ItwasaBillforthemoregeneraldiffusionoflearning。Thisproposedtodivideeverycountyintowardsof5。or6。milessquare，likeyourtownships；toestablishineachwardafreeschoolforreading，writingandcommonarithmetic；toprovidefortheannualselectionofthebestsubjectsfromtheseschoolswhomightrecieveatthepublicexpenceahigherdegreeofeducationatadistrictschool；andfromthesedistrictschoolstoselectacertainnumberofthemostpromisingsubjectstobecompleatedatanUniversity，wherealltheusefulsciencesshouldbetaught。Worthandgeniuswouldthushavebeensoughtoutfromeveryconditionoflife，andcompleatlypreparedbyeducationfordefeatingthecompetitionofwealthandbirthforpublictrusts。
　　Mypropositionhadforafurtherobjecttoimparttothesewardsthoseportionsofself-governmentforwhichtheyarebestqualified，byconfidingtothemthecareoftheirpoor，theirroads，police，elections，thenominationofjurors，administrationofjusticeinsmallcases，elementaryexercisesofmilitia，inshort，tohavemadethemlittlerepublics，withaWardenattheheadofeach，forallthoseconcernswhich，beingundertheireye，theywouldbettermanagethanthelargerrepublicsofthecountyorstate。A
　　generalcallofward-meetingsbytheirWardensonthesamedaythro’
　　thestatewouldatanytimeproducethegenuinesenseofthepeopleonanyrequiredpoint，andwouldenablethestatetoactinmass，asyourpeoplehavesooftendone，andwithsomucheffect，bytheirtownmeetings。Thelawforreligiousfreedom，whichmadeapartofthissystem，havingputdownthearistocracyoftheclergy，andrestoredtothecitizenthefreedomofthemind，andthoseofentailsanddescentsnurturinganequalityofconditionamongthem，thisonEducationwouldhaveraisedthemassofthepeopletothehighgroundofmoralrespectabilitynecessarytotheirownsafety，andtoorderlygovernment；andwouldhavecompleatedthegreatobjectofqualifyingthemtoselecttheveritablearistoi，forthetrustsofgovernment，totheexclusionofthePseudalists：andthesameTheogniswhohasfurnishedtheepigraphsofyourtwolettersassuresusthat{`oydemianpoKyrnagathoipolinolesanandres，}[”Curnis，goodmenhaveneverharmedanycity”]’。Altho’thislawhasnotyetbeenactedonbutinasmallandinefficientdegree，itisstillconsideredasbeforethelegislature，withotherbillsoftherevisedcode，notyettakenup，andIhavegreathopethatsomepatrioticspiritwill，atafavorablemoment，callitup，andmakeitthekey-stoneofthearchofourgovernment。
　　WithrespecttoAristocracy，weshouldfurtherconsiderthat，beforetheestablishmentoftheAmericanstates，nothingwasknowntoHistorybuttheManoftheoldworld，croudedwithinlimitseithersmallorovercharged，andsteepedintheviceswhichthatsituationgenerates。Agovernmentadaptedtosuchmenwouldbeonething；butaverydifferentonethatfortheManofthesestates。Hereeveryonemayhavelandtolaborforhimselfifhechuses；or，preferringtheexerciseofanyotherindustry，mayexactforitsuchcompensationasnotonlytoaffordacomfortablesubsistence，butwhere-withtoprovideforacessationfromlaborinoldage。Everyone，byhisproperty，orbyhissatisfactorysituation，isinterestedinthesupportoflawandorder。Andsuchmenmaysafelyandadvantageouslyreservetothemselvesawholsomecontroulovertheirpublicaffairs，andadegreeoffreedom，whichinthehandsoftheCanailleofthecitiesofEurope，wouldbeinstantlypervertedtothedemolitionanddestructionofeverythingpublicandprivate。Thehistoryofthelast25。yearsofFrance，andofthelast40。yearsinAmerica，nayofit’slast200。years，provesthetruthofbothpartsofthisobservation。
