Isaluteyouwithassurancesofgreatrespectandesteem。”AREALCHRISTIAN”
　　_ToCharlesThomson_
　　_Monticello，January9，1816_
　　MYDEARANDANCIENTFRIEND，——Anacquaintanceoffifty-twoyears，forIthinkoursdatesfrom1764，callsforaninterchangeofnoticenowandthen，thatweremaininexistence，themonumentsofanotherage，andexamplesofafriendshipunaffectedbythejarringelementsbywhichwehavebeensurrounded，ofrevolutionsofgovernment，ofpartyandofopinion。Iamremindedofthisdutybythereceipt，throughourfriendDr。Patterson，ofyoursynopsisofthefourEvangelists。IhadprocureditassoonasIsawitadvertised，andhadbecomefamiliarwithitsuse；butthiscopyisthemorevaluedasitcomesfromyourhand。Thisworkbearsthestampofthataccuracywhichmarkseverythingfromyou，andwillbeusefultothosewho，nottakingthingsontrust，recurforthemselvestothefountainofpuremorals。I，too，havemadeawee-littlebookfromthesamematerials，whichIcallthePhilosophyofJesus；itisaparadigmaofhisdoctrines，madebycuttingthetextsoutofthebook，andarrangingthemonthepagesofablankbook，inacertainorderoftimeorsubject。AmorebeautifulorpreciousmorselofethicsIhaveneverseen；itisadocumentinproofthat_I_ama_realChristian_，thatistosay，adiscipleofthedoctrinesofJesus，verydifferentfromthePlatonists，whocall_me_infideland_themselves_Christiansandpreachersofthegospel，whiletheydrawalltheircharacteristicdogmasfromwhatitsauthorneversaidnorsaw。Theyhavecompoundedfromtheheathenmysteriesasystembeyondthecomprehensionofman，ofwhichthegreatreformeroftheviciousethicsanddeismoftheJews，werehetoreturnonearth，wouldnotrecognizeonefeature。IfIhadtimeIwouldaddtomylittlebooktheGreek，LatinandFrenchtexts，incolumnssidebyside。AndI
　　wishIcouldsubjoinatranslationofGosindi’sSyntagmaofthedoctrinesofEpicurus，which，notwithstandingthecalumniesoftheStoicsandcaricaturesofCicero，isthemostrationalsystemremainingofthephilosophyoftheancients，asfrugalofviciousindulgence，andfruitfulofvirtueasthehyperbolicalextravagancesofhisrivalsects。
　　Iretaingoodhealth，amratherfeebletowalkmuch，butridewithease，passingtwoorthreehoursadayonhorseback，andeverythreeorfourmonthstakinginacarriageajourneyofninetymilestoadistantpossession，whereIpassagooddealofmytime。Myeyesneedtheaidofglassesbynight，andwithsmallprintinthedayalso；myhearingisnotquitesosensibleasitusedtobe；notoothshakingyet，butshiveringandshrinkinginbodyfromthecoldwenowexperience，mythermometerhavingbeenaslowas12degreesthismorning。Mygreatestoppressionisacorrespondenceafflictinglylaborious，theextentofwhichIhavebeenlongendeavoringtocurtail。Thiskeepsmeatthedrudgeryofthewriting-tablealltheprimehoursoftheday，leavingforthegratificationofmyappetiteforreading，onlywhatIcanstealfromthehoursofsleep。CouldIreducethisepistolarycorveewithinthelimitsofmyfriendsandaffairs，andgivethetimeredeemedfromittoreadingandreflection，tohistory，ethics，mathematics，mylifewouldbeashappyastheinfirmitiesofagewouldadmit，andIshouldlookonitsconsummationwiththecomposureofone_”quisummumnecmetuitdiemnecoptat。”_
　　Somuchastomyself，andIhavegivenyouthisstringofegotismsinthehopeofdrawingasimilaronefromyourself。Ihaveheardfromothersthatyouretainyourhealth，agooddegreeofactivity，andallthevivacityandcheerfulnessofyourmind，butI
