amgladtofindyouarethinkingofprintingLivy。thereshouldbenohesitationbetweenthatandQuinctilian。thislastislittlewanting。wehaveBlair’sandAdams’sbookswhichgiveustherhetoricofourownlanguageandthatofaforeignandadeadonewillinterestfewreaders。butofLivythereisnot，noreverhasbeenaneditionmeritingthenameofaneditiooptima。theDelphineditionmighthavebeen，butforit’snumerouserrorsofthepress，andunmanageablesizein4to。it’snotesarevaluable，andithasthewholeofFreinsheim’ssupplementwiththemarginalreferencestohisauthorities。Clerk’seditionisofahandysize，hasthewholeofFreinsheim，butwithoutthereferences，whichweoftenwishtoturnto，anditiswithoutnotes。thelatePariseditionofLaMallehasonlythesupplementofthe2ddecadandnonotes。Ipossessthesetwolastmentionededitions，butwouldgladlybecomeasubscribertosuchaoneasIdescribe，thatistosay，an8voeditionwiththeDelphinnotesandallFreinsheim’ssupplementsandreferences。ifcorrectlyexecuteditwouldbetheeditiooptima，becalledforinEuropeanddoushonorthere。sinceconsigningmylibrarytoCongressIhavesuppliedmyselffromEuropewithmostoftheclassics，andofthebesteditions，inwhichIhavebeenmuchaidedbymr。Ticknor，yourmostlearnedandvaluablecountryman。
ImakeyoumyacknolegementforthesermonontheUnityofGod，andamgladtoseeourcountrymenlookingthatquestionintheface。
itmustendinareturntoprimitivechristianity，andthedisbandmentoftheunintelligibleAthanasianjargonof3。being1。
and1。being3。thissermonisoneofthestrongestpiecesagainstit。IobserveyouareaboutprintingaworkofBelsham’sonthesamesubject，forwhichIwishtobeasubscriber，andincloseyoua5D。
bill，therebeingnoneoffractionaldenominations。thesurplusthereforemaystandasIshallbecallingforotherthings。Accepttheassuranceofmygreatrespect。
INFLATIONANDDEMORALIZATION
_ToNathanielMacon_
_Monticello，January12，1819_
DEARSIR，——TheproblemyouhadwishedtoproposetomewasonewhichIcouldnothavesolved；forIknewnothingofthefacts。
IreadnonewspapernowbutRitchie’s，andinthatchieflytheadvertisements，fortheycontaintheonlytruthstobereliedoninanewspaper。Ifeelamuchgreaterinterestinknowingwhathaspassedtwoorthreethousandyearsago，thaninwhatisnowpassing。Ireadnothing，therefore，butoftheheroesofTroy，ofthewarsofLacedaemonandAthens，ofPompeyandCaesar，andofAugustustoo，theBonaparteandparricidescoundrelofthatday。Ihavehad，andstillhave，suchentireconfidenceinthelateandpresentPresidents，thatIwillinglyputbothsoulandbodyintotheirpockets。Whilesuchmenasyourselfandyourworthycolleaguesofthelegislature，andsuchcharactersascomposetheexecutiveadministration，arewatchingforusall，Islumberwithoutfear，andreviewinmydreamsthevisionsofantiquity。Thereis，indeed，oneevilwhichawakensmeattimes，becauseitjostlesmeateveryturn。Itisthatwehavenownomeasureofvalue。Iamaskedeighteendollarsforayardofbroadcloth，which，whenwehaddollars，Iusedtogetforeighteenshillings；fromthisIcanonlyunderstandthatadollarisnowworthbuttwoinchesofbroadcloth，butbroadclothisnostandardofmeasureorvalue。Idonotknow，therefore，whereaboutsIstandinthescaleofproperty，norwhattoask，orwhattogiveforit。I
saw，indeed，thelikemachineryinactionintheyears’80and’81，andwithoutdissatisfaction；becauseinwearingout，itwasworkingoutoursalvation。ButIseenothinginthisrenewalofthegameof”Robin’salive”butageneraldemoralizationofthenation，afilchingfromindustryitshonestearnings，wherewithtobuilduppalaces，andraisegamblingstockforswindlersandshavers，whoaretoclosetootheircareerofpiraciesbyfraudulentbankruptcies。Mydependenceforaremedy，however，iswiththewisdomwhichgrowswithtimeandsuffering。Whetherthesucceedinggenerationistobemorevirtuousthantheirpredecessors，Icannotsay；butIamsuretheywillhavemoreworldlywisdom，andenough，Ihope，toknowthathonestyisthefirstchapterinthebookofwisdom。Ihavemadeagreatexertiontowriteyouthusmuch；myantipathytotakingupapenbeingsointensethatIhavenevergivenyouastrongerproof，thanintheeffortofwritingaletter，howmuchIvalueyou，andofthesuperlativerespectandfriendshipwithwhichIsaluteyou。