　　ButeveninEuropeachangehassensiblytakenplaceinthemindofMan。Sciencehadliberatedtheideasofthosewhoreadandreflect，andtheAmericanexamplehadkindledfeelingsofrightinthepeople。Aninsurrectionhasconsequentlybegun，ofscience，talentsandcourageagainstrankandbirth，whichhavefallenintocontempt。Ithasfailedinit’sfirsteffort，becausethemobsofthecities，theinstrumentusedforit’saccomplishment，debasedbyignorance，povertyandvice，couldnotberestrainedtorationalaction。Buttheworldwillrecoverfromthepanicofthisfirstcatastrophe。Scienceisprogressive，andtalentsandenterprizeonthealert。Resortmaybehadtothepeopleofthecountry，amoregovernablepowerfromtheirprinciplesandsubordination；andrank，andbirth，andtinsel-aristocracywillfinallyshrinkintoinsignificance，eventhere。Thishoweverwehavenorighttomeddlewith。Itsufficesforus，ifthemoralandphysicalconditionofourowncitizensqualifiesthemtoselecttheableandgoodforthedirectionoftheirgovernment，witharecurrenceofelectionsatsuchshortperiodsaswillenablethemtodisplaceanunfaithfulservantbeforethemischiefhemeditatesmaybeirremediable。
　　Ihavethusstatedmyopiniononapointonwhichwediffer，notwithaviewtocontroversy，forwearebothtoooldtochangeopinionswhicharetheresultofalonglifeofinquiryandreflection；butonthesuggestionofaformerletterofyours，thatweoughtnottodiebeforewehaveexplainedourselvestoeachother。
　　Weactedinperfectharmonythro’alongandperilouscontestforourlibertyandindependance。Aconstitutionhasbeenacquiredwhich，thoneitherofusthinkperfect，yetbothconsiderascompetenttorenderourfellow-citizensthehappiestandthesecurestonwhomthesunhasevershone。Ifwedonotthinkexactlyalikeastoit’simperfections，itmatterslittletoourcountrywhich，afterdevotingtoitlonglivesofdisinterestedlabor，wehavedeliveredovertooursuccessorsinlife，whowillbeabletotakecareofit，andofthemselves。
　　Ofthepamphletonaristocracywhichhasbeensenttoyou，orwhomaybeit’sauthor，Ihaveheardnothingbutthro’yourletter。
　　Ifthepersonyoususpectitmaybeknownfromthequaint，mysticalandhyperbolicalideas，involvedinaffected，new-fangledandpedanticterms，whichstamphiswritings。Whateveritbe，Ihopeyourquietisnottobeaffectedatthisdaybytherudenessofintemperanceofscribblers；butthatyoumaycontinueintranquilitytoliveandtorejoiceintheprosperityofourcountryuntilitshallbeyourownwishtotakeyourseatamongtheAristoiwhohavegonebeforeyou。Everandaffectionatelyyours。
　　P。S。CanyouassistmymemoryontheenquiriesofmyletterofAug。22。?”AHEMISPHERETOITSELF”
　　_ToAlexandervonHumboldt_
　　_December6，1813_
　　MYDEARFRIENDANDBARON，——IhavetoacknowledgeyourtwolettersofDecember20and26，1811，byMr。Correa，andamfirsttothankyouformakingmeacquaintedwiththatmostexcellentcharacter。HewassokindastovisitmeatMonticello，andIfoundhimoneofthemostlearnedandamiableofmen。Itwasasubjectofdeepregrettoseparatefromsomuchworthinthemomentofitsbecomingknowntous。
