622 Jefferson, Thomas
Close examination of the language shows that
none of the governess’s suppositions about what is
happening are ever confirmed by another character;
nothing sexual has happened, except in the govern-
ess’s mind. We can imagine Miles’s terror at the end
of the tale as the governess (believing herself to be
saving Miles from Quint), hurls herself onto him.
No wonder his heart stopped.
Ellen Rosenberg
jEFFErSon, THomaS Notes on the
State of Virginia (1784)
Thomas Jefferson composed his Notes as a way of
explaining to Europe that America is a vibrant new
country and introducing the facts about the state of
Virginia. He uses copious figures, illustrations, and
listings to show that he does not present informa-
tion based on pure observation; rather, he is a man of
science and supports his statements with evidence.
Eventually, his Notes will help demystify some false
accounts about this side of the Atlantic.
This trait of relying on facts becomes the bench-
mark of the Notes. In fact, to make his descrip-
tions convincing, Jefferson begins with particularly
detailed records about Virginia. He is interested
in defining boundaries, revealing minute details of
natural objects, and eventually classifying things. For
example, he relies on facts to refute notions rumored
in Europe that animals on this side of the Atlantic
are usually smaller and lighter. The Notes also serves
as an ethnographical account. Jefferson is conscious
of the race issue of the time, and he tries to give a
vivid, though somewhat prejudiced, depiction of the
Native Americans and the African slaves. At the
same time, he also tries to present a slightly balanced
view about them, since the American people are also
regarded as “primitive” by European standards.
The Notes, therefore, exceeds its original purpose
of mere question and answer. In fact, it becomes
a fascinating record of natural history in the 18th
century.
Huang-hua Chen
nature in Notes on the State of Virginia
For Jefferson, nature has many aspects. He begins
the Notes with descriptions of Virginia, ranging
from her natural resources to various geographical
features and records. In part to answer Mr. Marbois’s
22 queries about the present state of America, Jef-
ferson emphasizes America’s spectacular scenes and
enormous amount of natural treasures throughout
the Notes in order to denounce the common notion
that the colonies are just an extension of European
culture and that nothing here is particularly differ-
ent from, or may be inferior to, Europe.
One can quickly catch a glimpse of how Jef-
ferson sets out to demystify false impressions of
America. Virginia, according to him, is “one third
larger than the islands of Great Britain and Ireland.”
Even her natural resources are far greater than that
of Europe. In query six, he denies count de Buffon’s
idea that animals in the new world are “smaller,” of
“few species,” and have often “degenerated” due to
the hotter and more humid weather. Jefferson coun-
ters Buffon’s argument by including various tables
that compare the differences between the old world
and the new world. As it turns out, almost all the
animals in the new world are heavier and of more
varieties. He suggests that nature has a way of bal-
ance with every living being, and that “below these
limits they cannot fall, nor rise above them.” He
goes on to say that “what intermediate station they
shall take” may depend on some external factors, but
“the manna of heaven would never raise the Mouse
to the bulk of the Mammoth.” Such is the view
on nature that Jefferson generally adopts. For him,
nature is almost comparable to a kind of deity, and
it will follow the rules of reason and balance. That is
why, when asked of the extinction of the mammoth,
he vehemently denies such a possibility. He states,
“such is the economy of nature, that no instance can
be produced of her having permitted any one race
of her animals to become extinct.” In other words,
nature is like a perfect equation behind every liv-
ing being, always operating in harmony, and it is
impossible to suppose an unreasonable nature that is
subject to any weakness.
Yet, nature is not always as predictable as he
would like. Jefferson admits that “nature has hid-
den from us” her works. All one can do is resort to
“experience” if necessary. This therefore results in
two different kinds of attitude toward nature. The
shell fossils found in the mountains of Virginia, for