Respectfully Dedicated to the Legislature of Virginia

Richmond Enquirer, September 2, 1806, 4.

Article text

Page 4

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THOMAS JEF-
FERSON TO GEORGE WYTHE,

Monticello, January 16, 1796

IN my letter which accompanied the box containing my collection of printed laws, I promissed to send you by post a statement of the contents of the box. On taking up the subject I found it better to take a more general review of the whole of the laws I possess, as well Manuscript as printed, as also of those which I do not possess, and soppose to be no loner extant, This general view you will have in the inclosed[sic] apper, whereof the articles stated to be printed, constitute the contents of the box I send you. Those in MS, were not sent, because not sopposed to have been within your view, and because some of them will not hear removal, being forgotten, that, on turning over a leaf, it sometimes falls into powder. These I preserve by wrapping and sewing them up in oiled cloth so that neither air nor moisture can have access to them. Very early in the course of my researches into the laws of Virginia, I observed that many of them were already lost, and many more on the point of being lost, as existing only in single copies in the hands of careful or curious individuals, on whose deaths they would probably be used for waste paper. I set myself therefore to work to collect all which were then existing, in order that when the day should come in which the public should advert to the magnitude of their loss in these precious monuments of our property and our history, a part of their regret might be spared by information that a portion has been saved from the wreck which is worthy of their attention and preservation. In searching after these remains, I spared neither time, trouble, nor expences[sic] and am of opinion that scarcely any law escaped me, which was in being as late as the year 1770, in the middle or southern parts of the state. In the northern parts perhaps something might still be found. In the clerk's offices in the antient counties some of those MS. Copies of the laws may possibly still exist which used to be furnished at the public expence To every country before the use of the Press was introduced and in the same places, and in the bands of antient magistrate, or of their families, some of the fugitive sheets of the laws of separate sessions; which have been usually distributed since the practices commenced of printed them. But, returning to what we actually possess, the question is, what means will be the most effectual for preserving these remains from future loss? All the care I can take of them will not preserve them from the worm, from the natural decay of the paper, from the accidents of fire, or those of removal, when it is necessary for any public purpose, as in the case of those now sent you. Our experience has approved to us that a single copy, or a few, deposited in MS, in the public offices, cannot be relied on for any great length of time. The ravages of fire and of ferocious enemies have but too much part in producing very loss we now deplore. How many of the precious works of antiquity were lost, while they existed only in manuscript? has there ever been one lost since the art of printing has rendered it practicable to multiply & disperse copies? This leads us then to the only means of preserving those remains of our laws now under consideration, that is, a multiplication of printed copies. I think therefore that there should be printed at the public expence, an edition of all the laws ever passed by, our legislatures which can now be found; that a copy should be deposited in every public library in America, in the principal public offices within the state, and some perhaps in the most distinguished public libraries of Europe, and that the rest should be sold to individuals towards reimbursing the expences[sic] of the edition. Nor do I think that this would be a voluminous work. The MSS. Would probably furnish matter for one printed volume in folio and would comprehend all the laws from 1624 to 1701, which period includes Pervis—My collections of fugitive sheets forms, as we know, two volumes, and comprehends all the extant laws from 1734 to 1783, and the laws which can be gleaned up, from the revisals, to supply the chasm between 1780, and 1784, with those from 1703, to the close of the present century (by which term the work might be compleated) would not be more than the matter of another volume. So that four volumes in folio probably would give every law every passed which is now extant; whereas those who wish to possess as many of them as can be procured, must now buy the six folio volumes of Revisals[sic], to wit, Pervis, and those of 1732, 1748, 1768, 1788, & 1784, & in all of them possess not one half of what they wish. What would be the expence[sic] of the edition, I cannot say; nor how much would be reimbursed by the sales; but I am sure it would be moderate compared with the rates which the public have hitherto paid for printing their laws, provided a sufficient latitude be given as to printers and places. The first step would be to make out a single copy from the MSS. which would employ a clerk about a year, or something more; to which expence about a fourth should be added for the collation of the MSS. which would employ three persons at a time about half a day, or a day, in every week. As I have already spent more time in making myself acquainted with the contents and arrangement of these MSS. than any other person probably ever will, and their condition does not admit their removal to a distance, I will cheerfully undertake the direction and superintendence of this work, if it can be done in the neighboring towns of Charlottsville [sic] or Milton, farther than which I could not undertake to go from home. For the residue of the work, any printed volumes might be delivered to the printer.

