首页 >出版文学> LETTERS>第8章

第8章

  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。