The first eleven volumes were sent to Jefferson by the editor, James Anderson, who approached Jefferson on the subject in a letter dated from Edinburgh, 29 April 1790, accompanied by the Prospectus: “Tho I have not the honour of being acquainted with yourself, I am acquainted with your writings; and the pleasure these afforded, gave a desire of a more intimate correspondence. In this undertaking in which I am about to engage, I am not a little ambitious of its attracting the notice of worthy men; and I should think myself fortunate, if the plan so far met with your approbation, as to induce you to think it might not be impossible for you sometimes to communicate a few observations to the world through that channel--However that may be, should you ever wish for any information from this country, or any thing else that I can procure for you I shall take pleasure in forwarding your views to the utmost of my power

"The inclosed queries are intended for the continent of Europe rather than for America--As they are addressed only to a particular class of correspondents, they are necessarily of a local nature--which may serve to convey a wrong idea of the intended work--Towards the beginning hints will be given to serve the purpose of queries respecting science and nature in general, that will apply equally to men of all nations--These will give a more perfect idea of the real tendency of the work than the others.

"I should be very happy if you will honour this work with your acceptance when it is published, and will be much obliged to you for a particular address by which route it may be sent.”

The printed Prospectus is in the Jefferson papers in the Library of Congress. It is dated at the head Edinburgh, March 1790, and consists of 7 pages, 6 of which are in double columns. The General Queries to Foreign Correspondents contains 30 numbered questions, followed by a page of explanation (in italic letter, long lines).

Jefferson replied in a letter dated from Philadelphia, December 2, 1790, and sent with his reply a copy of his Report as Secretary of State on Weights, Measures and Monies (q.v. no. 3760): “ The letter of April 29. with which you were pleased to honour me, did not come to my hands till the 25 ^th. of October. the plan of the publication it proposes appears to me judicious, and that such a depository well filled will be very useful. I sincerely wish it all the success which it’s great merit deserves. I am far from presuming that I could in any situation contribute towards it any thing worthy the notice of the public. but my present situation is peculiarly unfriendly to literary pursuits, as it occupies my whole time and would still do the same could I double the hours of the day. should it however permit me to be useful to you in any way, or should any circumstances restore to me that leisure which alone could enable me to indulge my preference for these pursuits, I shall avail myself with pleasure of the permission of your correspondence. the peice now inclosed is not offered for your collection; having been printed in the journals of Congress, it has not the novelty which would be required to place it in that. it is merely a homage of which I ask your personal acceptance. I shall be happy if you will permit me to become a subscriber to the Bee, and as probably other subscriptions might be obtained here which may render it necessary for you have [ sic -- Ed. ] a correspondent in this city, I shall punctually pay into his hands the price of subscription. your correspondents at Glasgow will seldom fail a week of occasions of sending me your papers by vessels from that port to this directly. the address by which they will find me is ‘Thomas Jefferson Secretary of state. Philadelphia’. should they go to any other port of America, it will involve delay, expence of postage and hazard. ”

In 1792 Anderson sent to Jefferson the first six volumes. His letter is undated but was received by Jefferson on June 30: ““I was honoured with your obliging letter of the fifteenth of Sept ^r last accompanied with your valuable paper on uniformity of weights and ”