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straight forward； pursuing always that which is right； as the only
clue which can lead us out of the labyrinth。 Let nothing be spared
of either reason or passion； to preserve the public confidence
entire； as the only rock of our safety。 In times of peace the people
look most to their representatives； but in war； to the executive
solely。 It is visible that their confidence is even now veering in
that direction； that they are looking to the executive to give the
proper direction to their affairs； with a confidence as auspicious as
it is well founded。
I avail myself of this； the first occasion of writing to you；
to express all the depth of my affection for you； the sense I
entertain of your faithful co…operation in my late labors； and the
debt I owe for the valuable aid I received from you。 Though
separated from my fellow laborers in place and pursuit； my affections
are with you all； and I offer daily prayers that ye love one another；
as I love you。 God bless you。
〃THE BOOK OF KINGS〃
_To Governor John Langdon_
_Monticello； March 5； 1810_
Your letter； my dear friend； of the 18th ultimo； comes like the
refreshing dews of the evening on a thirsty soil。 It recalls antient
as well as recent recollections； very dear to my heart。 For five and
thirty years we have walked together through a land of tribulations。
Yet these have passed away； and so； I trust； will those of the
present day。 The toryism with which we struggled in '77； differed
but in name from the federalism of '99； with which we struggled also；
and the Anglicism of 1808； against which we are now struggling； is
but the same thing still； in another form。 It is a longing for a
King； and an English King rather than any other。 This is the true
source of their sorrows and wailings。
The fear that Buonaparte will come over to us and conquer us
also； is too chimerical to be genuine。 Supposing him to have
finished Spain and Portugal； he has yet England and Russia to subdue。
The maxim of war was never sounder than in this case； not to leave an
enemy in the rear； and especially where an insurrectionary flame is
known to be under the embers； merely smothered； and ready to burst at
every point。 These two subdued； （and surely the Anglomen will not
think the conquest of England alone a short work） antient Greece and
Macedonia； the cradle of Alexander； his prototype； and
Constantinople； the seat of empire for the world； would glitter more
in his eye than our bleak mountains and rugged forests。 Egypt； too；
and the golden apples of Mauritania； have for more than half a
century fixed the longing eyes of France； and with Syria； you know；
he has an old affront to wipe out。 Then come ‘Pontus and Galatia；
Cappadocia； Asia and Bithynia；' the fine countries on the Euphrates
and Tigris； the Oxus and Indus； and all beyond the Hyphasis； which
bounded the glories of his Macedonian rival； with the invitations of
his new British subjects on the banks of the Ganges； whom； after
receiving under his protection the mother country； he cannot refuse
to visit。 When all this is done and settled； and nothing of the old
world remains unsubdued； he may turn to the new one。 But will he
attack us first； from whom he will get but hard knocks and no money？
Or will he first lay hold of the gold and silver of Mexico and Peru；
and the diamonds of Brazil？ A _republican_ Emperor； from his
affection to republics； independent of motives of expediency； must
grant to ours the Cyclop's boon of being the last devoured。 While
all this is doing； we are to suppose the chapter of accidents read
out； and that nothing can happen to cut short or to disturb his
enterprises。
But the Anglomen； it seems； have found out a much safer
dependance； than all these chances of death or disappointment。 That
is； that we should first let England plunder us； as she has been
doing for years； for fear Buonaparte should do it； and then ally
ourselves with her； and enter into the war。 A conqueror； whose
career England could not arrest when aided by Russia； Austria；
Prussia； Sweden； Spain and Portugal； she is now to destroy； with all
these on his side； by the aid of the United States alone。 This；
indeed； is making us a mighty people。 And what is to be our
security； that when embarked for her in the war； she will not make a
separate peace； and leave us in the lurch？ Her good faith！ The
faith of a nation of merchants！ The _Punica fides_ of modern
Carthage！ Of the friend and protectress of Copenhagen！ Of the
nation who never admitted a chapter of morality into her political
code！ And is now boldly avowing； that whatever power can make hers；
is hers of right。 Money； and not morality； is the principle of
commerce and commercial nations。 But； in addition to this； the
nature of the English government forbids； of itself； reliance on her
engagements； and it is well known she has been the least faithful to
her alliances of any nation of Europe； since the period of her
history wherein she has been distinguished for her commerce and
corruption； that is to say； under the houses of Stuart and Brunswick。
To Portugal alone she has steadily adhered； because； by her Methuin
treaty she had made it a colony； and one of the most valuable to her。
It may be asked； what； in the nature of her government； unfits
England for the observation of moral duties？ In the first place； her
King is a cypher； his only function being to name the oligarchy which
is to govern her。 The parliament is； by corruption； the mere
instrument of the will of the administration。 The real power and
property in the government is in the great aristocratical families of
the nation。 The nest of office being too small for all of them to
cuddle into at once； the contest is eternal； which shall crowd the
other out。 For this purpose； they are divided into two parties； the
Ins and the Outs； so equal in weight that a small matter turns the
balance。 To keep themselves in； when they are in； every stratagem
must be practised； every artifice used which may flatter thepride；
the passions or power of the nation。 Justice； honor； faith； must
yield to the necessity of keeping themselves in place。 The question
whether a measure is moral； is never asked； but whether it will
nourish the avarice of their merchants； or the piratical spirit of
their navy； or produce any other effect which may strengthen them in
their places。 As to engagements； however positive； entered into by
the predecessors of the Ins； why； they were their enemies； they did
every thing which was wrong； and to reverse every thing they did；
must； therefore； be right。 This is the true character of the English
government in practice； however different its theory； and it presents
the singular phenomenon of a nation； the individuals of which are as
faithful to their private engagements and duties； as honorable； as
worthy； as