McMahon，agardenerofPhiladelphia，towhomIconsignedthem，andfromwhomIshallhavegreatpleasure，whenpeaceisrestored，inorderingforyouanyoftheseorofourotherindigenousplants。TheportofPhiladelphiahasgreatintercoursewithBordeauxandNantes，andsomelittleperhapswithHavre。IwasmortifiednotlongsincebyreceivingaletterfromamerchantinBordeaux，apologizingforhavingsufferedaboxofplantsaddressedbymetoyou，togetaccidentallycoveredinhiswarehousebyotherobjects，andtoremainthreeyearsundiscovered，wheneverythinginitwasfoundtoberotten。IhavelearnedoccasionallythatothersrottedinthewarehousesoftheEnglishpirates。Wearenowsettlingthataccountwiththem。WehavetakentheirUpperCanadaandshalladdtheLowertoitwhentheseasonwilladmit；andhopetoremovethemfullyandfinallyfromourcontinent。Andwhattheywillfeelmore，fortheyvaluetheircoloniesonlyforthebalesofcloththeytakefromthem，wehaveestablishedmanufactures，notonlysufficienttosupersedeourdemandfromthem，buttorivalizetheminforeignmarkets。ButforthecourseofourwarIwillreferyoutoM。deLaFayette，towhomIstateitmoreparticularly。
OurfriendMr。Shortiswell。HemakesPhiladelphiahiswinterquarters，andNewYorkorthecountry，thoseofthesummer。Inhisfortuneheisperfectlyindependentandatease，anddoesnottroublehimselfwiththepartypoliticsofourcountry。WillyoupermitmetoplacehereforM。deTessethetestimonyofmyhighesteemandrespect，andacceptforyourselfanassuranceofthewarmrecollectionsIretainofyourmanycivilitiesandcourtesiestome，andthehomageofmyconstantandaffectionateattachmentandrespect。
THECHARACTEROFWASHINGTON
_ToDr。WalterJones_
_Monticello，January2，1814_
DEARSIR，——YourfavorofNovemberthe25threachedthisplaceDecemberthe21st，havingbeennearamonthontheway。HowthiscouldhappenIknownot，aswehavetwomailsaweekbothfromFredericksburgandRichmond。Itfoundmejustreturnedfromalongjourneyandabsence，duringwhichsomuchbusinesshadaccumulated，commandingthefirstattentions，thatanotherweekhasbeenaddedtothedelay。
Ideplore，withyou，theputridstateintowhichournewspapershavepassed，andthemalignity，thevulgarity，andmendaciousspiritofthosewhowriteforthem；andIencloseyouarecentsample，theproductionofaNewEnglandjudge，asaproofoftheabyssofdegradationintowhichwearefallen。Theseorduresarerapidlydepravingthepublictaste，andlesseningitsrelishforsoundfood。
Asvehiclesofinformation，andacurbonourfunctionaries，theyhaverenderedthemselvesuseless，byforfeitingalltitletobelief。
Thatthishas，inagreatdegree，beenproducedbytheviolenceandmalignityofpartyspirit，Iagreewithyou；andIhavereadwithgreatpleasurethepaperyouenclosedmeonthatsubject，whichInowreturn。Itisatthesametimeaperfectmodelofthestyleofdiscussionwhichcandoranddecencyshouldobserve，ofthetonewhichrendersdifferenceofopinionevenamiable，andasuccinct，correct，anddispassionatehistoryoftheoriginandprogressofpartyamongus。Itmightbeincorporatedasitstands，andwithoutchangingaword，intothehistoryofthepresentepoch，andwouldgivetoposterityafairerviewofthetimesthantheywillprobablyderivefromothersources。Inreadingitwithgreatsatisfaction，therewasbutasinglepassagewhereIwishedalittlemoredevelopmentofaverysoundandcatholicidea；asingleintercalationtorestitsolidlyontruebottom。Itisneartheendofthefirstpage，whereyoumakeastatementofgenuinerepublicanmaxims；saying，”thatthepeopleoughttopossessasmuchpoliticalpowerascanpossiblyexistwiththeorderandsecurityofsociety。”Insteadofthis，Iwouldsay，”thatthepeople，beingtheonlysafedepositoryofpower，shouldexerciseinpersoneveryfunctionwhichtheirqualificationsenablethemtoexercise，consistentlywiththeorderandsecurityofsociety；thatwenowfindthemequaltotheelectionofthosewhoshallbeinvestedwiththeirexecutiveandlegislativepowers，andtoactthemselvesinthejudiciary，asjudgesinquestionsoffact；thattherangeoftheirpowersoughttobeenlarged，”&c。Thisgivesboththereasonandexemplificationofthemaximyouexpress，”thattheyoughttopossessasmuchpoliticalpower，”&c。Iseenothingtocorrecteitherinyourfactsorprinciples。
