First Edition. 8vo. in fours. 192 leaves, engraved portrait frontispiece by Leney. The text is followed by an Appendix; printers’ imprint at the end.
Sabin 67695.
Baker,
Bibliotheca Washingtoniana,
65.
Bound for Jefferson by
Milligan in 1808, rebound in calf by the Library of Congress in 1908. Initialled by Jefferson at sigs. I and T. The pencil and ink
markings and the few manuscript notes are not by him.
Jefferson bought a copy of this book, in boards, from $
2.50 from
John March, entered on his bill for June 30, 1807. The binding, which cost $1.00, was on Milligan’s bill, April 30, 1808.
For other works by Ramsay see no. 488-490. This work is dedicated to the Youth of the United States. A mention of Jefferson occurs in the text at page 250 in the list
of members chosen by Washington for his cabinet:
At the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, he placed Mr. Jefferson.
[511]
J.68
Tracts of American history. viz...................................
}
Jenings v. Laurens.
}
Laurens’s True state against Jenings.
}
Jenings’ Full manifestation against Laurens.
}4
to
Letters between Jay & Littlepage.
}
P. Jones’ charges against Landais.
}
Eloge de M. de Vergennes par Vicq D’Azyr........
}
1815 Catalogue, page 25. no. 78, Tracts of American history, viz. Jennings and Lawrence, Jay and Littlepage, Jones and Landais,
Vergennes, 4to.
AC901 .M5 Vol. 26
Six tracts bound together for Jefferson in 1 volume, 4to., calf, marbled end papers. With the Library of Congress 1815 bookplate.
Jefferson has listed the contents of the volume on the fly-leaf, as in the manuscript catalogue quoted above, except for small variations in the first two entries:
Jenings against Laurens
Laurens’s True state of the case against Jenings
The entry for this collection of pamphlets is the same on the undated as on the dated manuscript catalogue, specifying
1. vol. 4
to
without price.
Jenings against Laurens.
i. JENINGS,
Edmund.
The Candor of Henry Laurens, Esq; Manifested by his Behaviour to Mr. Edmund Jenings. [
London, issued for private circulation,
July 1783.]
4to. 18 leaves.
Presentation copy, inscribed on the title (a few letters cut away by the binder):
The Honble Mr Jefferson Delegate for Virg[
inia]
in Congress.
The quarrel between Edmund Jenings and Henry Laurens occurred in London in the spring of 1783 after the latter had been requested
by John Adams to get Jenings appointed secretary to the peace conference. Laurens eventually became convinced that Jenings
was the author of anonymous letters seeking to cause dissension among the commissioners, and withdrew his friendship. During
the absence of Laurens in Paris, Jenings issued this pamphlet which, on his return, was answered by Laurens from Bath. (See
the next entry.) Jenings answered with one more pamphlet (no. iii below). Both parties sent copies of their pamphlets to America.
[512]
