DEARSIR——ByourpostprecedingthatwhichbroughtyourletterofMay21，IhadrecievedonefromMr。Malcolmonthesamesubjectwithyours，andbythereturnoftheposthadstatedtothePresidentmyrecollectionsofhim。Butbothofyourletterswereprobablytoolate；astheappointmenthadbeenalreadymade，ifwemaycreditthenewspapers。
　　YouaskifthereisanybookthatpretendstogiveanyaccountofthetraditionsoftheIndians，orhowonecanacquireanideaofthem?Somescantyaccountsoftheirtraditions，butfulleroftheircustomsandcharactersaregivenusbymostoftheearlytravellersamongthem。TheseyouknowwerechieflyFrench。Lafitau，amongthem，andAdairanEnglishman，havewrittenonthissubject；theformertwovolumes，thelatterone，allin4to[quarto]。ButunluckilyLafitauhadinhisheadapreconcievedtheoryonthemythology，manners，institutionsandgovernmentoftheantientnationsofEurope，Asia，andAfrica，andseemstohaveenteredonthoseofAmericaonlytofitthemintothesameframe，andtodrawfromthemaconfirmationofhisgeneraltheory。Hekeepsupaperpetualparallel，inallthosearticles，betweentheIndiansofAmerica，andtheantientsoftheotherquartersoftheglobe。Heselectsthereforeallthefacts，andadoptsallthefalsehoodswhichfavorhistheory，andverygravelyretailssuchabsurditiesaszealforatheorycouldaloneswallow。Hewasamanofmuchclassicalandscripturalreading，andhasrenderedhisbooknotunentertaining。HeresidedfiveyearsamongtheNorthernIndians，asaMissionary，butcollectshismattermuchmorefromthewritingsofothers，thanfromhisownobservation。
　　Adairtoohadhiskink。HebelievedalltheIndiansofAmericantobedescendedfromtheJews：thesamelaws，usages；ritesandceremonies，thesamesacrifices，priests，prophets，fastsandfestivals，almostthesamereligion，andthattheyallspokeHebrew。
　　ForalthohewritesparticularlyoftheSouthernIndiansonly，theCatawbas，Creeks，Cherokees，ChickasawsandChoctaws，withwhomalonehewaspersonallyacquainted，yethegeneraliseswhateverhefoundamongthem，andbringshimselftobelievethatthehundredlanguagesofAmerica，differingfundamentallyeveryonefromeveryother，asmuchasGreekfromGothic，haveyetallonecommonprototype。Hewasatrader，amanoflearning，aself-taughtHebraist，astrongreligionist，andofassoundamindasDonQuixotinwhateverdidnottouchhisreligiouschivalry。Hisbookcontainsagreatdealofrealinstructiononit’ssubject，onlyrequiringthereadertobeconstantlyonhisguardagainstthewonderfulobliquitiesofhistheory。
　　Thescopeofyourenquirywouldscarcely，Isuppose，takeinthethreefoliovolumesofLatinbyDeBry。Inthesefactandfablearemingledtogether，withoutregardtoanyfavoritesystem。Theyarelesssuspiciousthereforeintheircomplexion，moreoriginalandauthentic，thanthoseofLafitauandAdair。Thisisaworkofgreatcuriosity，extremelyrare，soasnevertobeboughtinEurope，butonthebreakingup，andsellingsomeantientlibrary。Ononeoftheseoccasionsabooksellerprocuredmeacopy，which，unlessyouhaveone，isprobablytheonlyoneinAmerica。
　　Youaskfurther，iftheIndianshaveanyorderofpriesthoodamongthem，liketheDruids，BardsorMinstrelsoftheCelticnations?Adairalone，determinedtoseewhathewishedtoseeineveryobject，metamorphosestheirConjurersintoanorderofpriests，anddescribestheirsorceriesasiftheywerethegreatreligiousceremoniesofthenation。Lafitaucallsthembytheirpropernames，Jongleurs，Devins，Sortileges；DeBrypraestigiatores，AdairhimselfsometimesMagi，Archimagi，cunningmen，Seers，rainmakers，andthemodernIndianinterpreters，callthemConjurersandWitches。Theyarepersonspretendingtohavecommunicationswiththedevilandotherevilspirits，toforetelfutureevents，bringdownrain，findstolengoods，raisethedead，destroysome，andhealothersbyenchantment，layspellsetc。AndAdair，withoutdepartingfromhisparalleloftheJewsandIndians，mighthavefoundtheircounterpart，muchmoreaptly，amongtheSoothsayers，sorcerersandwizardsoftheJews，theirJannesandJambres，theirSimonMagus，witchofEndor，andtheyoungdamselwhosesorceriesdisturbedPaulsomuch；insteadofplacingtheminalinewiththeirHigh-priest，theirChiefpriests，andtheirmagnificenthierarchygenerally。