Letter from Thomas Jefferson Regarding Big Bone Lick
In 1807, Thomas Jefferson sent General George Rogers Clark to Big Bone Lick, Kentucky, to collect fossils. The site of an ancient salt lick, Big Bone Lick had once attracted Pleistocene-era mammoths, giant ground sloths and giant bison, which had died near the salt lick when they became trapped in the surrounding bogs, leaving a rich heritage of fossils.
In his letter shown below, Jefferson requests that General Rogers have the bones that Rogers had collected packed and shipped to a New Orleans collector, who would then forward them to Washington D.C. (Source: Wikipedia)
To General George Rogers Clarke
Washington, December 19, 1807
Dear General,
As I think it probable your brother will have left you before the enclosed comes to hand, I have left it open, and request you to read it, and do for me what it asks of him, and what he will do should he still be with you, that is to say to have the bones packed and forwarded for me to William Brown, collector at New Orleans, who will send them on to me.
I avail myself of this occasion of recalling myself to your memory, and of assuring you that time has not lessened my friendship for you. We are both now grown old. You have been enjoying in retirement the recollections of the services you have rendered your country, and I am about to retire without an equal consciousness that I have not occupied places in which others would have done more good. But in all places and times I shall wish you every happiness, and salute you with great friendship and esteem.
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