　　wishtolearnitmoreminutelyfromyourself。Howhastimeaffectedyourhealthandspirits?Whatareyouramusements，literaryandsocial?Tellmeeverythingaboutyourself，becauseallwillbeinterestingtomewhoretainsforyoueverthesameconstantandaffectionatefriendshipandrespect。
　　YOURPROPHECYANDMINE
　　_ToJohnAdams_
　　_Monticello，Jan。11，1816_
　　DEARSIR——OfthelastfivemonthsIhavepastfouratmyotherdomicil，forsuchitisinaconsiderabledegree。Nolettersareforwardedtomethere，becausethecrossposttothatplaceiscircuitousanduncertain。Duringmyabsencethereforetheyareaccumulatinghere，andawaitingacknolegments。ThishasbeenthefateofyourfavorofNov。13。
　　Iagreewithyouinallit’seulogiesonthe18th。century。Itcertainlywitnessedthesciencesandarts，mannersandmorals，advancedtoahigherdegreethantheworldhadeverbeforeseen。AndmightwenotgobacktotheaeraoftheBorgias，bywhichtimethebarbarousageshadreducednationalmoralitytoit’slowestpointofdepravity，andobservethattheartsandsciences，risingfromthatpoint，advancedgraduallythro’allthe16th。17th。and18th。
　　centuries，softeningandcorrectingthemannersandmoralsofman?I
　　thinktoowemayadd，tothegreathonorofscienceandthearts，thattheirnaturaleffectis，byilluminatingpublicopinion，toerectitintoaCensor，beforewhichthemostexaltedtremblefortheirfuture，aswellaspresentfame。Withsomeexceptionsonly，throughthe17th。and18th。centuriesmoralityoccupiedanhonorablechapterinthepoliticalcodeofnations。YoumusthaveobservedwhileinEurope，asIthoughtIdid，thatthosewhoadministeredthegovernmentsofthegreaterpowersatleast，hadarespecttofaith，andconsideredthedignityoftheirgovernmentasinvolvedinit’sintegrity。Awoundindeedwasinflictedonthischaracterofhonorinthe18th。centurybythepartitionofPoland。Butthiswastheatrocityofabarbarousgovernmentchiefly，inconjunctionwithasmalleronestillscramblingtobecomegreat，whileoneonlyofthosealreadygreat，andhavingcharactertolose，descendedtothebasenessofanaccompliceinthecrime。France，England，Spainsharedinitonlyinasmuchastheystoodaloofandpermittedit’sperpetration。Howthenhasithappenedthatthesenations，FranceespeciallyandEngland，sogreat，sodignified，sodistinguishedbyscienceandthearts，plungedatonceintoallthedepthsofhumanenormity，threwoffsuddenlyandopenlyalltherestraintsofmorality，allsensationtocharacter，andunblushinglyavowedandactedontheprinciplethatpowerwasright?Canthissuddenapostacyfromnationalrectitudebeaccountedfor?ThetreatyofPilnitzseemstohavebegunit，suggestedperhapsbythebanefulprecedentofPoland。Wasitfromtheterrorofmonarchs，alarmedatthelightreturningonthemfromtheWest，andkindlingaVolcanoundertheirthrones?Wasitacombinationtoextinguishthatlight，andtobringback，astheirbestauxiliaries，thoseenumeratedbyyou，theSorbonne，theInquisition，theIndexexpurgatorius，andtheknightsofLoyola?Whateveritwas，thecloseofthecenturysawthemoralworldthrownbackagaintotheageoftheBorgias，tothepointfromwhichithaddeparted300。yearsbefore。France，aftercrushingandpunishingtheconspiracyofPilnitz，wentherselfdeeperanddeeperintothecrimesshehadbeenchastising。IsayFrance，andnotBonaparte；foraltho’hewastheheadandmouth，thenationfurnishedthehandswhichexecutedhisenormities。England，altho’
