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Whose generous tongue disdains to speak the thing his heart
disproves。
Who never did a slander forge； his neighbor's fame to wound；
Nor hearken to a false report； by malice whispered round。
Who vice in all its pomp and power； can treat with just
neglect；
And piety； though clothed in rages； religiously respect。
Who to his plighted vows and trust has ever firmly stood；
And though he promise to his loss； he makes his promise good。
Whose soul in usury disdains his treasure to employ；
Whom no rewards can ever bribe the guiltless to destroy。
｜P1500｜p1
The man； who； by his steady course； has happiness insur'd。
When earth's foundations shake； shall stand； by Providence
secur'd。
_A Decalogue of Canons for observation in practical life_。
1。 Never put off till to…morrow what you can do to…day。
2。 Never trouble another for what you can do yourself。
3。 Never spend your money before you have it。
4。 Never buy what you do not want； because it is cheap； it will
be dear to you。
5。 Pride costs us more than hunger； thirst and cold。
6。 We never repent of having eaten too little。
7。 Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly。
8。 How much pain have cost us the evils which have never
happened。
9。 Take things always by their smooth handle。
10。 When angry； count ten； before you speak； if very angry； an
hundred。
THE OBJECT OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
_To Henry Lee_
_Monticello； May 8； 1825_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of Apr。 29 has been duly recieved； and
the offer of mineralogical specimens from Mr。 Myer has been
communicated to Dr。 Emmet our Professor of Natural history。 The last
donation of the legislature to the University was appropriated
specifically to a library and apparatus of every kind。 But we apply
it first to the more important articles of a library； of an
astronomical； physical； & chemical apparatus。 And we think it safest
to see what these will cost； before we venture on collections of
mineral & other subjects； the last we must proportion to what sum we
shall have left only。 The Professor possesses already what he thinks
will be sufficient for mineralogical and geological explanations to
his school。 I do not know how far he might be tempted to enlarge his
possession by a catalogue of articles and prices； if both should be
satisfactory。 If Mr。 Myer chuses to send such a catalogue； it shall
be returned to you immediately； if the purchase be not approved。
That George Mason was the author of the bill of rights； and the
constitution founded on it； the evidence of the day established fully
in my mind。 Of the paper you mention； purporting to be instructions
to the Virginia delegation in Congress； I have no recollection。 If
it were anything more than a project of some private hand； that is to
say； had any such instructions been ever given by the convention；
they would appear in the journals； which we possess entire。 But with
respect to our rights； and the acts of the British government
contravening those rights； there was but one opinion on this side of
the water。 All American whigs thought alike on these subjects。 When
forced； therefore； to resort to arms for redress； an appeal to the
tribunal of the world was deemed proper for our justification。 This
was the object of the Declaration of Independence。 Not to find out
new principles； or new arguments； never before thought of； not merely
to say things which had never been said before； but to place before
mankind the common sense of the subject； in terms so plain and firm
as to command their assent； and to justify ourselves in the
independent stand we are compelled to take。 Neither aiming at
originality of principle or sentiment； nor yet copied from any
particular and previous writing； it was intended to be an expression
of the American mind； and to give to that expression the proper tone
and spirit called for by the occasion。 All its authority rests then
on the harmonizing sentiments of the day； whether expressed in
conversation； in letters； printed essays； or in the elementary books
of public right； as Aristotle； Cicero； Locke； Sidney； &c。 The
historical documents which you mention as in your possession； ought
all to be found； and I am persuaded you will find； to be
corroborative of the facts and principles advanced in that
Declaration。 Be pleased to accept assurances of my great esteem and
respect。
THE ANGLO…SAXON LANGUAGE
_To the Honorable J。 Evelyn Denison； M。P。_
_Monticello； November 9； 1825_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of July 30th was duly received； and we
have now at hand the books you have been so kind as to send to our
University。 They are truly acceptable in themselves； for we might
have been years not knowing of their existence； but give the greater
pleasure as evidence of the interest you have taken in our infant
institution。 It is going on as successfully as we could have
expected； and I have no reason to regret the measure taken of
procuring Professors from abroad where science is so much ahead of
us。 You witnessed some of the puny squibs of which I was the butt on
that account。 They were probably from disappointed candidates； whose
unworthiness had occasioned their applications to be passed over。
The measure has been generally approved in the South and West； and by
all liberal minds in the North。 It has been peculiarly fortunate；
too； that the Professors brought from abroad were as happy selections
as could have been hoped； as well for their qualifications in science
as correctness and amiableness of character。 I think the example
will be followed； and that it cannot fail to be one of the
efficacious means of promoting that cordial good will； which it is so
much the interest of both nations to cherish。 These teachers can
never utter an unfriendly sentiment towards their native country； and
those into whom their instructions will be infused； are not of
ordinary significance only： they are exactly the persons who are to
succeed to the government of our country； and to rule its future
enmities； its friendships and fortunes。 As it is our interest to
receive instruction through this channel； so I think it is yours to
furnish it； for these two nations holding cordially together； have
nothing to fear from the united world。 They will be the models for
regenerating the condition of man； the sources from which
representative government is to flow over the whole earth。
I learn from you with great pleasure； that a taste is reviving
in England for the recovery of the Anglo…Saxon dialect of our
language； for a mere dialect it is； as much as those of Piers
Plowman； Gower； Douglas； Chaucer； Spenser； Shakspeare； Milton； for
even