35
Not in the Manuscript Catalogue.
1815 Catalogue, page 30. no. 26, Tracts in Physics, viz. Delambre, Ginguene, Rampasse, Delile, Conover, Humboldt, Pearson,
Girardin, De Fer, Lambert, Davy, Sinclair, Gallatin, 4to.
In this set of tracts the Library of Congress catalogues list the names of the authors only, without the titles of their pamphlets.
Such information as to these tracts as could be obtained from Jefferson’s correspondence, or other definite source is here
presented.
It was probably the book bound by Milligan in his bill of February 29, 1809: Physics, 1/2 bound. $1.50.
RAFFENEAU-DELILE,
Alire.
On May 10, 1807, Alire Raffeneau-Delile (signing himself Alire R. Delile) wrote to Jefferson from Dr. Hosack’s at New York,
that he was sending him a copy of his thesis for the degree of Doctor of medicine (no. 991), and added: “Je joins ici pareillement un morceau détaché, ecrit au retour de l’armée française d’Egypte, sur quelques plantes anciennes
de ce pays; ce qui me donne l’occasion de mettre sous vos yeux la maniere dont je compte traiter, à Paris où je dois retourner,
cette branche d’histoire naturelle dans l’ouvrage de la Commission des arts d’Egypte qui sera, suivant les ordres de S. M.
l’Empereur et Roi, completé pour l’année 1809.”
Jefferson wrote from Washington on May 24: “
Th: Jefferson returns thanks to M. Delile for the pamphlets he was so kind as to inclose him, which he has perused with pleasure
& instruction. the objects which will employ m
r. Delile on his return to Paris will be some indemnification for the short stay he makes with us. the Work in which the Commission
of Arts of Egypt is engaged will be recieved with pleasure by all lovers of science, and will shew them what they might have
expected from a longer possession by France, of a country so celebrated in antiquity, and so worthy of our attention in all
respects . . .
”
In view of the above correspondence it seems possible that the pamphlet may have been Delile’s
Observations sur le Lotus d’Égypte, imprimées dans
les Annales du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Tome I.
Paris,
1802.
Alire Raffeneau-Delile, 1778-1850, professor of botany at the Faculty of Medicine at Montpellier, and at one time a member of the Institut d’Egypte.
His letter to Jefferson is signed: “
Alire R. Delile M. D. membre de l’institut d’Egypte--ancien éléve de l’Ecole de Santé de Paris--et vice consul à Wilmington
N. C.
”
[686]
CONOVER,
Samuel Forman.
An Essay on the vermilion colour of the blood, and on the different colours of the metallic oxides, with an application of
these principles to the arts. By Samuel F. Conover M.D. Read June 20th, 1806.
[
American Philosophical Society Transactions. no. XL. vol. VI,
1809.]
Q11 .P6
The above is the title of a paper read before the American Philosophical Society in 1806, printed in 1809, and never published.
The author sent a copy, which may have been in manuscript, to Jefferson, on December 19, 1807, writing from Philadelphia:
“. . . As you have contributed much to the Science of Government & of Philosophy, allow me to draw your attention for one moment
from the business of the Cabinet, & offer for your consideration the enclosed memoir: As our volume will not be published
so soon by six months as was expected, I take the liberty of obtruding this paper upon you, & I hope you will, as President
of the Society, excuse me, and if it should be found to be either
new or
intertaining (as the former is esteemed) I shall feel much gratified.”
Jefferson acknowledged the gift from Washington on December 23:
