按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
only proposition which can be devised that could obtain a majority of
any kind。 Final propositions will； therefore； be soon despatched to
both the belligerents through the resident ministers； so that their
answers will be received before the meeting in May； and will decide
what is to be done。 This last trial for peace is not thought
desperate。 If； as is expected； Bonaparte should be successful in
Spain； however every virtuous and liberal sentiment revolts at it； it
may induce both powers to be more accommodating with us。 England
will see here the only asylum for her commerce and manufactures；
worth more to her than her orders of council。 And Bonaparte； having
Spain at his feet； will look immediately to the Spanish colonies； and
think our neutrality cheaply purchased by a repeal of the illegal
parts of his decrees； with perhaps the Floridas thrown into the
bargain。 Should a change in the aspect of affairs in Europe produce
this disposition in both powers； our peace and prosperity may be
revived and long continue。 Otherwise； we must again take the tented
field； as we did in 1776 under more inauspicious circumstances。
There never has been a situation of the world before； in which
such endeavors as we have made would not have secured our peace。 It
is probable there never will be such another。 If we go to war now； I
fear we may renounce forever the hope of seeing an end of our
national debt。 If we can keep at peace eight years longer； our
income； liberated from debt； will be adequate to any war； without new
taxes or loans； and our position and increasing strength put us _hors
d'insulte_ from any nation。 I am now so near the moment of retiring；
that I take no part in affairs beyond the expression of an opinion。
I think it fair that my successor should now originate those measures
of which he will be charged with the execution and responsibility；
and that it is my duty to clothe them with the forms of authority。
Five weeks more will relieve me from a drudgery to which I am no
longer equal； and restore me to a scene of tranquillity； amidst my
family and friends； more congenial to my age and natural
inclinations。 In that situation； it will always be a pleasure to me
to see you； and to repeat to you the assurances of my constant
friendship and respect。
THE REPUBLIC OF SCIENCE
_To John Hollins_
_Washington； February 19； 1809_
DEAR SIR； A little transaction of mine； as innocent an one
as I ever entered into； and where an improper construction was never
less expected； is making some noise； I observe； in your city。 I beg
leave to explain it to you； because I mean to ask your agency in it。
The last year； the Agricultural Society of Paris； of which I am a
member； having had a plough presented to them； which； on trial with a
graduated instrument； did equal work with half the force of their
best ploughs； they thought it would be a benefit to mankind to
communicate it。 They accordingly sent one to me； with a view to its
being made known here； and they sent one to the Duke of Bedford also；
who is one of their members； to be made use of for England； although
the two nations were then at war。 By the Mentor； now going to
France； I have given permission to two individuals in Delaware and
New York； to import two parcels of Merino sheep from France； which
they have procured there； and to some gentlemen in Boston； to import
a very valuable machine which spins cotton； wool and flax equally。
The last spring； the Society informed me they were cultivating the
cotton of the Levant and other parts of the Mediterranean； and wished
to try also that of our southern States。 I immediately got a friend
to have two tierces of seed forwarded to me。 They were consigned to
Messrs。 Falls and Brown of Baltimore； and notice of it being given
me； I immediately wrote to them to re…ship them to New York； to be
sent by the Mentor。 Their first object was to make a show of my
letter； as something very criminal； and to carry the subject into the
newspapers。 I had； on a like request； some time ago； （but before the
embargo） from the President of the Board of Agriculture of London； of
which I am also a member； to send them some of the genuine May wheat
of Virginia； forwarded to them two or three barrels of it。 General
Washington； in his time； received from the same Society the seed of
the perennial succory； which Arthur Young had carried over from
France to England； and I have since received from a member of it the
seed of the famous turnip of Sweden； now so well known here。 I
mention these things； to shew the nature of the correspondence which
is carried on between societies instituted for the benevolent purpose
of communicating to all parts of the world whatever useful is
discovered in any one of them。 These societies are always in peace；
however their nations may be at war。 Like the republic of letters；
they form a great fraternity spreading over the whole earth； and
their correspondence is never interrupted by any civilized nation。
Vaccination has been a late and remarkable instance of the liberal
diffusion of a blessing newly discovered。 It is really painful； it
is mortifying； to be obliged to note these things； which are known to
every one who knows any thing； and felt with approbation by every one
who has any feeling。 But we have a faction to whose hostile passions
the torture even of right into wrong is a delicious gratification。
Their malice I have long learned to disregard； their censure to deem
praise。 But I observe； that some republicans are not satisfied （even
while we are receiving liberally from others） that this small return
should be made。 They will think more justly at another day： but in
the mean time； I wish to avoid offence。 My prayer to you； therefore；
is； that you will be so good； under the inclosed order； as to receive
these two tierces of seed from Falls and Brown； and pay them their
disbursements for freight； &c。 which I will immediately remit you on
knowing the amount。 Of the seed； when received； be so good as to
make manure for your garden。 When rotted with a due mixture of
stable manure or earth； it is the best in the world。 I rely on your
friendship to excuse this trouble； it being necessary I should not
commit myself again to persons of whose honor； or the want of it； I
know nothing。
Accept the assurances of my constant esteem and respect。
THE NEGRO RACE
_To Henri Gregoire_
_Washington； February 25； 1809_
SIR； I have received the favor of your letter of August
17th； and with it the volume you were so kind as to send me on the
〃Literature of Negroes。〃 Be assured that no person living wishes more
sincerely than I do； to see a complete refutation of the doubts I
have myself entertained and expressed on the grade of understanding
allotted to them by nature； and to find that i