Ireland

From Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia

Thomas Jefferson never traveled to Ireland.^[1] His knowledge of the country and its people came through correspondence, newspaper accounts, governmental trade reports, literature, music, and through personal contact with Irish immigrants to the United States.

He observed Ireland's political struggles with England from a distance, and as might be expected, applauded Irish attempts at independence. Early on, however, he subordinated this support when Britain's troubles in Ireland could become a diversion away from the United States. When trying to gain ratification of a peace treaty to conclude America's revolution with England, Jefferson was pleased to hear that Britain had landed twenty-one regiments in Ireland, "As every circumstance of distress will render her the easier on this point [of ratification]."^[2] Two years later, when there was still competition between Great Britain and the United States over continued British occupation of western posts along the Mississippi, Jefferson observed, "I judge that a war with America would be a popular war in England. Perhaps the situation of Ireland may deter the ministry from hastening it on." Then on an occasion he saw the United States and Ireland as dual contenders with England: "I fear France will be drawn into this war; hope Prussia will, and think Great Br. will reserve herself for Ireland and perhaps for us."^[3]

Jefferson's hopes for Ireland were tentative as he noted in 1785, "A heavy aristocracy and corruption are two bridles in the mouths of the Irish which will prevent them from making any effectual efforts against their masters."^[4] But as Ireland's struggle for political independence continued, he became hopeful of success and wrote in response to the rebellion of 1798 that "Ireland also is considered as more organized in her insurrection and stronger than she has been hitherto," but by mid-year 1799 observed that, "the insurrection of Ireland seems to be reduced low." He viewed the Irish dissidents as fellow republicans and agreed to a letter of recommendation to a member of the United Irishmen who had immigrated to the United States as, "He is of course a good Republican."^[5]

As Secretary of State Jefferson dealt with questions of trade with Ireland and received regular reports from United States Consul in Dublin, William Knox. In his Reports of Commerce made to President Washington, however, Ireland was more often combined as a part of Great Britain. His most direct correspondence on the subject was with William Seward, Secretary of the Irish Merchants Association while he was Minister Plenipotentiary to France. Seward approached Jefferson on behalf of the Association as they felt Great Britain was actively restricting Ireland's trade with the United States and in Jefferson, apparently hoped to find a sympathetic ear. Jefferson's response was positive though not effective, as he wrote that, "The freedom of commerce between Ireland and America is undoubtedly very interesting to both countries" and went on to credit this to the excellence of Irish manufactures that correspond to American taste plus their common language, laws, and manners. Yet he admits that, "I am not at present so well acquainted with the trammels of the Irish commerce." Perhaps Jefferson's letter was not as encouraging as Seward had hoped, for it does not appear that the correspondence continued.

However, Jefferson was responsive to Irish agricultural products. While in Paris, Jefferson became interested in beef from Ireland: "Is the Irish beef as good as that of Hamburgh? If I had supposed Irish beef could have been got at Havre I would not have sent to Hamburgh for beef." Plus he was very interested in the abilities of the Irish to preserve beef and felt that the skills of the Irish "packers and picklers" could give new life to the beef trade in the northern United States. Perhaps his greatest agricultural credit went to Ireland for the potato. When requested to respond to Horatio Spafford's "General Geography," Jefferson corrected Spafford on the origin of the potato: "In page 186 you say the potato is a native of the United States. I presume you speak of the Irish potato. I have inquired much into the question, and think I can assure you that plant is not a native of North America." Jefferson goes on to outline the progress of the potato from its native South America with Sir Walter Raleigh to West Ireland. There it was propagated, carried to England as the Irish Potato, then introduced to North America. Thus, per Jefferson, the cultivation of the potato was definitely Irish.^[6]

Jefferson was acquainted with the music and poetry of Ireland. The music section of his 1783 catalogue lists "Thumoth's Scotch and Irish airs" and "The Tyrolese Song of Liberty" by poet and composer, Thomas Moore, is contained in the existing Jefferson family music. Thomas Moore and President Jefferson met while Moore was touring the United States in 1804, but Moore was not impressed with the president or the country. His poetry generated by the tour contained scathing innuendos of Jefferson and in one line Moore refers to "The Gallis garbage of philosophy" that resided under the capitol dome.^[7] Yet in his library Jefferson had a copy of Moore's Intercepted Letters; or The Twopenny Post Bag and Moore's translation of Odes of Anacreon.

As a part of the early history of Virginia, Jefferson once made reference to "The wild Irish who had gotten possession of the valley between the Blueridge and Northmountain," yet he seemed to have no reservation that, of the 50,000 immigrants he projected had entered the U.S. by 1785, "Most of these were Irish."^[8] When building Monticello and then the University of Virginia, he worked closely with Irish immigrant workmen and came to think very highly of two master carpenters, James Dinsmore and John Neilson. Jefferson wrote of Dinsmore, "A more faithful, sober, discreet, honest and respectable man I have never known," and gave a similar recommendation of Neilson, "I have found him also an honest, sober, and excellent man. Both are housejoiners of the first order."^[9] In the area of horticulture, a favorite correspondent was Irish immigrant Bernard McMahon. Jefferson owned a copy of McMahon's American Gardener's Calendar and many plants at Monticello were shipped from McMahon's nursery in Philadelphia.^[10]

Though Jefferson never set foot on Irish soil, he was connected through Ireland's produce, literature, music, and perhaps most lastingly, its people.

Footnotes

1. ↑ This article is based on G. Wilson, "Jefferson's Views on Ireland and the Irish,"Monticello Research Department, April 2003
2. ↑ Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, Annapolis Dec. 24, 1783.
3. ↑ Jefferson to R. Izard, Sept. 26, 1785; Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton, Jan. 18, 1784.
4. ↑ Jefferson to James Madison, Mar. 18, 1785
5. ↑ Jefferson to James Monroe, Feb. 16, 1800, Library of Congress; Jefferson Papers website.
6. ↑ Jefferson to Horatio G. Spafford, May 14, 1809
7. ↑ quoted in "Tom Moore In America," Harper's New Monthly Magazine, September, 1877, 540.
8. ↑ Jefferson's response to queries for the Encyclopedie Methodique, Jan 24, 1786.
9. ↑ Jefferson to Thomas Munro, Mar. 4, 1815.
10. ↑ Various excerpts from correspondence between Jefferson and McMahon can be found in Edwin Morris Betts, ed. Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book, (Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society, 1944); American Gardener's Calendar.