InthesolemnceremoniesoftheIndians，thepersonswhodirectorofficiate，aretheirchiefs，eldersandwarriors，incivilceremoniesorinthoseofwar；itistheHeadoftheCabin，intheirprivateorparticularfeastsorceremonies；andsometimestheMatrons，asintheirCornfeasts。And，evenhere，Adairmighthavekeptuphisparallel，withennoblinghisConjurers。FortheantientPatriarchs，theNoahs，theAbrahams，IsaacsandJacobs，and，evenaftertheconsecrationofAaron，theSamuelsandElijahs，andwemaysayfurthereveryoneforhimself，offeredsacrificesonthealtars。Thetruelineofdistinctionseemstobe，thatsolemnceremonies，whetherpublicorprivate，addressedtotheGreatSpirit，areconductedbytheworthiesofthenation，Men，orMatrons，whileConjurersareresortedtoonlyfortheinvocationofevilspirits。ThepresentstateoftheseveralIndiantribes，withoutanypublicorderofpriests，isproofsufficientthattheyneverhadsuchanorder。Theirsteadyhabitspermitnoinnovations，noteventhosewhichtheprogressofscienceofferstoincreasethecomforts，enlargetheunderstanding，andimprovethemoralityofmankind。Indeedsolittleideahavetheyofaregularorderofpriests，thattheymistakeoursfortheirConjurers，andcallthembythatname。
　　SomuchinanswertoyourenquiriesconcerningIndians，apeoplewithwhom，intheveryearlypartofmylife，Iwasveryfamiliar，andacquiredimpressionsofattachmentandcommiserationforthemwhichhaveneverbeenobliterated。Beforetherevolutiontheywereinthehabitofcomingoften，andingreatnumberstotheseatofourgovernment，whereIwasverymuchwiththem。IknewmuchthegreatOutassete[i。e。，Outacity]，thewarriorandoratoroftheCherokees。Hewasalwaystheguestofmyfather，onhisjourneystoandfromWilliamsburg。Iwasinhiscampwhenhemadehisgreatfarewellorationtohispeople，theeveningbeforehisdepartureforEngland。Themoonwasinfullsplendor，andtoherheseemedtoaddresshimselfinhisprayersforhisownsafetyonthevoyage，andthatofhispeopleduringhisabsence。Hissoundingvoice，distinctarticulation，animatedactions，andthesolemnsilenceofhispeopleattheirseveralfires，filledmewithaweandveneration，altho’I
　　didnotunderstandawordheuttered。Thatnation，consistingnowofabout2000。wariors，andtheCreeksofabout3000。arefaradvancedincivilisation。TheyhavegoodCabins，inclosedfields，largeherdsofcattleandhogs，spinandweavetheirownclothesofcotton，havesmithsandotherofthemostnecessarytradesmen，writeandread，areontheincreaseinnumbers，andabranchoftheCherokeesisnowinstitutingaregularrepresentativegovernment。Someothertribeswereadvancinginthesameline。Onthosewhohavemadeanyprogress，Englishseductionswillhavenoeffect。Butthebackwardwillyeild，andbethrownfurtherback。Thesewillrelapseintobarbarismandmisery，losenumbersbywarandwant，andweshallbeobligedtodrivethem，withthebeastsoftheforestintotheStonymountains。TheywillbeconqueredhoweverinCanada。Thepossessionofthatcountrysecuresourwomenandchildrenforeverfromthetomahawkandscalpingknife，byremovingthosewhoexcitethem：andforthispossession，ordersIpresumeareissuedbythistime；takingforgrantedthatthedoorsofCongresswillre-openwithaDeclarationofwar。Thatthismayendinindemnityforthepast，securityforthefuture，andcompleatemancipationfromAnglomany，Gallomany，andallthemaniasofdemoralizedEurope，andthatyoumayliveinhealthandhappinesstoseeallthis，isthesincereprayerofYoursaffectionately。
　　WARWITHENGLAND
　　_ToGeneralThaddeusKosciusko_
　　_Monticello，June28，1812_
　　Nousvoiladonc，moncherami，enguerreavecl’Angleterre。