YousaythatintakingGeneralWashingtononyourshoulders，tobearhimharmlessthroughthefederalcoalition，youencounteraperiloustopic。Idonotthinkso。Youhavegiventhegenuinehistoryofthecourseofhismindthroughthetryingscenesinwhichitwasengaged，andoftheseductionsbywhichitwasdeceived，butnotdepraved。IthinkIknewGeneralWashingtonintimatelyandthoroughly；andwereIcalledontodelineatehischaracter，itshouldbeintermslikethese。
Hismindwasgreatandpowerful，withoutbeingoftheveryfirstorder；hispenetrationstrong，thoughnotsoacuteasthatofaNewton，Bacon，orLocke；andasfarashesaw，nojudgmentwaseversounder。Itwasslowinoperation，beinglittleaidedbyinventionorimagination，butsureinconclusion。Hencethecommonremarkofhisofficers，oftheadvantagehederivedfromcouncilsofwar，wherehearingallsuggestions，heselectedwhateverwasbest；andcertainlynoGeneraleverplannedhisbattlesmorejudiciously。Butifderangedduringthecourseoftheaction，ifanymemberofhisplanwasdislocatedbysuddencircumstances，hewasslowinre-adjustment。
Theconsequencewas，thatheoftenfailedinthefield，andrarelyagainstanenemyinstation，asatBostonandYork。Hewasincapableoffear，meetingpersonaldangerswiththecalmestunconcern。
Perhapsthestrongestfeatureinhischaracterwasprudence，neveractinguntileverycircumstance，everyconsideration，wasmaturelyweighed；refrainingifhesawadoubt，but，whenoncedecided，goingthroughwithhispurpose，whateverobstaclesopposed。Hisintegritywasmostpure，hisjusticethemostinflexibleIhaveeverknown，nomotivesofinterestorconsanguinity，offriendshiporhatred，beingabletobiashisdecision。Hewas，indeed，ineverysenseofthewords，awise，agood，andagreatman。Histemperwasnaturallyhightoned；butreflectionandresolutionhadobtainedafirmandhabitualascendencyoverit。Ifever，however，itbrokeitsbonds，hewasmosttremendousinhiswrath。Inhisexpenseshewashonorable，butexact；liberalincontributionstowhateverpromisedutility；butfrowningandunyieldingonallvisionaryprojectsandallunworthycallsonhischarity。Hisheartwasnotwarminitsaffections；butheexactlycalculatedeveryman’svalue，andgavehimasolidesteemproportionedtoit。Hisperson，youknow，wasfine，hisstatureexactlywhatonewouldwish，hisdeportmenteasy，erectandnoble；thebesthorsemanofhisage，andthemostgracefulfigurethatcouldbeseenonhorseback。Althoughinthecircleofhisfriends，wherehemightbeunreservedwithsafety，hetookafreeshareinconversation，hiscolloquialtalentswerenotabovemediocrity，possessingneithercopiousnessofideas，norfluencyofwords。Inpublic，whencalledonforasuddenopinion，hewasunready，shortandembarrassed。Yethewrotereadily，ratherdiffusely，inaneasyandcorrectstyle。Thishehadacquiredbyconversationwiththeworld，forhiseducationwasmerelyreading，writingandcommonarithmetic，towhichheaddedsurveyingatalaterday。Histimewasemployedinactionchiefly，readinglittle，andthatonlyinagricultureandEnglishhistory。Hiscorrespondencebecamenecessarilyextensive，and，withjournalizinghisagriculturalproceedings，occupiedmostofhisleisurehourswithindoors。