HABITSOF”AHARDSTUDENT”
_ToDr。VineUtley_
_Monticello，March21，1819_
SIR，——YourletterofFebruarythe18thcametohandonthe1stinstant；andtherequestofthehistoryofmyphysicalhabitswouldhavepuzzledmenotalittle，haditnotbeenforthemodelwithwhichyouaccompaniedit，ofDoctorRush’sanswertoasimilarinquiry。Ilivesomuchlikeotherpeople，thatImightrefertoordinarylifeasthehistoryofmyown。LikemyfriendtheDoctor，I
havelivedtemperately，eatinglittleanimalfood，andthatnotasanaliment，somuchasacondimentforthevegetables，whichconstitutemyprincipaldiet。Idouble，however，theDoctor’sglassandahalfofwine，andeventrebleitwithafriend；buthalveitseffectsbydrinkingtheweakwinesonly。TheardentwinesIcannotdrink，nordoIuseardentspiritsinanyform。Maltliquorsandcideraremytabledrinks，andmybreakfast，likethatalsoofmyfriend，isofteaandcoffee。Ihavebeenblestwithorgansofdigestionwhichacceptandconcoct，withoutevermurmuring，whateverthepalatechoosestoconsigntothem，andIhavenotyetlostatoothbyage。
IwasahardstudentuntilIenteredonthebusinessoflife，thedutiesofwhichleavenoidletimetothosedisposedtofulfilthem；
andnow，retired，andattheageofseventy-six，Iamagainahardstudent。Indeed，myfondnessforreadingandstudyrevoltsmefromthedrudgeryofletterwriting。Andastiffwrist，theconsequenceofanearlydislocation，makeswritingbothslowandpainful。IamnotsoregularinmysleepastheDoctorsayshewas，devotingtoitfromfivetoeighthours，accordingasmycompanyorthebookIamreadinginterestsme；andInevergotobedwithoutanhour，orhalfhour’spreviousreadingofsomethingmoral，whereontoruminateintheintervalsofsleep。ButwhetherIretiretobedearlyorlate，I
risewiththesun。Iusespectaclesatnight，butnotnecessarilyintheday，unlessinreadingsmallprint。Myhearingisdistinctinparticularconversation，butconfusedwhenseveralvoicescrosseachother，whichunfitsmeforthesocietyofthetable。Ihavebeenmorefortunatethanmyfriendinthearticleofhealth。SofreefromcatarrhsthatIhavenothadone，inthebreast，Imeanonanaverageofeightortenyearsthroughlife。Iascribethisexemptionpartlytothehabitofbathingmyfeetincoldwatereverymorning，forsixtyyearspast。Afeverofmorethantwenty-fourhoursIhavenothadabovetwoorthreetimesinmylife。Aperiodicalheadachehasafflictedmeoccasionally，once，perhaps，insixoreightyears，fortwoorthreeweeksatatime，whichseemsnowtohaveleftme；
andexceptonalateoccasionofindisposition，Ienjoygoodhealth；
toofeeble，indeed，towalkmuch，butridingwithoutfatiguesixoreightmilesaday，andsometimesthirtyorforty。Imayendtheseegotisms，therefore，asIbegan，bysayingthatmylifehasbeensomuchlikethatofotherpeople，thatImightsaywithHorace，toeveryone_”nominemutato，narraturfabuladete。”_Imustnotend，however，withoutduethanksforthekindsentimentsofregardyouaresogoodastoexpresstowardsmyself；andwithmyacknowledgmentsforthese，bepleasedtoaccepttheassurancesofmyrespectandesteem。
SETTINGTHERECORDSTRAIGHT
_ToSamuelAdamsWells_
_Monticello，May12，1819_
SIR，——AnabsenceofsometimeatanoccasionalanddistantresidencemustapologizeforthedelayinacknowledgingthereceiptofyourfavorofApril12th。Andcandorobligesmetoaddthatithasbeensomewhatextendedbyanaversiontowriting，aswellastocallsonmymemoryforfactssomuchobliteratedfromitbytimeastolessenmyconfidenceinthetraceswhichseemtoremain。Oneoftheinquiriesinyourletter，however，maybeansweredwithoutanappealtothememory。ItisthatrespectingthequestionwhethercommitteesofcorrespondenceoriginatedinVirginiaorMassachusetts?
