_Monticello，January16，1796_
　　InmyletterwhichaccompaniedtheboxcontainingmycollectionofPrintedlaws，Ipromisedtosendyoubypostastatementofthecontentsofthebox。OntakingupthesubjectIfounditbettertotakeamoregeneralviewofthewholeofthelawsIpossess，aswellManuscriptasprinted，asalsoofthosewhichIdonotpossess，andsupposetobenolongerextant。Thisgeneralviewyouwillhaveintheenclosedpaper，whereofthearticlesstatedtobeprintedconstitutethecontentsoftheboxIsentyou。ThoseinMS。werenotsent，becausenotsupposedtohavebeenwithinyourview，andbecausesomeofthemwillnotbearremoval，beingsorotten，thatinturningoveraleafitsometimesfallsintopowder。TheseIpreservebywrapping&sewingthemupinoiledcloth，sothatneitherairnormoisturecanhaveaccesstothem。VeryearlyinthecourseofmyresearchesintothelawsofVirginia，Iobservedthatmanyofthemwerealreadylost，andmanymoreonthepointofbeinglost，asexistingonlyinsinglecopiesinthehandsofcarefulorcuriousindividuals，onwhosedeaththeywouldprobablybeusedforwastepaper。Isetmyselfthereforetowork，tocollectallwhichwerethenexisting，inorderthatwhenthedayshouldcomeinwhichthepublicshouldadverttothemagnitudeoftheirlossinthesepreciousmonumentsofourproperty，andourhistory，apartoftheirregretmightbesparedbyinformationthataportionhasbeensavedfromthewreck，whichisworthyoftheirattention&preservation。Insearchingaftertheseremains，Isparedneithertime，trouble，norexpense；andamofopinionthatscarcelyanylawescapedme，whichwasinbeingaslateastheyear1778inthemiddleorSouthernpartsoftheState。IntheNorthernparts，perhapssomethingmightstillbefound。Intheclerk’sofficeintheantientcounties，someoftheseMS。copiesofthelawsmaypossiblystillexist，whichusedtobefurnishedatthepublicexpensetoeverycounty，beforetheuseofthepresswasintroduced；andinthesameplaces，andinthehandsofantientmagistratesoroftheirfamilies，someofthefugitivesheetsofthelawsofseparatesessions，whichhavebeenusuallydistributedsincethepracticecommencedofprintingthem。Butrecurringtowhatweactuallypossess，thequestionis，whatmeanswillbethemosteffectualforpreservingtheseremainsfromfutureloss?AllthecareIcantakeofthem，willnotpreservethemfromtheworm，fromthenaturaldecayofthepaper，fromtheaccidentsoffire，orthoseofremovalwhenitisnecessaryforanypublicpurposes，asinthecaseofthosenowsentyou。Ourexperiencehasprovedtousthatasinglecopy，orafew，depositedinMS。inthepublicoffices，cannotbereliedonforanygreatlengthoftime。Theravagesoffireandofferociousenemieshavehadbuttoomuchpartinproducingtheverylosswearenowdeploring。Howmanyofthepreciousworksofantiquitywerelostwhiletheywerepreservedonlyinmanuscript?
　　Hasthereeverbeenonelostsincetheartofprintinghasrendereditpracticabletomultiply&dispersecopies?Thisleadsusthentotheonlymeansofpreservingthoseremainsofourlawsnowunderconsideration，thatis，amultiplicationofprintedcopies。Ithinkthereforethatthereshouldbeprintedatpublicexpense，aneditionofallthelawseverpassedbyourlegislatureswhichcannowbefound；thatacopyshouldbedepositedineverypubliclibraryinAmerica，intheprincipalpublicofficeswithintheState，andsomeperhapsinthemostdistinguishedpubliclibrariesofEurope，andthattherestshouldbesoldtoindividuals，towardsreimbursingtheexpencesoftheedition。NordoIthinkthatthiswouldbeavoluminouswork。TheMSS。wouldprobablyfurnishmatterforoneprintedvolumeinfolio，wouldcomprehendallthelawsfrom1624to1701，whichperiodincludesPurvis。MycollectionofFugitivesheetsforms，asweknow，twovolumes，andcomprehendsalltheextantlawsfrom1734to1783；andthelawswhichcanbegleanedupfromtheRevisalstosupplythechasmbetween1701&1734，withthosefrom1783tothecloseofthepresentcentury，bywhichtermtheworkmightbecompleated，wouldnotbemorethanthematterofanothervolume。Sothatfourvolumesinfolio，wouldgiveeverylaweverpassedwhichisnowextant；whereasthosewhowishtopossessasmanyofthemascanbeprocured，mustnowbuythesixfoliovolumesofRevisals，towit，Purvis&thoseof1732，1748，1768，1783，&1794，andinallofthempossessnotonehalfofwhattheywish。