| Journal of Research: Dec. 25 - Dec.31, 2000. [9.5]
2000/12/27 0930-1130, 1330-1545 Finished Volumes 3, 4, & 5 of Jefferson's Papers, which makes our collection complete up through Volume 12. Nothing of any particular interest found today, but I post the notes nonetheless.
2000/12/26 1230-1500, 1600-1845 Finished abstracting from Volume 6 of Jefferson's Papers. My most important finding is that Jefferson argued several times that if Virginia could not win support for Georgetown as the permanent seat of Congress (this in 1783), it should try to prevent the seat from being established in Annapolis. If not, Maryland would pull trade up the Chesapeake, past Virginia, and into its own hands. Could this reasoning concerning Georgetown have played a part in Virginia's subsequent decision to re-open talks with Maryland over the jurisdiction of the Potomac? Virginia wanted to ensure full access to its own shores of ships sailing to the new capitol. If, on the other hand, Maryland were to claim full jurisdiction, then Virginia would benefit much less than its sister state if Congress were to settle at the falls of the Potomac.
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