Theseartificersmustbegroupedtogether,accordingtotheparticularbranchofscienceinwhichtheyneedelementaryandpracticalinstruction;andaspeciallectureorlecturesshouldbepreparedforeachgroup。Andtheselecturesshouldbegivenintheevening,soasnottointerruptthelaborsoftheday。Theschool,particularly,shouldbemaintainedwhollyatthepublicexpense,onthesameprincipleswiththatofthewardschools。Throughthewholeofthecollegiatecourse,atthehoursofrecreationoncertaindays,allthestudentsshouldbetaughtthemanualexercise;militaryevolutionsandman;oeuversshouldbeunderastandingorganizationasamilitarycorps,andwithproperofficerstotrainandcommandthem,Atabularstatementofthisdistributionofthescienceswillplacethesystemofinstructionmoreparticularlyinview:
1storElementaryGradeintheWardSchools。
Reading,Writing,Arithmetic,Geography。
2d,orGeneralGrade。
1。LanguageandHistory,ancientandmodern。
2。Mathematics,viz:Mathematicspure,Physico-Mathematics,Physics,Chemistry,Anatomy,TheoryofMedicine,Zoology,BotanyandMineralogy。P1352p1
3。Philosophy,viz:Ideology,andEthics,LawofNatureandNations,Government,PoliticalEconomy。
3d,orProfessionalGrades。
TheologyandEcclesiasticalHistory;Law,MunicipalandForeign;PracticeofMedicine;MateriaMedicaandPharmacy;Surgery;
Architecture,MilitaryandNaval,andProjectiles;TechnicalPhilosophy;RuralEconomy;FineArts。
Onthissurveyofthefieldofscience,Irecurtothequestion,whatportionofitwemarkoutfortheoccupationofourinstitution?Withthefirstgradeofeducationweshallhavenothingtodo。Thesciencesofthesecondgradeareourfirstobject;and,toadaptthemtoourslenderbeginnings,wemustseparatethemintogroups,comprehendingmanyscienceseach,andgreatlymore,inthefirstinstance,thanoughttobeimposedon,orcanbecompetentlyconductedbyasingleprofessorpermanently。Theymustbesubdividedfromtimetotime,asourmeansincrease,untileachprofessorshallhavenomoreunderhiscarethanhecanattendtowithadvantagetohispupilsandeasetohimself。Forthepresent,wemaygroupthesciencesintoprofessorships,asfollows,subject,however,tobechanged,accordingtothequalificationsofthepersonswemaybeabletoengage。
I。Professorship。
LanguagesandHistory,ancientandmodern。
Belles-Lettres,RhetoricandOratory。
II。Professorship。
Mathematicspure,Physico-Mathematics。
Physics,Anatomy,Medicine,Theory。
III。Professorship。
Chemistry,Zoology,Botany,Mineralogy。
IV。Professorship。
Philosophy。
Theorganizationofthebranchoftheinstitutionwhichrespectsitsgovernment,policeandeconomy,dependingonprincipleswhichhavenoaffinitywiththoseofitsinstitution,maybethesubjectofseparateandsubsequentconsideration。
Withthistributeofdutytotheboardoftrustees,acceptassurancesofmygreatesteemandconsideration。
ALIBRARYFORCONGRESS
_ToSamuelH。Smith_
_Monticello,September21,1814_
DEARSIR,——IlearnfromthenewspapersthattheVandalismofourenemyhastriumphedatWashingtonoverscienceaswellasthearts,bythedestructionofthepubliclibrarywiththenobleedificeinwhichitwasdeposited。Ofthistransaction,asofthatofCopenhagen,theworldwillentertainbutonesentiment。Theywillseeanationsuddenlywithdrawnfromagreatwar,fullarmedandfullhanded,takingadvantageofanotherwhomtheyhadrecentlyforcedintoit,unarmed,andunprepared,toindulgethemselvesinactsofbarbarismwhichdonotbelongtoacivilizedage。WhenVanGhentdestroyedtheirshippingatChatham,andDeRuyterrodetriumphantlyuptheThames,hemightinlikemanner,bytheacknowledgmentoftheirownhistorians,haveforcedalltheirshipsuptoLondonbridge,andtherehaveburntthem,thetower,andcity,hadtheseexamplesbeenthenset。London,whenthusmenaced,wasnearathousandyearsold,Washingtonisbutinitsteens。
