“ tor, which I sent, had not been recieved by you, as no register had been entered in any post office. Your letter confirmed it, & I found that the book was taken, & the letter that was inclosed in the book sent on, & rec ^d by you; I accordingly sent another book, & letter, but am doubtful whether you have rec ^d either. If you have rec ^d the last letter & the book again miscarried, be so kind as to inform me, & I will send another book by a gentleman who will do himself the honor of putting it into your hands, who will in about 4 weeks start for Charlottesville . . . PS. If you have rec ^d both my letters and neither of the books, I consider myself in rather an awkward situation, until I am assured that you have rec ^d one.”

On March 21 Jefferson acknowledged the receipt of the book: “ Your favor of 24 ^th. Feb was recieved a few days ago. soon after the date of mine to you of Jan. 3. your’s of the 1 ^st. of that month came to hand, as also the volume forwarded with it: for which be pleased to accept the renewal of my thanks, and the confirmation of the favorable expectations I had formed of it’s contents.

" Every appearance warrants the expectation that the scenes in which you bore a part in the revolutionary war are to be shortly renewed, but under circumstances much more favorable to us. the Actors on the former occasion will from their years be entitled to be spectators only on this. the appropriate function of age on such an occasion is to address it’s prayers to heaven that it’s favors to both parties may be proportioned to the justice of their respective causes. more I am sure we need not desire . . .”

The Virginian Orator contains numerous references to Jefferson. Pages 15 to 19 contain an address headed President Jefferson’s Retirement. This begins: To the man who has rendered the unremitting service of forty years to his country, the patriot, the philanthropist, the legislator, the governor, the statesman, the minister at a foreign court, and to the true republican, I offer this wreath. Yes, Jefferson,

“Let wreaths of triumph round thy temples twine,

Thou hast run well, the glorious prize is thine.”

Jefferson’s own statement in answer to the citizens of Maryland who petitioned him to return to office is quoted in full. The manuscript original of this petition is in the Jefferson Papers in the Library of Congress.

On page 19 begins an “Oration on the same subject continued”, ending on page 22 with the lines:

Yes, illustrious man,

“Let wreaths of triumph round thy temples twine,”

Thy country’s love is now forever thine.

Both these orations are anonymous.

Pages 51 to 55 contain an “Extract from Mr. Hay’s opening speech versus Aaron Burr”, in which Jefferson is mentioned.

Pages 64 to 66 contain the poem addressed to “His Excellency Thomas Jefferson, Esq.” by Thomas Erskine Birch and referred to in his letters quoted above. The first and last verses read:

Hail virtuous man whom Heaven has plac’d,

Upon a seat yet undisgrac’d

By party spirit’s heat;

’Twas written in the book of fate,

For thee to guide the wheel of state,

And opposition meet.

From sixteen years to fifty odd,

We’ll all be ready at thy nod,

To vindicate the land

Where freedom blows ambrosial gales,

And Jefferson trims all the sails,

With helm in his hand.

On page 97 begins an address by Abraham Bishop entitled “Political Delusion”. This is the election oration for Jefferson already described in this catalogue, see no. 3235.

This is followed on page 100 by an extract from Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia headed “Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion.”

Thomas Erskine Birch, 1760-1820. This work was several times reprinted.

See no. 986.