Description:

Jefferson Thomas

 

Lower half page of a published letter in the Jefferson papers, Library of Congress, 7.75" x 4.5". Written entirely in the hand of Thomas Jefferson and signed by him as "Th Jefferson" to Charles Meriwether. Page is toned with light staining. The paper is lightly affixed to a backing sheet, and is partially no longer attached.

 

Thomas Jefferson responds to an intriguing scientific letter in the last year of his life. The entire letter is published on the Founder.Archives.gov website as part of the known and identified Thomas Jefferson papers. The letter in its entirety is displayed on that website, however today only the lower half which includes Jefferson's signature remains. Jefferson was responding to a letter from Dr. Charles Meriwether who was describing an exceedingly rare atmospheric phenomena which  today still renders conjecture. The partial letter is shown below:

 

" these appearances, very common in high latitudes, are so rare in lower ones that I never heard but of a single one seen in this state. Capt Parry in his late voyage of discovery, saw them frequently where he wintered in latitude 76° I inclose[sic] you the diagrams of three, copied from his book, one of them nearly as complicated as yours. these phenomena proceed doubtless from combinations of reflection and refraction, their prismatic circles depending on the laws of the Solar rainbow, the white ones on those of the Lunar. the solar bow being single and simple is readily explained. but those of the Halo, from their numerous centres of relation, are not of so easy investigation it is singular that yours was twice seen over such an extent of country, and at times so distant.   I salute you with all the sincerity of antient friendship, & respect.

Th: Jefferson"

 

The Thomas Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress have the original letter written to Jefferson from Meriwether which includes spectacular and highly detailed diagrams of what Meriwether saw on the 19th and the 26th of August 1825. Jefferson makes note that this phenomena occurs with some regularity at latitudes of 76 degrees which is close to the North Pole, but are rarely ever seen further South. His interpretation was one based on "combinations of reflection and refraction,  their prismatic circles depending on the laws of the Solar rainbow, the white ones on those of the Lunar." Although at the time there was little scientific understanding of atmospheric phenomena, today we still grapple with the physics of their occurrences. Our understanding of this phenomena has not varied much over the last 100 years, the only difference is that with better communication and ability to send and share images, reports of halos and pictures of their variations and spectacular displays are more readily shared. The earliest experimental studies on halo phenomena have been attributed to Auguste Bravais in 1847, 20 years after the exchange of these letters. Jefferson also spoke of Rear Admiral Sir William Edward Parry, the famous British Artic explorer, and Parry's spotting of similar atmospheric Halos in the Northern latitudes. Parry was on a life mission to find a Northwest passage and the North Pole, and went on 4 exhibitions between 1818 and 1827. His 4 expeditions were being watched by the world. Jefferson's more intimate knowledge of Parry's expeditions show his study of his missions went beyond the ordinary, including a heightened awareness of Parry's experiences (such as what Parry encountered during the voyage). Jefferson's life time drive and vast hunger for knowledge was additionally demonstrated by his love for reading and his vast intense library of books.

 

Today we are aware that Haloe are usually caused by the refraction of both sunlight and moonlight as it passes through cirrus clouds. The ice particles in the cirrus clouds that produce these beautiful displays are almost always in the shape of hexagonal plates or columns. As these ice crystals fall, they often have a preferred orientation, which also affects the kind of halos and arcs that are displayed. Most halos are positioned at an angular distance of 22 degrees from the sun.

 

Included with this phenomenal important letter from Thomas Jefferson, is a copy of the letter written to Jefferson from Meriwether which includes Meriwether's complex diagram, and a copy of the entire original Jefferson letter. Scarce.


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