IstillhopeyouwillfindourpreparationsnotfarshortoftheInformationItooktheLibertyofgivingyouinmyletterofthe8thinstant。IshallbeveryhappytoreceiveyourfirstApplicationsforwhatevermaybenecessaryforthepublicserviceandtoconvinceyouofourdispositiontopromoteitasfarastheAbilitiesoftheStateandPowersoftheExecutivewillenableus。
APPEALTOTHECOMMANDERINCHIEF
_ToGeorgeWashington_
_Charlottesville,May28th,1781_
SIR,——Imakenodoubtyouwillhaveheard,beforethisshallhavethehonourofbeingpresentedtoyourExcellency,ofthejunctionofLdCornwalliswiththeforceatPetersburgunderArnold,whohadsucceededtothecommandonthedeathofMajr。GenlPhillips。
IamnowadvisedthattheyhaveevacuatedPetersburg,joinedatWestoverareinforcementof2000menjustarrivedfromNewyork,crossedJamesRiver,andonthe26thinstant,werethreemilesadvancedontheirwaytowardsRichmond;atwhichplaceMajrGenltheMarquisFayette,laywiththreethousandmenRegularsandmilitia:
thesebeingthewholenumberwecouldarm,untilthearrivalofthe1100armsfromRhodeIsland,whichareaboutthistimeattheplacewhereourPublicstoresaredeposited。ThewholeforceoftheEnemywithinthisState,fromthebestintelligenceIhavebeenabletoget,isIthinkabout7000men,infantryandcavalry,including,also,thesmallgarrisonleftatPortsmouth:anumberofprivateers,whichareconstantlyravagingtheShoresofourrivers,preventusfromreceivinganyaidfromtheCountieslyingonnavigablewaters;
andpowerfuloperationsmeditatedagainstourWesternfrontier,byajointforceofBritish,andIndianSavages,haveasyourExcellencybeforeknew,obligedustoembody,betweentwoandthreethousandmeninthatquarter。YourExcellencywilljudgefromthisStateofthings,andfromwhatyouknowofourcountry,whatitmayprobablysufferduringthepresentcampaign。ShouldtheEnemybeabletoproducenoopportunityofannihilatingtheMarquis’sarmyasmallproportionoftheirforcemayyetrestrainhismovementseffectuallywhilethegreaterpartemployedindetachmenttowasteanunarmedcountryandleadthemindsofthepeopletoacquiesceunderthoseeventswhichtheyseenohumanpowerpreparedtowardoff。WearetoofarremovedfromtheotherscenesofwartosaywhetherthemainforceoftheEnemybewithinthisState。ButIsupposetheycannotanywheresparesogreatanarmyfortheoperationsofthefield。
WereitpossibleforthiscircumstancetojustifyinyourExcellencyadeterminationtolendusyourpersonalaid,itisevidentfromtheuniversalvoice,thatthepresenceoftheirbelovedCountryman,whosetalentshavesolongbeensuccessfullyemployed,inestablishingthefreedomofkindredStates,towhosepersontheyhavestillflatteredthemselvestheyretainedsomerightandhaveeverlookedupastheirdernierresortindistress。ThatyourappearanceamongthemIsaywouldrestorefullconfidenceofsalvation,andwouldrenderthemequaltowhateverisnotimpossible。Icannotundertaketoforeseeandobviatethedifficultieswhichlieinthewayofsucharesolution:ThewholesubjectisbeforeyouofwhichIseeonlydetachedparts;andyourjudgmentwillbeformedonaviewofthewhole。ShouldthedangerofthisStateanditsconsequencetotheUnionbesuchastorenderitbestforthewholethatyoushouldrepairtoitsassistancethedifficultywouldbehowtokeepmenoutofthefield。IhaveundertakentohintthismattertoyourExcellencynotonlyonmyownsenseofitsimportancetousbutatthesolicitationsofmanymembersofweightinourLegislaturewhichhasnotyetAssembledtospeaktheirowndesires。