　　inopposition，keptfullpacewithFrance，notindeedbythemanlyforceofherownarms，butbyoppressingtheweak，andbribingthestrong。Atlengththewholechoirjoinedanddividedtheweakernationsamongthem。YourpropheciestoDr。Priceprovedtruerthanmine；andyetfellshortofthefact，forinsteadofamillion，thedestructionof8。or10。millionsofhumanbeingshasprobablybeentheeffectoftheseconvulsions。Ididnot，in89。believetheywouldhavelastedsolong，norhavecostsomuchblood。Butaltho’
　　yourprophecyhasprovedtruesofar，Ihopeitdoesnotprecludeabetterfinalresult。ThatsamelightfromourWestseemstohavespreadandilluminatedtheveryenginesemployedtoextinguishit。
　　Ithasgiventhemaglimmeringoftheirrightsandtheirpower。Theideaofrepresentativegovernmenthastakenrootandgrowthamongthem。Theirmastersfeelit，andaresavingthemselvesbytimelyoffersofthismodificationoftheirownpowers。Belguim，Prussia，Poland，Lombardyetc。arenowofferedarepresentativeorganization：
　　illusiveprobablyatfirst，butitwillgrowintopowerintheend。
　　Opinionispower，andthatopinionwillcome。EvenFrancewillyetattainrepresentativegovernment。Youobserveitmakesthebasisofeveryconstitutionwhichhasbeendemandedoroffered：ofthatdemandedbytheirSenate；ofthatofferedbyBonaparte；andofthatgrantedbyLouisXVIII。Theideathenisrooted，andwillbeestablished，altho’riversofbloodmayyetflowbetweenthemandtheirobject。Thealliedarmiesnowcouchinguponthemarefirsttobedestroyed，anddestroyedtheywillsurelybe。Anationunitedcanneverbeconquered。WehaveseenwhattheignorantbigottedandunarmedSpaniardscoulddoagainstthedisciplinedveteransoftheirinvaders。WhatthenmaywenotexpectfromthepowerandcharacteroftheFrenchnation?Theoppressorsmaycutoffheadsafterheads，butlikethoseoftheHydra，theymultiplyateverystroke。Therecruitswithinanation’sownlimitsarepromptandwithoutnumber；
　　whilethoseoftheirinvadersfromadistanceareslow，limited，andmustcometoanend。IthinktoowepercievethatallthesealliesdonotseethesameinterestintheannihilationofthepowerofFrance。TherearecertainlysomesymptomsofforesightinAlexanderthatFrancemightproduceasalutarydiversionofforcewereAustriaandPrussiatobecomeherenemies。FrancetooisthenaturalallyoftheTurk，ashavingnointerferinginterests，andmightbeusefulinneutralizingandperhapsturningthatpoweronAustria。Thatare-actingjealousytooexistswithAustriaandPrussiaIthinktheirlatestrictallianceindicates；andIshouldnotwonderifSpainshoulddiscoverasympathywiththem。Italyissodividedastobenothing。HerethenweseenewcoalitionsinembriowhichafterFranceshallinturnhavesufferedajustpunishmentforhercrimes，willnotonlyraiseherfromtheearthonwhichsheisprostrate，butgiveheranopportunitytoestablishagovernmentofasmuchlibertyasshecanbear，enoughtoensureherhappinessandprosperity。Wheninsurrectionbegins，beitwhereitwill，allthepartitionedcountrieswillrushtoarms，andEuropeagainbecomeanArenaofgladiators。Andwhatisthedefiniteobjecttheywillpropose?A