　　Thelivraisonofyourastronomicalobservations，andthe6thand7thonthesubjectofNewSpain，withthecorrespondingatlasses，aredulyreceived，ashadbeentheprecedingcahiers。Forthesetreasuresofalearningsointerestingtous，acceptmysincerethanks。Ithinkitmostfortunatethatyourtravelsinthosecountriesweresotimedastomakethemknowntotheworldinthemomenttheywereabouttobecomeactorsonitsstage。ThattheywillthrowofftheirEuropeandependenceIhavenodoubt；butinwhatkindofgovernmenttheirrevolutionwillendIamnotsocertain。
　　History，Ibelieve，furnishesnoexampleofapriest-riddenpeoplemaintainingafreecivilgovernment。Thismarksthelowestgradeofignorance，ofwhichtheircivilaswellasreligiousleaderswillalwaysavailthemselvesfortheirownpurposes。ThevicinityofNewSpaintotheUnitedStates，andtheirconsequentintercourse，mayfurnishschoolsforthehigher，andexampleforthelowerclassesoftheircitizens。AndMexico，wherewelearnfromyouthatmenofsciencearenotwanting，mayrevolutionizeitselfunderbetterauspicesthantheSouthernprovinces。Theselast，Ifear，mustendinmilitarydespotisms。Thedifferentcastsoftheirinhabitants，theirmutualhatredsandjealousies，theirprofoundignoranceandbigotry，willbeplayedoffbycunningleaders，andeachbemadetheinstrumentofenslavingothers。Butofallthisyoucanbestjudge，forintruthwehavelittleknowledgeofthemtobedependedon，butthroughyou。Butinwhatevergovernmentstheyendtheywillbe_American_governments，nolongertobeinvolvedinthenever-ceasingbroilsofEurope。TheEuropeannationsconstituteaseparatedivisionoftheglobe；theirlocalitiesmakethempartofadistinctsystem；theyhaveasetofinterestsoftheirowninwhichitisourbusinessnevertoengageourselves。Americahasahemispheretoitself。Itmusthaveitsseparatesystemofinterests，whichmustnotbesubordinatedtothoseofEurope。TheinsulatedstateinwhichnaturehasplacedtheAmericancontinent，shouldsofaravailitthatnosparkofwarkindledintheotherquartersoftheglobeshouldbewaftedacrossthewideoceanswhichseparateusfromthem。Anditwillbeso。InfiftyyearsmoretheUnitedStatesalonewillcontainfiftymillionsofinhabitants，andfiftyyearsaresoongoneover。
　　Thepeaceof1763iswithinthatperiod。Iwasthentwentyyearsold，andofcourserememberwellallthetransactionsofthewarprecedingit。Andyouwilllivetoseetheepochnowequallyaheadofus；andthenumberswhichwillthenbespreadovertheotherpartsoftheAmericanhemisphere，catchinglongbeforethattheprinciplesofourportionofit，andconcurringwithusinthemaintenanceofthesamesystem。Youseehowreadilywerunintoagesbeyondthegrave；andeventhoseofustowhomthatgraveisalreadyopeningitsquietbosom。IamanticipatingeventsofwhichyouwillbethebearertomeintheElsyianfieldsfiftyyearshence。
　　Youknow，myfriend，thebenevolentplanwewerepursuinghereforthehappinessoftheaboriginalinhabitantsinourvicinities。
　　Wesparednothingtokeepthematpeacewithoneanother。Toteachthemagricultureandtherudimentsofthemostnecessaryarts，andtoencourageindustrybyestablishingamongthemseparateproperty。Inthiswaytheywouldhavebeenenabledtosubsistandmultiplyonamoderatescaleoflandedpossession。Theywouldhavemixedtheirbloodwithours，andbeenamalgamatedandidentifiedwithuswithinnodistantperiodoftime。Onthecommencementofourpresentwar，wepressedonthemtheobservanceofpeaceandneutrality，buttheinterestedandunprincipledpolicyofEnglandhasdefeatedallourlaborsforthesalvationoftheseunfortunatepeople。