_Washington，Jan。29，1804_
　　DEARSIR，——YourfavorofDecember12camedulytohand，asdidthe2’d。lettertoDoctorLinn，andthetreatiseofPhlogiston，forwhichIprayyoutoacceptmythanks。ThecopyforMr。
　　Livingstonhasbeendelivered，togetherwithyourlettertohim，toMr。Harvie，mysecretary，whodepartsinadayortwoforParis，&
　　willdeliverthemhimselftoMr。Livingston，whoseattentiontoyourmattercannotbedoubted。IhavealsotoaddmythankstoMr。
　　Priestley，yourson，forthecopyofyourHarmony，whichIhavegonethroughwithgreatsatisfaction。ItisthefirstIhavebeenabletomeetwith，whichisclearofthoselongrepetitionsofthesametransaction，asifitwereadifferentonebecauserelatedwithsomedifferentcircumstances。
　　IrejoicethatyouhaveundertakenthetaskofcomparingthemoraldoctrinesofJesuswiththoseoftheancientPhilosophers。Youaresomuchinpossessionofthewholesubject，thatyouwilldoiteasier&betterthananyotherpersonliving。Ithinkyoucannotavoidgiving，aspreliminarytothecomparison，adigestofhismoraldoctrines，extractedinhisownwordsfromtheEvangelists，andleavingouteverythingrelativetohispersonalhistoryandcharacter。Itwouldbeshortandprecious。Withaviewtodothisformyownsatisfaction，IhadsenttoPhiladelphiatogettwotestamentsGreekofthesameedition，&twoEnglish，withadesigntocutoutthemorselsofmorality，andpastethemontheleavesofabook，inthemanneryoudescribeashavingbeenpursuedinformingyourHarmony。ButIshallnowgetthethingdonebybetterhands。
　　IveryearlysawthatLouisianawasindeedaspeckinourhorizonwhichwastoburstinatornado；andthepublicareunapprizedhownearthiscatastrophewas。Nothingbutafrank&
　　friendlydevelopmentofcauses&effectsonourpart，andgoodsenseenoughinBonapartetoseethatthetrainwasunavoidable，andwouldchangethefaceoftheworld，savedusfromthatstorm。IdidnotexpecthewouldyieldtillawartookplacebetweenFranceandEngland，andmyhopewastopalliateandendure，ifMessrs。Ross，Morris，&c。didnotforceaprematurerupture，untilthatevent。I
　　believedtheeventnotverydistant，butacknolegeitcameonsoonerthanIhadexpected。Whether，however，thegoodsenseofBonapartemightnotseethecoursepredictedtobenecessary&unavoidable，evenbeforeawarshouldbeimminent，wasachancewhichwethoughtitourdutytotry；buttheimmediateprospectofrupturebroughtthecasetoimmediatedecision。The_denoument_hasbeenhappy；andI
　　confessIlooktothisduplicationofareafortheextendingagovernmentsofreeandeconomicalasours，asagreatachievementtothemassofhappinesswhichistoensue。Whetherweremaininoneconfederacy，orformintoAtlanticandMississippiconfederacies，I
　　believenotveryimportanttothehappinessofeitherpart。Thoseofthewesternconfederacywillbeasmuchourchildren&descendantsasthoseoftheeastern，andIfeelmyselfasmuchidentifiedwiththatcountry，infuturetime，aswiththis；anddidInowforeseeaseparationatsomefutureday，yetIshouldfeeltheduty&thedesiretopromotethewesterninterestsaszealouslyastheeastern，doingallthegoodforbothportionsofourfuturefamilywhichshouldfallwithinmypower。
　　HaveyouseenthenewworkofMalthusonpopulation?ItisoneoftheablestIhaveeverseen。Altho’hismainobjectistodelineatetheeffectsofredundancyofpopulation，andtotestthepoorlawsofEngland，&otherpalliationsforthatevil，severalimportantquestionsinpoliticaleconomy，alliedtohissubjectincidentally，aretreatedwithamasterlyhand。Itisasingle4’to。
　　volume，andIhavebeenonlyabletoreadaborrowedcopy，theonlyoneIhaveyetheardof。ProbablyourfriendsinEnglandwillthinkofyou，&giveyouanopportunityofreadingit。Acceptmyaffectionatesalutations，andassurancesofgreatesteem&respect。
　　MALTHUSANDTHENEWWORLD
　　_ToJeanBaptisteSay_
　　_Washington，February1，1804_
　　DEARSIR，——Ihavetoacknowledgethereceiptofyourobligingletter，andwithit，oftwoveryinterestingvolumesonPoliticalEconomy。ThesefoundmeengagedingivingtheleisuremomentsI
　　rarelyfind，totheperusalofMalthus’workonpopulation，aworkofsoundlogic，inwhichsomeoftheopinionsofAdamSmith，aswellasoftheeconomists，areablyexamined。Iwaspleased，onturningtosomechapterswhereyoutreatthesamequestions，tofindhisopinionscorroboratedbyyours。Ishallproceedtothereadingofyourworkwithgreatpleasure。Inthemeantime，thepresentconveyance，byagentlemanofmyfamilygoingtoParis，istoosafetohazardadelayinmakingmyacknowledgmentsforthismarkofattention，andforhavingaffordedtomeasatisfaction，whichtheordinarycourseofliterarycommunicationscouldnothavegivenmeforaconsiderabletime。
　　ThedifferencesofcircumstancebetweenthisandtheoldcountriesofEurope，furnishdifferencesoffactwhereontoreason，inquestionsofpoliticaleconomy，andwillconsequentlyproducesometimesadifferenceofresult。There，forinstance，thequantityoffoodisfixed，orincreasinginaslowandonlyarithmeticalratio，andtheproportionislimitedbythesameratio。
　　Supernumerarybirthsconsequentlyaddonlytoyourmortality。Heretheimmenseextentofuncultivatedandfertilelandsenableseveryonewhowilllabortomarryyoung，andtoraiseafamilyofanysize。
　　Ourfood，then，mayincreasegeometricallywithourlaborers，andourbirths，howevermultiplied，becomeeffective。Again，therethebestdistributionoflaborissupposedtobethatwhichplacesthemanufacturinghandsalongsidetheagricultural；sothattheonepartshallfeedboth，andtheotherpartfurnishbothwithclothesandothercomforts。Wouldthatbebesthere?Egoismandfirstappearancessayyes。Orwoulditbebetterthatallourlaborersshouldbeemployedinagriculture?Inthiscaseadoubleortrebleportionoffertilelandswouldbebroughtintoculture；adoubleortreblecreationoffoodbeproduced，anditssurplusgotonourishthenowperishingbirthsofEurope，whoinreturnwouldmanufactureandsendusinexchangeourclothesandothercomforts。Moralitylistenstothis，andsoinvariablydothelawsofnaturecreateourdutiesandinterests，thatwhentheyseemtobeatvariance，weoughttosuspectsomefallacyinourreasonings。Insolvingthisquestion，too，weshouldallowitsjustweighttothemoralandphysicalpreferenceoftheagricultural，overthemanufacturing，man。Myoccupationspermitmeonlytoaskquestions。Theydenymethetime，ifIhadtheinformation，toanswerthem。Perhaps，asworthytheattentionoftheauthoroftheTraited’EconomiePolitique，Ishallfindthemansweredinthatwork。Iftheyarenot，thereasonwillhavebeenthatyouwroteforEurope；whileIshallhaveaskedthembecauseIthinkforAmerica。Accept，Sir，myrespectfulsalutations，andassurancesofgreatconsideration。
　　GRIEFANDGRIEVANCES
　　_ToAbigailAdams_
　　_Washington，June13，1804_
　　DEARMADAM——TheaffectionatesentimentswhichyouhavehadthegoodnesstoexpressinyourletterofMay20。towardsmydeardeparteddaughter，haveawakenedinmesensibilitiesnaturaltotheoccasion，andrecalledyourkindnessestoherwhichIshalleverrememberwithgratitudeandfriendship。Icanassureyouwithtruththeyhadmadeanindelibleimpressiononhermind，andthat，tothelast，onourmeetingsafterlongseparations，whetherIhadheardlatelyofyou，andhowyoudid，wereamongtheearliestofherenquiries。IngivingyouthisassuranceIperformasacreddutyforher，andatthesametimeamthankfulfortheoccasionfurnishedmeofexpressingmyregretthatcircumstancesshouldhavearisenwhichhaveseemedtodrawalineofseparationbetweenus。Thefriendshipwithwhichyouhonouredmehaseverbeenvalued，andfullyreciprocated；andaltho’eventshavebeenpassingwhichmightbetryingtosomeminds，Ineverbelievedyourstobeofthatkind，norfeltthatmyownwas。Neithermyestimateofyourcharacter，northeesteemfoundedinthat，haveeverbeenlessenedforasinglemoment，althoughdoubtswhetheritwouldbeacceptablemayhaveforbiddenmanifestationsofit。Mr。Adams’sfriendshipandminebeganatanearlierdate。Itaccompaniedusthro’longandimportantscenes。
　　Thedifferentconclusionswehaddrawnfromourpoliticalreadingandreflectionswerenotpermittedtolessenmutualesteem，eachpartybeingconscioustheyweretheresultofanhonestconvictionintheother。Likedifferencesofopinionexistingamongourfellowcitizensattachedthemtotheoneortheotherofus，andproducedarivalshipintheirmindswhichdidnotexistinours。Weneverstoodinoneanother’sway：forifeitherhadbeenwithdrawnatanytime，hisfavorerswouldnothavegoneovertotheother，butwouldhavesoughtforsomeoneofhomogeneousopinions。Thisconsiderationwassufficienttokeepdownalljealousybetweenus，andtoguardourfriendshipfromanydisturbancebysentimentsofrivalship：andIcansaywithtruththatoneactofMr。Adams’slife，andoneonly，evergavemeamoment’spersonaldispleasure。Ididconsiderhislastappointmentstoofficeaspersonallyunkind。Theywerefromamongmymostardentpoliticalenemies，fromwhomnofaithfulcooperationcouldeverbeexpected，andlaidmeundertheembarrasmentofactingthro’menwhoseviewsweretodefeatmine；ortoencountertheodiumofputtingothersintheirplaces。Itseemedbutcommonjusticetoleaveasuccessorfreetoactbyinstrumentsofhisownchoice。Ifmyrespectforhimdidnotpermitmetoascribethewholeblametotheinfluenceofothers，itleftsomethingforfriendshiptoforgive，andafterbroodingoveritforsomelittletime，andnotalwaysresistingtheexpressionofit，Iforgaveitcordially，andreturnedtothesamestateofesteemandrespectforhimwhichhadsolongsubsisted。HavingcomeintolifealittlelaterthanMr。Adams，hiscareerhasprecededmine，asmineisfollowedbysomeother，anditwillprobablybeclosedatthesamedistanceafterhimwhichtimeoriginallyplacedbetweenus。Imaintainforhim，andshallcarryintoprivatelifeanuniformandhighmeasureofrespectandgoodwill，andforyourselfasincereattachment。Ihavethus，mydearMadam，openedmyselftoyouwithoutreserve，whichIhavelongwishedanopportunityofdoing；and，withoutknowinghowitwillberecieved，Ifeelrelieffrombeingunbosomed。AndIhavenowonlytoentreatyourforgivenessforthistransitionfromasubjectofdomesticafflictiontoonewhichseemsofadifferentaspect。Butthoconnectedwithpoliticalevents，ithasbeenviewedbymemoststronglyinit’sunfortunatebearingsonmyprivatefriendships。Theinjurythesehavesustainedhasbeenaheavypriceforwhathasnevergivenmeequalpleasure。Thatyoumaybothbefavoredwithhealth，tranquilityandlonglife，istheprayerofonewhotendersyoutheassurancesofhishighestconsiderationandesteem。
　　FREEDOMOFTHEPRESS
　　_ToJudgeJohnTyler_
　　_Washington，June28，1804_
