> {America's Undeclared War} by Daniel Lazare (reviewed in the June 4 {The > New Yorker} Briefly Noted column) reportedly contains a letter by Thomas > Jefferson "suggesting", says the review, "that yellow fever might be > beneficial in reducing city populations." Probably this one... Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Rush Monticello, Sep. 23, 1800. Dear Sir,--I have to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Aug. 22, and to congratulate you on the healthiness of your city. Still Baltimore, Norfolk & Providence admonish us that we are not clear of our new scourge. When great evils happen, I am in the habit of looking out for what good may arise from them as consolations to us, and Providence has in fact so established the order of things, as that most evils are the means of producing some good. The yellow fever will discourage the growth of great cities in our nation, & I view great cities as pestilential to the morals, the health and the liberties of man. True, they nourish some of the elegant arts, but the useful ones can thrive elsewhere, and less perfection in the others, with more health, virtue & freedom, would be my choice.... [transcription from The Works of Thomas Jefferson in Twelve Volumes. Federal Edition. Collected and Edited by Paul Leicester Ford.] Search the words "yellow fever" at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mtjhtml/mtjhome.html Karen Stuart To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html