　　Thiswasdeclaredonthe18thinstant，thirtyyearsafterthesignatureofourpeacein1782。Withinthesethirtyyearswhatavastcourseofgrowthandprosperitywehavehad！ItisnottenyearssinceGreatBritainbeganaseriesofinsultsandinjurieswhichwouldhavebeenmetwithwarinthethresholdbyanyEuropeanpower。Thiscoursehasbeenunremittinglyfollowedupbyincreasingwrongs，withglimmeringsindeedofpeaceableredress，justsufficienttokeepusquiet，tillshehashadtheimpudenceatlengthtoextinguisheventheseglimmeringsbyopenavowal。Thiswouldnothavebeenbornesolong，butthatFrancehaskeptpacewithEnglandininiquityofprinciple，althoughnotinthepowerofinflictingwrongsonus。Thedifficultyofselectingafoebetweenthemhassparedusmanyyearsofwar，andenabledustoenterintoitwithlessdebt，morestrengthandpreparation。Ourpresentenemywillhavetheseatoherself，whileweshallbeequallypredominantatland，andshallstripherofallherpossessionsonthiscontinent。
　　ShemayburnNewYork，indeed，byhershipsandcongreverockets，inwhichcasewemustburnthecityofLondonbyhiredincendiaries，ofwhichherstarvingmanufacturerswillfurnishabundance。Apeopleinsuchdesperationastodemandoftheirgovernment_autparcem，autfurcam_，eitherbreadorthegallows，willnotrejectthesamealternativewhenofferedbyaforeignhand。Hungerwillmakethembraveeveryriskforbread。ThepartisansofEnglandherehaveendeavoredmuchtogoadusintothefollyofchoosingtheoceaninsteadoftheland，forthetheatreofwar。Thatwouldbetomeettheirstrengthwithourownweakness，insteadoftheirweaknesswithourstrength。Ihopeweshallconfineourselvestotheconquestoftheirpossessions，anddefenceofourharbors，leavingthewarontheoceantoourprivateers。Thesewillimmediatelyswarmineverysea，anddomoreinjurytoBritishcommercethantheregularfleetsofallEuropewoulddo。ThegovernmentofFrancemaydiscontinuetheirlicensetrade。Ourprivateerswillfurnishthemmuchmoreabundantlywithcolonialproduce，andwhateverthelicensetradehasgiventhem。
　　Somehaveapprehendedweshouldbeoverwhelmedbythenewimprovementsofwar，whichhavenotyetreachedus。ButtheBritishpossessthemveryimperfectly，andwhataretheseimprovements?
　　Chieflyinthemanagementofartillery，ofwhichourcountryadmitslittleuse。Wehavenothingtofearfromtheirarmies，andshallputnothinginprizetotheirfleets。Uponthewhole，Ihaveknownnowarenteredintoundermorefavorableauspices。
　　OurmanufacturersarenowverynearlyonafootingwiththoseofEngland。Shehasnotasingleimprovementwhichwedonotpossess，andmanyofthembetteradaptedbyourselvestoourordinaryuse。Wehavereducedthelargeandexpensivemachineryformostthingstothecompassofaprivatefamily，andeveryfamilyofanysizeisnowgettingmachinesonasmallscalefortheirhouseholdpurposes。Quotingmyselfasanexample，andIammuchbehindmanyothersinthisbusiness，myhouseholdmanufacturesarejustgettingintooperationonthescaleofacardingmachinecosting60only，whichmaybeworkedbyagirloftwelveyearsold，aspinningmachine，whichmaybemadefor$10，carrying6spindlesforwool，tobeworkedbyagirlalso，anotherwhichcanbemadefor$25，carrying12spindlesforcotton，andaloom，withaflyingshuttle，weavingitstwentyyardsaday。Ineed2，000yardsoflinen，cottonandwoollenyearly，toclothemyfamily，whichthismachinery，costing$150only，andworkedbytwowomenandtwogirls，willmorethanfurnish。Forfinegoodstherearenumerousestablishmentsatworkinthelargecities，andmanymoredailygrowingup；andofmerinoswehavesomethousands，andthesemultiplyingfast。Weconsiderasheepforeverypersonassufficientfortheirwoollenclothing，andthisStateandalltothenorthhavefullythat，andthosetothesouthandwestwillsoonbeuptoit。Inotherarticlesweareequallyadvanced，sothatnothingismorecertainthanthat，comepeacewhenitwill，weshallneveragaingotoEnglandforashillingwherewehavegoneforadollar’sworth。Insteadofapplyingtohermanufacturersthere，theymuststarveorcomeheretobeemployed。I
　　giveyouthesedetailsofpeaceableoperations，becausetheyarewithinmypresentsphere。Thoseofwarareinbetterhands，whoknowhowtokeeptheirownsecrets。Because，too，althoughasoldieryourself，Iamsureyoucontemplatethepeaceableemploymentofmanintheimprovementofhiscondition，withmorepleasurethanhismurders，rapineanddevastations。
