首页 >出版文学> LETTERS>第92章

第92章

  Theseartificersmustbegroupedtogether,accordingtotheparticularbranchofscienceinwhichtheyneedelementaryandpracticalinstruction;andaspeciallectureorlecturesshouldbepreparedforeachgroup。Andtheselecturesshouldbegivenintheevening,soasnottointerruptthelaborsoftheday。Theschool,particularly,shouldbemaintainedwhollyatthepublicexpense,onthesameprincipleswiththatofthewardschools。Throughthewholeofthecollegiatecourse,atthehoursofrecreationoncertaindays,allthestudentsshouldbetaughtthemanualexercise;militaryevolutionsandman;oeuversshouldbeunderastandingorganizationasamilitarycorps,andwithproperofficerstotrainandcommandthem,Atabularstatementofthisdistributionofthescienceswillplacethesystemofinstructionmoreparticularlyinview:
  1storElementaryGradeintheWardSchools。
  Reading,Writing,Arithmetic,Geography。
  2d,orGeneralGrade。
  1。LanguageandHistory,ancientandmodern。
  2。Mathematics,viz:Mathematicspure,Physico-Mathematics,Physics,Chemistry,Anatomy,TheoryofMedicine,Zoology,BotanyandMineralogy。P1352p1
  3。Philosophy,viz:Ideology,andEthics,LawofNatureandNations,Government,PoliticalEconomy。
  3d,orProfessionalGrades。
  TheologyandEcclesiasticalHistory;Law,MunicipalandForeign;PracticeofMedicine;MateriaMedicaandPharmacy;Surgery;
  Architecture,MilitaryandNaval,andProjectiles;TechnicalPhilosophy;RuralEconomy;FineArts。
  Onthissurveyofthefieldofscience,Irecurtothequestion,whatportionofitwemarkoutfortheoccupationofourinstitution?Withthefirstgradeofeducationweshallhavenothingtodo。Thesciencesofthesecondgradeareourfirstobject;and,toadaptthemtoourslenderbeginnings,wemustseparatethemintogroups,comprehendingmanyscienceseach,andgreatlymore,inthefirstinstance,thanoughttobeimposedon,orcanbecompetentlyconductedbyasingleprofessorpermanently。Theymustbesubdividedfromtimetotime,asourmeansincrease,untileachprofessorshallhavenomoreunderhiscarethanhecanattendtowithadvantagetohispupilsandeasetohimself。Forthepresent,wemaygroupthesciencesintoprofessorships,asfollows,subject,however,tobechanged,accordingtothequalificationsofthepersonswemaybeabletoengage。
  I。Professorship。
  LanguagesandHistory,ancientandmodern。
  Belles-Lettres,RhetoricandOratory。
  II。Professorship。
  Mathematicspure,Physico-Mathematics。
  Physics,Anatomy,Medicine,Theory。
  III。Professorship。
  Chemistry,Zoology,Botany,Mineralogy。
  IV。Professorship。
  Philosophy。
  Theorganizationofthebranchoftheinstitutionwhichrespectsitsgovernment,policeandeconomy,dependingonprincipleswhichhavenoaffinitywiththoseofitsinstitution,maybethesubjectofseparateandsubsequentconsideration。
  Withthistributeofdutytotheboardoftrustees,acceptassurancesofmygreatesteemandconsideration。
  ALIBRARYFORCONGRESS
  _ToSamuelH。Smith_
  _Monticello,September21,1814_