　　DEARSIR，——Yourfavorofthe10thinstanthasbeendulyreceived。Amidstthedirectfalsehoods，themisrepresentationsoftruth，thecalumniesandtheinsultsresortedtobyafactiontomisleadthepublicmind，andtooverwhelmthoseentrustedwithitsinterests，oursupportistobefoundintheapprovingvoiceofourconscienceandcountry，inthetestimonyofourfellowcitizens，thattheirconfidenceisnotshakenbytheseartifices。Whentotheplauditsofthehonestmultitude，thesoberapprobationofthesageinhisclosetisadded，itbecomesagratificationofanhigherorder。Itisthesanctionofwisdomsuperaddedtothevoiceofaffection。Theterms，therefore，inwhichyouaresogoodastoexpressyoursatisfactionwiththecourseofthepresentadministrationcannotbutgivemegreatpleasure。Imayerrinmymeasures，butnevershalldeflectfromtheintentiontofortifythepubliclibertybyeverypossiblemeans，andtoputitoutofthepowerofthefewtoriotonthelaborsofthemany。Noexperimentcanbemoreinterestingthanthatwearenowtrying，andwhichwetrustwillendinestablishingthefact，thatmanmaybegovernedbyreasonandtruth。Ourfirstobjectshouldthereforebe，toleaveopentohimalltheavenuestotruth。Themosteffectualhithertofound，isthefreedomofthepress。Itistherefore，thefirstshutupbythosewhofeartheinvestigationoftheiractions。Thefirmnesswithwhichthepeoplehavewithstoodthelateabusesofthepress，thediscernmenttheyhavemanifestedbetweentruthandfalsehood，showthattheymaysafelybetrustedtoheareverythingtrueandfalse，andtoformacorrectjudgmentbetweenthem。Aslittleisitnecessarytoimposeontheirsenses，ordazzletheirmindsbypomp，splendor，orforms。Insteadofthisartificial，howmuchsureristhatrealrespect，whichresultsfromtheuseoftheirreason，andthehabitofbringingeverythingtothetestofcommonsense。
　　Iholdit，therefore，certain，thattoopenthedoorsoftruth，andtofortifythehabitoftestingeverythingbyreason，arethemosteffectualmanacleswecanrivetonthehandsofoursuccessorstopreventtheirmanaclingthepeoplewiththeirownconsent。Thepanicintowhichtheywereartfullythrownin1798，thefrenzywhichwasexcitedinthembytheirenemiesagainsttheirapparentreadinesstoabandonalltheprinciplesestablishedfortheirownprotection，seemedforawhiletocountenancetheopinionsofthosewhosaytheycannotbetrustedwiththeirowngovernment。ButIneverdoubtedtheirrallying；andtheydidrallymuchsoonerthanIexpected。Onthewhole，thatexperimentontheircredulityhasconfirmedmyconfidenceintheirultimategoodsenseandvirtue。
　　Ilamenttolearnthatalikemisfortunehasenabledyoutoestimatetheafflictionsofafatheronthelossofabelovedchild。
　　Howeverterriblethepossibilityofsuchanotheraccident，itisstillablessingforyouofinestimablevaluethatyouwouldnoteventhendescendchildlesstothegrave。Threesons，andhopefulonestoo，arearichtreasure。IrejoicewhenIhearofyoungmenofvirtueandtalents，worthytoreceive，andlikelytopreservethesplendidinheritanceofself-government，whichwehaveacquiredandshapedforthem。
　　ThecomplementofmidshipmenfortheTripolinesquadron，isfull；andIhopethefrigateshavelefttheCapesbythistime。I
　　have，however，thisday，signedwarrantsofmidshipmenforthetwoyounggentlemenyourecommended。ThesewillbeforwardedbytheSecretaryoftheNavy。Hetellsmethattheirfirstserviceswillbetobeperformedonboardthegunboats。
　　Acceptmyfriendlysalutations，andassurancesofgreatesteemandrespect。”THEOFFICEOFHANGMAN”
　　_ToLarkinSmith_
　　_Washington，Nov。26，1804_
　　SIR，——Yourletterofthe10thcametohandyesterdayevening。
　　Itwaswrittenwithfranknessandindependanceandwillbeansweredinthesameway。YoucomplainthatIdidnotansweryourlettersapplyingforoffice。Butifyouwillreflectamomentyoumayjudgewhetherthisoughttobeexpected。Tothesuccessfulapplicantforanofficethecommissionistheanswer。TotheunsuccessfulmultitudeamItogowitheveryoneintothereasonsfornotappointinghim?Besidesthatthiscorrespondencewouldliterallyengrossmywholetime，intowhatcontroversieswoulditleadme。