The Life And Character Of John Paul Jones

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: LETTEES From the late President Thomas Jefferson, President James Madison, Judge Story, of the U. S. Supreme Court, the late Afathew Carey, Esq., of Philadelphia, and the lion. William A. Graham, Secretary of the Navy, to the Author, relative to Paul Jones. Monticello, February 14, 1825. Dear Sir, During my residence in ParU, I was much acquainted with Commodore John Paul Jones, whose life you propose to write, and had much to do with him; yet my memory i - so decayed that from that source I can furnish you nothing worth a place in his history. I believe I cannot better comply with your request than by sending you all the papers relating to him in my possession. His letters to me, which are many, will probably throw some lights, which you may not possess, on his occupation daring that period. His death happened after I left Paris, and I presume you know that the National Assembly, then sitting, expressed their respect for him by wearing mourning. I shall be glad if what I furnish may add anything to the establishment of that fame which he truly merited. Be pleased to accept for yourself the assurance of my great respect, THOMAS JEFFERSON. Montpelier, April 28, 1825. Dear Sir, I have received your letter of the 23d instant, inclosing a copy of your prospectus of a biography of John Paul Janes. The subject you have chosen for your pen, gives you an opportunity of doing justice to an individual whose heroiim will fill a brilliant page in the history of the American Revolution. I am sorry it is not in my power to add to the materials you have derived from other fources. I must regret, also, that my personal acquaintance with Captain Jones was so slight and transient, that I ought not to attempt a view of his character. His bust, by Houdon, is an exact li...