Onthewhole，hischaracterwas，initsmass，perfect，innothingbad，infewpointsindifferent；anditmaytrulybesaid，thatneverdidnatureandfortunecombinemoreperfectlytomakeamangreat，andtoplacehiminthesameconstellationwithwhateverworthieshavemeritedfrommananeverlastingremembrance。Forhiswasthesingulardestinyandmerit，ofleadingthearmiesofhiscountrysuccessfullythroughanarduouswar，fortheestablishmentofitsindependence；ofconductingitscouncilsthroughthebirthofagovernment，newinitsformsandprinciples，untilithadsettleddownintoaquietandorderlytrain；andofscrupulouslyobeyingthelawsthroughthewholeofhiscareer，civilandmilitary，ofwhichthehistoryoftheworldfurnishesnootherexample。
How，then，canitbeperilousforyoutotakesuchamanonyourshoulders?IamsatisfiedthegreatbodyofrepublicansthinkofhimasIdo。Wewere，indeed，dissatisfiedwithhimonhisratificationoftheBritishtreaty。Butthiswasshortlived。Weknewhishonesty，thewileswithwhichhewasencompassed，andthatagehadalreadybeguntorelaxthefirmnessofhispurposes；andIamconvincedheismoredeeplyseatedintheloveandgratitudeoftherepublicans，thaninthePharisaicalhomageofthefederalmonarchists。Forhewasnomonarchistfrompreferenceofhisjudgment。Thesoundnessofthatgavehimcorrectviewsoftherightsofman，andhisseverejusticedevotedhimtothem。Hehasoftendeclaredtomethatheconsideredournewconstitutionasanexperimentonthepracticabilityofrepublicangovernment，andwithwhatdoseoflibertymancouldbetrustedforhisowngood；thathewasdeterminedtheexperimentshouldhaveafairtrial，andwouldlosethelastdropofhisbloodinsupportofit。Andthesedeclarationsherepeatedtometheoftenerandmorepointedly，becauseheknewmysuspicionsofColonelHamilton’sviews，andprobablyhadheardfromhimthesamedeclarationswhichIhad，towit，”thattheBritishconstitution，withitsunequalrepresentation，corruptionandotherexistingabuses，wasthemostperfectgovernmentwhichhadeverbeenestablishedonearth，andthatareformationofthoseabuseswouldmakeitanimpracticablegovernment。”IdobelievethatGeneralWashingtonhadnotafirmconfidenceinthedurabilityofourgovernment。Hewasnaturallydistrustfulofmen，andinclinedtogloomyapprehensions；andIwaseverpersuadedthatabeliefthatwemustatlengthendinsomethinglikeaBritishconstitution，hadsomeweightinhisadoptionoftheceremoniesoflevees，birth-days，pompousmeetingswithCongress，andotherformsofthesamecharacter，calculatedtoprepareusgraduallyforachangewhichhebelievedpossible，andtoletitcomeonwithaslittleshockasmightbetothepublicmind。
ThesearemyopinionsofGeneralWashington，whichIwouldvouchatthejudgmentseatofGod，havingbeenformedonanacquaintanceofthirtyyears。IservedwithhimintheVirginialegislaturefrom1769totheRevolutionarywar，andagain，ashorttimeinCongress，untilheleftustotakecommandofthearmy。
Duringthewarandafteritwecorrespondedoccasionally，andinthefouryearsofmycontinuanceintheofficeofSecretaryofState，ourintercoursewasdaily，confidentialandcordial。AfterIretiredfromthatoffice，greatandmalignantpainsweretakenbyourfederalmonarchists，andnotentirelywithouteffect，tomakehimviewmeasatheorist，holdingFrenchprinciplesofgovernment，whichwouldleadinfalliblytolicentiousnessandanarchy。Andtothishelistenedthemoreeasily，frommyknowndisapprobationoftheBritishtreaty。
Ineversawhimafterwards，orthesemalignantinsinuationsshouldhavebeendissipatedbeforehisjustjudgment，asmistsbeforethesun。Ifeltonhisdeath，withmycountrymen，that”verilyagreatmanhathfallenthisdayinIsrael。”
Moretimeandrecollectionwouldenablemetoaddmanyothertraitsofhischaracter；butwhyaddthemtoyouwhoknewhimwell?
