“ measures which I have perused with much pleasure and instruction--It is more valuable to me at this time, as my son is just now composing a book on weights, measures, monies coins and exchanges, in every part of the world, and he wishes to have the most authentic information of all that can be procured.

"I beg you will do me the honour to accept a copy of the first Six volumes of the Bee, which will accompany this--It is merely as a testimony of respect I offer it--for altho’ I have the best intention possible to make it work not undeserving the attention of every patriotic minister, yet I have not had it in my power to come near to that point I aim at--The 7th Volume is just printed. and I regret I could not get one copy done up in time to go by this opportunity--but should the vessel be detained a day or two it shall be sent--I am just beginning only to tread that ground I wish more fully to occupy

"Should your other avocations permit you to favour me with an occasional communication as circumstances occur, I shall deem my self highly honoured by it--No man wishes more sincerely to promote the welfare and prosperity of your country than I do--You are not to be told that the destruction of every country originates in abuses of government--Europe affords at present a striking proof of the evil tendency of these abuses--Long may it be before America begins to feel them . . .”

On November 3 of the same year he sent volumes 7 to 11: ““I did myself the honour of writing to you a great many months ago, in answer to your very obliging letter accompanying the treatise on weights and measures which you was so obliging as send [ sic -- Ed. ] me--which I read with great pleasure and improvement--and for which I did return my best thanks, and now repeat them lest that letter should have been lost

"Along with this I send the 7 8 ^th. 9 ^th. 10 ^th & 11 ^th Volumes of the Bee--hoping the former volumes which were sent by the way of New York, to the care of M Sam ^l Campbell bookseller there, have come safe to hand, If you should honour these papers with a perusal I hope you will discover that at least a desire to promote the welfare of mankind in general, without any limitation is conspicuous through the whole--I am ambitious of no other fame but that of being a friend to man--not according to the new fangled meaning of that word but to its obvious and most unlimited signification . . .”

Jefferson now had volumes 1 to 11. An additional copy of volume 7 was sent to him by Samuel Campbell of New York, to whom Jefferson wrote on November 12, 1792: “ I am to acknolege the reciept of your favor accompanied by the 7 ^th. vol. of D ^r. Anderson’s Bee. much pleased with this work, & desirous of continuing to recieve it, I should be obliged to you to be informed if D ^r. Anderson has any correspondent at Richmond in Virginia through whom I could receive the work in future and pay the subscription, as I could not consent to permit D ^r. Anderson to go on with the furnishing it but on the footing of other subscribers. I am Sir your most obed ^t. serv ^t ”

James Anderson, 1739-1808, Scots economist. The Bee contains a large variety of articles on economic, literary, artistic and other subjects. There are a number of articles on the United States, including quotations from Benjamin Franklin. The volumes are illustrated with plates.