RC (MoSHi: TJC-BC); at foot of text: “Hon. Thomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 22 (reworked from 23) Feb. 1822 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: A New Society, for the Benefit of Indians, organized at the City of Washington, February, 1822 ([Washington, 1822]; copy in MHi: Adams Papers), consisting of the constitution of the newly formed “American Society for promoting the civilization and general improvement of the Indian Tribes within the United States,” which lists as its main objectives, “to secure for these tribes instruction in all branches of knowledge, suited to their capacities and condition; and for this purpose, to ascertain the character and strength of their moral and intellectual powers, and their dispositions to receive instruction: to examine into their origin, history, memorials, antiquities, traditions, governments, customs, manners, laws, languages, and religions; into their diseases, remedies, and manner of applying them;—also, into the efforts which have been already made for meliorating their condition, and the results of those efforts; and where they have failed—the causes of failure: to ascertain the number and names of the tribes, their places of residence, the extent, soil, and climate, of their respective territories, the stations where education families may be most advantageously located, and to suggest what other means may be employed for their improvement,” as well as the goals of obtaining “a knowledge of the geography, mineralogy, geology, natural history, &c. of the Indian country—to collect specimens in all these branches of science, for the purpose of forming a Cabinet for the use of the Government of the United States:—Also, to select suitable spots in the Indian country, for making experimental farms, in the immediate view of Indians, on which to cultivate the different kinds of grains, grasses, trees, plants, roots, and other garden vegetables, adapted to the various soils and climates of the aforesaid country; to introduce the best breeds of domestic animals, and feathered fowls: And generally, to do all other things, which such a Society can do, to accomplish its grand object, the civilization of the Indians” (pp. 5–6); states that the organization will obtain rooms in Washington for its cabinet and library; specifies the duties of its various officers; announces that its annual meetings will be held in Washington on the first Wednesday after Congress opens; and concludes with a list of the society’s officers, headed by its “patrons” John Adams, TJ, and James Madison (p. 10).