however，therewasnodifferenceofopinionintheconclusion，thatitcouldnotbeeffected。Thereasonswhichtheythoughtwouldwithcertaintyprevailagainstit，were1。thatouryouth，notfamiliarizedbutwiththeirmothertongue，werenotpreparedtoreceiveinstructionsinanyother；2d。thattheexpenceoftheinstitutionwouldexciteuneasinessintheirconstituents，&endangerit’spermanence；&3。thatit’sextentwasdisproportionedtothenarrowstateofthepopulationwithus。Whatevermightbeurgedontheseseveralsubjects，yetasthedecisionrestedwithothers，thereremainedtousonlytoregretthatcircumstancesweresuch，orwerethoughttobesuch，astodisappointyour&ourwishes。Ishouldhaveseenwithpeculiarsatisfactiontheestablishmentofsuchamassofscienceinmycountry，andshouldprobablyhavebeentemptedtoapproachmyselftoit，byprocuringaresidenceinit’sneighborhood，atthoseseasonsoftheyearatleastwhentheoperationsofagriculturearelessactiveandinteresting。Isincerelylamentthecircumstanceswhichhavesuggestedthisemigration。IhadhopedthatGenevawasfamiliarizedtosuchadegreeofliberty，thattheymightwithoutdifficultyordangerfillupthemeasuretoitsmaximum；aterm，which，thoughintheinsulatedman，boundedonlybyhisnaturalpowers，must，insociety，besofarrestrictedastoprotecthimselfagainsttheevilpassionsofhisassociates，&consequently，themagainsthim。Isuspectthatthedoctrine，thatsmallStatesalonearefittedtoberepublics，willbeexplodedbyexperience，withsomeotherbrilliantfallaciesaccreditedbyMontesquieu&otherpoliticalwriters。Perhapsitwillbefound，thattoobtainajustrepublicanditistosecureourjustrightsthatweresorttogovernmentatallitmustbesoextensiveasthatlocalegoismsmayneverreachit’sgreaterpart；thatoneveryparticularquestion，amajoritymaybefoundinit’scouncilsfreefromparticularinterests，andgiving，therefore，anuniformprevalencetotheprinciplesofjustice。Thesmallerthesocieties，themoreviolent&moreconvulsivetheirschisms。Wehavechancedtoliveinanagewhichwillprobablybedistinguishedinhistory，forit’sexperimentsingovernmentonalargerscalethanhasyettakenplace。Butweshallnotlivetoseetheresult。Thegrosserabsurdities，suchashereditarymagistracies，weshallseeexplodedinourday，longexperiencehavingalreadypronouncedcondemnationagainstthem。Butwhatistobethesubstitute?Thisourchildrenorgrandchildrenwillanswer。
Wemaybesatisfiedwiththecertainknowledgethatnonecaneverbetried，sostupid，sounrighteous，sooppressive，sodestructiveofeveryendforwhichhonestmenenterintogovernment，asthatwhichtheirforefathershadestablished，&theirfathersaloneventuretotumbleheadlongfromthestationstheyhavesolongabused。Itisunfortunate，thattheeffortsofmankindtorecoverthefreedomofwhichtheyhavebeensolongdeprived，willbeaccompaniedwithviolence，witherrors，&evenwithcrimes。Butwhileweweepoverthemeans，wemustprayfortheend——ButIhavebeeninsensiblyledbythegeneralcomplexionofthetimes，fromtheparticularcaseofGeneva，tothosetowhichitbearsnosimilitude。Ofthatwehopegoodthings。Itsinhabitantsmustbetoomuchenlightened，toowellexperiencedintheblessingsoffreedomandundisturbedindustry，totoleratelongacontrarystateofthings。Ishallbehappytohearthattheirgovernmentperfectsitself，andleavesroomforthehonest，theindustrious&wise；inwhichcase，yourowntalents，&
thoseofthepersonsforwhomyouhaveinterestedyourself，will，I
amsure，findwelcome&distinction。Mygoodwisheswillalwaysattendyou，asaconsequenceoftheesteem®ardwithwhichIam，DearSir，yourmostobedient&mosthumbleservant。
ABJURINGTHEPRESIDENCY
_ToJamesMadison_
_Monticello，Apr。27，1795_
