Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 to James Fishback, Lexington, KY
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00180 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 Place Written: Monticello, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: September 19, 1816 Pagination: 1p. : address ; 25 x 20 cm Order a Copy
Jefferson denies a statement attributed to him that he had heard atheism discussed by French bishops at a table. Fishback, a Kentucky minister and politician, maintained that "by corruption in religion" all of Europe had "gravitated into atheism." Jefferson denies having declared that, "in Paris, atheism was the common table-talk of the French bishops." He admits having perhaps said "'I had heard the doctrines of atheism maintained at table in mixed company,'" but adds "never by a bishop nor even in presence of a bishop." Some letters lost when opening the letter. Ink on the letter is slightly fading.
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