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own soil by the side of the grower of produce； are so palpable； that
no temporary suspension of injuries on her part； or agreements
founded on that； will now prevent our continuing in what we have
begun。 The spirit of manufacture has taken deep root among us； and
its foundations are laid in too great expense to be abandoned。 The
bearer of this； Mr。 Ronaldson； will be able to inform you of the
extent and perfection of the works produced here by the late state of
things； and to his information； which is greatest as to what is doing
in the cities； I can add my own as to the country； where the
principal articles wanted in every family are now fabricated within
itself。 This mass of _household_ manufacture； unseen by the public
eye； and so much greater than what is seen； is such at present； that
let our intercourse with England be opened when it may； not one half
the amount of what we have heretofore taken from her will ever again
be demanded。 The great call from the country has hitherto been of
coarse goods。 These are now made in our families； and the advantage
is toosensible ever to be relinquished。 It is one of those obvious
improvements in our condition which needed only to be once forced on
our attention； never again to be abandoned。
Among the arts which have made great progress among us is that
of printing。 Heretofore we imported our books； and with them much
political principle from England。 We now print a great deal； and
shall soon supply ourselves with most of the books of considerable
demand。 But the foundation of printing； you know； is the
type…foundry； and a material essential to that is antimony。
Unfortunately that mineral is not among those as yet found in the
United States； and the difficulty and dearness of getting it from
England； will force us to discontinue our type…founderies； and resort
to her again for our books； unless some new source of supply can be
found。 The bearer； Mr。 Ronaldson； is of the concern of Binney &
Ronaldson； type…founders of Philadelphia。 He goes to France for the
purpose of opening some new source of supply； where we learn that
this article is abundant； the enhancement of the price in England has
taught us the fact； that its exportation thither from France must be
interrupted； either by the war or express prohibition。 Our
relations； however； with France； are too unlike hers with England； to
place us under the same interdiction。 Regulations for preventing the
transportation of the article to England； under the cover of supplies
to America； may be thought requisite。 The bearer； I am persuaded；
will readily give any assurances which may be required for this
object； and the wants of his own type…foundry here are a sufficient
pledge that what he gets is _bona fide_ to supply them。 I do not
know that there will be any obstacle to his bringing from France any
quantity of antimony he may have occasion for； but lest there should
be； I have taken the liberty of recommending him to your patronage。
I know your enlightened and liberal views on subjects of this kind；
and the friendly interest you take in whatever concerns our welfare。
I place Mr。 Ronaldson； therefore； in your hands； and pray you to
advise him； and patronize the object which carries him to Europe； and
is so interesting to him and to our country。 His knowledge of what
is passing among us will be a rich source of information for you； and
especially as to the state and progress of our manufactures。 Your
kindness to him will confer an obligation on me； and will be an
additional title to the high and affectionate esteem and respect of
an ancient and sincere friend。
AN EDITION OF WRITINGS
_To John W。 Campbell_
_Monticello； September 3； 1809_
SIR； Your letter of July 29th came to hand some time since；
but I have not sooner been able to acknowledge it。 In answer to your
proposition for publishing a complete edition of my different
writings； I must observe that no writings of mine； other than those
merely official； have been published； except the Notes on Virginia
and a small pamphlet under the title of a Summary View of the rights
of British America。 The Notes on Virginia； I have always intended to
revise and enlarge； and have； from time to time； laid by materials
for that purpose。 It will be long yet before other occupations will
permit me to digest them； and observations and inquiries are still to
be made； which will be more correct in proportion to the length of
time they are continued。 It is not unlikely that this may be through
my life。 I could not； therefore； at present； offer anything new for
that work。
The Summary View was not written for publication。 It was a
draught I had prepared for a petition to the king； which I meant to
propose in my place as a member of the convention of 1774。 Being
stopped on the road by sickness； I sent it on to the Speaker； who
laid it on the table for the perusal of the members。 It was thought
too strong for the times； and to become the act of the convention；
but was printed by subscription of the members； with a short preface
written by one of them。 If it had any merit； it was that of first
taking our true ground； and that which was afterwards assumed and
maintained。
I do not mention the Parliamentary Manual； published for the
use of the Senate of the United States； because it was a mere
compilation； into which nothing entered of my own but the
arrangement； and a few observations necessary to explain that and
some of the cases。
I do not know whether your view extends to official papers of
mine which have been published。 Many of these would be like old
newspapers； materials for future historians； but no longer
interesting to the readers of the day。 They would consist of
reports； correspondences； messages； answers to addresses； a few of my
reports while Secretary of State； might perhaps be read by some as
essays on abstract subjects。 Such as the report on measures； weights
and coins； on the mint； on the fisheries； on commerce； on the use of
distilled sea…water； &c。 The correspondences with the British and
French ministers； Hammond and Genet； were published by Congress。 The
messages to Congress； which might have been interesting at the
moment； would scarcely be read a second time； and answers to
addresses are hardly read a first time。
So that on a review of these various materials； I see nothing
encouraging a printer to a re…publication of them。 They would
probably be bought by those only who are in the habit of preserving
State papers； and who are not many。
I say nothing of numerous draughts of reports； resolutions；
declarations； &c。； drawn as a Member of Congress or of the
Legislature of Virginia； such as the Declaration of Independence；
Report on the Money Mint of the United States； the act of religious
freedom； &c。； &c。； these having become the acts of public bodies；
there can be no personal claim to them； and they would no more find
readers now； than the journals and statute books in which they are
deposited。
I have presented this general view of the subjects which might
have been within the scope of your contemplation； that they might be
correctly estimated before any final decision。 They belong mostly to
a class of papers not calculated for popular reading； and not likely
to offer profit； or even indemnification to the re…publisher。
Submitting it to your consideration； I tender you my salutations and
respects。
INDIAN VOCABULARIES
_To Dr。 Benjamin S。 Barton_
_Monticello； September 21； 1809_
DEAR SIR； I received last night your favor of the 14th； and
would with all possible pleasure have communicated to you any part or
the whole of the Indian vocabularies which I had collected； but an
irreparable misfortune has deprived me of them。 I have now been
thirty years availing myself of every possible opportunity of
procuring Indian vocabularies to the same set of words： my
opportunities were probably better than will ever occur again to any
person having the same desire。 I had collected about fifty； and had
digested most of them in collateral columns； and meant to have
printed them the last year of my stay in Washington。 But not having
yet digested Captain Lewis's collection； nor having leisure then to
do it； I put it off till I should return home。 The whole； as well
digest as originals； were packed in a trunk of stationary； and sent
round by water with about thirty other packages of my effects； from
Washington； and while ascending James river； this package； on account
of its weight and presumed precious contents； was singled out and
stolen。 The thief being disappointed on opening it； threw into the
river all its contents； of which he thought he could make no use。
Amon