“ I am of opinion we can sell it here, even to the English themselves . . . I have therefore desired Col ^o. Smith to send 50. copies here, & to advertize in the London papers the address of the Bookseller here who will furnish them, & the conveyance by which they may be obtained. we shall see by the sale of these whether we may hope to sell the rest of the impression here. I should be sorry that any circumstances should occasion the disguising those truths which it equally concerns our honour & the just infamy of our enemies to have handed down to posterity in their true light . . . ”

The 50 copies were sent off on August 7, bound in boards, with a bill for £25.00. [ sic ]

On October 27, Jefferson wrote to Ramsay: “ I mentioned to you in a former letter that as the booksellers in London were afraid to sell your book there, I would have some copies brought here, advertizing in the London papers that they could be furnished weekly from hence by the Diligence. 50 copies are just arrived, & 50 more are on the way. the translation will come from the press in a few days . . . ”

On November 8, Ramsay wrote from Charleston: “Your favor of the tenth of July was a few days ago received by the way of New:York. Your friendly interposition in respect of my work lays me under great obligations. I have long since thought that the mode you have adopted was the best the nature of the case admitted of to introduce it to the people of England. I wish that some copies might in some way or other be introduced to Ireland. The sales in America have fallen many hundred dollars short of my initial expences . . .”

In this letter Ramsay mentions his projected History of the Revolution for the first time, see no. 490.

On April 7, 1787, at the end of a long letter on other matters, Ramsay wrote: “I long to see a French copy of my book. I feel myself much honored by your correspondence & esteem every line from your pen a real favor . . .”

Jefferson at this time was travelling in the South of France, and on May 5, in a letter to William Short, written from Marseilles, he reported that “ Ramsay’s history costs in London 12/ sterling unbound; judge then whether it can be brought from thence to Paris & sold for 12. ”

On August 4 Jefferson answered from Paris Ramsay’s last two letters: “ I have to acknolege the receipt of your favors of Nov. 8. & Apr. 7. & the pleasure to inform you that the translation of your book sells well, and is universally approved. Froullé will send you some copies of it, by the first opportunity. I am happy to hear you are occupied on the general history. it is a subject worthy your pen. I observe Stockdale in London has printed your work & advertized it for sale. ”

Entries on Froullés’ [ sic -- Ed. ] bill to Jefferson for 30 August, 1787, include:

12 histoires Damerique 2 vol. 8vo. rel.72 ( livres) (beside which Jefferson has written Dr. Ramsay)

1 idem pour Mr. Ramsay.

On March 7, 1788, Ramsay wrote: “. . . I have never seen nor heard from the Parisian bookseller who undertook the translation of my history. When the money becomes due to me on that account if it is paid to my nephew or his order his receipt shall be a full discharge on my account . . .”

On May 7, Jefferson sent Ramsay a complete statement: “ It is time to give you some account of your affairs with the bookseller Frouillé. they stand thus.

price agreed on for the copy for translation. 900. livres

9. copies (out of 50) of the English work rec ^d. from Dilly & sold @ 12. 108. / 1008.

Cr. By a dozen copies of the translation sent you @ 6. 72.

Balance now paiable to you / 936 livres

" I delivered to him your letter wherein you pointed out exactly the papers which should be omitted in the translation, & the alterations of the text in order to accomodate the work to foreigners, who are not interested in minute details. this would have reduced the work to one volume, halved the expence & increased the sale, so that he might have probably made a good job of it. ”