Notes on the State of Virginia

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Notes on the State of Virginia was a book written by Thomas Jefferson. Originally written in 1781, it was subsequently updated and enlarged in 1782-83, and anonymously published in Paris in 1784. It was Jefferson's only original full-length book. It was written in order to answer questions posed to Jefferson about Virginia by François Barbé-Marbois then the Secretary of the French Legation in Philadelphia.

[edit] Outline

The text is divided into 23 chapters, each describing a different aspect of the state of Virginia.

1. Boundaries of Virginia
2. Rivers
3. Sea Ports
4. Mountains
5. Cascades
6. Productions mineral, vegetable and animal
7. Climate
8. Population
9. Military force
10. Marine force
11. Aborigines
12. Counties and towns
13. Constitution
14. Laws
15. Colleges, buildings, and roads
16. Proceedings as to Tories
17. Religion
18. Manners
19. Manufactures
20. Subjects of commerce
21. Weights, Measures and Money
22. Public revenue and expences
23. Histories, memorials, and state-papers

[edit] References

• The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson. The Modern Library, 1944.

[edit] External links

• Notes on the State of Virginia Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library.
• PDF version at The Online Library of Liberty.