| Query to Jefferson on Classification in Natural History Flemington January 24th 1814 Dear Sir, Altho' I have not the honour of a personal acquaintance with you, yet impelled by a desire of being informed on a subject of natural science, and knowing no person whom whose opinion I could place so much reliance, I have taken the liberty of writing to you. Nor should I now obtrude on your time, had I not known that you take pleasure in distributing useful knowledge. The subject on which I wish to be informed is respecting the classification of animals. Whether with Dr. Shaw and the British zoologists you adopt the classification of Linnaeus:-- whether with the French naturalists you prefer that of M. Cuvier or of M. Blumenbach-- whether you have not formed one of peculiar to yourself-- or whether you, with the learned M. Buffon reject all classification as injudicious and impracticable. This opinion of the French naturalist certainly has its analogy. Diseases were formerly divided into classes orders genera species & varieties by Dr. Suydenham Dr. Cullen and other nosologists; and in fact nosology was adopted by the medical world. But these divisions have been shown to the satisfaction of most pathologists to be injudicious impracticable and even injurious by my illustrious and truly worthy friend and preceptor in medicine Dr. Rush; and disease prateiform (?) as it is has been demonstrated to be an unit. But I think notwithstanding the ingenuity and erudition with which M. Buffon has defended his opinion, that the classification of animals stands on a more solid basis. But upon the propriety and manner of classification I must importune your opinion. While a student of medicine I attended several courses of lecture on Natural History in the Museum of Mr. Peale by Dr. Barton. We adopted the classification of Cuvier with some few modifications. As the nomenclature of the classes orders genera & even some of the species is highly questionable-- I have attempted to reform it, but have not dared to make it public. Another subject upon which I wish to consult you is with respect to that curious genus of animal the Ornithorhyncus. I wish to know to what order, or even to what class you assign it. I say to what class, because it differs materially from the mammalia. Mr. Home nor no other zootonist who has had an opportunity of dissecting them ever find them to possess mammae. They differ also in other important particulars. It seems to approximate more to the aves in having the mandibles--cloaca--and in having a spur on its leg (at least the O. paradoxus) I am ignorant where to give it a place; but am rather inclined to the opinion we shall have to constitute a new class for this anomalous genus. On this subject, however, it becomes me to remain silent until I hear your opinion. I am most-respectfully Your ob. servent John Manners The letter was addressed Thomas Jefferson Esq. Monticello Virginia It was �postmarked� Flemington January 24.14 Jefferson replied on February 22, 1814. Images of both Dr. John�s letters and Jefferson�s replies are available at the Library of Congress website. |