JEFFERSON COUNTY. 361 



gress from the State of Virginia ; and in 1784, was sent as 

 Minister Plenipotentiary with Franklin, John Adams, Jay, 

 and Laurens, to negotiate treaties with several European pow- 

 ers. In 1785 he was appointed Resident Minister at the Court 

 of France. Whilst in France, he was the object of admira- 

 tion among literary men for his extensive knowledge. On his 

 return to the United States in 1789, Washington appointed 

 him Secretary of State, in which office he continued until De- 

 cember 1793, when he resigned, and lived in retirement for 

 several years. It was at this period that he was unanimously 

 elected President of the American Philosophical Society. To 

 fill a post which had been occupied by Franklin and Ritten- 

 house, was considered by Mr. Jefferson as a great honour ; and 

 whilst he presided over this useful society, employed his best 

 exertions in advancing its objects. In 1797, when John Adams 

 was electe4 President, Mr. Jefferson was chosen Vice-Presi- 

 dent. When the period for another election arrived, he was 

 elected President, to which office he was again elected in 

 1805. On the 3d of March, 1809, Mr. Jefferson closed his 

 political career, and with the exception of excursions which 

 business required, he resided at Monticello. Here strangers 

 and foreigners repaired to see the Sage of America. Forget- 

 ting the exciting subject of politics, he devoted himself to 

 science. He commenced the University of Virginia by his 

 own private donations. Mr. Jefferson was particularly friendly 

 to Georgia. Whilst Secretary of State, in his correspondence 

 with Hammond, replying to his complaints respecting laws 

 passed in Georgia, he says : " The following are the acts of your 

 catalogue which belong to this head, with such short observa- 

 tions as are necessary to explain them. Beginning at that end 

 of the Union where the war raged the most, we shall meet with 

 the most repugnance to favour. If the conduct of Georgia 

 should appear to have been peculiarly uncomplying, it must be 

 remembered that that State had peculiarly suffered ; that 

 the British army had entirely overran it — had held possession 

 of it for some years ; and that all the inhabitants had been 

 obliged either to abandon their estates and fly their country, 

 or to remain in it under a military government." Mr. Jeffer- 

 son died on the 4th of July, 1826. During his sickness, he 



