He prayed, therefore, that God might accept his thanks for enabling him to observe the "many instances of respectable intelligence in that race of men, which could not fail to have effect in hastening the day of their relief." Yet a few days later when writing to Joel Barlow, Jefferson referred to Bishop Gregoire's essay and expressed his doubt that this pamphlet was weighty evidence of the intellect of the Negro.

He said that the whole did not amount in point of evidence to what they themselves knew of Banneker.

He conceded that Banneker had spherical knowledge enough to make almanacs, but not without the suspicion of aid from Ellicott who was his neighbor and friend, and never missed an opportunity of puffing him.

Referring to the letter he received from Banneker, he said it showed the writer to have a mind of very common stature indeed.

See Washington, _Works of Jefferson_, vol.v., pp.