Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Milligan, 13 April 1819
To Joseph Milligan
Monticello Apr. 13. 19.
Sir
I have mr Adams’s permission to make what use I think proper of the inclosed letter,1 in recommendation of the study of Tracy’s book on Political economy.2 the nation, and especially the wealthier portion of it which is in possession of the function of legislation,3 is unfortunately4 in willing bondage to the snares & seductions of the painted harlot of banking bubbles5 and there can be no remedy but by setting their minds to rights on this subject. nothing else can rescue them from the delusion which leads them6 to encorage the application of our monied capital to usury rather than to the useful7 arts, manufactures agriculture and that sort of industry which creates and adds something to the wealth8 of our country. I think it would be well for you to print mr Adams’s letter on an 8vo leaf and prefix it to the volumes not yet sold, and even to send it to such purchasers as you know. perhaps it would be well to put it also into the public papers of widest circulation, not however accompanied by that I am now writing. I set off this day for Bedford and salute you with friendship & respect
Th: Jefferson
Dft (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr Millegan”; endorsed by TJ. Enclosure: John Adams to TJ, 2 Mar. 1819.
1. Reworked from “the letter on the adjoining leaf.”
2. TJ here canceled “in fact.”
3. Reworked from “of our legislature.”
4. Word interlined.
5. Remainder of sentence interlined, with addition originally inserted at end of next sentence.
6. Sentence to this point interlined in place of “nothing less could induce them to continue.”
7. Word interlined in place of “industrious.”
8. Preceding fourteen words interlined in place of “and agriculture.”
Index Entries
- Adams, John; and Destutt de Tracy’s writings search
- agriculture; TJ on search
- A Treatise on Political Economy (Destutt de Tracy) search
- banks; TJ on search
- Destutt de Tracy, Antoine Louis Claude; A Treatise on Political Economy search
- interest; TJ on search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; publication of papers search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; agriculture search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; banks search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; Destutt de Tracy’s works search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; interest search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; manufacturing, domestic search
- manufacturing; TJ on search
- Milligan, Joseph; and Destutt de Tracy’sTreatise on Political Economy search
- Milligan, Joseph; letters to search
- political economy; works on search
- Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); TJ visits search