Theyhaveseducedthegreaterpartofthetribeswithinourneighborhood，totakeupthehatchetagainstus，andthecruelmassacrestheyhavecommittedonthewomenandchildrenofourfrontierstakenbysurprise，willobligeusnowtopursuethemtoextermination，ordrivethemtonewseatsbeyondourreach。AlreadywehavedriventheirpatronsandseducersintoMontreal，andtheopeningseasonwillforcethemtotheirlastrefuge，thewallsofQuebec。Wehavecutoffallpossibilityofintercourseandofmutualaid，andmaypursueatourleisurewhateverplanwefindnecessarytosecureourselvesagainstthefutureeffectsoftheirsavageandruthlesswarfare。Theconfirmedbrutalization，ifnottheexterminationofthisraceinourAmerica，isthereforetoformanadditionalchapterintheEnglishhistoryofthesamecoloredmaninAsia，andofthebrethrenoftheirowncolorinIreland，andwhereverelseAnglo-mercantilecupiditycanfindatwo-pennyinterestindelugingtheearthwithhumanblood。
　　Butletusturnfromtheloathsomecontemplationofthedegradingeffectsofcommercialavarice。
　　ThattheirArrowsmithshouldhavestolenyourMapofMexico，wasinthepiraticalspiritofhiscountry。ButIshouldbesincerelysorryifourPikehasmadeanungeneroususeofyourcandidcommunicationshere；andthemoresoashediedinthearmsofvictorygainedovertheenemiesofhiscountry。Whateverhedidwasonaprincipleofenlargingknowledge，andnotforfilthyshillingsandpenceofwhichhemadenonefromthatwork。Ifwhathehasborrowedhasanyeffectitwillbetoexciteanappealinhisreadersfromhisdefectiveinformationtothecopiousvolumesofitwithwhichyouhaveenrichedtheworld。Iamsorryheomittedeventoacknowledgethesourceofhisinformation。Ithasbeenanoversight，andnotatallinthespiritofhisgenerousnature。Letmesolicityourforgivenessthenofadeceasedhero，ofanhonestandzealouspatriot，wholivedanddiedforhiscountry。
　　YouwillfinditinconceivablethatLewis’sjourneytothePacificshouldnotyethaveappeared；norisitinmypowertotellyouthereason。Themeasurestakenbyhissurvivingcompanion，Clarke，forthepublication，havenotansweredourwishesinpointofdespatch。Ithink，however，fromwhatIhaveheard，thatthemerejournalwillbeoutwithinafewweeksintwovolumes8vo。TheseI
　　willtakecaretosendyouwiththetobaccoseedyoudesired，ifitbepossibleforthemtoescapethethousandshipsofourenemiesspreadovertheocean。ThebotanicalandzoologicaldiscoveriesofLewiswillprobablyexperiencegreaterdelay，andbecomeknowntotheworldthroughotherchannelsbeforethatvolumewillbeready。TheAtlas，Ibelieve，waitsontheleisureoftheengraver。
　　AlthoughIdonotknowwhetheryouarenowatParisorrangingtheregionsofAsiatoacquiremoreknowledgefortheuseofmen，I
　　cannotdenymyselfthegratificationofanendeavortorecallmyselftoyourrecollection，andofassuringyouofmyconstantattachment，andofrenewingtoyouthejusttributeofmyaffectionateesteemandhighrespectandconsideration。
　　WARANDBOTANICALEXCHANGES
　　_ToMadamedeTesse_
　　_December8，1813_
　　Whileatwar，mydearMadamandfriend，withtheleviathanoftheocean，thereislittlehopeofaletterescapinghisthousandships；yetIcannotpermitmyselflongertowithholdtheacknowledgmentofyourletterofJune28ofthelastyear，withwhichcamethememoirsoftheMargraveofBareuth。Iammuchindebtedtoyouforthissingularmorselofhistorywhichhasgivenusacertainviewofkings，queensandprinces，disrobedoftheirformalities。ItisapeepintothestateoftheEgyptiangodApis。Itwouldnotbeeasytofindgrossermanners，coarservices，ormoremeannessinthepooresthutsofourpeasantry。TheprincessshowsherselfthelegitimatesisterofFrederic，cynical，selfish，andwithoutaheart。