IpresumeitwillbeamongtheearlyobjectsofCongresstore-commencetheircollection。Thiswillbedifficultwhilethewarcontinues,andintercoursewithEuropeisattendedwithsomuchrisk。
Youknowmycollection,itsconditionandextent。Ihavebeenfiftyyearsmakingit,andhavesparednopains,opportunityorexpense,tomakeitwhatitis。WhileresidinginParis,IdevotedeveryafternoonIwasdisengaged,forasummerortwo,inexaminingalltheprincipalbook-stores,turningovereverybookwithmyownhand,andputtingbyeverythingwhichrelatedtoAmerica,andindeedwhateverwasrareandvaluableineveryscience。Besidesthis,IhadstandingordersduringthewholetimeIwasinEurope,onitsprincipalbook-marts,particularlyAmsterdam,Frankfort,MadridandLondon,forsuchworksrelatingtoAmericaascouldnotbefoundinParis。Sothatinthatdepartmentparticularly,suchacollectionwasmadeasprobablycanneveragainbeeffected,becauseitishardlyprobablethatthesameopportunities,thesametime,industry,perseveranceandexpense,withsomeknowledgeofthebibliographyofthesubject,wouldagainhappentobeinconcurrence。Duringthesameperiod,andaftermyreturntoAmerica,Iwasledtoprocure,also,whateverrelatedtothedutiesofthoseinthehighconcernsofthenation。
Sothatthecollection,whichIsupposeisofbetweennineandtenthousandvolumes,whileitincludeswhatischieflyvaluableinscienceandliteraturegenerally,extendsmoreparticularlytowhateverbelongstotheAmericanstatesman。Inthediplomaticandparliamentarybranches,itisparticularlyfull。ItislongsinceI
havebeensensibleitoughtnottocontinueprivateproperty,andhadprovidedthatatmydeath,Congressshouldhavetherefusalofitattheirownprice。Butthelosstheyhavenowincurred,makesthepresentthepropermomentfortheiraccommodation,withoutregardtothesmallremnantoftimeandthebarrenuseofmyenjoyingit。I
askofyourfriendship,therefore,tomakeformethetenderofittothelibrarycommitteeofCongress,notknowingmyselfofwhomthecommitteeconsists。Iencloseyouthecatalogue,whichwillenablethemtojudgeofitscontents。Nearlythewholearewellbound,abundanceofthemelegantly,andofthechoicesteditionsexisting。
Theymaybevaluedbypersonsnamedbythemselves,andthepaymentmadeconvenienttothepublic。Itmaybe,forinstance,insuchannualinstalmentsasthelawofCongresshasleftattheirdisposal,orinstockofanyoftheirlateloans,orofanyloantheymayinstituteatthissession,soastosparethepresentcallsofourcountry,andawaititsdaysofpeaceandprosperity。Theymayenter,nevertheless,intoimmediateuseofit,aseighteenortwentywagonswouldplaceitinWashingtoninasingletripofafortnight。I
