Jefferson’s copy was a presentation from the author, who wrote from Stamford, State of Connecticut, October 29, 1800: “When I sat down to address you, my first intention was to apologize for the liberty I have taken in troubling you with my speculations on Astronomy, Physiology, and Mechanics, at this critical period, when the most important national concerns demand your attention, and doubtless occupies all the faculties of your mind; But when I considered that the great Doctor Franklin, and the celebrated Ritenhouse, had both gone to study Astronomy in the upper regions, and that you, their worthy successor delighted to patronize and encourage American improvements in arts and science, I conceived a laboured apology to be unnecessary, because I was convinced, that if the work contained any useful discovery or improvement, you would freely afford a leisure hour to peruse it. But if if [ sic -- Ed. ] contains nothing valuable, all that could be said concerning it, cannot give it any intrinsic worth, or save it from merited oblivion: But if happily it should gain your approbation, either in the whole, or in part, I will thank you for your candid opinion, whenever you can make it most convenient, and in whatever way you may please to convey it . . .”

Jefferson replied from Washington, December 10, 1800: “ I have to acknolege the receipt of your astronomical & physiological treatises by the hands of m( ^~ r) Davenport and to return you my thanks for this attention. the heads of these works shew them to be interesting, and I shall peruse them with great satisfaction. their nature however requiring serious reflection it is possible that my occupations here may oblige me to delay the pleasure of the perusal till my return home. the Newtonian theory appears to have solved the very complicated phenomena in astronomy, and so far to call for our assent. but we are commanded to prove all things and hold fast that which is good . . . ”

Mr. Worthington Chauncey Ford’s note to the letter of Young printed in the Bixby collection reads: “Probably a MS. No mention of Joseph Young occurs in Huntington’s History of Stamford .”

Young’s Physiology. printed somewhere in New England. 8 ^vo. was on the list of missing books sent by Jefferson to Milligan on March 28, 1815, with a request that Milligan supply a replacement copy.