　　NotwithstandingyourwarswithEngland，Ipresumeyougetthepublicationsofthatcountry。ThememoirsofMrs。Clarkeandofher_darling_prince，andthebookemphaticallysocalled，becauseitistheBibliaSacraDeorumetDearumsub-coelestium，thePrinceRegent，hisPrincessandtheminordeitiesofhissphere，formaworthysequeltothememoirsofBareuth；insteadofthevulgarityandpenuryofthecourtofBerlin，givingusthevulgarityandprofusionofthatofLondon，andthegrossstupidityandprofligacyofthelatter，inlieuofthegeniusandmisanthropismoftheformer。ThewholemightbepublishedasasupplementofM。deBuffon，underthetitleofthe”NaturalHistoryofKingsandPrinces，”orasaseparateworkandcalled”MedicineforMonarchists。”The”InterceptedLetters，”alaterEnglishpublicationofgreatwitandhumor，hasputthemtotheirproperusebyholdingthemupasbuttsfortheridiculeandcontemptofmankind。Yetbysuchworthlessbeingsisagreatnationtobegovernedandevenmadetodeifytheiroldkingbecauseheisonlyafoolandamaniac，andtoforgiveandforgethishavinglosttothemagreatandflourishingempire，addedninehundredmillionssterlingtotheirdebt，forwhichthefeesimpleofthewholeislandwouldnotsell，ifofferedfarmbyfarmatpublicauction，andincreasedtheirannualtaxesfromeighttoseventymillionssterling，morethanthewholerent-rolloftheisland。Whatmustbethedrearyprospectfromthesonwhensuchafatherisdeploredasanationalloss。Butletusdroptheseodiousbeingsandpasstothoseofanhigherorder，theplantsofthefield。IamafraidIhavegivenyouagreatdealmoretroublethanIintendedbymyinquiriesfortheMaronnierorCastaneaSativa，ofwhichIwishedtopossessmyowncountry，withoutknowinghowrareitsculturewaseveninyours。Thetwoplantswhichyourresearcheshaveplacedinyourowngarden，itwillbeallbutimpossibletoremovehither。ThewarrenderstheirsafepassageacrosstheAtlanticextremelyprecarious，and，iflandedanywherebutintheChesapeake，theriskoftheadditionalvoyagealongthecoasttoVirginia，isstillgreater。Underthesecircumstancesitisbettertheyshouldretaintheirpresentstation，andcompensatetoyouthetroubletheyhavecostyou。
　　IlearnwithgreatpleasurethesuccessofyournewgardensatAuenay。Nooccupationcanbemoredelightfuloruseful。TheywillhavethemeritofinducingyoutoforgetthoseofChaville。WiththebotanicalricheswhichyoumentiontohavebeenderivedtoEnglandfromNewHolland，weareasyetunacquainted。Lewis’sjourneyacrossourcontinenttothePacifichasaddedanumberofnewplantstoourformerstock。Someofthemarecurious，someornamental，someuseful，andsomemaybyculturebemadeacceptabletoourtables。I
　　havegrowing，whichIdestineforyou，averyhandsomelittleshrubofthesizeofacurrantbush。Itsbeautyconsistsinagreatproduceofberriesofthesizeofcurrants，andliterallyaswhiteassnow，whichremainonthebushthroughthewinter，afteritsleaveshavefallen，andmakeitanobjectassingularasitisbeautiful。
　　Wecallitthesnow-berrybush，nobotanicalnamebeingyetgiventoit，butIdonotknowwhywemightnotcallitChionicoccos，orKallicoccos。AllLewis’splantsaregrowinginthegardenofMr。