shouldbewillingindeed,toretainafewofthebooks,toamusethetimeIhaveyettopass,whichmightbevaluedwiththerest,butnotincludedinthesumofvaluationuntiltheyshouldberestoredatmydeath,whichIwouldcarefullyprovidefor,sothatthewholelibraryasitstandsinthecatalogueatthismomentshouldbetheirswithoutanygarbling。ThoseIshouldliketoretainwouldbechieflyclassicalandmathematical。Somefewinotherbranches,andparticularlyoneofthefiveencyclopediasinthecatalogue。Butthis,ifnotacceptable,wouldnotbeurged。Imustadd,thatIhavenotrevisedthelibrarysinceIcamehometolive,sothatitisprobablesomeofthebooksmaybemissing,exceptinthechaptersofLawandDivinity,whichhavebeenrevisedandstandexactlyasinthecatalogue。Thereturnofthecataloguewillofcoursebeneeded,whetherthetenderbeacceptedornot。IdonotknowthatitcontainsanybranchofsciencewhichCongresswouldwishtoexcludefromtheircollection;thereis,infact,nosubjecttowhichamemberofCongressmaynothaveoccasiontorefer。Butsuchawishwouldnotcorrespondwithmyviewsofpreventingitsdismemberment。
Mydesireiseithertoplaceitintheirhandsentire,ortopreserveitsohere。Iamengagedinmakinganalphabeticalindexoftheauthor’snames,tobeannexedtothecatalogue,whichIwillforwardtoyouassoonascompleted。Anyagreementyoushallbesogoodastotakethetroubleofenteringintowiththecommittee,Iherebyconfirm。Accepttheassuranceofmygreatesteemandrespect。
AJUSTBUTSADWAR
_ToWilliamShort_
_Monticello,November28,1814_
DEARSIR,——YoursofOctober28thcametohandonthe15thinstantonly。ThesettlementofyourboundarywithColonelMonroe,isprotractedbycircumstanceswhichseemforeigntoit。OnewouldhardlyhaveexpectedthatthehostileexpeditiontoWashingtoncouldhavehadanyconnectionwithanoperationonehundredmilesdistant。
Yetpreventinghisattendance,nothingcouldbedone。Iamsatisfiedthereisnounwillingnessonhispart,butonthecontraryadesiretohaveitsettled;andtherefore,ifheshouldthinkitindispensabletobepresentattheinvestigation,asispossible,theveryfirsttimehecomeshereIwillpresshimtogiveadaytothedecision,withoutregardingMr。Carter’sabsence。SuchanoccasionmustcertainlyoffersoonafterthefourthofMarch,whenCongressrisesofnecessity,andbeassuredIwillnotloseonepossiblemomentineffectingit。
Althoughwithdrawnfromallanxiousattentiontopoliticalconcerns,yetIwillstatemyimpressionsastothepresentwar,becauseyourletterleadstothesubject。Theessentialgroundsofthewarwere,1st,theordersofcouncil;and2d,theimpressmentofourcitizens;forIputoutofsightfromtheloveofpeacethemultipliedinsultsonourgovernmentandaggressionsonourcommerce,withwhichourpouch,liketheIndian’s,hadlongbeenfilledtothemouth。Whatimmediatelyproducedthedeclarationwas,1st,theproclamationofthePrinceRegentthathewouldneverrepealtheordersofcouncilastous,untilBonaparteshouldhaverevokedhisdecreesastoallothernationsaswellasours;and2d,thedeclarationofhisministertooursthatnoarrangementwhatevercouldbedevisedadmissibleinlieuofimpressment。Itwascertainlyamisfortunethat_they_didnotknowthemselvesatthedateofthissillyandinsolentproclamation,thatwithinonemonththeywouldrepealtheorders,andthat_we_,atthedateofourdeclaration,couldnotknowoftherepealwhichwasthengoingononethousandleaguesdistant。Theirdeterminations,asdeclaredbythemselves,couldaloneguideus,andtheyshutthedooronallfurthernegotiation,throwingdowntousthegauntletofwarorsubmissionastheonlyalternatives。Wecannotblamethegovernmentforchoosingthatofwar,becausecertainlythegreatmajorityofthenationthoughtitoughttobechosen,notthattheyweretogainbyitindollarsandcents;allmenknowthatwarisalosinggametobothparties。Buttheyknowalsothatiftheydonotresistencroachmentatsomepoint,allwillbetakenfromthem,andthatmorewouldthenbelostevenindollarsandcentsbysubmissionthanresistance。Itisthecaseofgivingaparttosavethewhole,alimbtosavelife。