I have troubled you with these details, because you are in the place where they may be used for the public service, if they admit of such use, and because the order of assembly, which you mention, shews they are sensible of the necessity of preserving such of these laws as relate to our landed property, and a little further consideration will perhaps convince them that it is better to do the whole work once for all, than to be recurring to it by piece-meal, as particular parts of it shall be required, and that too perhaps when the materials shall be lost.

---

A Statement of the particular acts of the assembly of Virginia in my possession either MS. Or Printed, and of those not in my possession, and presumed to be lost.

1619, June, the first session of assembly ever held in Virginia Lost, 20 May lost, 22 lost, 21 March 5, I have in MS. 20 lost. 20 Oct. 16. I have in ms. 30 March 24. I have in ms. 31 Feb. 21. I have in ms. 32 Sept. 4. 60 acts. I have in ms. 3¾ Feb. 1. 6 acts. In ms. 33 Aug. 21. 16 acts in ms. 39 Jan. 6. In ms. 42 April 1. The 21st & 22d acts in ms. 4 2/3 March 2. A revisal I have in ms. 44 Oct. 1. in ms. 45 Feb. 17 in ms. 45 Nov. 20. In ms. 46 Oct, 5. In ms. 47 Nov. 5. In ms. 48 Oct. 12. In ms. 49 Oct.10 in ms. 52 April 25. in ms. Nov. 25. in ms. 53 July 5. in ms. 54 Nov. 20. in ms. 55 March in ms 56 March 10. in ms 56 Dec. 1. in ms 58 March 12. A revisal in ms 59 March 1. in ms 60 March 13. in ms 60 Oct. 11. in ms 61 March 23. in ms 6½ March 25, Chap 1 to 133, Inclusive p 62 Dec. 2 or 25 Chap 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 18 21 23 p 14 16 19 20 22 in ms. 65 Sept. 10. Chap1 2 4 7 8 9 10 11 14 16 17 p 3 5 6 12 13 15 18 in ms 64 Sept. 20. 9 acts p 65 Oct. 10. Chap 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 p 4 10 in ms 66 June 3. Chap 2 5 4 p 1 ms Oct. 25. Chap 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 23 22 23 24 p 4 8 14 in ms 67 Sept. 3 Chap 1 2 5 1 p 5 6 7 in ms 68 Sept. 17. Chap 1 to 9 p 69 Oct. 20, Chap 1 to 7 p 8 9 in ms. 70 Oct. 3. Chap 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 p 11 in ms. 71 Sep. 20. Chap 1 4 5 6 p 2 3 7 in ms. 72 Sept. 21 Chap 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 0 10 p 6 11 in ms 73 Oct. 20 Chap 1 to 5 p 6 7 in ms 74 Sept. 21. Chap 1 3 4 6 7 p 2 5 8 9 10 in ms 76 March 7. Chap 3 p 13 4 in ms 76 June 5. Chap 1 to 20 in ms. 77 Feb. 20. Chap 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 16 17 20 p 1 2 3 5 12 13 18 10 in ms, 77 Oct. 10. Chap. 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 11 12 printed, 6 7 in ms. 79 April 25. Chap. 1 to 9 p. 10 11 in ms. 80 June 8. Chap. 1 to 17 p. 82 une 8. Chaps. 1 to 17 p. 82 Nov. 10. Chap. 1 to 13 p. 84 April 16. Chp. 2 p. 1 3 4 6 6 7 8 9 10 in ms. 86 Oct. 20. Chap. 1 to 11 in ms. 91 April 18. Chap. 12 p. 1 to 11 & from 13 to 21 in ms. 92 April 1. Chap. 1 to 7 in ms. March 2. Chap. 1 to 7 in ms. 95 Oct. 10. Chap. 1 to 5 in ms. 95 April 18. Chap. 1 to 6 in ms. 96 Sept. 21 Chap. 1 to 14 in ms. 97 Oct. 21 Chap. 1 in ms. 98 Sept. 23 no law past at this session. 