[meteorite-list] more on Jefferson and meteorites

[Jeffrey Shallit]

I thought I'd report on what I found out more recently about
Thomas Jefferson and meteorites.  I have contacted three Jefferson
experts and none of them believe the quote attributed to him is
authentic.  The most recent expert is a researcher at Monticello,
who provides some interesting information.  I got her approval
to relay this message to the list.

Jeffrey Shallit

> From aberkes at monticello.org  Mon Mar 21 11:36:17 2005
> Subject: Jefferson Meteorite Quote
> Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:36:08 -0500
> From: "Anna Berkes" <aberkes at monticello.org>
> To: <Shallit at uwaterloo.ca>
> 
> Dear Professor Shallit,
> 
> As it turns out, the quote you asked about is indeed apocryphal: "I
> would rather believe that two Yankee professors would lie than believe
> that stones would fall from heaven."
> 
> Silvio Bedini, in his book Thomas Jefferson: Statesman of Science
> (MacMillan, 1990), states: "The subject [meteorites] is of particular
> interest because of an oft-quoted comment on the subject which was
> erroneously attributed to Jefferson.  Concerning the report by Silliman
> and Kingsley he is claimed to have stated 'It is easier to believe that
> two professors could lie than admit that stones could fall from heaven.'
> Investigation has revealed that the statement is a fabrication which
> first appeared in a work by Silliman's son published in 1874 and
> repeated in later biographies of Silliman."  (p. 388).  Footnoted is the
> work Benjamin Silliman, by Fulton and Thompson, pp. 76-78. 
> 
> If you are interested in the topic of Jefferson and science, I highly
> recommend you take a look at the Bedini book; I believe it's now out of
> print, but it is available in many libraries (the University of Waterloo
> library has several copies) and through used booksellers such as
> www.abebooks.com. 
> 
> I hope this helps you.  Don't hesitate to let us know if you have
> further questions.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Anna Berkes
> 
> Jefferson Library Reference Desk
> P.O. Box 316=20
> Charlottesville, VA 22902
> Phone: 434.984.7543 | Fax: 434.984.7546
> library at monticello.org
> <http://www.monticello.org/library/> http://www.monticello.org/library/
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