Itisthemelancholylawofhumansocietiestobecompelledsometimestochooseagreatevilinordertowardoffagreater;todetertheirneighborsfromrapinebymakingitcostthemmorethanhonestgains。
Theenemyareaccordinglynowdisgorgingwhattheyhadsoravenouslyswallowed。Theordersofcouncilhadtakenfromusnearonethousandvessels。Ourlistofcapturesfromthemisnowonethousandthreehundred,and,justbecomesensiblethatitissmallandnotlargeshipswhichgallthemmost,weshallprobablyaddonethousandprizesayeartotheirpastlosses。Again,supposingthat,accordingtotheconfessionoftheirownministerinparliament,theAmericanstheyhadimpressedweresomethingshortoftwothousand,thewaragainstusalonecannotcostthemlessthantwentymillionsofdollarsayear,sothateachAmericanimpressedhasalreadycostthemtenthousanddollars,andeveryyearwilladdfivethousanddollarsmoretohisprice。We,Isuppose,expendmore;buthadweadoptedtheotheralternativeofsubmission,nomortalcantellwhatthecostwouldhavebeen。Iconsiderthewarthenasentirelyjustifiableonourpart,althoughIamstillsensibleitisadeplorablemisfortunetous。Ithasarrestedthecourseofthemostremarkabletideofprosperityanynationeverexperienced,andhasclosedsuchprospectsoffutureimprovementaswereneverbeforeintheviewofanypeople。
Farewellallhopesofextinguishingpublicdebt!farewellallvisionsofapplyingsurplusesofrevenuetotheimprovementsofpeaceratherthantheravagesofwar。OurenemyhasindeedtheconsolationofSatanonremovingourfirstparentsfromParadise:fromapeaceableandagriculturalnation,hemakesusamilitaryandmanufacturingone。Weshallindeedsurvivetheconflict。Breedersenoughwillremaintocarryonpopulation。Weshallretainourcountry,andrapidadvancesintheartofwarwillsoonenableustobeatourenemy,andprobablydrivehimfromthecontinent。Wehavemenenough,andIaminhopesthepresentsessionofCongresswillprovidethemeansofcommandingtheirservices。ButIwishIcouldseethemgetintoabettertrainoffinance。Theirbankingprojectsarelikedosingdropsywithmorewater。Ifanythingcouldrevoltourcitizensagainstthewar,itwouldbetheextravagancewithwhichtheyareabouttobetaxed。Itisstrangeindeedthatatthisday,andinacountrywhereEnglishproceedingsaresofamiliar,theprinciplesandadvantagesoffundingshouldbeneglected,andexpedientsresortedto。Theirnewbank,ifnotabortiveatitsbirth,willnotlastthroughonecampaign;andthetaxesproposedcannotbepaid。Howcanapeoplewhocannotgetfiftycentsabushelfortheirwheat,whiletheypaytwelvedollarsabushelfortheirsalt,payfivetimestheamountoftaxestheyeverpaidbefore?YetthatwillbethecaseinalltheStatessouthofthePotomac。Ourresourcesarecompetenttothemaintenanceofthewarifdulyeconomizedandskillfulyemployedinthewayofanticipation。
However,wemustsuffer,Isuppose,fromourignoranceinfunding,aswedidfromthatoffighting,untilnecessityteachesusboth;and,fortunately,ourstaminaaresovigorousastorisesuperiortogreatmismanagement。ThisyearIthinkweshallhavelearnthowtocallforthourforce,andbythenextIhopeourfunds,andevenifthestateofEuropeshouldnotbythattimegivetheenemyemploymentenoughnearerhome,weshallleavehimnothingtofightforhere。