  DEARSIR,——IlearnfromthenewspapersthattheVandalismofourenemyhastriumphedatWashingtonoverscienceaswellasthearts,bythedestructionofthepubliclibrarywiththenobleedificeinwhichitwasdeposited。Ofthistransaction,asofthatofCopenhagen,theworldwillentertainbutonesentiment。Theywillseeanationsuddenlywithdrawnfromagreatwar,fullarmedandfullhanded,takingadvantageofanotherwhomtheyhadrecentlyforcedintoit,unarmed,andunprepared,toindulgethemselvesinactsofbarbarismwhichdonotbelongtoacivilizedage。WhenVanGhentdestroyedtheirshippingatChatham,andDeRuyterrodetriumphantlyuptheThames,hemightinlikemanner,bytheacknowledgmentoftheirownhistorians,haveforcedalltheirshipsuptoLondonbridge,andtherehaveburntthem,thetower,andcity,hadtheseexamplesbeenthenset。London,whenthusmenaced,wasnearathousandyearsold,Washingtonisbutinitsteens。
  IpresumeitwillbeamongtheearlyobjectsofCongresstore-commencetheircollection。Thiswillbedifficultwhilethewarcontinues,andintercoursewithEuropeisattendedwithsomuchrisk。
  Youknowmycollection,itsconditionandextent。Ihavebeenfiftyyearsmakingit,andhavesparednopains,opportunityorexpense,tomakeitwhatitis。WhileresidinginParis,IdevotedeveryafternoonIwasdisengaged,forasummerortwo,inexaminingalltheprincipalbook-stores,turningovereverybookwithmyownhand,andputtingbyeverythingwhichrelatedtoAmerica,andindeedwhateverwasrareandvaluableineveryscience。Besidesthis,IhadstandingordersduringthewholetimeIwasinEurope,onitsprincipalbook-marts,particularlyAmsterdam,Frankfort,MadridandLondon,forsuchworksrelatingtoAmericaascouldnotbefoundinParis。Sothatinthatdepartmentparticularly,suchacollectionwasmadeasprobablycanneveragainbeeffected,becauseitishardlyprobablethatthesameopportunities,thesametime,industry,perseveranceandexpense,withsomeknowledgeofthebibliographyofthesubject,wouldagainhappentobeinconcurrence。Duringthesameperiod,andaftermyreturntoAmerica,Iwasledtoprocure,also,whateverrelatedtothedutiesofthoseinthehighconcernsofthenation。
  Sothatthecollection,whichIsupposeisofbetweennineandtenthousandvolumes,whileitincludeswhatischieflyvaluableinscienceandliteraturegenerally,extendsmoreparticularlytowhateverbelongstotheAmericanstatesman。Inthediplomaticandparliamentarybranches,itisparticularlyfull。ItislongsinceI
  havebeensensibleitoughtnottocontinueprivateproperty,andhadprovidedthatatmydeath,Congressshouldhavetherefusalofitattheirownprice。Butthelosstheyhavenowincurred,makesthepresentthepropermomentfortheiraccommodation,withoutregardtothesmallremnantoftimeandthebarrenuseofmyenjoyingit。I
  askofyourfriendship,therefore,tomakeformethetenderofittothelibrarycommitteeofCongress,notknowingmyselfofwhomthecommitteeconsists。Iencloseyouthecatalogue,whichwillenablethemtojudgeofitscontents。Nearlythewholearewellbound,abundanceofthemelegantly,andofthechoicesteditionsexisting。
  Theymaybevaluedbypersonsnamedbythemselves,andthepaymentmadeconvenienttothepublic。Itmaybe,forinstance,insuchannualinstalmentsasthelawofCongresshasleftattheirdisposal,orinstockofanyoftheirlateloans,orofanyloantheymayinstituteatthissession,soastosparethepresentcallsofourcountry,andawaititsdaysofpeaceandprosperity。Theymayenter,nevertheless,intoimmediateuseofit,aseighteenortwentywagonswouldplaceitinWashingtoninasingletripofafortnight。I