AndIcannotjustifytomyselfalongerdetentionofyourpaper。
_Vale，propriequetuum，meessetibipersuadeas_。
CHRISTIANITYANDTHECOMMONLAW
_ToDr。ThomasCooper_
_Monticello，February10，1814_
DEARSIR，——InmyletterofJanuary16，Ipromisedyouasamplefrommycommon-placebook，ofthepiousdispositionoftheEnglishjudges，toconniveatthefraudsoftheclergy，adispositionwhichhasevenrenderedthemfaithfulalliesinpractice。WhenIwasastudentofthelaw，nowhalfacenturyago，aftergettingthroughCokeLittleton，whosemattercannotbeabridged，Iwasinthehabitofabridgingandcommon-placingwhatIreadmeritingit，andofsometimesmixingmyownreflectionsonthesubject。InowencloseyoutheextractfromtheseentrieswhichIpromised。TheywerewrittenatatimeoflifewhenIwasboldinthepursuitofknowledge，neverfearingtofollowtruthandreasontowhateverresultstheyled，andbeardingeveryauthoritywhichstoodintheirway。Thismustbetheapology，ifyoufindtheconclusionsbolderthanhistoricalfactsandprincipleswillwarrant。Acceptwiththemtheassurancesofmygreatesteemandrespect。
_Common-placeBook。_
873。InQuareimp。inC。B。34，H。6，fo。38，thedef。Br。ofLincolnpleadsthatthechurchofthepl。becamevoidbythedeathoftheincumbent，thatthepl。andJ。S。eachpretendingaright，presentedtwoseveralclerks；thatthechurchbeingthusrenderedlitigious，hewasnotobliged，bythe_Ecclesiasticallaw_toadmiteither，untilaninquisitiondejurepatronatus，intheecclesiasticalcourt：that，bythesamelaw，thisinquisitionwastobeatthesuitofeitherclaimant，andwasnot_ex-officio_tobeinstitutedbythebishop，andathispropercosts；thatneitherpartyhaddesiredsuchaninquisition；thatsixmonthspassedwhereonitbelongedtohimofrighttopresentasonalapse，whichhehaddone。
Thepl。demurred。Aquestionwas，Howfarthe_Ecclesiasticallaw_
wastoberespectedinthismatterbythecommonlawcourt?andPrisotC。3，inthecourseofhisargumentusesthisexpression，”A
tielsleisqueilsdeseintegliseonten_ancienscripture_，covientanousadonnercredence，carcescommonleysurqueltoutsmannersleissontfondes：etauxy，sin，noussumusobligesdeconustrenostreley；et，sin，sipoitappereroranousquelievesqueadfaitcommeunordinaryferaentielcas，adongnousdevonscesadjugerbonautrementnemy，”&c。Itdoesnotappearthatjudgmentwasgiven。Y。
B。ubisupra。S。C。Fitzh。abr。Qu。imp。89。Bro。abr。Qu。imp。12。
Finchmistakesthisinthefollowingmanner：”Tosuchlawsofthechurchashavewarrantin_HolyScripture_，ourlawgivethcredence，”
andcitestheabovecase，andthewordsofPrisotonthemargin。
