ONAMERICANDEGENERACY
　　_ToChastellux_
　　_Paris，June7，1785_
　　DEARSIR，——Ihavebeenhonoredwiththereceiptofyourletterofthe2ndinstant，andamtothankyou，asIdosincerely，forthepartialitywithwhichyoureceivethecopyoftheNotesonmycountry。AsIcananswerforthefactsthereinreportedonmyownobservation，andhaveadmittednoneonthereportofothers，whichwerenotsupportedbyevidencesufficienttocommandmyownassent，I
　　amnotafraidthatyoushouldmakeanyextractsyoupleasefortheJournaldePhysique，whichcomewithintheirplanofpublication。
　　ThestricturesonslaveryandontheconstitutionofVirginia，arenotofthatkind，andtheyarethepartswhichIdonotwishtohavemadepublic，atleast，tillIknowwhethertheirpublicationwoulddomostharmorgood。Itispossible，thatinmyowncountry，thesestricturesmightproduceanirritation，whichwouldindisposethepeopletowardsthetwogreatobjectsIhaveinview；thatis，theemancipationoftheirslaves，andthesettlementoftheirconstitutiononafirmerandmorepermanentbasis。IfIlearnfromthence，thattheywillnotproducethateffect，IhaveprintedandreservedjustcopiesenoughtobeabletogiveonetoeveryyoungmanattheCollege。ItistothemIlook，totherisinggeneration，andnottotheonenowinpower，forthesegreatreformations。Theothercopy，deliveredatyourhotel，wasforMonsieurdeBuffon。Imeanttoaskthefavorofyoutohaveitsenttohim，asIwasignoranthowtodoit。IhaveonealsoforMonsieurDaubenton，butbeingutterlyunknowntohim，Icannottakethelibertyofpresentingit，tillI
　　candoitthroughsomecommonacquaintance。
　　IwillbegleavetosayhereafewwordsonthegeneralquestionofthedegeneracyofanimalsinAmerica。1。AstothedegeneracyofthemanofEuropetransplantedtoAmerica，itisnopartofMonsieurdeBuffon’ssystem。Hegoes，indeed，withinonestepofit，buthestopsthere。TheAbbeRaynalalonehastakenthatstep。YourknowledgeofAmericaenablesyoutojudgethisquestion，tosay，whetherthelowerclassofpeopleinAmerica，arelessinformedandlesssusceptibleofinformation，thanthelowerclassinEurope：andwhetherthoseinAmerica，whohavereceivedsuchaneducationasthatcountrycangive，arelessimprovedbyitthanEuropeansofthesamedegreeofeducation。2。AstotheaboriginalmanofAmerica，Iknowofnorespectableevidenceonwhichtheopinionofhisinferiorityofgeniushasbeenfounded，butthatofDonUlloa。AstoRobertson，heneverwasinAmerica，herelatesnothingonhisownknowledge，heisacompileronlyoftherelationsofothers，andameretranslatoroftheopinionsofMonsieurdeBuffon。Ishouldassoon，therefore，addthetranslatorsofRobertsontothewitnessesofthisfact，ashimself。Paw，thebeginnerofthischarge，wasacompilerfromtheworksofothers；andofthemostunluckydescription；forheseemstohavereadthewritingsoftravellers，onlytocollectandrepublishtheirlies。Itisreallyremarkable，thatinthreevolumes12mo，ofsmallprint，itisscarcelypossibletofindonetruth，andyet，thattheauthorshouldbeabletoproduceauthorityforeveryfacthestates，ashesayshecan。DonUlloa’stestimonyisofthemostrespectable。Hewroteofwhathesaw，buthesawtheIndianofSouthAmericaonly，andthat，afterhehadpassedthroughtengenerationsofslavery。Itisveryunfair，fromthissample，tojudgeofthenaturalgeniusofthisraceofmen；andaftersupposingthatDonUlloahadnotsufficientlycalculatedtheallowancewhichshouldbemadeforthiscircumstance，wedohimnoinjuryinconsideringthepicturehedrawsofthepresentIndiansofSouthAmerica，asnopictureofwhattheirancestorswere，threehundredyearsago。ItisinNorthAmericawearetoseektheiroriginalcharacter。AndIamsafeinaffirming，thattheproofsofgeniusgivenbytheIndiansofNorthAmerica，placethemonalevelwithwhitesinthesameuncultivatedstate。
　　TheNorthofEuropefurnishessubjectsenoughforcomparisonwiththem，andforaproofoftheirequality。Ihaveseensomethousandsmyself，andconversedmuchwiththem，andhavefoundinthemamasculine，soundunderstanding。Ihavehadmuchinformationfrommenwhohadlivedamongthem，andwhoseveracityandgoodsenseweresofarknowntome，astoestablisharelianceontheirinformation。
