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politics。 （Good humor and politeness never introduce into mixed
society a question on which they foresee there will be a difference
of opinion。） From both of these classes of disputants； my dear
Jefferson； keep aloof； as you would from the infected subjects of
yellow fever or pestilence。 Consider yourself； when with them； as
among the patients of Bedlam needing medical more than moral counsel。
Be a listener only； keep within yourself； and endeavor to establish
with yourself the habit of silence； especially in politics。 In the
fevered state of our country； no good can ever result from any
attempt to set one of these fiery zealots to rights either in fact or
principle。 They are determined as to the facts they will believe；
and the opinions on which they will act。 Get by them； therefore as
you would by an angry bull： it is not for a man of sense to dispute
the road with such an animal。 You will be more exposed than others
to have these animals shaking their horns at you； because of the
relation in which you stand with me and to hate me as a chief in the
antagonist party your presence will be to them what the vomit…grass
is to the sick dog a nostrum for producing an ejaculation。 Look upon
them exactly with that eye； and pity them as objects to whom you can
administer only occasional ease。 My character is not within their
power。 It is in the hands of my fellow citizens at large； and will
be consigned to honor or infamy by the verdict of the republican mass
of our country； according to what themselves will have seen； not what
their enemies and mine shall have said。 Never therefore consider
these puppies in politics as requiring any notice from you； and
always shew that you are not afraid to leave my character to the
umpirage of public opinion。 Look steadily to the pursuits which have
carried you to Philadelphia； be very select in the society you attach
yourself to； avoid taverns； drinkers； smoakers； and idlers and
dissipated persons generally； for it is with such that broils and
contentions arise； and you will find your path more easy and
tranquil。 The limits of my paper warn me that it is time for me to
close with my affectionate Adieux。
P。 S。 Present me affectionately to Mr。 Ogilvie； and in doing
the same to Mr。 Peale tell him I am writing with his polygraph and
shall send him mine the first moment I have leisure enough to pack
it。
SOWING THE UPLAND RICE
_To Dr。 Benjamin Waterhouse_
_Washington； December 1； 1808_
SIR； In answer to the inquiries of the benevolent Dr。 De
Carro on the subject of the upland or mountain rice； Oryza Mutica； I
will state to you what I know of it。 I first became informed of the
existence of a rice which would grow in uplands without any more
water than the common rains； by reading a book of Mr。 De Porpre； who
had been Governor of the Isle of France； who mentions it as growing
there and all along the coast of Africa successfully； and as having
been introduced from Cochin…China。 I was at that time （1784…89） in
France； and there happening to be there a Prince of Cochin…China； on
his travels； and then returning home； I obtained his promise to send
me some。 I never received it however； and mention it only as it may
have been sent； and furnished the ground for the inquiries of Dr。 De
Carro； respecting my receiving it from China。 When at Havre on my
return from France； I found there Captain Nathaniel Cutting； who was
the ensuing spring to go on a voyage along the coast of Africa。 I
engaged him to inquire for this； he was there just after the harvest；
procured and sent me a thirty…gallon cask of it。 It arrived in time
the ensuing spring to be sown。 I divided it between the Agricultural
Society of Charleston and some private gentlemen of Georgia；
recommending it to their care； in the hope which had induced me to
endeavor to obtain it； that if it answered as well as the swamp rice；
it might rid them of that source of their summer diseases。 Nothing
came of the trials in South Carolina； but being carried into the
upper hilly parts of Georgia； it succeeded there perfectly； has
spread over the country； and is now commonly cultivated； still；
however； for family use chiefly； as they cannot make it for sale in
competition with the rice of the swamps。 The former part of these
details is written from memory； the papers being at Monticello which
would enable me to particularize exactly the dates of times and
places。 The latter part is from the late Mr。 Baldwin； one of those
whom I engaged in the distribution of the seed in Georgia； and who in
his annual attendance on Congress； gave me from time to time the
history of its progress。 It has got from Georgia into Kentucky；
where it is cultivated by many individuals for family use。 I
cultivated it two or three years at Monticello； and had good crops；
as did my neighbors； but not having conveniences for husking it； we
declined it。 I tried some of it in a pot； while I lived in
Philadelphia； and gave seed to Mr。 Bartram。 It produced luxuriant
plants with us both； but no seed； nor do I believe it will ripen in
the United States as far north as Philadelphia。 Business and an
indisposition of some days must apologize for this delay in answering
your letter of October 24th； which I did not receive till the 6th of
November。 And permit me here to add my salutations and assurances of
esteem and respect。
〃LAST TRIAL FOR PEACE〃
_To James Monroe_
_Washington； January 28； 1809_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of the 18th was received in due time；
and the answer has been delayed as well by a pressure of business； as
by the expectation of your absence from Richmond。
The idea of sending a special mission to France or England is
not entertained at all here。 After so little attention to us from
the former； and so insulting an answer from Canning； such a mark of
respect as an extraordinary mission； would be a degradation against
which all minds revolt here。 The idea was hazarded in the House of
Representatives a few days ago； by a member； and an approbation
expressed by another； but rejected indignantly by every other person
who spoke； and very generally in conversation by all others； and I am
satisfied such a proposition would get no vote in the Senate。 The
course the Legislature means to pursue； may be inferred from the act
now passed for a meeting in May； and a proposition before them for
repealing the embargo in June； and then resuming and maintaining by
force our right of navigation。 There will be considerable opposition
to this last proposition； not only from the federalists； old and new；
who oppose everything； but from sound members of the majority。 Yet
it is believed it will obtain a good majority； and that it is the
only proposition which can be devised that could obtain a majority of
any kind。 Final propositions wi