John Melish

I received duly your favor of December 15. and with it the copies of your map and travels, for which be pleased to accept my thanks. The book I have read with extreme satisfaction and information. As to the Western States, particularly, it has greatly edified me; for of the actual condition of that interesting portion of our country I had not an adequate idea. I feel myself now as familiar with it as with the condition of the maritime states. I had no conception that manufactures had made such progress there, and particularly of the number of carding and spinning machines dispersed thro' the whole country...

The candor with which you have viewed the manners & condition of our citizens, is so unlike the narrow prejudices of the French & English travellers preceding you, who, considering each the manners and habits of their own people as the only orthodox, have viewed everything differing from that test as boorish and barbarous, that your work will be read here extensively, and operate great good.

...to return to the merits of your work: I consider it as so lively a picture of the real state of our country, that if I can possibly obtain opportunities of conveyance, I propose to send a copy to a friend in France, and another to one in Italy, who, I know, will translate & circulate it as an antidote to the misrepresentations of former travellers.

(TJ To John Melish, January 13, 1813.)
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