　　Theyhaveallagreedinbearingwitnessinfavorofthegeniusofthispeople。Astotheirbodilystrength，theirmannersrenderingitdisgracefultolabor，thosemusclesemployedinlaborwillbeweakerwiththem，thanwiththeEuropeanlaborer；butthosewhichareexertedinthechase，andthosefacultieswhichareemployedinthetracinganenemyorawildbeast，incontrivingambuscadesforhim，andincarryingthemthroughtheirexecution，aremuchstrongerthanwithus，becausetheyaremoreexercised。IbelievetheIndian，then，tobe，inbodyandmind，equaltothewhiteman。Ihavesupposedtheblackman，inhispresentstate，mightnotbeso；butitwouldbehazardoustoaffirm，that，equallycultivatedforafewgenerations，hewouldnotbecomeso。3。AstotheinferiorityoftheotheranimalsofAmerica，withoutmorefacts，IcanaddnothingtowhatIhavesaidinmyNotes。
　　AstothetheoryofMonsieurdeBuffon，thatheatisfriendly，andmoistureadversetotheproductionoflargeanimals，IamlatelyfurnishedwithafactbyDr。Franklin，whichprovestheairofLondonandofParistobemorehumidthanthatofPhiladelphia，andsocreatesasuspicionthattheopinionofthesuperiorhumidityofAmericamay，perhaps，havebeentoohastilyadopted。Andsupposingthatfactadmitted，Ithinkthephysicalreasoningsurgedtoshow，thatinamoistcountryanimalsmustbesmall，andthatinahotonetheymustbelarge，arenotbuiltonthebasisofexperiment。Thesequestions，however，cannotbedecided，ultimately，atthisday。Morefactsmustbecollected，andmoretimeflowoff，beforetheworldwillberipefordecision。Inthemeantime，doubtiswisdom。
　　Ihavebeenfullysensibleoftheanxietiesofyoursituation，andthatyourattentionswerewhollyconsecrated，wherealonetheywerewhollydue，tothesuccouroffriendshipandworth。HowevermuchIprizeyoursociety，IwaitwithpatiencethemomentwhenIcanhaveitwithouttakingwhatisduetoanother。Inthemeantime，I
　　amsolacedwiththehopeofpossessingyourfriendship，andthatitisnotungratefultoyoutoreceiveassurancesofthatwithwhichI
　　havethehonortobe，DearSir，yourmostobedient，andmosthumbleservant，SOMETHOUGHTSONTREATIES
　　_ToJamesMonroe_
　　_Paris，June17，1785_
　　DEARSIR，——IreceivedthreedaysagoyourfavorofApr。12。
　　Youthereinspeakofaformerlettertome，butithasnotcometohand，noranyotheroflaterdatethanthe14thofDecember。Mylastlettertoyouwasofthe11thofMaybyMr。Adamswhowentinthepacketofthatmonth。Theseconveiancesarenowbecomingderanged。
　　WehavehadexpectationsoftheircomingtoHavrewhichwouldinfinitelyfacilitatethecommunicationbetweenParis&Congress：buttheirdeliberationsonthesubjectseemtobetakinganotherturn。
　　Theycomplainoftheexpence，andthattheircommercewithusistoosmalltojustifyit。Theythereforetalkofsendingapacketeverysixweeksonly。Thepresentonetherefore，whichshouldhavesailedaboutthistime，willnotsailuntilthe1stofJuly。Howeverthewholematterisasyetundecided。IhavehopedthatwhenMr。St。
　　JohnarrivesfromN。Yorkhewillgetthemreplacedontheirmonthlysystem。BythebyewhatisthemeaningofaveryangryresolutionofCongressonthissubject?Ihaveitnotbymeandthereforecannotciteitbydate，butyouwillrememberit，andwillobligemebyexplainingit’sfoundation。ThiswillbehandedyoubyMr。OttowhocomestoAmericaasChargedesAffairesintheroomofMr。MarboispromotedtotheIntendancyofHispaniola，whichofficeisnexttothatofGovernor。HebecomestheheadofthecivilastheGovernorisofthemilitarydepartment。IammuchpleasedwithOtto’sappointment。Heisgoodhumored，affectionatetoAmerica，willseethingsinafriendlylightwhentheyadmitofit，inarationalonealways，andwillnotpiquehimselfonwritingeverytriflingcircumstanceofirritationtohiscourt。Iwishyoutobeacquaintedwithhim，asafriendlyintercoursebetweenindividualswhodobusinesstogetherproducesamutualspiritofaccommodationusefultobothparties。Itisverymuchourinteresttokeepuptheaffectionofthiscountryforus，whichisconsiderable。Acourthasnoaffections，butthoseofthepeoplewhomtheygoverninfluencetheirdecisionseveninthemostarbitrarygovernments——ThenegociationsbetweentheEmperor&Dutcharespunouttoanamazinglength。Atpresentthereisnoapprehensionbutthattheywillterminateinpeace。ThiscourtseemstopressitwithardourandtheDutchareaverseconsideringthetermscruel&unjustastheyevidentlyare。
