The Arkansas banner., 1843-09-23
LETTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON.

nine or ten thousand volumes, to Congress, at any price that body should fix upon it-a selection of books, which he had been fifty years making; in fact, it was the most com plete private library in America.
 This offer was made by Mr. Jefferson, ill consequence of the destruction of the public library at Washington, when the Capitol in that city was burnt, by order of General Ross, the British commander-an outrage almost unparalleled in the history of nations, and that would have been disgraceful 10 sayages
 Of the invasion of Washington city, Ram say says: ''The enemy proceeded to burn the Capitol, containing the Senate Chamber, Representative Hall, Supreme Court Room, Congressional Library, and Legislative Ar chives. The Treasury, War and Navy off, ces, together with the Presidents House, shared the same fate. Every public building, except the General Post Office, containing the models of patented inventions in the arts, was subjected to the torch.o
 Verres plundered italy for his personal ag- grandizement, and for this he was banished Napoleon Bonaparte subsequently, plundered the same country, to enrich his army and France, and make Paris the nursery of the arts; and yet he ended his days in captivity, in lonely isle
 The destruction of the public buildings at Washington, was for neither of these pur- poses, but was an act of malicious wanton- ness and barbarous vengeance and yet Gen eral Ross was honored and eulogised as a hero, in England. If we ever have war with that country, it is to be hoped that that outrage will not be forgotten
 Monticello, Sept. 2I, lSl4
 DEAR SRI learn from the newspapers that the Vandalism of our enemy has tri- umphed at Washington, over science as well as the arts, by the destruction of the public Library, with the noble edi6ce in which it was deposited. Of this transaction, as of that ot Copenhagen, the world will entertain but one sentiment. They will see a nation suddenly withdrawn from great war, full armed and full handed, taking advantage of another whom they had recently forced into it, marmed and unprepared, to indulge them selves i'll acts of barbarism which do not be- long to civilized age. When Van Ghent destroyed their shipping at Chatham, and De Ruyter rode triumphantly up the Thames, he might in like manner, by the acknowledge ment of their own historians, have forced all their ships up to London Bridge, and there have burnt them, the tower and city. had these examples been then set. London. when thus menaced, was near a thousand years old-Washington Is but in it's teens. presume 1t will be among the carly objects of Congress to re-commence their collec- ton. This will be difficult while the war continues, and intercourse with Europe is attended with so much risk. You know my collection, its condition and extent | have bo5 ;i; e; ;sis ;sii i,,.,t, Tt, pains, opportunity, or expense, to make if what it is. While residing in Paris, devot- ed every afternoon l was disengaged, for a summer or two, Ill examining all the princi- i pal bookstores, turning over every book with my own hands, and putting by every thing which related to America, and indeed what ever was rare and valuable in every science. Besides this, l had standing orders. dllring the whole time was in Europe, in its prin- clpal boOk-marts, particularly Amsterdam. Frankfort, Madrid and London, for such works relating to America, IS could not be found in Paris. So that, in that department particularly, such collection was made as i probably can never again be effected; be- cause 1t is hardly probable that the same op- l portunltes, the same time, industry, persc- verance, and expense, with some knowledge of the bibliography of the subject, would again happen to be in concurrence. During the same period, and after my return to America, was led to procure also what ever related to the duties of those in the biob concerns of the nation. So that the collec- ton, which suppose is of between nine and ten thousand volumes, while 1t includes what is chiefly valuable in science and liter ature generally, extends more particularly to whatever belongs to the American statesman m the diplomatic and parliamentary branches. 1t is particularly full. 1t is long since have been sensible it ought not to continue private property, and had provided that, at my death. Congress should have the refusal of if at their own price: but the loss they have now incurred, makes the present the proper mo- ment for their accommodation, without re- gard to the small remnant of time, and the barren use of my enjoying it. | ask of your friendship, therefore, to make for me the tender of it to the Library Committee of Congress, not knowing myself of whom the committee consists. enclose you the ca talogue, which will enable them to judge of its contents; nearly the whole are well bound, abundance of them elegantly, and of the choicest editions existing. They may be valued by persons named by themselves, and the payment made convenient to the public 1t may be, for instance, in such an- nual instalments as the-law of Congress has left at their disposal, or in stock of any of their late loans, or of any loan that they may institute this session, so as to spare the pre- sent calls of our country, and await its days