books
the papers of thomas jefferson 1 may 1812 to 10 march 1813
p volume five of the definitive edition of thomas jeffersons papers from the end of his presidency until his death includes 592 documents from 1 may 1812 to 10 march 1813 . america declares war on great britain on 18 june 1812 . jefferson counsels domestic reconciliation while suggesting that america recruit british incendiaries to burn london if british ships attack american cities . he passes on to president james madison a long and discouraging letter from isaac a. coles describing american military bungling in the niagara campaign . an unofficial proposal that jefferson return to public life as secretary of state does not gain the retired statesmans support . jefferson receives many requests for governmental patronage responds insightfully to a colorful assortment of authors and inventors is mildly diverted by a fraudulent perpetual motion machine and spends considerable time on legal troubles . a dispute with david michie over land in albemarle county nearly leads to a duel between michie and jeffersons agent . a conflict with samuel scott over property in campbell county further vexes jefferson who prepares an extensively researched answer to scotts complaint . despite the conflict jefferson graciously writes a letter of introduction for scotts son . jefferson remains accessible to the public receives anonymous letters urging him to convert to christianity and settles a wager for one correspondent who asks if jefferson ever met the british king . jefferson gloomily observes that the hand of age is upon me and complains that his faculties are failing . he still has thirteen years to live .
other princeton university press 2009 isbn13 9780691137711 isbn10 0691137714
abridged n isbn 13 9780691137711 number in series 1 number of pages 737 publisher princeton univ pr release date 62135769600000 series title papers of thomas jefferson . retirement series volume capacity 5