OnwhichyousupposemetohaveclaimeditforVirginia。ButcertainlyIhavenevermadesuchaclaim。Theidea，Isuppose，hasbeentakenupfromwhatissaidinWirt’shistoryofMr。Henry，p。
87，andfromaninexactattentiontoitspreciseterm。Itistheresaid”thishouse[ofburgessesofVirginia]hadthemeritoforiginatingthatpowerfulengineofresistance，correspondingcommittees_betweenthelegislatures_ofthe_differentcolonies_。”
Thatthefactashereexpressedistrue，yourletterbearswitnesswhenitsaysthattheresolutionsofVirginiaforthispurposeweretransmittedtothespeakersofthedifferentAssemblies，andbythatofMassachusettswaslaidatthenextsessionbeforethatbody，whoappointedacommitteeforthespecifiedobject：adding，”thusinMassachusettsthereweretwocommitteesofcorrespondence，onechosenbythepeople，theotherappointedbytheHouseofAssembly；intheformer，MassachusettsprecededVirginia；inthelatter，VirginiaprecededMassachusetts。”TotheoriginationofcommitteesfortheinteriorcorrespondencebetweenthecountiesandtownsofaState，I
knowofnoclaimonthepartofVirginia；butcertainlynonewasevermadebymyself。Iperceive，however，oneerrorintowhichmemoryhadledme。OurcommitteefornationalcorrespondencewasappointedinMarch，’73，andIwellrememberthatgoingtoWilliamsburginthemonthofJunefollowing，PeytonRandolph，ourchairman，toldmethatmessengers，bearingdespatchesbetweenthetwoStates，hadcrossedeachotherbytheway；thatofVirginiacarryingourpropositionsforacommitteeofnationalcorrespondence，andthatofMassachusettsbringing，asmymemorysuggested，asimilarproposition。ButhereI
musthavemisremembered；andtheresolutionsbroughtusfromMassachusettswereprobablythoseyoumentionofthetownmeetingofBoston，onthemotionofMr。SamuelAdams，appointingacommittee”tostatetherightsofthecolonists，andofthatprovinceinparticular，andtheinfringementsofthem，tocommunicatethemtotheseveraltowns，asthesenseofthetownofBoston，andtorequestofeachtownafreecommunicationofitssentimentsonthissubject”?I
suppose，therefore，thattheseresolutionswerenotreceived，asyouthink，whiletheHouseofBurgesseswasinsessioninMarch，1773；
butafewdaysafterwerose，andwereprobablywhatwassentbythemessengerwhocrossedoursbytheway。Theymay，however，havebeenstilldifferent。ImustthereforehavebeenmistakeninsupposingandstatingtoMr。Wirt，thatthepropositionofacommitteefornationalcorrespondencewasnearlysimultaneousinVirginiaandMassachusetts。
AsimilarmisapprehensionofanotherpassageinMr。Wirt’sbook，forwhichIamalsoquoted，hasproducedasimilarreclamationofthepartofMassachusettsbysomeofhermostdistinguishedandestimablecitizens。IhadbeenappliedtobyMr。WirtforsuchfactsrespectingMr。Henry，asmyintimacywithhim，andparticipationinthetransactionsoftheday，mighthaveplacedwithinmyknowledge。
