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        I again express my satisfaction that you have been so good as

to give me an opportunity of explaining myself in a private letter;

in which I could give my reasons more in detail than might have been

done in a public answer: and I pray you to accept the assurances of

my high esteem & respect。







        〃SUBJECTS FOR A MAD…HOUSE〃




        _To Dr。 Thomas Leib_

        _Washington; June 23; 1808_




        SIR;  I have duly received your favor covering a copy of the

talk to the Tammany society; for which I thank you; and particularly

for the favorable sentiments expressed towards myself。  Certainly;

nothing will so much sweeten the tranquillity and comfort of

retirement; as the knoledge that I carry with me the good will &

approbation of my republican fellow citizens; and especially of the

individuals in unison with whom I have so long acted。  With respect

to the federalists; I believe we think alike; for when speaking of

them; we never mean to include a worthy portion of our fellow

citizens; who consider themselves as in duty bound to support the

constituted authorities of every branch; and to reserve their

opposition to the period of election。  These having acquired the

appellation of federalists; while a federal administration was in

place; have not cared about throwing off their name; but adhering to

their principle; are the supporters of the present order of things。

The other branch of the federalists; those who are so in principle as

well as in name; disapprove of the republican principles & features

of our Constitution; and would; I believe; welcome any public

calamity (war with England excepted) which might lessen the

confidence of our country in those principles & forms。  I have

generally considered them rather as subjects for a mad…house。  But

they are now playing a game of the most mischevious tendency; without

perhaps being themselves aware of it。  They are endeavoring to

convince England that we suffer more by the embargo than they do; &

that if they will but hold out awhile; we must abandon it。  It is

true; the time will come when we must abandon it。  But if this is

before the repeal of the orders of council; we must abandon it only

for a state of war。  The day is not distant; when that will be

preferable to a longer continuance of the embargo。  But we can never

remove that; & let our vessels go out & be taken under these orders;

without making reprisal。  Yet this is the very state of things which

these federal monarchists are endeavoring to bring about; and in this

it is but too possible they may succeed。  But the fact is; that if we

have war with England; it will be solely produced by their

manoeuvres。  I think that in two or three months we shall know what

will be the issue。




        I salute you with esteem & respect。







        BONES FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE




        _To Lacepede; with a Catalogue_

        _Washington; July 14; 1808_




        SIR;  If my recollection does not deceive me; the collection

of the remains of the animal incognitum of the Ohio (sometimes called

mammoth); possessed by the Cabinet of Natural History at Paris; is

not very copious。  Under this impression; and presuming that this

Cabinet is allied to the National Institute; to which I am desirous

of rendering some service; I have lately availed myself of an

opportunity of collecting some of those remains。  General Clarke (the

companion of Governor Lewis in his expedition to the Pacific Ocean)

being;on a late journey; to pass by the Big…bone Lick of the Ohio;

was kind enough to undertake to employ for me a number of laborers;

and to direct their operations in digging for these bones at this

important deposit of them。  The result of these researches will

appear in the enclosed catalogue of specimens which I am now able to

place at the disposal of the National Institute。  An aviso being to

leave this place for some port of France on public service; I deliver

the packages to Captain Haley; to be deposited with the Consul of the

United States; at whatever port he may land。  They are addressed to

Mr。 Warden of our legation at Paris; for the National Institute; and

he will have the honor of delivering them。  To these I have added the

horns of an animal called by the natives the Mountain Ram; resembling

the sheep by his head; but more nearly the deer in his other parts;

as also the skin of another animal; resembling the sheep by his

fleece but the goat in his other parts。  This is called by the

natives the Fleecy Goat; or in thestyle of the natural historian; the

Pokotragos。  I suspect it to be nearly related to the Pacos; and were

we to group the fleecy animals together; it would stand perhaps with

the Vigogne; Pacos; and Sheep。  The Mountain Ram was found in

abundance by Messrs。 Lewis and Clarke on their western tour; and was

frequently an article of food for their party; and esteemed more

delicate than the deer。  The Fleecy Goat they did not see; but

procured two skins from the Indians; of which this is one。  Their

description will be given in the work of Governor Lewis; the journal

and geographical part of which may be soon expected from the press;

but the parts relating to the plants and animals observed in his

tour; will be delayed by the engravings。  In the meantime; the plants

of which he brought seeds; have been very successfully raised in the

botanical garden of Mr。 Hamilton of the Woodlands; and by Mr。

McMahon; a gardener of Philadelphia; and on the whole; it is with

pleasure I can assure you that the addition to our knowledge in every

department; resulting from this tour of Messrs。 Lewis and Clarke; has

entirely fulfilled my expectations in setting it on foot; and that

the world will find that those travellers have well earned its favor。

I will take care that the Institute as well as yourself shall receive

Governor Lewis's work as it appears。




        It is with pleasure I embrace this occasion of returning you my

thanks for the favor of your very valuable works; _sur les poissons

et les cetacees_; which you were so kind as to send me through Mr。

Livingston and General Turreau; and which I find entirely worthy of

your high reputation in the literary world。  That I have not sooner

made this acknowledgment has not proceeded from any want of respect

and attachment to yourself; or a just value of your estimable

present; but from the strong and incessant calls of duty to other

objects。  The candor of your character gives me confidence of your

indulgence on this head; and I assure you with truth that no

circumstances are more welcome to me than those which give me the

occasion of recalling myself to your recollection; and of renewing to

you the assurances of sincere personal attachment; and of great

respect and consideration。




        _Contents of the large square Box。_




        A Fibia。




        A Radius。




        Two ribs belonging to the upper part of the thorax。




 

        Two ribs from a lower part of the thorax。




        One entire vertebra。




        Two spinous processes of the vertebra broken from the bodies。




        Dentes molares; which appear to have belonged to the full…grown

animal。




        A portion of the under…jaw of a young animal with two molar

teeth in it。




        These teeth appear to have belonged to a first set; as they are

small; and the posterior has but three grinding ridges; instead of

five; the common number in adult teeth of the lower jaw。




        Another portion of the under…jaw; including the symphisis; or

chin。  In this portion the teeth of one side are every way complete;

to wit; the posterior has five transverse ridges; and the anterior

three。




        A fragment of the upper…jaw with one molar tooth much worn。




        Molar teeth which we suppose to be like those of the mammoth or

elephant of Siberia。  They ar

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