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republican in proportion as this principle enters more or less into
their composition； and that a government by representation is capable
of extension over a greater surface of country than one of any other
form。 These； my friend； are the essentials in which you and I agree；
however； in our zeal for their maintenance； we may be perplexed and
divaricate； as to the structure of society most likely to secure
them。
In the constitution of Spain； as proposed by the late Cortes；
there was a principle entirely new to me； and not noticed in yours；
that no person； born after that day； should ever acquire the rights
of citizenship until he could read and write。 It is impossible
sufficiently to estimate the wisdom of this provision。 Of all those
which have been thought of for securing fidelity in the
administration of the government； constant ralliance to the
principles of the constitution； and progressive amendments with the
progressive advances of the human mind； or changes in human affairs；
it is the most effectual。 Enlighten the people generally； and
tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil
spirits at the dawn of day。 Although I do not； with some
enthusiasts； believe that the human condition will ever advance to
such a state of perfection as that there shall no longer be pain or
vice in the world； yet I believe it susceptible of much improvement；
and most of all； in matters of government and religion； and that the
diffusion of knowledge among the people is to be the instrument by
which it is to be effected。 The constitution of the Cortes had
defects enough； but when I saw in it this amendatory provision； I was
satisfied all would come right in time； under its salutary operation。
No people have more need of a similar provision than those for whom
you have felt so much interest。 No mortal wishes them more success
than I do。 But if what I have heard of the ignorance and bigotry of
the mass be true； I doubt their capacity to understand and to support
a free government； and fear that their emancipation from the foreign
tyranny of Spain； will result in a military despotism at home。
Palacios may be great； others may be great； but it is the multitude
which possess force： and wisdom must yield to that。 For such a
condition of society； the constitution you have devised is probably
the best imaginable。 It is certainly calculated to elicit the best
talents； although perhaps not well guarded against the egoism of its
functionaries。 But that egoism will be light in comparison with the
pressure of a military despot； and his army of Janissaries。 Like
Solon to the Athenians； you have given to your Columbians； not the
best possible government； but the best they can bear。 By…the…bye； I
wish you had called them the Columbian republics； to distinguish them
from our American republics。 Theirs would be the most honorable
name； and they best entitled to it； for Columbus discovered their
continent； but never saw ours。
To them liberty and happiness； to you the meed of wisdom and
goodness in teaching them how to attain them； with the affectionate
respect and friendship of；
CAPTAIN LEWIS'S PAPERS
_To Correa da Serra_
_Poplar Forest； April 26； 1816_
DEAR SIR Your favor of Mar。 29。 was recieved just as I was
setting out for this place。 I brought it with me to be answered
hence。 Since you are so kind as to interest yourself for Capt。
Lewis's papers； I will give you a full statement of them。
1。 Ten or twelve such pocket volumes； Morocco bound； as that
you describe； in which； in his own hand writing； he had journalised
all occurences； day by day； as he travelled。 They were small 8vos
and opened at the end for more convenient writing。 Every one had
been put into a separate tin case； cemented to prevent injury from
wet。 But on his return the cases； I presume； had been taken from
them； as he delivered me the books uncased。 There were in them the
figures of some animals drawn with the pen while on his journey。 The
gentlemen who published his travels must have had these Ms。 volumes；
and perhaps now have them； or can give some account of them。
2。 Descriptions of animals and plants。 I do not recollect
whether there was such a book or collection of papers； distinct from
his journal； altho' I am inclined to think there was one： because his
travels as published； do not contain all the new animals of which he
had either descriptions or specimens。 Mr。 Peale； I think； must know
something of this； as he drew figures of some of the animals for
engraving； and some were actually engraved。 Perhaps Conrad； his
bookseller； who was to have published the work； can give an account
of these。
3。 Vocabularies。 I had myself made a collection of about 40。
vocabularies of the Indians on this side of the Missisipi； and Capt。
Lewis was instructed to take those of every tribe beyond； which he
possibly could： the intention was to publish the whole； and leave the
world to search for affinities between these and the languages of
Europe and Asia。 He was furnished with a number of printed
vocabularies of the same words and form I had used； with blank spaces
for the Indian words。 He was very attentive to this instruction；
never missing an opportunity of taking a vocabulary。 After his
return； he asked me if I should have any objection to the printing
his separately； as mine were not yet arranged as I intended。 I
assured him I had not the least； and I am certain he contemplated
their publication。 But whether he had put the papers out of his own
hand or not； I do not know。 I imagine he had not： and it is probable
that Doctr。 Barton； who was particularly curious on this subject； and
published on it occasionally； would willingly recieve and take care
of these papers after Capt。 Lewis's death； and that they are now
among his papers。
4。 His observations of longitude and latitude。 He was
instructed to send these to the war…office； that measures might be
taken to have the calculations made。 Whether he delivered them to
the war…office； or to Dr。 Patterson； I do not know； but I think he
communicated with Dr。 Patterson concerning them。 These are
all…important： because altho'； having with him the Nautical almanacs；
he could & did calculate some of his latitudes； yet the longitudes
were taken merely from estimates by the log…line； time and course。
So that it is only as to latitudes that his map may be considered as
tolerably correct； not as to its longitudes。
5。 His Map。 This was drawn on sheets of paper； not put
together； but so marked that they could be joined together with the
utmost accuracy； not as one great square map； but ramifying with the
courses of the rivers。 The scale was very large； and the sheets
numerous； but in perfect preservation。 This was to await
publication； unt