Thomas Jefferson to Wythe, 12 January 1796
Thomas Jefferson tells George Wythe that he will be able to get the acts of the general assembly to him after they have been bound. He has arranged them into 7 volumes so far and the 8th is being sent to a book binder that he has used in the past. Jefferson says that once Wythe has the entire collection in his possession, he can keep it until he no longer needs them. He says that there are some deficiencies to his collection, but he will include them in another letter because he does not have time if he wants to send everything with the wagon going to Varina.
"Thomas Jefferson to Wythe, 12 January 1796." Image from the Library of Congress, The Thomas Jefferson Papers.
Letter text
Monticello Jan. 12. 96.
I received last night your letter on the subject of the laws, and certainly will trust you with any thing I have in the world. a waggon was going off this morning from hence to Varina, and I have exerted myself to send them by that. as I have always intended to have my copies bound up so as to make as complete a set as I could, I thought it best to do this now, before you begin to make use of them. I have therefore arranged them into 7. volumes, and propose to make the revisal of 1794. the 8th as you will see by the directions to the book binder. I have ordered the book to be delivered to you, merely that you may open it, see it’s contents, and by delivering them to the book binder acquire a right of pressing him to expedite his work. as to all the expenses I shall provide for them through the channel of mr Randolph. when done, take the whole collection, & keep it till it has answered your purpose. I mean to write you a particular statement of the contents of my collection & it’s deficiencies; but this requires more time than the departure of the waggon allows me. it shall follow by post because I am not without hopes you may have some duplicates from which you can spare copies to fill up the chasms of mine. Adieu affectionately.
P.S. mr Bran has formerly done a good deal of binding for me, and would take pains to serve an old customer well.
