Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) to Dr. David Hosack
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00262 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: Monticello, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 May 1821 Pagination: 1 p. : free frank ; 25 x 21 cm. Order a Copy
Free franked. Jefferson thanks Hosack for a paper on Nosology, or classification of diseases, a topic that might have interested a man of science like Jefferson, since classification might help find cures. He soon turns to the exciting news of a revolution in Naples which, he writes "secures the efforts of Spain & Portugal, and must cheer the mind of every man of Philanthropy with the prospect it holds up of the extension of representative government to the whole continent of Europe except Russia which too in the end will become capable of it. In what a glorious station does it place us at the head of the world in a revolution from the despotism under which they have been held through all time, or a maniac licentiousness[,] to a state of well regulated liberty of which we have furnished the example."
Note: Not in Bergh, but compare 11: 245, a Jefferson letter discussing theories of nosology. Dr. Hosack studied under Benjamin Rush and later helped found New York's Bellvue Hospital. He was one of the first American surgeons to use stethoscopes in his work. Nosology is the classification of diseases.
1821 May 11. 1 p. with free frank.
Monticello May 11.21.
Dear Sir
Your favor of Apr. 2d is recieved, and the letters and papers it covered are all exact and right, and I have to thank you for the trouble you have submitted to in the care of them. I owe you also my acknolegements for the copy of your Synopsis of Nosology which you have been so kind as to send me. Being but a mere amateur in that department of knolege, it is only such general views which I am able to take of the subject, and I shall read it with pleasure, and I am sure with edification.
I congratulate you on the interesting news from Naples. It secures the efforts of Spain & Portugal, and must cheer the mind of every man of Philanthropy with the prospect it holds up of the extension of representative government to the whole continent of Europe except Russia which too in the end will become capable of it. In what a glorious station does it place us at the head of the world in a revolution from the despotism under which they have been held through all time, or a maniac licentiousness to a state of well regulated liberty of which we have furnished the example.
I salute you with great esteem & respect.
Th: Jefferson
Dr. Hosack
[address leaf:]
Free
Th: Jefferson
Dr. David Hosack
New York
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