  shouldbewillingindeed,toretainafewofthebooks,toamusethetimeIhaveyettopass,whichmightbevaluedwiththerest,butnotincludedinthesumofvaluationuntiltheyshouldberestoredatmydeath,whichIwouldcarefullyprovidefor,sothatthewholelibraryasitstandsinthecatalogueatthismomentshouldbetheirswithoutanygarbling。ThoseIshouldliketoretainwouldbechieflyclassicalandmathematical。Somefewinotherbranches,andparticularlyoneofthefiveencyclopediasinthecatalogue。Butthis,ifnotacceptable,wouldnotbeurged。Imustadd,thatIhavenotrevisedthelibrarysinceIcamehometolive,sothatitisprobablesomeofthebooksmaybemissing,exceptinthechaptersofLawandDivinity,whichhavebeenrevisedandstandexactlyasinthecatalogue。Thereturnofthecataloguewillofcoursebeneeded,whetherthetenderbeacceptedornot。IdonotknowthatitcontainsanybranchofsciencewhichCongresswouldwishtoexcludefromtheircollection;thereis,infact,nosubjecttowhichamemberofCongressmaynothaveoccasiontorefer。Butsuchawishwouldnotcorrespondwithmyviewsofpreventingitsdismemberment。
  Mydesireiseithertoplaceitintheirhandsentire,ortopreserveitsohere。Iamengagedinmakinganalphabeticalindexoftheauthor’snames,tobeannexedtothecatalogue,whichIwillforwardtoyouassoonascompleted。Anyagreementyoushallbesogoodastotakethetroubleofenteringintowiththecommittee,Iherebyconfirm。Accepttheassuranceofmygreatesteemandrespect。
  AJUSTBUTSADWAR
  _ToWilliamShort_
  _Monticello,November28,1814_
  DEARSIR,——YoursofOctober28thcametohandonthe15thinstantonly。ThesettlementofyourboundarywithColonelMonroe,isprotractedbycircumstanceswhichseemforeigntoit。OnewouldhardlyhaveexpectedthatthehostileexpeditiontoWashingtoncouldhavehadanyconnectionwithanoperationonehundredmilesdistant。
  Yetpreventinghisattendance,nothingcouldbedone。Iamsatisfiedthereisnounwillingnessonhispart,butonthecontraryadesiretohaveitsettled;andtherefore,ifheshouldthinkitindispensabletobepresentattheinvestigation,asispossible,theveryfirsttimehecomeshereIwillpresshimtogiveadaytothedecision,withoutregardingMr。Carter’sabsence。SuchanoccasionmustcertainlyoffersoonafterthefourthofMarch,whenCongressrisesofnecessity,andbeassuredIwillnotloseonepossiblemomentineffectingit。
  Althoughwithdrawnfromallanxiousattentiontopoliticalconcerns,yetIwillstatemyimpressionsastothepresentwar,becauseyourletterleadstothesubject。Theessentialgroundsofthewarwere,1st,theordersofcouncil;and2d,theimpressmentofourcitizens;forIputoutofsightfromtheloveofpeacethemultipliedinsultsonourgovernmentandaggressionsonourcommerce,withwhichourpouch,liketheIndian’s,hadlongbeenfilledtothemouth。Whatimmediatelyproducedthedeclarationwas,1st,theproclamationofthePrinceRegentthathewouldneverrepealtheordersofcouncilastous,untilBonaparteshouldhaverevokedhisdecreesastoallothernationsaswellasours;and2d,thedeclarationofhisministertooursthatnoarrangementwhatevercouldbedevisedadmissibleinlieuofimpressment。Itwascertainlyamisfortunethat_they_didnotknowthemselvesatthedateofthissillyandinsolentproclamation,thatwithinonemonththeywouldrepealtheorders,andthat_we_,atthedateofourdeclaration,couldnotknowoftherepealwhichwasthengoingononethousandleaguesdistant。Theirdeterminations,asdeclaredbythemselves,couldaloneguideus,andtheyshutthedooronallfurthernegotiation,throwingdowntousthegauntletofwarorsubmissionastheonlyalternatives。Wecannotblamethegovernmentforchoosingthatofwar,becausecertainlythegreatmajorityofthenationthoughtitoughttobechosen,notthattheyweretogainbyitindollarsandcents;allmenknowthatwarisalosinggametobothparties。Buttheyknowalsothatiftheydonotresistencroachmentatsomepoint,allwillbetakenfromthem,andthatmorewouldthenbelostevenindollarsandcentsbysubmissionthanresistance。Itisthecaseofgivingaparttosavethewhole,alimbtosavelife。
