SIR，——YourletterofJuly29thcametohandsometimesince，butIhavenotsoonerbeenabletoacknowledgeit。Inanswertoyourpropositionforpublishingacompleteeditionofmydifferentwritings，Imustobservethatnowritingsofmine，otherthanthosemerelyofficial，havebeenpublished，excepttheNotesonVirginiaandasmallpamphletunderthetitleofaSummaryViewoftherightsofBritishAmerica。TheNotesonVirginia，Ihavealwaysintendedtoreviseandenlarge，andhave，fromtimetotime，laidbymaterialsforthatpurpose。Itwillbelongyetbeforeotheroccupationswillpermitmetodigestthem，andobservationsandinquiriesarestilltobemade，whichwillbemorecorrectinproportiontothelengthoftimetheyarecontinued。Itisnotunlikelythatthismaybethroughmylife。Icouldnot，therefore，atpresent，offeranythingnewforthatwork。
　　TheSummaryViewwasnotwrittenforpublication。ItwasadraughtIhadpreparedforapetitiontotheking，whichImeanttoproposeinmyplaceasamemberoftheconventionof1774。Beingstoppedontheroadbysickness，IsentitontotheSpeaker，wholaiditonthetablefortheperusalofthemembers。Itwasthoughttoostrongforthetimes，andtobecometheactoftheconvention，butwasprintedbysubscriptionofthemembers，withashortprefacewrittenbyoneofthem。Ifithadanymerit，itwasthatoffirsttakingourtrueground，andthatwhichwasafterwardsassumedandmaintained。
　　IdonotmentiontheParliamentaryManual，publishedfortheuseoftheSenateoftheUnitedStates，becauseitwasamerecompilation，intowhichnothingenteredofmyownbutthearrangement，andafewobservationsnecessarytoexplainthatandsomeofthecases。
　　Idonotknowwhetheryourviewextendstoofficialpapersofminewhichhavebeenpublished。Manyofthesewouldbelikeoldnewspapers，materialsforfuturehistorians，butnolongerinterestingtothereadersoftheday。Theywouldconsistofreports，correspondences，messages，answerstoaddresses；afewofmyreportswhileSecretaryofState，mightperhapsbereadbysomeasessaysonabstractsubjects。Suchasthereportonmeasures，weightsandcoins，onthemint，onthefisheries，oncommerce，ontheuseofdistilledsea-water，&c。ThecorrespondenceswiththeBritishandFrenchministers，HammondandGenet，werepublishedbyCongress。ThemessagestoCongress，whichmighthavebeeninterestingatthemoment，wouldscarcelybereadasecondtime，andanswerstoaddressesarehardlyreadafirsttime。
　　Sothatonareviewofthesevariousmaterials，Iseenothingencouragingaprintertoare-publicationofthem。TheywouldprobablybeboughtbythoseonlywhoareinthehabitofpreservingStatepapers，andwhoarenotmany。
　　Isaynothingofnumerousdraughtsofreports，resolutions，declarations，&c。，drawnasaMemberofCongressoroftheLegislatureofVirginia，suchastheDeclarationofIndependence，ReportontheMoneyMintoftheUnitedStates，theactofreligiousfreedom，&c。，&c。；thesehavingbecometheactsofpublicbodies，therecanbenopersonalclaimtothem，andtheywouldnomorefindreadersnow，thanthejournalsandstatutebooksinwhichtheyaredeposited。
　　Ihavepresentedthisgeneralviewofthesubjectswhichmighthavebeenwithinthescopeofyourcontemplation，thattheymightbecorrectlyestimatedbeforeanyfinaldecision。Theybelongmostlytoaclassofpapersnotcalculatedforpopularreading，andnotlikelytoofferprofit，orevenindemnificationtothere-publisher。
　　Submittingittoyourconsideration，Itenderyoumysalutationsandrespects。
　　INDIANVOCABULARIES
　　_ToDr。BenjaminS。Barton_
　　_Monticello，September21，1809_
