their state in the Old World. Jefferson noted the 1648 work of scientists Georg Marcgraf and Willem Piso, whose work on natural history in Dutch Brazil resulted in the Historia Naturalis Brasiliae and argued that the honeybee was not native to North America. Outline The text is divided into 23 chapters, which Jefferson termed "Queries," each describing a different aspect of Virginia. Boundaries of Virginia Rivers Sea Ports Mountains Cascades Productions mineral, vegetable and animal Climate Population Military force Marine force Aborigines Counties and towns Constitution Laws Colleges, buildings, and roads Proceedings as to Tories Religion Manners Manufactures Subjects of commerce Weights, Measures and Money Public revenue and expenses Histories, memorials, and state-papers Freedom of speech and secular government Notes on the State of Virginia contained Jefferson's firm belief in citizens' rights to express themselves freely without fear of government or church reprisal and that government's role is only secular and should not have anything to do with religion. That led later to charges of atheism leveled at him by his opponents in Federalist newspapers before the nasty election of 1800. They quoted his European-published Notes on Virginia as proof that he was godless. Jefferson addressed the authority of government and laws: The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. However, in Query XVIII, he also addressed the presumed retribution for lack of theistic respect: Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever.... The biographer Joseph J. Ellis noted that Jefferson thought that the work would be unknown in the United States since he did not publish it in North America and kept his authorship anonymous in Europe. He exchanged letters with friends and was worried what they would think about his authorship of such a religious heresy. They supported him in response. Jefferson did not respond at all to the mud-slinging charges. He won the presidential election anyway, but the