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> I am finishing a book and am anxious to add a quotation from Thomas > Jefferson, but am unable to verify its authenticity. If you might be > assistance I would be grateful. Apparently, on June 9, 1805 Jefferson wrote a > letter to Charles Wilson Peale in which he said, "Having determined never > while in office to accept presents beyond a book or things of mere trifling > value..." > > If you might be able to suggest where I could verify or find this quotation I > would be extremely grateful. I was not able to find the letter to Peale that you mention, but there is a similar passage in a letter to Levett Harris: "I had laid it down as a law for my conduct while in office, and hitherto scrupulously observed, to accept of no present beyond a book, a pamphlet, or other curiosity of minor value; as well to avoid imputation on my motives of action, as to shut out a practice susceptible of such abuse. But my particular esteem for the character of the Emperor [Alexander of Russia], places [a gift of] his image in my mind above the scope of law. I receive it, therefore, and shall cherish it with affection." --Thomas Jefferson to Levett Harris, 1806. ME 11:101 The Memorial Edition (Lipscomb and Bergh, eds.) is available in most large public and university libraries. If you wish to search further for the exact letter about which you inquire, you might try the Library of Congress at the following website: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mtjhtml/mtjhome.html