The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-10-22

MAN
learn from the newspapers, that the van
dslisrn of our eLcmy has triumphed at Washington
science we'll the arts, by the destruction of
H.. prbe library. With the noble edice IN whchit
degoslted. OF this transaction, OF that OF CCpenl-
gen, the world will entertain but sentiment
They will see a nation suddenly withdraw from y
great war; foil armed and full handed taking ADVANTAGES
VI s,'oiicr whom they had recently forced il,
AIMED and unprepared to indulge Themselves in of
karlSrism which 40 not belong To q civilized age When
Van Gheut DESTROYED their shipping ut Chatham. aud
De Rot rude uurOphsntly upthe Thames, he might
IL Ike manner, 10y the acknowledgment of their
historians, have forced all their ships up London
bridge, and there have burnt them the tower and city,
hid t,ese examples been then set. L0nt,or, when
thus menaeed, was sr the usad years old W ashiDg
ton is bur in its teens.
presume il will be among the es,ly objects oi Con-
Eress tn recummence th"ir collection. This will be
dttci'it while the continues, aid Intercourse viii,
Europe Is 9tendCd With 50 much mss. You know my
co cion, is condition aud eXte [. i have been so
years making il, aud have spared pa.S, opportunity
,XpeLce ~ make il What 1t is. While residing in
Pa'rs devoted tvs-y alteIT disengaged for
summer two, H. aiming all the princi,.d book
ecres, turning - book wit. my hands x
p"iting by .ye;y thing which related TO America, ans
hfeod whatever rar, y valuable in syieLee;
besides this, had standing orders, during tie hole
time vas Europe in It's PRINCIPAL book uaris par
ticla y Ar1etoir';o, Frankfort, Madrid and London,
tor such woke relating to America sscril not 5eionnd
II Sais. SO that IN That department, particularly.
such collection iradc probably again
be elfct tied; because il Is hardly probable that the
troS ncCz;ry, perseverance, and eSpcrc, with
knoVioaSs OF the bibcg-sphy ~ thu subject would
ga happen tc ne 10 cirrcuce. lit iug the
period, aud after my return America, was led 10
procure also whatcvo lated 20 dugss Of those in
the high conccIns Of the nation, thattle collection
which lsuppose IS of between Q AID 1900 Volumes
While il includes bat is chiefly valuable 10 science aud
literature generally extends particularly what
ever belongs to the American smRn; in tie iylo
rate aud parliamentary hrarehes II IS particularly full
II is lcng snce have been sensible Ought
tnae private property, and hal piOvd, tlst, my
dsa:h, Congress should have the Iets- @. IL III their
o~n price; but tc loss they have incurred makes
The present, the proper mot1ertfor their accommodate
ton without regard 10 the snl; oil tnc, and
the barrenuse of my enjoying it. aah for your friend
ship, ttele'ore, TO make tender Oft 20 the library
etumittec * Congress, not knowing myself Of whom
she comnilee consists; | neluye you the catalogue
which viii e.abc them 70 Judge o. is cont, nts Near
ly the whole Of them are Well bound. abundance of
thera elegantly, and of the choicest editions They
may DE valu. ~ persons nance by themselves, * the
Pr Inent made convenient to the public it NAV b.,
tr instancc, in such annual nstanerts as the law OF
Congress has left their DISPOSAL stock of any Of
their late nans OF any loan theY may institute ~
ia session. 70 spare the present calls Of
Try and await it's days OF peace and prosperity. They
may enter evrtleless, into immediate use of it. as
10 roo wagons would place It in Washington in SIN
gle trip ut iortus ht-I should be willing indeed to re-
t'n few o the bOG&s to the time have vet TO
pass, which E,h, be valued with the rest, but net ~
tered atmy death! which would carefully provide for
SO tatthe Whole library as it stands in the catalogue
tlls moment, sl,,-d be- theirs without any gaIblug
hose should like TO lain would be chiefly classical
AID mathematical, few in ether branches and
pa teularly of Inc Ave Encyclopedias in the catG
logue bu this if not ace ptahle wold not be urged
must add, thst have Ros revised TIE library since
game hove to live, so thst it is probable some ofthe
books may b. missing, except in the chapters OF law &
DIVINITY, nCh have been revised and stand exactly ~
II. tc c.tiogi.. The return of the catalogue, will OF
course, ne needed, whether the tender he accepted or
not do know that contains any branch of SCI
epcc Which Ccpgress would wish 10 exclude from their
collection. There IS u fact subject whic., mem
Der OF Congressman not have occasion refer. Bot
such wish would not correspond with ray views of
pr-veiti'g its Gisnembarment. Ny desire Is either to
place it'll their hands entire, preserve l. SO here
am engaged in mixing an Alphabetical Irdcx of the
authors names to he annexed the catalogue in 0yer
to facilitate the finding their works in the catalogue,
which viii forward to Won as cornpl tcd.lnv
agreement YOU shs be good take the trouble Of
entering into with the committee, | hereby confirm
Accept the assurance ofmy great esteem and
Pect.
[Signed] TIL; JEFFERSON.
SANuYi H. SMITH, ESQ.
City Of WGshing,oa.