DEARSIR，——YourletterofMar23。cametohandthe7thofApril，andnotwithstandingtheurgentreasonsforansweringapartofitimmediately，yetasitmentionedthatyouwouldleavePhiladelphiawithinafewdays，Ifearedthattheanswermightpassyouontheroad。AletterfromPhiladelphiabythelastposthavingannouncedtomeyourleavingthatplacethedayprecedingit’sdate，IaminhopesthiswillfindyouinOrange。Inmine，towhichyoursofMar23。wasananswer，IexpressedmyhopeoftheonlychangeofpositionIeverwishedtoseeyoumake，andIexpresseditwithentiresincerity，becausethereisnotanotherpersonintheUS。whobeingplacedatthehelmofouraffairs，mymindwouldbesocompletelyatrestforthefortuneofourpoliticalbark。Thewishtoowaspure，&
unmixedwithanythingrespectingmyselfpersonally。Forastomyself，thesubjecthadbeenthoroughlyweighed&decidedon，&myretirementfromofficehadbeenmeantfromallofficehighorlow，withoutexception。Icansay，too，withtruth，thatthesubjecthadnotbeenpresentedtomymindbyanyvanityofmyown。Iknowmyself&myfellowcitizenstoowelltohaveeverthoughtofit。Buttheideawasforceduponmebycontinualinsinuationsinthepublicpapers，whileIwasinoffice。Asallthesecamefromahostilequarter，Iknewthattheirobjectwastopoisonthepublicmindastomymotives，whentheywerenotabletochargemewithfacts。Buttheideabeingoncepresentedtome，myownquietrequiredthatIshouldfaceit&examineit。Ididsothoroughly，&hadnodifficultytoseethateveryreasonwhichhaddeterminedmetoretirefromtheofficeIthenheld，operatedmorestronglyagainstthatwhichwasinsinuatedtobemyobject。Idecidedthenonthosegeneralgroundswhichcouldalonebepresenttomymindatthetime，thatistosay，reputation，tranquillity，labor；forastopublicduty，itcouldnotbeatopicofconsiderationinmycase。Ifthesegeneralconsiderationsweresufficienttogroundafirmresolutionnevertopermitmyselftothinkoftheoffice，ortobethoughtofforit，thespecialoneswhichhavesupervenedonmyretirement，stillmoreinsuperablybarthedoortoit。Myhealthisentirelybrokendownwithinthelasteightmonths；myagerequiresthatIshouldplacemyaffairsinaclearstate；thesearesoundiftakencareof，butcapableofconsiderabledangersiflongerneglected；andaboveallthings，thedelightsIfeelinthesocietyofmyfamily，andtheagriculturalpursuitsinwhichIamsoeagerlyengaged。ThelittlespiceofambitionwhichIhadinmyyoungerdayshaslongsinceevaporated，andIsetstilllessstorebyaposthumousthanpresentname。Instatingtoyoutheheadsofreasonswhichhaveproducedmydetermination，Idonotmeananopeningforfuturediscussion，orthatImaybereasonedoutofit。Thequestionisforeverclosedwithme；mysoleobjectistoavailmyselfofthefirstopeningevergivenmefromafriendlyquarterandIcouldnotwithdecencydoitbefore，ofpreventinganydivisionorlossofvotes，whichmightbefataltotheRepublicaninterest。Ifthathasanychanceofprevailing，itmustbebyavoidingthelossofasinglevote，andbyconcentratingallitsstrengthononeobject。Whothisshouldbe，isaquestionIcanmorefreelydiscusswithanybodythanyourself。InthisIpainfullyfeelthelossofMonroe。Hadhebeenhere，Ishouldhavebeenatnolossforachannelthroughwhichtomakemyselfunderstood；ifIhavebeenmisunderstoodbyanybodythroughtheinstrumentalityofmr。Fenno&hisabettors——Ilongtoseeyou。I
amproceedinginmyagriculturalplanswithaslowbutsurestep。Togetunderfullwaywillrequire4。or5。years。Butpatience&