　　Thepresentdelaysthereforeareimputedtotheircoldness&totheirforms。InthemeantimetheTurkisdelayingthedemarcationoflimitsbetweenhimandtheemperor，ismakingthemostvigorouspreparationsforwar，andhascomposedhisministryofwar-likecharactersdeemedpersonallyhostiletotheemperor。ThustimeseemstobespinningoutbothbytheDutch&Turks，&timeiswantingforFrance。Everyyear’sdelayisagreatthingtoher。ItisnotimpossiblethereforebutthatshemaysecretlyencouragethedelaysoftheDutch&hastenthepreparationsofthePortewhilesheisrecoveringvigourherselfand，inordertobeabletopresentsuchacombinationtotheemperorasmaydictatetohimtobequiet。Butthedesignsofthesecourtsareinscrutable。ItisourinteresttopraythatthiscountrymayhavenocontinentalwartillourpeacewithEnglandisperfectlysettled。Themerchantsofthiscountrycontinueasloud&furiousaseveragainsttheArretofAugust1784，permittingourcommercewiththeirislandstoacertaindegree。Manyofthemhaveactuallyabandonedtheirtrade。TheMinistryaredisposedtobefirm，butthereisapointatwhichtheywillgiveway，thatisiftheclamoursshouldbecomesuchastoendangertheirplaces。Itisevidentthatnothingcanbedonebyus，atthistime，ifwemayhopeithereafter。IlikeyourremovaltoN。York，andhopeCongresswillcontinuethereandneverexecutetheideaofbuildingtheirfederaltown。BeforeitcouldbefinishedachangeofMembersinCongressortheadmissionofnewstateswouldremovethemsomewhereelse。ItisevidentthatwhenasufficientnumberoftheWesternstatescomeintheywillremoveittoGeorgetown。Inthemeantimeitisourinterestthatitshouldremainwhereitis，andgivenonewpretensionstoanyotherplace。IamalsomuchpleasedwiththepropositiontothestatestoinvestCongresswiththeregulationoftheirtrade，reservingit’srevenuetothestates。I
　　thinkitahappyidea，removingtheonlyobjectionwhichcouldhavebeenjustlymadetotheproposition。Thetimetooisthepresent，beforetheadmissionoftheWesternstates。Iamverydifferentlyaffectedtowardsthenewplanofopeningourlandofficebydividingthelandsamongthestatesandsellingthematvendue。Itseparatesstillmoretheinterestsofthestateswhichoughttobemadejointineverypossibleinstanceinordertocultivatetheideaofourbeingonenation，andtomultiplytheinstancesinwhichthepeopleshalllookuptoCongressastheirhead。Andwhenthestatesgettheirportionstheywilleitherfoolthemaway，ormakeajobofittoserveindividuals。Proofsofboththesepracticeshavebeenfurnished，andbyeitherofthemthatinvaluablefundislostwhichoughttopayourpublicdebt。Tosellthematvendue，istogivethemtothebiddersofthedaybetheymanyorfew。Itisrippingupthehenwhichlaysgoldeneggs。Ifsoldinlotsatafixedpriceasfirstproposed，thebestlotswillbesoldfirst。Asthesebecomeoccupieditgivesavaluetotheinterjacentones，andraisesthem，tho’ofinferiorquality，tothepriceofthefirst。IsendyoubyMr。Ottoacopyofmybook。BesogoodastoapologizetoMr。
　　Thomsonformynotsendinghimonebythisconveiance。IcouldnotburthenMr。Ottowithmoreonsolongaroadasthatfromheretol’Orient。IwillsendhimonebyaMr。Williamswhowillgoerelong。Ihavetakenmeasurestopreventit’spublication。MyreasonisthatIfearthetermsinwhichIspeakofslaveryandofourconstitutionmayproduceanirritationwhichwillrevoltthemindsofourcountrymenagainstreformationinthesetwoarticles，andthusdomoreharmthangood。IhaveaskedofMr。Madisontosoundthismatterasfarashecan，andifhethinksitwillnotproducethateffect，Ihavethencopiesenoughprintedtogiveonetoeachoftheyoungmenatthecollege，andtomyfriendsinthecountry。
　　_Iamsorry_toseeapossibilityof_A。L。’sbeingputinto_
　　the_Treasury。He_hasno_talents_forthe_office_，andwhat_hehas_willbe_employed_in_rummagingoldaccounts_to_involve_youin_eternalwarwithR。M。_and_he_willinashorttime_introduce_
　　such_dissensions_intothe_Commission_asto_breakitup_。If_hegoes_onthe_otherappointmenttoKaskaskiahewillproducearevolt_ofthat_settlementfrom_the_U。S。Ithankyou_for_yourattention_to_myoutfit。For_the_articles_of_householdfurniture_，_clothes_，anda_carriage_，_Ihavealreadypaid28，000