WhatwouldbetheexpenceoftheeditionIcannotsay，norhowmuchwouldbereimbursedbythesales；butIamsureitwouldbemoderate，comparedwiththerateswhichthepublichavehithertopaidforprintingtheirlaws，providedasufficientlatitudebegivenastoprinters&places。ThefirststepwouldbetomakeoutasinglecopyfortheMSS。，whichwouldemployaclerkaboutayearorsomethingmore，towhichexpenceaboutafourthshouldbeaddedforthecollationoftheMSS。，whichwouldemploy3。personsatatimeabouthalfaday，oradayineveryweek。AsIhavealreadyspentmoretimeinmakingmyselfacquaintedwiththecontents&arrangementoftheseMSS。thananyotherpersonprobablyeverwill，&theirconditiondoesnotadmittheirremovaltoadistance，Iwillchearfullyundertakethedirection&superintendenceofthiswork，ifitcanbedoneintheneighboringtownsofCharlottesvilleorMilton，fartherthanwhichIcouldnotundertaketogofromhome。Fortheresidueofthework，myprintedvolumesmightbedeliveredtothePrinter。
　　Ihavetroubledyouwiththesedetails，becauseyouareintheplacewheretheymaybeusedforthepublicservice，iftheyadmitofsuchuse，&becausetheorderofassembly，whichyoumention，shewstheyaresensibleofthenecessityofpreservingsuchoftheselawsasrelatetoourlandedproperty；andalittlefurtherconsiderationwillperhapsconvincethemthatitisbettertodothewholeworkonceforall，thantoberecurringtoitbypiece-meal，asparticularpartsofitshallberequired，&thattooperhapswhenthematerialsshallbelost。Youarethebestjudgeoftheweightoftheseobservations，&ofthemodeofgivingthemanyeffecttheymaymerit。
　　Adieuaffectionately。”ANAGEOFEXPERIMENTS”
　　_ToJohnAdams_
　　_Monticello，Feb。28，1796_
　　Iamtothankyou，mydearSir，forforwardingMr。D’Ivernois’
　　bookontheFrenchrevolution。Irecieveeverythingwithrespectwhichcomesfromhim。Butitisonpolitics，asubjectIneverloved，andnowhate。Iwillnotpromisethereforetoreaditthoroughly。IfeartheoligarchicalexecutiveoftheFrenchwillnotdo。Wehavealwaysseenasmallcouncilgetintocabalsandquarrels，themorebitterandrelentlessthefewertheyare。Wesawthisinourcommitteeofthestates；andthattheywere，fromtheirbadpassions，incapableofdoingthebusinessoftheircountry。I
　　thinkthatfortheprompt，clearandconsistentactionsonecessaryinanExecutive，unityofpersonisnecessaryaswithus。Iamawareoftheobjectiontothis，thattheofficebecomingmoreimportantmaybringonseriousdiscordinelections。InourcountryIthinkitwillbelongfirst；notwithinourday；andwemaysafelytrusttothewisdomofoursuccessorstheremediesoftheeviltoariseintheirs。Bothexperimentshoweverarenowfairlycommitted，andtheresultwillbeseen。Neverwasafinercanvaspresentedtoworkonthanourcountrymen。Allofthemengagedinagricultureorthepursuitsofhonestindustry，independantintheircircumstances，enlightenedastotheirrights，andfirmintheirhabitsoforderandobediencetothelaws。ThisIhopewillbetheageofexperimentsingovernment，andthattheirbasiswillbefoundedonprinciplesofhonesty，notofmereforce。WehaveseennoinstanceofthissincethedaysoftheRomanrepublic，nordowereadofanybeforethat。
　　Eitherforceorcorruptionhasbeentheprincipleofeverymoderngovernment，unlesstheDutchperhapsbeexcepted，andIamnotwellenoughinformedtoexceptthemabsolutely。Ifeverthemoralsofapeoplecouldbemadethebasisoftheirowngovernment，itisourcase；andhewhocouldproposetogovernsuchapeoplebythecorruptionoftheirlegislature，beforehecouldhaveonenightofquietsleep，mustconvincehimselfthatthehumansoulaswellasbodyismortal。Iamgladtoseethatwhatevergroundsofapprehensionmayhaveappearedofawishtogovernusotherwisethanonprinciplesofreasonandhonesty，wearegettingthebetterofthem。Iamsure，fromthehonestyofyourheart，youjoinmeindetestationofthecorruptionoftheEnglishgovernment，andthatnomanonearthismoreincapablethanyourselfofseeingthatcopiedamongus，willingly。Ihavebeenamongthosewhohavefearedthedesigntointroduceithere，andithasbeenastrongreasonwithmeforwishingtherewasanoceanoffirebetweenthatislandandus。
　　Butawaypolitics。