　　DEARSIR，——Ireceivedlastnightyourfavorofthe14th，andwouldwithallpossiblepleasurehavecommunicatedtoyouanypartorthewholeoftheIndianvocabularieswhichIhadcollected，butanirreparablemisfortunehasdeprivedmeofthem。IhavenowbeenthirtyyearsavailingmyselfofeverypossibleopportunityofprocuringIndianvocabulariestothesamesetofwords：myopportunitieswereprobablybetterthanwilleveroccuragaintoanypersonhavingthesamedesire。Ihadcollectedaboutfifty，andhaddigestedmostofthemincollateralcolumns，andmeanttohaveprintedthemthelastyearofmystayinWashington。ButnothavingyetdigestedCaptainLewis’scollection，norhavingleisurethentodoit，IputitofftillIshouldreturnhome。Thewhole，aswelldigestasoriginals，werepackedinatrunkofstationary，andsentroundbywaterwithaboutthirtyotherpackagesofmyeffects，fromWashington，andwhileascendingJamesriver，thispackage，onaccountofitsweightandpresumedpreciouscontents，wassingledoutandstolen。Thethiefbeingdisappointedonopeningit，threwintotheriverallitscontents，ofwhichhethoughthecouldmakenouse。
　　Amongthesewerethewholeofthevocabularies。Someleavesfloatedashoreandwerefoundinthemud；butthesewereveryfew，andsodefacedbythemudandwaterthatnogeneralusecaneverbemadeofthem。OnthereceiptofyourletterIturnedtothem，andwasveryhappytofind，thattheonlymorselofanoriginalvocabularyamongthem，wasCaptainLewis’softhePanilanguage，ofwhichyousayyouhavenotoneword。Ithereforeincloseittoyou，asitis，andalittlefragmentofsomeother，whichIseeisinhishandwriting，butnoindicationremainsonitofwhatlanguageitis。Itisaspecimenoftheconditionofthelittlewhichwasrecovered。Iamthemoreconcernedatthisaccident，asofthetwohundredandfiftywordsofmyvocabularies，andtheonehundredandthirtywordsofthegreatRussianvocabulariesofthelanguagesoftheotherquartersoftheglobe，severty-threewerecommontoboth，andwouldhavefurnishedmaterialsforacomparisonfromwhichsomethingmighthaveresulted。AlthoughIbelievenogeneralusecaneverbemadeofthewrecksofmyloss，yetIwillaskthereturnofthePanivocabularywhenyouaredonewithit。PerhapsImaymakeanotherattempttocollect，althoughIamtoooldtoexpecttomakemuchprogressinit。
　　Ilearn，withpleasure，youracquisitionofthepamphletontheastronomyoftheantientMexicans。Ifitbeantientandgenuine，ormodernandrational，itwillbeofrealvalue。Itisoneofthemostinterestingcountriesofourhemisphere，andmeritseveryattention。
　　IamthankfulforyourkindofferofsendingtheoriginalSpanishformyperusal。ButIthinkitapitytotrustittotheaccidentsofthepost，andwheneveryoupublishthetranslation，I
　　shallbesatisfiedtoreadthatwhichshallbegivenbyyourtranslator，whois，Iamsure，agreateradeptinthelanguagethanI
　　am。
　　Accepttheassurancesofmygreatesteemandrespect。
　　AMERICANQUAKERISM
　　_ToSamuelKercheval_
　　_Monticello，January19，1810_
　　SIR，——Yoursofthe7thinstanthasbeendulyreceived，withthepamphletinclosed，forwhichIreturnyoumythanks。Nothingcanbemoreexactlyandseriouslytruethanwhatistherestated；thatbutashorttimeelapsedafterthedeathofthegreatreformeroftheJewishreligion，beforehisprinciplesweredepartedfrombythosewhoprofessedtobehisspecialservants，andpervertedintoanengineforenslavingmankind，andaggrandisingtheiroppressorsinChurchandState；thatthepurestsystemofmoralseverbeforepreachedtoman，hasbeenadulteratedandsophisticatedbyartificialconstructions，intoamerecontrivancetofilchwealthandpowertothemselves；thatrationalmennotbeingabletoswallowtheirimpiousheresies，inordertoforcethemdowntheirthroats，theyraisethehueandcryofinfidelity，whilethemselvesarethegreatestobstaclestotheadvancementoftherealdoctrinesofJesus，anddoinfactconstitutetherealAnti-Christ。
