From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe Reibelt, 24 December 1804
To Philippe Reibelt
Washington Dec. 24. 04.
Sir
Before the reciept of your last letter, the Secretary of state having compleated his selection from your books, I had repacked the residue in two of the boxes, which indeed could not be made to contain them but by putting some of the cahiers in separate places, wherever space could be found. you will therefore find some dissortment from this cause: but you will certainly find every volume which was sent and not retained by the Secretary of state or myself, as the boxes were opened in my cabinet, and never out of it till they were nailed up again. they are well corded and shall be returned by the first vessel from this part to Baltimore. below is a statement of the books I have retained for myself, which at the prices noted in the M.S. catalogue of those sent amount to 83. D. 72½ C. for which sum I now inclose you a check of the bank of this place on that at Baltimore. I will immediately send to the Secretary of state for his remittance which is 114. D. 50 C. for the books taken by him. I now inclose his list of them: and as they are taken for the public account I must ask the favor of you to sign the reciept at the foot of it, and return it for him as that voucher will be required of him on settling his public account. mine being on my own private account needs not that ceremony.
I see in the printed sheet you sent me ‘Plans of gardens in the English taste’ by Parkins with black engravings. be so good as to note to me the price which will enable me to judge whether it is the work I have seen. if I find it to be so, I will ask it of you. Accept my salutations.
Th: Jefferson
| D | ||
| Plans des maisons de Paris | 40 | . |
| Histoire des volcans | 2 | . |
| Vue de la colonie du Missisipi | 2 | . |
| 2d voyage a la Louisiane | 4 | . |
| Voiage a la Troade | 8 | |
| Annales du Museum des arts | 10 | |
| Voyage de Faujas en Angleterre | 4 | |
| Galerie des antiques | 3 | .50 |
| Voyage de Link en Portugal | 2 | .25 |
| De la richesse commerciale | 2 | .875 |
| Moyens de desinfecter l’air &c | 1 | .50 |
| St. Venant des colonies modernes | 2 | .50 |
| Sentimental journey | 1 | .10 |
| 83 | .725 |
PoC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr. Reibelt”; endorsed by TJ. Notation in SJL: “83.72½.” Enclosure: list of books ordered by the secretary of state, consisting of Du commerce maritime, de son influence sur la richesse et la force des états, two octavo volumes for $2; Correspondance politique et confidentielle, inédite de Louis XVI, avec ses frères et plusieurs personnes célèbres, pendant les dernières années de son règne, et jusqu’à sa mort, two octavo volumes for $2.375; Rivalité de la France et de l’Angleterre, one octavo volume for $1.375; Jean Baptiste Say’s Traité d’économie politique, two octavo volumes for $3.875; a folio atlas by Edme Mentelle for $54; Statistique générale et particulière de la France et de ses colonies, seven octavo volumes for $20; Tableau de l’Espagne moderne, three octavo volumes for $7; Tableau générale de la Russie moderne, et situation politique de cet empire au commencement du XIXe. siècle, two octavo volumes for $4.625; Table des traités entre la France et les puissances étrangères, depuis la paix de Westphalie jusqu’a nos jours, two octavo volumes for $3.50; and Recueil des principaux traités d’alliance, de paix, de trêve, de neutralité, de commerce, de limites, d’échange &c. conclus par les puissance d’Europe tant entre elles qu’avec les puissances et etats dans d’autre parties depuis 1761 jusqu’à présent, seven octavo volumes for $15.75; for a total cost of $114.50 (MS in DLC: TJ Papers, 146:25349, entirely in TJ’s hand; , Sec. of State Ser., 8:420-1).
gardens in the English taste: TJ may have confused Plans de jardins dans le goût anglais & instructions dans l’art de distribuer & planter de petits terrains by Jean Louis (or Johan Ludwig) Mansa with a similar work by George Isham Parkyns, possibly Six Designs for Improving and Embellishing Grounds (Vol. 31:446-7; Reibelt to TJ, 26 Dec.).