perseverancewillaccomplishit。Mylittleessayinredclover，thelastyear，hashadthemostencouragingsuccess。Isowedthenabout40。acres。Ihavesowedthisyearabout120。whichtherainnowfallingcomesveryopportunelyon。From160。to200。acres，willbemyyearlysowing。Theseed-boxdescribedintheagriculturaltransactionsofNewYork，reducestheexpenseofseedingfrom6/to2/3theacre，anddoesthebusinessbetterthanispossibletobedonebythehumanhand。Maywehopeavisitfromyou?Ifwemay，letitbeafterthemiddleofMay，bywhichtimeIhopetobereturnedfromBedford。Ihadhadapropositiontomeetmr。Henrytherethismonth，toconferonthesubjectofaconvention，tothecallingofwhichheisnowbecomeaconvert。Thesessionofourdistrictcourtfurnishedmeajustexcuseforthetime；buttheimproprietyofmyenteringintoconsultationonameasureinwhichI
wouldtakenopart，isapermanentone。
Presentmymostrespectfulcomplimentstomrs。Madison，&beassuredofthewarmattachmentof，DearSir，yoursaffectionately。
ANAIL-MAKER
_ToJeanNicolasDemeunier_
_Monticello，Virginia，Apr。29，1795_
DEARSIR，——YourfavorofMar。30。fromPhiladelphiacametomyhandsafewdaysago。ThatwhichyoumentiontohavewrittenfromLondonhasneverbeenreceived；norhadIbeenabletodiscoverwhathasbeenyourfortuneduringthetroublesofFranceafterthedeathoftheKing。Beingthoroughlypersuadedthatunderallcircumstancesyourconducthadbeenentirelyinnocent&friendlytothefreedomofyourcountry，Ihadhopesthatyouhadnotbeenobligedtoquityourowncountry。Beingmyselfawarmzealotfortheattainment&
enjoimentbyallmankindofasmuchliberty，aseachmayexercisewithoutinjurytotheequallibertyofhisfellowcitizens，IhavelamentedthatinFrancetheendeavourstoobtainthisshouldhavebeenattendedwiththeeffusionofsomuchblood。Iwasintimatewiththeleadingcharactersoftheyear1789。SoIwaswiththoseoftheBrissotinepartywhosucceededthem：&havealwaysbeenpersuadedthattheirviewswereupright。Thosewhohavefollowedhavebeenlessknowntome：butIhavebeenwillingtohopethattheyalsomeanttheestablishmentofafreegovernmentintheircountry，exceptingperhapsthepartywhichhaslatelybeensuppressed。Thegovernmentofthosenowattheheadofaffairsappearstoholdoutmanyindicationsofgoodsense，moderation&virtue；&Icannotbutpresumefromtheircharacteraswellasyourownthatyouwouldfindaperfectsafetyinthebosomofyourowncountry。IthinkitfortunatefortheUnitedStatestohavebecometheasylumforsomanyvirtuouspatriotsofdifferentdenominations：buttheircircumstances，withwhichyouweresowellacquaintedbefore，enabledthemtobebutabareasylum，&tooffernothingforthembutanentirefreedomtousetheirownmeans&facultiesastheyplease。
ThereisnosuchthinginthiscountryaswhatwouldbecalledwealthinEurope。Therichestarebutalittleatease，&obligedtopaythemostrigorousattentiontotheiraffairstokeepthemtogether。
IdonotmeantospeakhereoftheBeaujonsofAmerica。Forwehavesomeofthesetho’happilytheyarebutephemeral。Ourpublicoeconomyalsoissuchastoofferdrudgeryandsubsistenceonlytothoseentrustedwithitsadministration，awise&necessaryprecautionagainstthedegeneracyofthepublicservants。Inourprivatepursuitsitisagreatadvantagethateveryhonestemploymentisdeemedhonorable。Iammyselfanail-maker。Onreturninghomeafteranabsenceoftenyears，IfoundmyfarmssomuchderangedthatIsawevidentlytheywouldbeaburdentomeinsteadofasupporttillIcouldregeneratethem；&consequentlythatitwasnecessaryformetofindsomeotherresourceinthemeantime。Ithoughtforawhileoftakingupthemanufactureofpot-ash，whichrequiresbutsmalladvancesofmoney。Iconcludedatlengthhowevertobeginamanufactureofnails，whichneedslittleornocapital，&Inowemployadozenlittleboysfrom10。to16。yearsofage，overlookingallthedetailsoftheirbusinessmyself&drawingfromitaprofitonwhichIcangetalongtillIcanputmyfarmsintoacourseofyieldingprofit。Mynewtradeofnail-makingistomeinthiscountrywhatanadditionaltitleofnobilityortheensignsofaneworderareinEurope。Inthecommercialline，thegrocersbusinessisthatwhichrequirestheleastcapitalinthiscountry。Thegrocergenerallyobtainsacreditofthreemonths，&sellsforreadymoneysoastobeabletomakehispaiments&obtainanewsupply。ButI