　　YouexpectthatyourbookwillhavesomeeffectontheprejudiceswhichthesocietyofFriendsentertainagainstthepresentandlateadministrations。InthisIthinkyouwillbedisappointed。
　　TheFriendsaremen，formedwiththesamepassions，andswayedbythesamenaturalprinciplesandprejudicesasothers。Incaseswherethepassionsareneutral，menwilldisplaytheirrespectforthereligious_professions_oftheirsect。Butwheretheirpassionsareenlisted，these_professions_arenoobstacle。Youobserveverytruly，thatboththelateandpresentadministrationconductedthegovernmentonprinciples_professed_bytheFriends。Oureffortstopreservepeace，ourmeasuresastotheIndians，astoslavery，astoreligiousfreedom，wereallinconsonancewiththeir_professions_。
　　YetIneverexpectedweshouldgetavotefromthem，andinthisI
　　wasneitherdeceivednordisappointed。Thereisnoriddleinthis，tothosewhodonotsufferthemselvestobedupedbythe_professions_ofreligioussectaries。ThetheoryofAmericanQuakerismisaveryobviousone。ThemothersocietyisinEngland。
　　ItsmembersareEnglishbybirthandresidence，devotedtotheirowncountry，asgoodcitizensoughttobe。TheQuakersoftheseStatesarecoloniesorfiliationsfromthemothersociety，towhomthatsocietysendsitsyearlylessons。Onthesethefiliatedsocietiesmodeltheiropinions，theirconduct，theirpassionsandattachments。
　　AQuakeris，essentially，anEnglishman，inwhateverpartoftheearthheisbornorlives。TheoutragesofGreatBritainonournavigationandcommerce，havekeptusinperpetualbickeringswithher。TheQuakersherehavetakensideagainsttheirowngovernment；
　　notontheir_profession_ofpeace，fortheysawthatpeacewasourobjectalso；butfromdevotiontotheviewsofthemothersociety。
　　In1797and8，whenanadministrationsoughtwarwithFrance，theQuakerswerethemostclamorousforwar。Theirprincipleofpeace，asasecondaryone，yieldedtotheprimaryoneofadherencetotheFriendsinEngland，andwhatwaspatriotismintheoriginalbecametreasoninthecopy。Onthatoccasion，theyobligedtheirgoodoldleader，Mr。Pemberton，toerasehisnamefromapetitiontoCongress，againstwar，whichhadbeendeliveredtoaRepresentativeofPennsylvania，amemberofthelateandpresentadministration。Heaccordinglypermittedtheoldgentlemantoerasehisname。Youmustnot，therefore，expectthatyourbookwillhaveanymoreeffectonthesocietyofFriendshere，thanontheEnglishmerchantssettledamongus。IapplythistotheFriendsingeneral，notuniversally。
　　Iknowindividualsamongthemasgoodpatriotsaswehave。
　　Ithankyouforthekindwishesandsentimentstowardsmyself，expressedinyourletter，andsincerelywishtoyourselftheblessingsofhealthandhappiness。
　　NEPOTISMANDTHEREPUBLIC
　　_ToJohnGarlandJefferson_
　　_Monticello，January25，1810_
　　DEARSIR，——YourfavorofDecember12thwaslongcomingtohand。Iammuchconcernedtolearnthatanydisagreeableimpressionwasmadeonyourmind，bythecircumstanceswhicharethesubjectofyourletter。PermitmefirsttoexplaintheprincipleswhichIhadlaiddownformyownobservance。Inagovernmentlikeours，itisthedutyoftheChiefMagistrate，inordertoenablehimselftodoallthegoodwhichhisstationrequires，toendeavor，byallhonorablemeans，touniteinhimselftheconfidenceofthewholepeople。Thisalone，inanycasewheretheenergyofthenationisrequired，canproduceaunionofthepowersofthewhole，andpointtheminasingledirection，asifallconstitutedbutonebodyandonemind，andthisalonecanrenderaweakernationunconquerablebyastrongerone。Towardsacquiringtheconfidenceofthepeople，theveryfirstmeasureistosatisfythemofhisdisinterestedness，andthatheisdirectingtheiraffairswithasingleeyetotheirgood，andnottobuildupfortunesforhimselfandfamily，andespecially，thattheofficersappointedtotransacttheirbusiness，areappointedbecausetheyarethefittestmen，notbecausetheyarehisrelations。