99 April 27. Chap 1 to 16 in ms. 1700 Dec. 5. Chap. 1 to 4 in ms. 01 Aug. 6. Chap 1 to 6 in ms 02 May 20 Chap 1 is lost Aug 11 Chap 1 A part of it is ms & 5 4 lost 03 march 19 no act passed 04 April 20 Chap 1 to 11 lost 05 April 18 Chap 1 to 4 lost Oct 25 Chap 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 17 19 20 22 23 25 27 28 29 30 32 33 35 38 39 40 41 43 45 46 47 48 49 50 52 58 p 05 Oct 25 Chap 4 11 16 18 21 24 28 31 34 37 42 51 53 in ms 15 lost 10 Oct 25 Chap 3 4 5 8 11 12 13 14 p 1 2 6 7 9 10 15 16 17 in ms 11 Nov 7 Chap 23 p 1 in ms – her the MS end 4 5 lost 12 Oct 22 Chap 4 5 p. 1 2 3 6 7 lost 13 Nov 5 Chap 3 4 6 7 8 printed – 1 2 5 9 10 12 lost 14 Nov 16 Chap 1 2 3 5 printed 4 lost 15 Aug 3 Chap 1 2 5 lost 18 April 25 Chap 1 3 – the substance printed in Bevealey's abridgment, 2 4 lost Nov 11 Chap 1 2 lost 20 Nov 2 Chap 3 4 5 6 7 8 printed – 1 2 substance in Beverly's abridgment, 9 to 18 lost 22 May 9 Chap 1 to 5, 6 to 9 printed – 4 5 and 10 to 16 lost 23 May 9 Chap 2 4 8 10 printed –1 3 5 6 7 9 11 to 15 lost 26 May 12 Chap 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 printed – 5 9 to 14 lost 27 Feb 1 Chap 3 5 to 14 printed – 1 2 4 15 to 22 lost 30 May 21 Chap 1 to 15 printed – 20 to 29 lost 32 May 18 Chap 1 to20 printed 21 to 35 lost Here begins my collection of the Fugitive sheets of Laws printed for each session 1734 Aug. 22 31 acts printed 36 Aug. 3.25 acts p. 38 Nov. 1 25 acts p 40 May 22 15 acts p Aug 1 1 acts p 42 May 6 33 acts p 44 Sept. 4 46 acts p 45 Feb. 23 30 acts p 46 July 11 2 acts lost 47 March 30 5 acts lost 48 Oct 27 Chp. 1 to 55 57 77 printed 56 58 to 76 78 to 89 lost 52 Feb 27 tt acts p 53 Nov 1 28 acts p 54 Feb 14 3 acts p Aug 22 5 acts p Oct 17 7 acts p 55 May 1 24 acts p Aug 5 8 acts p. Oct 27 6 acts p 56 March 25 13 acts p Sep. 20. 3 acts p 57 April 14. 30 acts p. 58 March 30. 2 acts p. Sep. 14. 13 acts p. Nov. 9. 1 act p. 59 Feb. 22. 31 acts p. Nov. 1. 6 acts p. 60 March 4. 3 acts p May 19 Oct 6 4 acts p 61 March 5. 31 acts p Nov. 3 13 acts p 62 Jan. 14 3 acts p March 30. 7 acts p Nov. 2 44 acts p 63 May 13. 13 acts p 64 Jan. 12. 13 acts p Oct 50. 54 acts p 66 Nov. 6. 51 acts p 68 March 31. 7 acts p 69 May 8. a convention, no acts passed Nov. 7. 89 acts p 71 July 11. 4 acts p 72 Feb. 10. 68 acts p 73 march 4. 16 acts lost from my collection 74 May 5. dissolved before any act passed 75 June 1. The last assembly under the Royal government. it was discontinued by not meeting on its own adjournment, without having passed any law CONVENTIONS. 75 July 17. ordinances printed Dec. ordinances p 76 May 6. ordinances p ASSEMBLIES Oct 7. acts printed. 77 May 5. ditto Oct. 20. ditto 78 May 4. ditto Oct. 5. ditto 79 May 3. ditto Oct 4. ditto 80 May 1. ditto Oct. 16. ditto 81 March 1. ditto May 7. ditto Nov. 5. ditto 82 May 6. ditto 83 May 5. ditto Oct. 20. ditto Note that these terms 'Printed' or 'p' or in 'MS.' Mean that I have the laws printed or in MS.