　　IowealettertotheAuditor[RichardHarrison]onthesubjectofmyaccountswhileaforeignminister，andheinformsmeyourshangonthesamedifficultieswithmine。Beforethepresentgovernmenttherewasausageeitherpractisedonorunderstoodwhichregulatedourcharges。Thisgovernmenthasdirectedthefuturebyalaw。Butthisisnotretrospective，andIcannotconceivewhythetreasurycannotsettleaccountsundertheoldCongressontheprinciplesthatbodyactedon。IshallveryshortlywritetoMr。Harrisononthissubject，andifwecannothaveitsettledotherwiseIsupposewemustapplytothelegislature。InthisIwillactinconcertwithyouifyouapproveofit。PresentmyveryaffectionaterespectstoMrs。
　　Adams，andbeassuredthatnoonemorecordiallyesteemsyourvirtuesthanDearSirYoursincerefriendandservt。”THEBOISTEROUSSEAOFLIBERTY”
　　_ToPhilipMazzei_
　　_Monticello，Apr。24，1796_
　　MYDEARFRIEND，——YourletterofOct。26。1795。isjustreceivedandgivesmethefirstinformationthatthebillsforwardedforyoutoV。S。&H。ofAmsterdamonV。Andersonforpound39-17-10
　　1/2&onGeorgeBarclayforpound70-8-6bothofLondonhavebeenprotested。Iimmediatelywritetothedrawerstosecurethemoneyifstillunpaid。IwonderIhaveneverhadaletterfromourfriendsofAmsterdamonthatsubjectaswellasacknolegingthesubsequentremittances。OftheseIhaveapprisedyoubytriplicates，butforfearofmiscarriagewilljustmentionthatonSep。8。IforwardedthemHodgden’sbillonRobinsonSaunderson&RumneyofWhitehavenforpound300。andJan。31。thatofthesameonthesameforpound137-16-6bothreceivedfrommr。Blairforyourstocksoldout。I
　　havenowthepleasuretoinformyouthatDohrmanhassettledhisaccountwithyou，hasallowedtheNewYorkdamageof20。percentfortheprotest，&theNewYorkinterestof7。percent。andafterdeductingthepartialpaymentsforwhichheheldreceiptsthebalancewasthreethousand&eighty-sevendollarswhichsumhehaspaidintomr。Madison’shands&ashemr。MadisonisnowinPhiladelphia，I
　　havedesiredhimtoinvestthemoneyingoodbillsonAmsterdam&
　　remitthemtotheV。Staphorsts&H。whomIconsideraspossessingyourconfidenceastheydominebeyondanyhouseinLondon。Thepyraciesofthatnationlatelyextendedfromtheseatothedebtsduefromthemtoothernationsrenderstheirsanunsafemediumtodobusinessthrough。Ihopetheseremittanceswillplaceyouatyourease&Iwillendeavortoexecuteyourwishesastothesettlementoftheothersmallmattersyoumention：tho’fromthemIexpectlittle。
　　E。R。isbankrupt，ortantamounttoit。OurfriendM。P。isembarrassed，havinglatelysoldthefinelandsheliveson，&beingsuperlativelyjust&honorableIexpectwemaygetwhatevermaybeinhishands。Lomaxisundergreaterdifficultieswithlessmeans，sothatIapprehendyouhavelittlemoretoexpectfromthiscountryexceptthebalancewhichwillremainforColleafterdeductingthelittlematterduetome，&whatwillberecoveredbyAnthony。Thiswillbedecidedthissummer。
　　IhavewrittentoyoubytriplicateswitheveryremittanceI
　　senttotheV。S。&H。&alwaysrecapitulatedineachlettertheobjectsoftheprecedingones。Ienclosedintwoofthemsomeseedsofthesquashasyoudesired。Sendmeinreturnsomeseedsofthewintervetch，Imeanthatkindwhichissewninautumn&standsthrothecoldofwinter，furnishingacropofgreenfodderinMarch。Putafewseedsineveryletteryoumaywritetome。InEnglandonlythespringvetchcanbehad。Prayfailnotinthis。Ihaveitgreatlyatheart。
　　Theaspectofourpoliticshaswonderfullychangedsinceyouleftus。Inplaceofthatnobleloveofliberty，&republicangovernmentwhichcarriedustriumphantlythro’thewar，anAnglicanmonarchical，&aristocraticalpartyhassprungup，whoseavowedobjectistodrawoverusthesubstance，astheyhavealreadydonetheforms，oftheBritishgovernment。Themainbodyofourcitizens，however，remaintruetotheirrepublicanprinciples；thewholelandedinterestisrepublican，andsoisagreatmassoftalents。AgainstusaretheExecutive，theJudiciary，twooutofthreebranchesofthelegislature，alltheofficersofthegovernment，allwhowanttobeofficers，alltimidmenwhopreferthecalmofdespotismtotheboisterousseaofliberty，Britishmerchants&AmericanstradingonBritishcapitals，speculators&holdersinthebanks&publicfunds，acontrivanceinventedforthepurposesofcorruption，&forassimilatingusinallthingstotherottenaswellasthesoundpartsoftheBritishmodel。ItwouldgiveyouafeverwereItonametoyoutheapostateswhohavegoneovertotheseheresies，menwhowereSamsonsinthefield&Solomonsinthecouncil，butwhohavehadtheirheadsshornbytheharlotEngland。Inshort，wearelikelytopreservethelibertywehaveobtainedonlybyunremittinglabors&