“ not without first seeing & examining it . . . I fear that the ill success of the translation of D ^r. Ramsay’s work, and of another work on the subject of America, will permit less to be done for you than I had hoped . . . I will be obliged to you to set me down as a subscriber for half a dozen copies . . . you ask, in your letter of Apr. 24. details of my sufferings by Col ^o. Tarleton. I did not suffer by him. on the contrary he behaved very genteelly with me. on his approach to Charlottesville which is within 3. miles of my house at Monticello, he dispatched a troop of his horse under capt M ^c.leod with the double object, of taking me prisoner with the two Speakers of the Senate & Delegates who then lodged with me, and of remaining there in vedette, my house commanding a view of 10. or 12. counties round about. he gave strict orders to Capt M ^c.leod to suffer nothing to be injured. the troop failed in one of their objects, as we had notice so that the two speakers had gone off about two hours before their arrival at Monticello, & myself with my family about five minutes. but capt ⁿ. M ^c.leod preserved every thing with sacred care during about 18. hours that he remained there . . . ”

The letter continues with a detailed account of the occupation by Lord Cornwallis of Jefferson’s seat, called Elkhill, and of the destruction of his property by Cornwallis and his troops. Gordon’s account of this (Vol. IV, pp. 402, seqq.) is taken almost word for word from Jefferson’s letter to him.

On August 15, 1788, Gordon wrote to Jefferson: “From the generous encouragement you gave me in your answer to my first letter, I informed your Excellency about April, that I should be greatly obliged to you, could you assist me in a similar way to that by which Dr. Ramsay was benefited. I left it with your judgment to settle the terms; & proposed sending over the printed volumes that the translation might be entered upon. Receiving no answer, I wrote afresh upon the subject about six weeks ago. Neither of the letters being replied to, am apprehensive that either they or their answers have miscarried . . .”

To this Jefferson replied on September 2: “ In my letter of July 16. I had the honor to explain to you the reasons why an answer to your favors had been so long delayed . . . as soon as you will be so good as to send a copy of your work, as far as printed, I will do my best to dispose of the right of translating it among the booksellers; tho’, from the circumstances mentioned in my letter, I should not form any sanguine hopes. the sooner you send it the better, as I shall, after a few days, be very little in Paris . . . ”

Gordon answered this letter, and sent six copies to Jefferson on December 9: “Your obliging favor of Sep ^r. 2 was duly received. The books not being in sufficient forwardness to send before your leaving Paris, & the prospects of the success your Excellency wished me being so small, I declined sending a copy as soon as finished. One Mr De Maisoncelles has written to me about translating the work into French, I apprehend he means I should employ him: by line this day I shall decline all concern in the business.

"Last Friday the six copies of the History of the late American War done up in a paper parcel were left at the White Bear to come by the Diligence: hope they will be received safe & in due season. As you honored me with a generous subscription, I have sent the superfine paper at the same price with the demy. Mr. Trumbull paid me sometime back seven pound four for them. Shall rejoice if the printed contents meet with your approbation, so that you can with satisfaction recommend the same to an English reader.”

The receipt to Trumbull, who had paid for Jefferson’s copies as mentioned in the above letter, was dated October 9, 1788.

Trumbull wrote to Jefferson on March 10, 1789, and mentioned: “. . . Dr. Gordon desires me to ask whether you have receiv’d six setts of his books, which He forwarded to you by the Diligence early in December--& whether the Marquis La Fayette receiv’d 12 setts at the same time.--He will likewise thank you to hint to the M. in the most delicate manner, that the subscription has not been fulfill’d . . .”