Iaccordinglycommittedthemtopaper，andVirginiabeingthetheatreofhisaction，wastheonlysubjectwithinmycontemplation，whilespeakingofhim。Oftheresolutionsandmeasureshere，inwhichhehadtheacknowledgedlead，Iusedtheexpressionthat”Mr。Henrycertainlygavethefirstimpulsetotheballofrevolution。”[Wirt，p。41。]Theexpressionisindeedgeneral，andinallitsextensionwouldcomprehendallthesisterStates。Butindulgentconstructionwouldrestrainit，aswasreallymeant，tothesubjectmatterundercontemplation，whichwasVirginiaalone；accordingtotheruleofthelawyers，andafaircanonofgeneralcriticism，thateveryexpressionshouldbeconstrued_secundumsubjectammateriem_。Wherethefirstattackwasmade，theremusthavebeenofcourse，thefirstactofresistance，andthatwasofMassachusetts。OurfirstovertactofwarwasMr。Henry’sembodyingaforceofmilitiafromseveralcounties，regularlyarmedandorganized，marchingtheminmilitaryarray，andmakingreprisalontheKing’streasuryattheseatofgovernmentforthepublicpowdertakenawaybyhisGovernor。ThiswasonthelastdaysofApril，1775。YourformalbattleofLexingtonwastenortwelvedaysbeforethat，whichgreatlyovershadowedinimportance，asitprecededintimeourlittleaffray，whichmerelyamountedtoalevyingofarmsagainsttheKing，andverypossiblyyouhadhadmilitaryaffraysbeforetheregularbattleofLexington。
Theseexplanationswill，Ihope，assureyou，Sir，thatsofaraseitherfactsoropinionshavebeentrulyquotedfrommetheyhaveneverbeenmeanttointerceptthejustfameofMassachusetts，forthepromptitudeandperseveranceofherearlyresistance。Wewillinglycedetoherthelaudofhavingbeenalthoughnotexclusively”thecradleofsoundprinciples，”andifsomeofusbelieveshehasdeflectedfromtheminhercourse，weretainfullconfidenceinherultimatereturntothem。
IwillnowproceedtoyourquotationfromMr。Galloway’sstatementsofwhatpassedinCongressontheirdeclarationofindependence，inwhichstatementthereisnotonewordoftruth，andwhere，bearingsomeresemblancetotruth，itisanentireperversionofit。IdonotchargethisonMr。Gallowayhimself；hisdesertionhavingtakenplacelongbeforethesemeasures，hedoubtlessreceivedhisinformationfromsomeoftheloyalfriendswhomheleftbehindhim。Butasyourself，aswellasothers，appearembarrassedbyinconsistentaccountsoftheproceedingsonthatmemorableoccasion，andasthosewhohaveendeavoredtorestorethetruthhavethemselvescommittedsomeerrors，Iwillgiveyousomeextractsfromawrittendocumentonthatsubject，forthetruthofwhichIpledgemyselftoheavenandearth；having，whilethequestionofindependencewasunderconsiderationbeforeCongress，takenwrittennotes，inmyseat，ofwhatwaspassing，andreducedthemtoformonthefinalconclusion。Ihavenowbeforemethatpaper，fromwhichthefollowingareextracts：***
GovernorMcKean，inhislettertoMcCorkleofJuly16th，1817，hasthrownsomelightsonthetransactionsofthatday，buttrustingtohismemorychieflyatanagewhenourmemoriesarenottobetrusted，hehasconfoundedtwoquestions，andascribedproceedingstoonewhichbelongedtotheother。Thesetwoquestionswere，1。TheVirginiamotionofJune7thtodeclareindependence，and2。Theactualdeclaration，itsmatterandform。Thushestatesthequestiononthedeclarationitselfasdecidedonthe1stofJuly。ButitwastheVirginiamotionwhichwasvotedonthatdayincommitteeofthewhole；SouthCarolina，aswellasPennsylvania，thenvotingagainstit。Buttheultimatedecisionin_theHouse_onthereportofthecommitteebeingbyrequestpostponedtothenextmorning，alltheStatesvotedforit，exceptNewYork，whosevotewasdelayedforthereasonbeforestated。Itwasnottillthe2dofJulythatthedeclarationitselfwastakenup，nortillthe4ththatitwasdecided；anditwassignedbyeverymemberpresent，exceptMr。
Dickinson。