Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waterhouse, 9 March 1805

To Benjamin Waterhouse

Washington Mar. 9. 05.

Th: Jefferson to Doctr. Waterhouse

Legerat hujus Amor titulum nomenque libelli.

Bella mihi, video, bella parantur, ait.

So Ovid introduces his book Remediorum amoris. a lecture against tobacco was calculated to excite a similar alarm in a Virginian, & a cultivator of tobacco. however being a friend neither to it’s culture nor consequences, I thank you for the pamphlet, and wish a succesful opposition to this organ of Virginia influence, as well as to every other injurious to our physical, moral or political well being. Accept my friendly & respectful salutations.

PoC (DLC).

TJ referred to Ovid’s poem “Cures for Love,” the first lines of which, loosely translated, are “When Love read the title of this book, he said, I see it is war you declare against me” (Ovid, Remedia Amoris, 1.1-2).

a lecture against tobacco: see Waterhouse to TJ, 20 Feb.

Index Entries