Thomas Jefferson to Wythe, 13 June 1790
Dear Sir New York June 13. 1790.
An indisposition of several weeks has prevented my sooner acknowledging the receipt of your favor of Apr. 22. – the bookseller whom I have employed at Strasburgh always is Armand Koenig. A Biographical dictionary to which I have been obliged to have recourse for information about Phlegon, authorizes me to inform you of these circumstances relative to him. He was surnamed Trallion from a city in Lydia, & a freedman of Adrian. There remains nothing of his at present but a treatise on those who have been long-lived, & another on wonderful things. The best edition of these fragments of Phlegon is that given by Meursius at Leyden in 1622. In 4to. Gr. & Lat. with notes. He lived to the 156th year of the Christian era. The author adds it is pretended that he spoke in the 13th & 16th books of his Olympiads of the darkness which happened at the death of our Saviour. Eustius in his chronicle relates his words: I inclose a few seeds of high-land rice which was gathered the last autumn in the East Indies. If well attended to, it may not be too late to sow & mature it after you shall receive it. I have saved a few seeds in earthen pots. It is a most precious thing if we can save it. The house of representatives have voted to remove to Philadelphia Baltimore. It is doubted whether the Senate will concur. Perhaps it may and in a removal to Philadelphia. Adieu my Dear Sir
yours affectionately