The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-04
rnoM rnE FORT FOLIO.

raoM THE PORT FOLIO.
The French, who appear to have early perceived a
marked feature in the character of Mr. Ieerion have
recently given the world letter from this gentle
man, addrefIed 20 C. Lscepede, member of the IT.
9itute This letter pubGihed in the e5th number
OF periodical work, printed in Paris, Untitled La
Decade p,Glofophique, litterare pohtique' in the
following words We believe we ihail 1--WE plea
fure readers in pretending them with trasla-
ton OF the following letter, adireiled by Mr. Jefer-
ION PRECEDENT of the United States, 10 e. Lacepedc
member or the In.ti,ute They will find in il, inde-
pendent of foe curious facts for the learned that linz
Pkcity oftoRe which loves to dacover in perlons
eminent by their ation, and ,hat reipe4 for talents
the intal'ible iign OF an elevated FOUL
AS it may be fome qualification &c the American
reader 20 fee this letter i'll Englh drcfs, here
iuboin traniIaon Of it, from the aoreiad periodical
work
Letter from Mr.. Jeiferfcn. Prefdens of the United
States, TO G. Lscepede, member OF the French In-
dilute.
WaG;rgtar, february 81, 1908.
have JUN received, by Mr. Pri-e the copy which
you had the goodnefs iend me- of your dcourle at
tine opening of your Lectures for the ninth year From
the rapid peruai have given it, anticipate the plea
lure hall experience IN reafrq affe7f-iy the
tifa infants of leiiure have at my diipoEl
have been truck with the pkilofophic fpirit that
dictated the paragraph of your dlcourle 1page TO-
1fDoE,i, 1Ubieb European ty: bas ye. Eea,'t ss's
Know, that at this very moment, have travellers
exploring the Mhouri TO its fource, and who alto
charged to diieover that river, which may be-
which may originate the nearet it, and empty itfef
into the weitern ocean. This excurfion through our
continent will give general idea of it's FORM popu-
lation, natural hory, productions, foil, and climate
" rs alto by improbable that this fieri;6t
Journey may procure for fone new information re-
iative to the dianmO5, as well as the Megaf6e,us Of
which you make mention tpage 81 You have, per-
haps, feen in our Philadelphia tranfadions before our
reading what M Cuver had faid of it. that we had
found here the remains Of an enormous unknown ami
NAL which we have named fte0konyx, on account of
the prodigious length of ITS claws II is probably the
fame animal, and there gns Of its ancient and e.
ven Preient, exifence. The voyage, which we have
undertaken, and which may be Accomplished in the
fpace OF two fummers, will, we hope, illuminate this
faa.
Ihave for long time, been fatigued with the ete--
nal repetition of the phrae, ir biz atceF nature
BY which is meant, man in his favage and ffupfed
Cute, with y dsVe;oped If iuch is the
Rate of nature, the f9tus, in its enbro fate, would
be it, hghea degree, for then is difcovered
Its eat developement. Surely there is nothing more
contrary nature in the developement Of IL. faculty
OF perception and thinking than in the increaie of its
Body. You will hence perceive bozU pysefly ba.e
been H5srsSso fee this faie idea combatted by YOU
g.. among all living and Eenlbie beings the art or
&W ef 0ry ls--;es il III nature. The indultry, which
proceeds from this alone and which it has not recev-
cd from different iPcces, is tie completion ois natural
n:fri5rtes One would have very imperfect idea of
its sHeeJ who ha be ignorant of the estzf etbe de-
V:lgo-7trf gifts faenti- The examination of the diff
eyeri Of man, which You propoie, under this point
OF view, will produce Qualification which has no, hi
therto been fuffciently valued
NJ de Baton has fuppoied that the 11ocf of Ar1e-
RIGA was the RsiaDer of Europe; that the Deer OF A
nerica was the Rotbuei and what we improperly call
the Panther, was the Cougar. procured for him the
A.on, the Pin, and horns of bfo9f feven feet high
the horns of orr Deer, and the kin of an Animal i'm
properly called Panther. He was thoroughly convn-
ced that he had received imperfect notions Of all hefe
animals. and p7omifed correct thefe articles in his
next publications. believe he did not live long e.
nough 20 publiih another volume. Have any poRhu-
nous works of his been publifhed, and do they con-
tain the correction here mentioned prefr,;e tha.
the parts OF animals, which tent to him. are Gill in
the cabinet, which has been 70 happily conided to
y'ur keeping.
You will have heard that ikele.on Of Mammoth,
tolerably comPl re has been carried to London by
Mr.. Peae, from whence he propoes take it to Pa
ris; thus you will have it in your power to fee th,
coailal creature, and to compare it with the ele-
plant.
To return TO the principal object Of nv letter |
thank you for the friendly communication Of your DIFF
coure, and the location which it has furned me for
turning my neps for moment, from the arid paths of
politics. to the fruitful fields of nature. ntrea YOU
to accept the aurances of my great confederation and
my refpe9.
(signeD TIL. JEFFERSON
Lao;ora brre aRna5 70 iu.,qigstor5 10 be Et uuIr
,, ~. r.