Afewdayswillbringtomethatreliefwhichtheconstitutionhaspreparedforthoseoppressedwiththelaboursofmyofficeandalongdeclaredresolutionofrelinquishingittoablerhandshaspreparedmywayforretirementtoaprivatestation:stillasanindividualIshouldfeelthecomfortableeffectsofyourpresence,andhavewhatIthoughtcouldnothavebeenanadditionalmotiveforthatgratitude,esteem,&respectwithwhichIhavethehonourtobe,yourExcellency’smostobedienthumbleservant。
LIMITSOFPUBLICDUTY
_ToJamesMonroe_
_Monticello,May20,1782_
DEARSIR,——Ihavebeengratifiedwiththereceiptofyourtwofavoursofthe6th&11thinst。Itgivesmepleasurethatyourcountyhasbeenwiseenoughtoenlistyourtalentsintotheirservice。IammuchobligedbythekindwishesyouexpressofseeingmealsoinRichmond,andamalwaysmortifiedwhenanythingisexpectedfrommewhichIcannotfulfill,&moreespeciallyifitrelatetothepublicservice。BeforeIventuredtodeclaretomycountrymenmydeterminationtoretirefrompublicemployment,I
examinedwellmyhearttoknowwhetheritwerethoroughlycuredofeveryprincipleofpoliticalambition,whethernolurkingparticleremainedwhichmightleavemeuneasywhenreducedwithinthelimitsofmereprivatelife。Ibecamesatisfiedthateveryfibreofthatpassionwasthoroughlyeradicated。Iexaminedalsoinotherviewsmyrighttowithdraw。IconsideredthatIhadbeenthirteenyearsengagedinpublicservice,thatduringthattimeIhadsototallyabandonedallattentiontomyprivateaffairsastopermitthemtorunintogreatdisorderandruin,thatIhadnowafamilyadvancedtoyearswhichrequiremyattention&instruction,thattothesewereaddedthehopefuloffspringofadeceasedfriendwhosememorymustbeforeverdeartomewhohavenootherrelianceforbeingrenderedusefultothemselves&theircountry,thatbyaconstantsacrificeoftime,labour,loss,parental&familyduties,Ihadbeensofarfromgainingtheaffectionofmycountrymen,whichwastheonlyrewardI
everaskedorcouldhavefelt,thatIhadevenlostthesmallestimationIbeforepossessed。ThathoweverImighthavecomfortedmyselfunderthedisapprobationofthewell-meaningbutuninformedpeopleyetthatoftheirrepresentativeswasashockonwhichIhadnotcalculated:thatthisindeedhadbeenfollowedbyanexculpatorydeclaration。ButinthemeantimeIhadbeensuspected&suspendedintheeyesoftheworldwithouttheleasthintthenorafterwardsmadepublicwhichmightrestrainthemfromsupposingthatIstoodarraignedfortreasonoftheheartandnotmerelyweaknessofthehead;andIfeltthattheseinjuries,forsuchtheyhavebeensinceacknowledgedhadinflictedawoundonmyspiritwhichwillonlybecuredbytheall-healinggrave。Ifreason&inclinationuniteinjustifyingmyretirement,thelawsofmycountryareequallyinfavorofit。Whetherthestatemaycommandthepoliticalservicesofallit’smemberstoanindefiniteextent,orifthesebeamongtherightsneverwhollycededtothepublicpower,isaquestionwhichIdonotfindexpresslydecidedinEngland。ObiterdictumsonthesubjectI
haveindeedmetwith,butthecomplexionofthetimesinwhichthesehavedroppedwouldgenerallyanswerthem,besidesthatthisspeciesofauthorityisnotacknowledgedinourprofession。Inthiscountryhoweversincethepresentgovernmenthasbeenestablishedthepointhasbeensettledbyuniform,pointed&multipliedprecedents。
Officesofeverykind,andgivenbyeverypower,havebeendaily&