　　restorationcertainlyofthestatusquoprius，ofthestateofpossessionof89。IseenootherprincipleonwhichEuropecaneveragainsettledowninlastingpeace。Ihopeyourprophecieswillgothusfar，asmywishesdo，andthatthey，liketheformer，willprovetohavebeenthesoberdictatesofasuperiorunderstanding，andasoundcalculationofeffectsfromcauseswellunderstood。SomefutureMorganwillthenhaveanopportunityofdoingyoujustice，andofcounterbalancingthebreachofconfidenceofwhichyousojustlycomplain，andinwhichnoonehashadmorefrequentoccasionoffellow-feelingthanmyself。PermitmetoplaceheremyaffectionaterespectstoMrs。Adams，andtoaddforyourselftheassurancesofcordialfriendshipandesteem。
　　THEWARDSYSTEM
　　_ToJosephC。Cabell_
　　_Monticello，February2，1816_
　　DEARSIR，——Yourfavorsofthe23dand24thult。，wereaweekcomingtous。IinstantlyenclosedtoyouthedeedsofCapt。Miller，butIunderstandthatthePostMaster，havinglockedhismailbeforetheygottotheoffice，wouldnotunlockittogivethemapassage。
　　HavingbeenpreventedfromretainingmycollectionoftheactsandjournalsofourlegislaturebythelumpingmannerinwhichtheCommitteeofCongresschosetotakemylibrary，itmaybeusefultoourpublicbodiestoknowwhatactsandjournalsIhad，andwheretheycannowhaveaccesstothem。Ithereforeencloseyouacopyofmycatalogue，whichIprayyoutodepositinthecouncilofficeforpublicuse。Itisintheeighteenthandtwenty-fourthchapterstheywillfindwhatisinterestingtothem。Theformofthecataloguehasbeenmuchinjuredinthepublication；foralthoughtheyhavepreservedmydivisionintochapters，theyhavereducedthebooksineachchaptertoalphabeticalorder，insteadofthechronologicaloranalyticalarrangementsIhadgiventhem。Youwillseesketchesofwhatweremyarrangementsattheheadsofsomeofthechapters。
　　Thebillontheobstructionsinournavigablewatersappearstomeproper；asdoalsotheamendmentsproposed。IthinktheStateshouldreservearighttotheuseofthewatersfornavigation，andthatwhereanindividuallandholderimpedesthatuse，heshallremovethatimpediment，andleavethesubjectinasgoodastateasnatureformedit。ThisIholdtobethetrueprinciple；andtothisColonelGreen’samendmentsgo。AllIaskinmyowncaseis，thatthelegislaturewillnottakefromme_myownworks_。Iamreadytocutmydaminanyplace，andatanymomentrequisite，soastoremovethatimpediment，ifitbethoughtone，andtoleavethoseinterestedtomakethemostofthenaturalcircumstancesoftheplace。ButI
　　hopetheywillnevertakefrommemycanal，madethroughthebodyofmyownlands，atanexpenseoftwentythousanddollars，andwhichisnoimpedimenttothenavigationoftheriver。Ihavepermittedtheriparianproprietorsaboveandtheynotmorethanadozenortwenty
　　touseitgratis，andshallnotwithdrawthepermissionunlesstheysouseitastoobstructtoomuchtheoperationsofmymills，ofwhichthereissomelikelihood。
　　DoctorSmith，yousay，askswhatisthebestelementarybookontheprinciplesofgovernment?NoneintheworldequaltotheReviewofMontesquieu，printedatPhiladelphiaafewyearsago。Ithastheadvantage，too，ofbeingequallysoundandcorrectiveoftheprinciplesofpoliticaleconomy；andallwithinthecompassofathin8vo。Chipman’sandPriestley’sPrinciplesofGovernment，andtheFederalists，areexcellentinmanyrespects，butforfundamentalprinciplesnotcomparabletotheReview。IhavenoobjectionstotheprintingmylettertoMr。Carr，ifitwillpromotetheinterestsofscience；althoughitwasnotwrittenwithaviewtoitspublication。