Finch’slaw。B。1，ch。3，published1613。Herewefind”ancienscripture”convertedinto”HolyScripture，”whereasitcanonlymeanthe_ancientwritten_lawsofthechurch。ItcannotmeantheScriptures，1，becausethe”ancienscripture”mustthenbeunderstoodtomeanthe”OldTestament”orBible，inoppositiontothe”NewTestament，”andtotheexclusionofthat，whichwouldbeabsurdandcontrarytothewishofthoseP1323p1whocitethispassagetoprovethattheScriptures，orChristianity，isapartofthecommonlaw。2。BecausePrisotsays，”Ceo[est]commonley，surqueltoutsmannersleissontfondes。”Now，itistruethattheecclesiasticallaw，sofarasadmittedinEngland，derivesitsauthorityfromthecommonlaw。ButitwouldnotbetruethattheScripturessoderivetheirauthority。3。ThewholecaseandargumentsshowthatthequestionwashowfartheEcclesiasticallawingeneralshouldberespectedinacommonlawcourt。AndinBro。abr。ofthiscase，Littletonsays，”Lesjugesdelcommonleyprendraconusansquidest_laxecclesiae_，veladmiralitatis，ettrujusmodi。”4。BecausetheparticularpartoftheEcclesiasticallawtheninquestion，towit，therightofthepatrontopresenttohisadvowson，wasnotfoundedonthelawofGod，butsubjecttothemodificationofthelawgiver，andsocouldnotintroduceanysuchgeneralpositionasFinchpretends。YetWingate[in1658]thinkspropertoerectthisfalsequotationintoamaximofthecommonlaw，expressingitintheverywordsofFinch，butcitingPrisot，wing。max。3。NextcomesSheppard，[in1675，]whostatesitinthesamewordsofFinch，andquotestheYear-Book，FinchandWingate。3。Shepp。abr。tit。
Religion。InthecaseoftheKing_v_。Taylor，SirMatthewHalelaysitdowninthesewords，”ChristianityisparcelofthelawsofEngland。”1Ventr。293，3Keb。607。Buthequotesnoauthority，restingitonhisown，whichwasgoodinallcasesinwhichhismindreceivednobiasfromhisbigotry，hissuperstitions，hisvisionsabovesorceries，demons，&c。Thepoweroftheseoverhimisexemplifiedinhishangingofthewitches。Sostrongwasthisdoctrinebecomein1728，byadditionsandrepetitionsfromoneanother，thatinthecaseoftheKing_v_。Woolston，thecourtwouldnotsufferittobedebated，whethertowriteagainstChristianitywaspunishableinthetemporalcourtsatcommonlaw，sayingithadbeensosettledinTaylor’scase，ante2，stra。834；therefore，Wood，inhisInstitute，laysitdownthatallblasphemyandprofanenessareoffencesbythe_commonlaw_，andcitesStrangeubisupra。Wood409。
AndBlackstone[about1763]repeats，inthewordsofSirMatthewHale，that”ChristianityispartofthelawsofEngland，”citingVentrisandStrangeubisupra。4。Blackst。59。LordMansfieldqualifiesitalittlebysayingthat”TheessentialP1324p1
principlesofrevealedreligionarepartofthecommonlaw。”InthecaseoftheChamberlainofLondon_v_。Evans，1767。Buthecitiesnoauthority，andleavesusatourperiltofindoutwhat，intheopinionofthejudge，andaccordingtothemeasureofhisfootorhisfaith，arethoseessentialprinciplesofrevealedreligionobligatoryonusasapartofthecommonlaw。
Thuswefindthisstringofauthorities，whenexaminedtothebeginning，allhangingonthesamehook，apervertedexpressionofPrisot’s，orononeanother，ornobody。ThusFinchquotesPrisot；