hourlydeclined&resignedfromthedeclarationofindependancetothismoment。Thegenlassemblyhasacceptedthesewithoutdiscriminationofoffice,andwithouteverquestioningtheminpointofright。Ifadifferencebetweentheofficeofadelegate&anyothercouldeverhavebeensupposed,yetinthecaseofMr。ThompsonMasonwhodeclinedtheofficeofdelegate&waspermittedsotodobythehousethatsuppositionhasbeenprovedtobegroundless。Butindeednosuchdistinctionofofficescanbeadmitted。Reasonandtheopinionsofthelawyersputtingallonafootingastothisquestionandsogivingtothedelegatetheaidofalltheprecedentsoftherefusalofotheroffices。Thelawthendoesnotwarranttheassumptionofsuchapowerbythestateoverit’smembers。Forifitdoeswhereisthatlaw?noryetdoesreason,fortho’Iwilladmitthatthisdoessubjecteveryindividualifcalledontoanequaltourofpoliticaldutyyetitcannevergosofarastosubmittoithiswholeexistence。Ifwearemadeinsomedegreeforothers,yetinagreaterarewemadeforourselves。Itwerecontrarytofeeling&
indeedridiculoustosupposethatamanhadlessrightinhimselfthanoneofhisneighborsorindeedallofthemputtogether。Thiswouldbeslavery¬thatlibertywhichthebillofrightshasmadeinviolableandforthepreservationofwhichourgovernmenthasbeencharged。Nothingcouldsocompletelydivestusofthatlibertyastheestablishmentoftheopinionthatthestatehasa_perpetual_
righttotheservicesofallit’smembers。Thistomenofcertainwaysofthinkingwouldbetoannihilatetheblessingofexistence;tocontradictthegiveroflifewhogaveitforhappiness¬forwretchedness;andcertainlytosuchitwerebetterthattheyhadneverbeenborn。HoweverwiththeseImaythinkpublicservice&
privatemiseryinseparablylinkedtogether,Ihavenotthevanitytocountmyselfamongthosewhomthestatewouldthinkworthoppressingwithperpetualservice。Ihavereceivedasufficientmementotothecontrary。Iampersuadedthathavinghithertodedicatedtothemthewholeoftheactive&usefulpartofmylifeIshallbepermittedtopasstherestinmentalquiet。IhopetoothatIdidnotmistakethemodesanymorethanthematterofrightwhenIpreferredasimpleactofrenunciationtothetakingsanctuaryunderthosedisqualificationsprovidedbythelawforotherpurposesindeed,butwhichaffordasylumalsoforresttothewearied。Idaresayyoudidnotexpectbythefewwordsyoudroppedontherightofrenunciationtoexposeyourselftothefatigueofsolongaletter,butIwishedyoutoseethatifIhaddonewrongIhadbeenbetrayedbyasemblanceofrightatleast。
ItakethelibertyofinclosingtoyoualetterforGenlChastelluxforwhichyouwillreadilyfindmeansofconveyance。ButImeanttogiveyoumoretroublewiththeonetoPelhamwholivesintheneighborhoodofManchester&toaskthefavorofyoutosenditbyyourservantexpresswhichIaminhopesmaybedonewithoutabsentinghimfromyourpersonbutduringthosehoursinwhichyouwillbeengagedinthehouse。Iamanxiousthatitshouldbereceivedimmediately。MrsJeffersonhasaddedanotherdaughtertoourfamily。Shehasbeeneversince&stillcontinuesverydangerouslyill。Itwillgivemegreatpleasuretoseeyouherewheneveryoucanfavoruswithyourcompany。Youwillfindmestillbusybutinlighteroccupations。Butinthese&allothersyouwillfindmetoretainaduesenseofyourfriendship&tobewithsincereesteem,DrSirYourmoob&mohbleservt。
P。S。didyoueverreceiveacopyoftheParl。debates&
Histor。RegisterwithaletterleftforyouwithMrJas。Buchanan?”ASINGLEEVENT……”
_ToChastellux_
_Ampthill,Nov。26,1782_
DEARSIR,——Ireceivedyourfriendlylettersof——andJune30butthelatternottillthe17thofOct。Itfoundmealittleemergingfromthestuporofmindwhichhadrenderedmeasdeadtotheworldasshewaswhoselossoccasionedit。Yourletterrecalledtomymemorythattherewerepersonsstilllivingofmuchvaluetome。
