Jefferson’s copy was bound for him by Milligan on February 24, 1809; cost .50.

It was sent to him by the author, who wrote from Paris on March 28, 1808: “j’ai reçu votre lettre du mois de Mars 1807. je vous écris celle-ci pour vous prier d’accepter un ouvrage que je viens de publier sur la culture du cotonnier. je désire qu’il vous soit agréable, et qu’il puisse être utile à votre intéressente patrie. j’en ai fais passer un exemplaire à la Société Philosophique qui a bien voulu me ranger au nombre de ses membres; honneur dont je suit très flaté . . .”

On July 15, 1808 Jefferson wrote to Lasteyrie, (sent with a covering letter to David Baillie Warden on July 16): “ I have duly recieved your favor of Mar. 28. and with it your treatises on the culture of the Sugar cane & Cotton plant in France. the introduction of new cultures, & especially of objects of leading importance to our comfort, is certainly worthy the attention of every government . . .

" The superficial view I have yet had time to take of your treatise on the Cotton plant induces a belief that it is rich & correct in it’s matter, and contains a great fund of learning on that plant. when retired to rural occupations, as I shall be ere long, I shall profit of it’s contents practically, in the culture of that plant merely for household manufacture . . . ”

On July 16, John Vaughan wrote to Jefferson on behalf of the American Philosophical Society: “By letters received from the Revd. Mr. Warden & Mr Lasteyrie they mention having sent some Books for the Society--The Letters appear to have come by the stage, but we have not heard of the Books--Permit us to solicit your assistance to ascertain whether they were given in charge to the person who had the care of the dispatches, & how we can get at them--Mr. Lasteyries work is on the Cotton plant.”

To this Jefferson replied on July 19: “ I have heard nothing of any books from M. Lasteyrie for the Philosophical society. Lieut ^t. Lewis sent me from him a treatise on the Cotton plant, and another on the Sugar cane, marked by the author as for myself, and so explained in a letter from him, wherein he says nothing of having sent any for the society. but as your letter did not pass through me, probably the books were sent through the same channel, or forgotten to be delivered. as the last may be the case and they will be more useful in the hands of the society than in mine, (for to me they are of no particular interest) I will ask the society to accept of mine, and for that purpose now inclose them to you . . . ”

The Society eventually received its copy and returned Jefferson’s to him, with a letter written on November 4 by the Secretary, Thomas T. Hewson: “The American Philosophical Society having received from Mr. L’Asteyrie his work on the cultivation of the cotton plant, I have been instructed to return their thanks with the copy ”