  Itisthemelancholylawofhumansocietiestobecompelledsometimestochooseagreatevilinordertowardoffagreater;todetertheirneighborsfromrapinebymakingitcostthemmorethanhonestgains。
  Theenemyareaccordinglynowdisgorgingwhattheyhadsoravenouslyswallowed。Theordersofcouncilhadtakenfromusnearonethousandvessels。Ourlistofcapturesfromthemisnowonethousandthreehundred,and,justbecomesensiblethatitissmallandnotlargeshipswhichgallthemmost,weshallprobablyaddonethousandprizesayeartotheirpastlosses。Again,supposingthat,accordingtotheconfessionoftheirownministerinparliament,theAmericanstheyhadimpressedweresomethingshortoftwothousand,thewaragainstusalonecannotcostthemlessthantwentymillionsofdollarsayear,sothateachAmericanimpressedhasalreadycostthemtenthousanddollars,andeveryyearwilladdfivethousanddollarsmoretohisprice。We,Isuppose,expendmore;buthadweadoptedtheotheralternativeofsubmission,nomortalcantellwhatthecostwouldhavebeen。Iconsiderthewarthenasentirelyjustifiableonourpart,althoughIamstillsensibleitisadeplorablemisfortunetous。Ithasarrestedthecourseofthemostremarkabletideofprosperityanynationeverexperienced,andhasclosedsuchprospectsoffutureimprovementaswereneverbeforeintheviewofanypeople。
  Farewellallhopesofextinguishingpublicdebt!farewellallvisionsofapplyingsurplusesofrevenuetotheimprovementsofpeaceratherthantheravagesofwar。OurenemyhasindeedtheconsolationofSatanonremovingourfirstparentsfromParadise:fromapeaceableandagriculturalnation,hemakesusamilitaryandmanufacturingone。Weshallindeedsurvivetheconflict。Breedersenoughwillremaintocarryonpopulation。Weshallretainourcountry,andrapidadvancesintheartofwarwillsoonenableustobeatourenemy,andprobablydrivehimfromthecontinent。Wehavemenenough,andIaminhopesthepresentsessionofCongresswillprovidethemeansofcommandingtheirservices。ButIwishIcouldseethemgetintoabettertrainoffinance。Theirbankingprojectsarelikedosingdropsywithmorewater。Ifanythingcouldrevoltourcitizensagainstthewar,itwouldbetheextravagancewithwhichtheyareabouttobetaxed。Itisstrangeindeedthatatthisday,andinacountrywhereEnglishproceedingsaresofamiliar,theprinciplesandadvantagesoffundingshouldbeneglected,andexpedientsresortedto。Theirnewbank,ifnotabortiveatitsbirth,willnotlastthroughonecampaign;andthetaxesproposedcannotbepaid。Howcanapeoplewhocannotgetfiftycentsabushelfortheirwheat,whiletheypaytwelvedollarsabushelfortheirsalt,payfivetimestheamountoftaxestheyeverpaidbefore?YetthatwillbethecaseinalltheStatessouthofthePotomac。Ourresourcesarecompetenttothemaintenanceofthewarifdulyeconomizedandskillfulyemployedinthewayofanticipation。
  However,wemustsuffer,Isuppose,fromourignoranceinfunding,aswedidfromthatoffighting,untilnecessityteachesusboth;and,fortunately,ourstaminaaresovigorousastorisesuperiortogreatmismanagement。ThisyearIthinkweshallhavelearnthowtocallforthourforce,andbythenextIhopeourfunds,andevenifthestateofEuropeshouldnotbythattimegivetheenemyemploymentenoughnearerhome,weshallleavehimnothingtofightforhere。