　　Mr。Barnes，sometimeago，forwardedyouabillofexchangefor5，500francs，ofwhichtheenclosedisaduplicate。ApprehendingthatawarwithEnglandwouldsubjecttheremittancestoyoutomorecasualties，IproposedtoMr。Morson，ofBordeaux，tobecometheintermediateformakingremittancestoyou，whichhereadilyaccededtoonliberalideasarisingfromhispersonalesteemforyou，andhisdesiretobeusefultoyou。IfyouapproveofthismediumIaminhopesitwillshieldyoufromtheeffectoftheaccidentstowhichtheincreaseddangersoftheseasmaygivebirth。Itwouldgivemegreatpleasuretohearfromyouoftener。Ifeelgreatinterestinyourhealthandhappiness。Iknowyourfeelingsonthepresentstateoftheworld，andhopetheywillbecheeredbythesuccessfulcourseofourwar，andtheadditionofCanadatoourconfederacy。TheinfamousintriguesofGreatBritaintodestroyourgovernmentofwhichHenry’sisbutonesample，andwiththeIndianstotomahawkourwomenandchildren，provethatthecessionofCanada，theirfulcrumfortheseMachiavelianlevers，mustbea_sinequanon_atatreatyofpeace。Godblessyou，andgiveyoutoseeallthesethings，andmanyandlongyearsofhealthandhappiness。”ARADICALDIFFERENCEOFPOLITICALPRINCIPLE”
　　_ToJohnMelish_
　　_Monticello，January13，1813_
　　DEARSIR，——IreceiveddulyyourfavorofDecemberthe15th，andwithitthecopiesofyourmapandtravels，forwhichbepleasedtoacceptmythanks。ThebookIhavereadwithextremesatisfactionandinformation。AstothewesternStates，particularly，ithasgreatlyedifiedme：foroftheactualconditionofthatinterestingportionofourcountry，Ihadnotanadequateidea。IfeelmyselfnowasfamiliarwithitaswiththeconditionofthemaritimeStates。
　　Ihadnoconceptionthatmanufactureshadmadesuchprogressthere，andparticularlyofthenumberofcardingandspinningmachinesdispersedthroughthewholecountry。Wearebutbeginningheretohavetheminourprivatefamilies。Smallspinningjenniesoffromhalfadozentotwentyspindles，willsoon，however，maketheirwayintothehumblestcottages，aswellastherichesthouses；andnothingismorecertain，thanthatthecoarseandmiddlingclothingforourfamilies，willforeverhereaftercontinuetobemadewithinourselves。Ihavehithertomyselfdependedentirelyonforeignmanufactures；butIhavenowthirty-fivespindlesagoing，ahandcardingmachine，andloomswiththeflyingshuttle，forthesupplyofmyownfarms，whichwillneverberelinquishedinmytime。Thecontinuanceofthewarwillfixthehabitgenerally，andoutoftheevilsofimpressmentandoftheordersofcouncil，agreatblessingforuswillgrow。Ihavenotformerlybeenanadvocateforgreatmanufactories。Idoubtedwhetherourlabor，employedinagriculture，andaidedbythespontaneousenergiesoftheearth，wouldnotprocureusmorethanwecouldmakeourselvesofothernecessaries。Butotherconsiderationsenteringintothequestion，havesettledmydoubts。
　　Thecandorwithwhichyouhaveviewedthemannersandconditionofourcitizens，issounlikethenarrowprejudicesoftheFrenchandEnglishtravellersprecedingyou，who，consideringeachthemannersandhabitsoftheirownpeopleastheonlyorthodox，haveviewedeverythingdifferingfromthattestasboorishandbarbarous，thatyourworkwillbereadhereextensively，andoperategreatgood。
　　Amidstthismassofapprobationwhichisgiventoeveryotherpartofthework，thereisasinglesentimentwhichIcannothelpwishingtobringtowhatIthinkthecorrectone；and，onapointsointeresting，Ivalueyouropiniontoohighlynottoambitionitsconcurrencewithmyown。Statinginvolumeone，pagesixty-three，theprincipleofdifferencebetweenthetwogreatpoliticalpartieshere，youconcludeittobe，`whetherthecontrollingpowershallbevestedinthisorthatsetofmen。’Thateachpartyendeavorstogetintotheadministrationofthegovernment，andexcludetheotherfrompower，istrue，andmaybestatedasamotiveofaction：butthisisonlysecondary；theprimarymotivebeingarealandradicaldifferenceofpoliticalprinciple。Isincerelywishourdifferenceswerebutpersonallywhoshouldgovern，andthattheprinciplesofourconstitutionwerethoseofbothparties。Unfortunately，itisotherwise；andthequestionofpreferencebetweenmonarchyandrepublicanism，whichhassolongdividedmankindelsewhere，threatensapermanentdivisionhere。