　　Sopronearetheytosuspicion，thatwhereaPresidentappointsarelationofhisown，howeverworthy，theywillbelievethatfavorandnotmeritwasthemotive。Ithereforelaiditdownasalawofconductformyself，nevertogiveanappointmenttoarelation。HadIfeltanyhesitationinadoptingthisrule，exampleswerenotwantingtoadmonishmewhattodoandwhattoavoid。Still，theexpressionofyourwillingnesstoactinanyofficeforwhichyouwerequalified，couldnotbeimputedtoyouasblame。ItwouldnotreadilyoccurthatapersonqualifiedforofficeoughttoberejectedmerelybecausehewasrelatedtothePresident，andthethenmorerecentexamplesfavoredtheotheropinion。InthislightI
　　consideredthecaseaspresentingitselftoyourmind，andthattheapplicationmightbeperfectlyjustifiableonyourpart，while，forreasonsoccurringtononeperhaps，butthepersoninmysituation，thepublicinterestmightrenderitunadvisable。Ofthis，however，beassuredthatIconsiderthepropositionasinnocentonyourpart，andthatitneverlessenedmyesteemforyou，ortheinterestIfeltinyourwelfare。
　　MystayinAmeliawastooshort，onlytwenty-fourhours，toexpectthepleasureofseeingyouthere。Itwouldbeahappinesstomeanywhere，butespeciallyhere，fromwhenceIamrarelyabsent。I
　　amleadingalifeofconsiderableactivityasafarmer，readinglittleandwritingless。Somethingpursuedwithardorisnecessarytoguardusfromthe_tedium-vitae，_andtheactivepursuitslessenmostoursenseoftheinfirmitiesofage。Thattothehealthofyouthyoumayaddanoldageofvigor，isthesincereprayerofYours，affectionately。
　　PROSTRATIONOFREASON
　　_ToCaesarA。Rodney_
　　_Monticello，February10，1810_
　　MYDEARSIR，——Ihavetothankyouforyourfavorofthe31stultimo，whichisjustnowreceived。Ithasbeenpeculiarlyunfortunateforus，personally，thattheportioninthehistoryofmankind，atwhichwewerecalledtotakeashareinthedirectionoftheiraffairs，wassuchanoneashistoryhasneverbeforepresented。
　　Atanyotherperiod，theeven-handedjusticewehaveobservedtowardsallnations，theeffortswehavemadetomerittheiresteembyeveryactwhichcandororliberalitycouldexercise，wouldhavepreservedourpeace，andsecuredtheunqualifiedconfidenceofallothernationsinourfaithandprobity。Butthehurricanewhichisnowblastingtheworld，physicalandmoral，hasprostratedallthemoundsofreasonaswellasright。Allthosecalculationswhich，atanyotherperiod，wouldhavebeendeemedhonorable，oftheexistenceofamoralsenseinman，individuallyorassociated，oftheconnectionwhichthelawsofnaturehaveestablishedbetweenhisdutiesandhisinterests，ofaregardforhonestfameandtheesteemofourfellowmen，havebeenamatterofreproachonus，asevidencesofimbecility。Asifitcouldbeafollyforanhonestmantosupposethatotherscouldbehonestalso，whenitistheirinteresttobeso。
　　Andwhenisthisstateofthingstoend?ThedeathofBonapartewould，tobesure，removethefirstandchiefestapostleofthedesolationofmenandmorals，andmightwithdrawthescourgeoftheland。Butwhatistorestoreorderandsafetyontheocean?ThedeathofGeorgeIII?Notatall。Heisonlystupid；andhisministers，howeverweakandprofligateinmorals，areephemeral。Buthisnationispermanent，anditisthatwhichisthetyrantoftheocean。Theprinciplethatforceisright，isbecometheprincipleofthenationitself。Theywouldnotpermitanhonestminister，wereaccidenttobringsuchanoneintopower，torelaxtheirsystemoflawlesspiracy。ThesewerethedifficultieswhenIwaswithyou。I