Notes on the State of Virginia

by Jefferson, Thomas

• ISBN13: 9780807845882
• ISBN10: 0807845884
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-02-01
• Publisher: Omohundro Inst of Early Amer

Summary

This American classic is the only full-length book written and published by Thomas Jefferson during his lifetime. Written in 1781, Notes on the State of Virginia was begun by Jefferson as a commentary on the resources and institutions of his home state, but the work's lasting value lies in its delineation of Jefferson's major philosophical, political, scientific, and ethical beliefs. Along with his accounts of such factual matters as North American flora and fauna, Jefferson expounds his views on slavery, education, religious freedom, representative government, and the separation of church and state. The book is the best single statement of Jefferson's principles and the best reflection of his wide-ranging tastes and talents. This edition, meticulously edited by William Peden, was originally published by the University of North Carolina Press in 1955.

Author Biography

William Peden is professor emeritus of English at the University of Missouri.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Boundaries of Virginia	p. 3
Rivers	p. 5
Sea-Ports	p. 17
Mountains	p. 18
Cascades	p. 21
Productions Mineral, Vegetable and Animal	p. 26
Climate	p. 73
Population	p. 82
Military Force	p. 88
Marine Force	p. 91
Aborigines	p. 92
Counties and Towns	p. 108
Constitution	p. 110
Laws	p. 130
Colleges, Buildings, and Roads	p. 150
Proceedings as to Tories	p. 155
Religion	p. 157
Manners	p. 162
Manufactures	p. 164
Subjects of Commerce	p. 166
Weights, Measures, and Money	p. 170
Public Revenue and Expences	p. 172
Histories, Memorials, and State-Papers	p. 177
Appendix No. 1. Charles Thomson's Commentaries	p. 197
Appendix No. 2. Draught of a Fundamental Constitution for the Commonwealth of Virginia	p. 209
Appendix No. 3. An Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, 1786	p. 223
Appendix No. 4. Relative to the Murder of Logan's Family	p. 226
Notes	p. 261
Index	p. 303
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.