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wintering on the head of the Missouri； and will be here next autumn。
Having been disappointed in our view of sending an exploring party up
the Red river the last year； they were sent up the Washita； as far as
the hot springs； under the direction of Mr。 Dunbar。 He found the
temperature of the springs 150 degrees of Fahrenheit & the water
perfectly potable when cooled。 We obtain also the geography of that
river； so far with perfect accuracy。 Our party is just at this time
setting out from Natchez to ascend the Red river。 These expeditions
are so laborious； & hazardous； that men of science； used to the
temperature & inactivity of their closet； cannot be induced to
undertake them。 They are headed therefore by persons qualified
expressly to give us the geography of the rivers with perfect
accuracy； and of good common knolege and observation in the animal；
vegetable & mineral departments。 When the route shall be once open
and known； scientific men will undertake； & verify & class it's
subjects。 Our emigration to the western country from these states
the last year is estimated at about 100；000。 I conjecture that about
one…half the number of our increase will emigrate westwardly
annually。 A newspaper paragraph tells me； with some details； that
the society of agriculture of Paris had thought a mould…board of my
construction worthy their notice & Mr。 Dupont confirms it in a
letter； but not specifying anything particular。 I send him a model
with an advantageous change in the form； in which however the
principle is rigorously the same。 I mention this to you lest he
should have left France for America； and I notice it no otherwise
lest there should have been any error in the information。 Present my
respectful salutations to Doctr。 Cabanis & accept them yourself with
assurances of my constant friendship & attachment。
A NATIONAL ACADEMY
_To Joel Barlow_
_Feb。 24； 1806_
I return you the draft of the bill for the establishment of a
National Academy & University at the city of Washington； with such
alterations as we talked over the last night。 They are chiefly
verbal。 I have often wished we could have a Philosophical society or
academy so organized as that while the central academy should be at
the seat of government； it's members dispersed over the states；
should constitute filiated academies in each state； publish their
communications； from which the central academy should select
unpublished what should be most choice。 In this way all the members
wheresoever dispersed might be brought into action； and an useful
emulation might arise between the filiated societies。 Perhaps the
great societies now existing might incorporate themselves in this way
with the National one。 But time does not allow me to pursue this
idea； nor perhaps had we time at all to get it into the present bill。
I procured an Agricultural society to be established （voluntarily） on
this plan； but it has done nothing。 Friendly salutations。
COURTING ALEXANDER
_To the Emperor Alexander_
_Washington； April 19； 1806_
I owe an acknowledgment to your Imperial Majesty for the great
satisfaction I have received from your letter of Aug。 20； 1805； and
embrace the opportunity it affords of giving expression to the
sincere respect and veneration I entertain for your character。 It
will be among the latest and most soothing comforts of my life； to
have seen advanced to the government of so extensive a portion of the
earth； and at so early a period of his life； a sovereign whose ruling
passion is the advancement of the happiness and prosperity of his
people； and not of his own people only； but who can extend his eye
and his good will to a distant and infant nation； unoffending in its
course； unambitious in its views。
The events of Europe come to us so late； and so suspiciously；
that observations on them would certainly be stale； and possibly wide
of their actual state。 From their general aspect； however； I collect
that your Majesty's interposition in them has been disinterested and
generous； and having in view only the general good of the great
European family。 When you shall proceed to the pacification which is
to re…establish peace and commerce； the same dispositions of mind
will lead you to think of the general intercourse of nations； and to
make that provision for its future maintenance which； in times past；
it has so much needed。 The northern nations of Europe； at the head
of which your Majesty is distinguished； are habitually peaceable。
The United States of America； like them； are attached to peace。 We
have then with them a common interest in the neutral rights。 Every
nation indeed； on the continent of Europe； belligerent as well as
neutral； is interested in maintaining these rights； in liberalizing
them progressively with the progress of science and refinement of
morality； and in relieving them from restrictions which the extension
of the arts has long since rendered unreasonable and vexatious。
Two personages in Europe； of which your Majesty is one； have it
in their power； at the approaching pacification； to render eminent
service to nations in general； by incorporating into the act of
pacification； a correct definition of the rights of neutrals on the
high seas。 Such a definition； declared by all the powers lately or
still belligerent； would give to those rights a precision and
notoriety； and cover them with an authority； which would protect them
in an important degree against future violation； and should any
further sanction be necessary； that of an exclusion of the violating
nation from commercial intercourse with all the others； would be
preferred to war； as more analogous to the offence； more easy and
likely to be executed with good faith。 The essential articles of
these rights； too； are so few and simple as easily to be defined。
Having taken no part in the past or existing troubles of
Europe； we have no part to act in its pacification。 But as
principles may then be settled in which we have a deep interest； it
is a great happiness for us that they are placed under the protection
of an umpire； who； looking beyond the narrow bounds of an individual
nation； will take under the cover of his equity the rights of the
absent and unrepresented。 It is only by a happy concurrence of good
characters and good occasions； that a step can now and then be taken
to advance the well…being of nations。 If the present occasion be
good； I am sure your Majesty's character will not be wanting to avail
the world of it。 By monuments of such good offices； may your life
become an epoch in the history of the condition of man； and may He
who called it into being； for the good of the human family； give it
length of days and success； and have it always in His holy keeping。
A TRIBUTE OF GRATITUDE