jefferson’s library.

On page 41 of the work is a reference to Jefferson: Some time before, it was asserted, that the minister of the United States had declared, that the prisoners would not be admitted to take refuge in his country. Thomas Jefferson had not then pronounced those words, honoring himself and his country: shall there be no where an asylum on the earth for persecuted humanity; and shall we refuse to the children of oppression, that shelter which the natives of the woods accorded to our fathers?

William Sampson, 1764-1863, United Irishman and jurist, was sent to New York in 1806 at the expense of the British government, and attained a high position at the American bar. His letter written on December 12, 1807, quoted above, is misdated by him December 12, 1804, two years before his first arrival in this country and three years before the publication of the book. It is properly endorsed by Jefferson Dec. 12. 07. recd. Dec. 18.

Jefferson’s copy was sent to him by the author’s brother, William Sampson (q.v.), who wrote from New York on October 26, 1808: “I am desired by my brother to present you with a copy of his Survey of Londonderry the County he inhabits. If ever your curiosity should lead you to think of our unfortunate Country, you will find in this work a faithful portrait . . .”

Jefferson replied on March 2, 1809: “ Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to m( ^~r ) Sampson and his thanks for the Statistical account of Londonderry which he has been so kind as to transmit him. he will still increase the obligation if he will be so kind as to express Th: J’s acknolegements to the author for this mark of attention. he shall read it with pleasure in his approaching retirement . . . ”

This book is placed by Jefferson in his chapter 25, Commerce, but was reclassified in the Library of Congress 1815 catalogue in chapter 3.

George Vaughan Sampson compiled this work for the Dublin Society, and dedicated it to General Vallancey on August 16, 1802.