IfyoushouldhavethoughtmeremissinnottestifyingtoyousoonerhowdeeplyIhadbeenimpressedwithyourworthinthelittletimeI
hadthehappinessofbeingwithyouyouwillIamsureascribeittoit’struecausethestateofdreadfulsuspenseinwhichIhadbeenkeptallthesummer&thecatastrophewhichclosedit。Beforethateventmyschemeoflifehadbeendetermined。Ihadfoldedmyselfinthearmsofretirement,andrestedallprospectsoffuturehappinessondomestic&literaryobjects。AsingleeventwipedawayallmyplansandleftmeablankwhichIhadnotthespiritstofillup。InthisstateofmindanappointmentfromCongressfoundme,requiringmetocrosstheAtlantic。AndthattemptationmightbeaddedtodutyIwasinformedatthesametimefromhisExcytheChevalierdeLuzernethatavesselofforcewouldbesailingaboutthemiddleofDec。inwhichyouwouldbepassingtoFrance。Iacceptedtheappointmentandmyonlyobjectnowissotohastenoverthoseobstacleswhichwouldretardmydepartureastobereadytojoinyouinyourvoyage,fondlymeasuringyouraffectionsbymyown&
presumingyourconsent。ItisnotcertainthatbyanyexertionIcanbeinPhiladelphiabythemiddleofDecember。Thecontraryismostprobable。ButhopingitwillnotbemuchlaterandcountingonthoseprocrastinationswhichusuallyattendthedepartureofvesselsofsizeIhavehopesofbeingwithyouintime。Thiswillgivemefullleisuretolearntheresultofyourobservationsonthenaturalbridge,tocommunicatetoyoumyanswerstothequeriesofMonsrdeMarbois,toreceiveedificationfromyouontheseandonothersubjectsofscience,consideringchesstooasamatterofscience。
ShouldIbeabletogetoutintolerabletimeandanyextraordinarydelaysattendthesailingofthevesselIshallcertainlydomyselfthehonorofwaitingonhisExcyCountRochambeauathisHeadquartersandassuringhiminpersonofmyhighrespectandesteemforhim——anobjectofwhichIhaveneverlostsight。ToyourselfIamunabletoexpressthewarmthofthosesentimentsoffriendship&
attachmentwithwhichIhavethehonourtobe,DrSir,Yourmostobedt&mohbleservt。
ADVICETOAYOUNGDAUGHTER
_ToMarthaJefferson_
_Annapolis,Nov。28,1783_
MYDEARPATSY——AfterfourdaysjourneyIarrivedherewithoutanyaccidentandinasgoodhealthaswhenIleftPhiladelphia。TheconvictionthatyouwouldbemoreimprovedinthesituationIhaveplacedyouthanifstillwithme,hassolacedmeonmypartingwithyou,whichmyloveforyouhasrenderedadifficultthing。TheacquirementswhichIhopeyouwillmakeunderthetutorsIhaveprovidedforyouwillrenderyoumoreworthyofmylove,andiftheycannotincreaseittheywillpreventit’sdiminution。Considerthegoodladywhohastakenyouunderherroof,whohasundertakentoseethatyouperformallyourexercises,andtoadmonishyouinallthosewanderingsfromwhatisrightorwhatisclevertowhichyourinexperiencewouldexposeyou,considerherIsayasyourmother,astheonlypersontowhom,sincethelosswithwhichheavenhasbeenpleasedtoafflictyou,youcannowlookup;andthatherdispleasureordisapprobationonanyoccasionwillbeanimmensemisfortunewhichshouldyoubesounhappyastoincurbyanyunguardedact,thinknoconcessiontoomuchtoregainhergoodwill。WithrespecttothedistributionofyourtimethefollowingiswhatIshouldapprove。
from8。to10o’clockpractisemusic。
from10。to1。danceonedayanddrawanotherfrom1。to2。drawonthedayyoudance,andwritealetterthenextday。
from3。to4。readFrench。
from4。to5。exerciseyourselfinmusic。
第8章