The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-30
THOMAS JEFFERsoN's Desk.
How Assistant Secretary french and Others
Procured Copies Of a Precious EseIIe.
Washington Letter to New York sun

On April 2s, 1880, both Houses OF Congress
formally accepted ss the gift of the heirs of
the late Joseph Coolidge Jr., the desk on
which Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declare
ton Of Independence. II vas intrustsd by
them to Hon Robert G.. Y .thTOp, Of BOs-
ton, with a letter expressing me wish OF the
donors that it might have place in the De-
partment o. State in connection with the inn
mortal document which vas written upon it
in 1TT6." 4. B. Hayes was the medium
through which this wish was communicated
to Congress Both Houses took formal notice
OF the gift. In the House OF Representatives
letter from 4r Winthrop was read, as fol-
lows
wAsIuSGToS, D. c., April "A, 1880,
ny DEAE SRI have beck privileged to bring
with ne from Boston, as q present % the United
States very precious historical relic. IL ID tue
little desk on which Nh. Jefferson wrote the orig
IL al draft of the Declaration OF Independence.
The desk Wss given BY Air. Jefferson himself TO
my friend, the late Joseph Coolidge. of Boston, At
the time of his marriage to Jehers0n's grand
daughter, Miss Randolph and it beans an auto
the ilustri0us suthor Of the Declaration in the
very last year OF dis Lie.
on the recent death Of Mr.. Coolidge, whose wife
caIne the properly Of their chiidTen-Mr J. Ran
dolph Coolidge, Dr.. AlgeruOn Coolidge, Mr..
Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, and Mrs. kuen
Dwight-Who now desire 10 otter it to the United
states, so that IL may hen cefOrth have place in
the Department OF State, IN connection with the
in ZIG,
They have done me the honor to make me the
n ed unl of this distinguished gift, aud ask peTmis
sion 10 place it in the hands OF the Chief Gagis-
tste OF the Nation Ii their name and NJ their re-
quest.
respect, very faithfully, your obedient servant
ROE. 9. WINTHROP
His EXcellency RUTHERFORD 3. HAYES.
Then the House of Representatives adopted
/ q resolution thanking the Jefferson heirs,
naming them separately, for the patriotic
gift, and formally accepting "the precious
relic" in "the name Of the United States, d
and directing that it ''be deposited in the
| State Department"
In the Senate similar proceedings took
| place, the day there, as in the House of Rep.
resentatives, having been set apart for the
ceremonies.
The desk is described by one of Mr.. Jeffer
( sons biOgraphers as ga little writing desk
| three inches high" which has upon Il this
! inscription, placed there by Mr.. Jefferson
/ himself:
| Thomas Jefferson gives this writing desk TO 10
seph Coolidge, JT., a memorial of affection. Il
was made from drawing of his own BY Benjamin
! Randall, cabinetmaker OF Philadelphia, with
whom be first lodged on his arrival IN that city II
| May. i776, and is the identical one on which h'
/ wrote the Declaration of Independence. Politics
as well as religion, has its superstihons. Taes'
/ gaining strength with time may one cay give i'm
agiDary value TO this relic for rs association viii
the birth of the great charter Of our independence
MONTICELLO Nov. IS 1879.
After these proceedings in Congress two
copies Of The precious rellc''--one for Hon
Robert G. Winthrop of Massachusetts. tn,
other for Hon. John Randolph Tucker o
Eirginla-Were authorized in consideration
of their part in the matter. SO precious wa
tie relic considered that no more copies Weu
ever authorized. 1t was intended that thes
two copies should possess a peculiar value
AS such they were accepted BY Mr.. Winthrop
and Mr.. Tucker, by whom they were prize,
as Congress intended they should be priced
Ii was not long after however, that thi
{ precious cello turned up ia the cabinet sb0i