thinkIhaveobservedthatyourcountrymenwhohavebeenobligedtoworkouttheirownfortuneshere，havesucceededbestwithasmallfarm。Labourindeedisdearhere，butrentsarelow&onthewholeareasonableprofit&comfortablesubsistenceresults。Itisatthesametimethemosttranquil，healthy，&independent。AndsinceyouhavebeenpleasedtoaskmyopinionastothebestwayofemployingyourselftillyoucandrawfundsfromFranceorreturnthereyourself，Idopresumethatthisisthebusinesswhichwouldyieldthemosthappiness&contentmenttooneofyourphilosophicturn。
ButatthedistanceIamfromNewYork，whereyouseemdisposedtofixyourself，&littleacquaintedwiththecircumstancesofthatplaceIammuchlessqualifiedthandisposedtosuggesttoyouemploimentsanalogoustoyourturnofmind&atthesametimetothecircumstancesofyourpresentsituation。Beassuredthatitwillalwaysgivemelivelypleasuretolearnthatyourpursuits，whatevertheymaybemayleadyoutocontentment&success，beingwithverysincereesteem&respect，dearsir，yourmostobedientservant。
ROGUESANDATREATY
_ToMannPage_
_Monticello，Aug。30，1795_
ItwasnotinmypowertoattendatFredericksburgaccordingtothekindinvitationinyourletter，andinthatofmr。Ogilvie。Theheatoftheweather，thebusinessofthefarm，towhichIhavemademyselfnecessary，forbadeit；andtogiveoneroundreasonforall，_maturesanus_，IhavelaidupmyRosinanteinhisstall，beforehisunfitnessfortheroadshallexposehimfaulteringtotheworld。ButwhydidnotIansweryouintime?Because，intruth，Iamencouragingmyselftogrowlazy，andIwassureyouwouldascribethedelaytoanythingsoonerthanawantofaffectionorrespecttoyou，forthiswasnotamongthepossiblecauses。Intruth，ifanythingcouldeverinducemetosleepanothernightoutofmyownhouse，itwouldhavebeenyourfriendlyinvitationandmysollicitudeforthesubjectofit，theeducationofouryouth。Idomostanxiouslywishtoseethehighestdegreesofeducationgiventothehigherdegreesofgenius，andtoalldegreesofit，somuchasmayenablethemtoread&understandwhatisgoingonintheworld，andtokeeptheirpartofitgoingonright：fornothingcankeepitrightbuttheirownvigilant&distrustfulsuperintendence。IdonotbelievewiththeRochefoucaults&Montaignes，thatfourteenoutoffifteenmenarerogues：Ibelieveagreatabatementfromthatproportionmaybemadeinfavorofgeneralhonesty。ButIhavealwaysfoundthatrogueswouldbeuppermost，andIdonotknowthattheproportionistoostrongforthehigherorders，andforthosewho，risingabovetheswinishmultitude，alwayscontrivetonestlethemselvesintotheplacesofpower&profit。Theseroguessetoutwithstealingthepeople’sgoodopinion，andthenstealfromthemtherightofwithdrawingit，bycontrivinglawsandassociationsagainstthepowerofthepeoplethemselves。Ourpartofthecountryisinconsiderablefermentation，onwhattheysuspecttobearecentrogueryofthiskind。Theysaythatwhileallhandswerebelowdeckmendingsails，splicingropes，andeveryoneathisownbusiness，&thecaptaininhiscabbinattendingtohislogbook&chart，arogueofapilothasrunthemintoanenemy’sport。Butmetaphorapart，thereismuchdissatisfactionwithmr。Jay&histreaty。Formypart，Iconsidermyselfnowbutasapassenger，leavingtheworld，&it’sgovernmenttothosewhoarelikelytolivelongerinit。Thatyoumaybeamongthelongestofthese，ismysincereprayer。Afterbeggingyoutobethebearerofmycompliments&apologiestomr。Ogilvie，Ibidyouanaffectionatefarewell，alwayswishingtohearfromyou。
THELAWSOFVIRGINIA
_ToGeorgeWythe_