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dialect; must be the text books of the reading of the learners; they

will imbibe with the language their free principles of government。

The volumes you have been so kind as to send; shall be placed in the

library of the University。  Having at this time in England a person

sent for the purpose of selecting some Professors; a Mr。 Gilmer of my

neighborhood; I cannot but recommend him to your patronage; counsel

and guardianship; against imposition; misinformation; and the

deceptions of partial and false recommendations; in the selection of

characters。  He is a gentleman of great worth and correctness; my

particular friend; well educated in various branches of science; and

worthy of entire confidence。




        Your age of eighty…four and mine of eighty…one years; insure us

a speedy meeting。  We may then commune at leisure; and more fully; on

the good and evil; which; in the course of our long lives; we have

both witnessed; and in the mean time; I pray you to accept assurances

of my high veneration and esteem for your person and character。







        THE PROGRESS OF SOCIETY




        _To William Ludlow_

        _Monticello; September 6; 1824_




        SIR;  The idea which you present in your letter of July 30th;

of the progress of society from its rudest state to that it has now

attained; seems conformable to what may be probably conjectured。

Indeed; we have under our eyes tolerable proofs of it。  Let a

philosophic observer commence a journey from the savages of the Rocky

Mountains; eastwardly towards our sea…coast。  These he would observe

in the earliest stage of association living under no law but that of

nature; subscribing and covering themselves with the flesh and skins

of wild beasts。  He would next find those on our frontiers in the

pastoral state; raising domestic animals to supply the defects of

hunting。  Then succeed our own semi…barbarous citizens; the pioneers

of the advance of civilization; and so in his progress he would meet

the gradual shades of improving man until he would reach his; as yet;

most improved state in our seaport towns。  This; in fact; is

equivalent to a survey; in time; of the progress of man from the

infancy of creation to the present day。  I am eighty…one years of

age; born where I now live; in the first range of mountains in the

interior of our country。  And I have observed this march of

civilization advancing from the sea coast; passing over us like a

cloud of light; increasing our knowledge and improving our condition;

insomuch as that we are at this time more advanced in civilization

here than the seaports were when I was a boy。  And where this

progress will stop no one can say。  Barbarism has; in the meantime;

been receding before the steady step of amelioration; and will in

time; I trust; disappear from the earth。  You seem to think that this

advance has brought on too complicated a state of society; and that

we should gain in happiness by treading back our steps a little way。

I think; myself; that we have more machinery of government than is

necessary; too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious。

I believe it might be much simplified to the relief of those who

maintain it。  Your experiment seems to have this in view。  A society

of seventy families; the number you name; may very possibly be

governed as a single family; subsisting on their common industry; and

holding all things in common。  Some regulators of the family you

still must have; and it remains to be seen at what period of your

increasing population your simple regulations will cease to be

sufficient to preserve order; peace; and justice。  The experiment is

interesting; I shall not live to see its issue; but I wish it success

equal to your hopes; and to yourself and society prosperity and

happiness。







        RETURN OF THE HERO




        _To Lafayette_

        _Monticello; October 9; 1824_




        I have duly received; my dear friend and General; your letter

of the 1st from Philadelphia; giving us the welcome assurance that

you will visit the neighborhood which; during the march of our enemy

near it; was covered by your shield from his robberies and ravages。

In passing the line of your former march you will experience pleasing

recollections of the good you have done。  My neighbors; too; of our

academical village; who well remember their obligations to you; have

expressed to you; in a letter from a committee appointed for that

purpose; their hope that you will accept manifestations of their

feelings; simple indeed; but as cordial as any you will have

received。  It will be an additional honor to the University of the

State that you will have been its first guest。  Gratify them; then;

by this assurance to their committee; if it has not been done。  But

what recollections; dear friend; will this call up to you and me!

What a history have we to run over from the evening that yourself;

Meusnier; Bernau; and other patriots settled; in my house in Paris;

the outlines of the constitution you wished!  And to trace it through

all the disastrous chapters of Robespierre; Barras; Bonaparte; and

the Bourbons!  These things; however; are for our meeting。  You

mention the return of Miss Wright to America; accompanied by her

sister; but do not say what her stay is to be; nor what her course。

Should it lead her to a visit of our University; which; in its

architecture only; is as yet an object; herself and her companion

will nowhere find a welcome more hearty than with Mrs。 Randolph; and

all the inhabitants of Monticello。  This Athenaeum of our country; in

embryo; is as yet but promise; and not in a state to recall the

recollections of Athens。  But everything has its beginning; its

growth; and end; and who knows with what future delicious morsels of

philosophy; and by what future Miss Wright raked from its ruins; the

world may; some day; be gratified and instructed?  Your son George we

shall be very happy indeed to see; and to renew in him the

recollections of your very dear family; and the revolutionary merit

of M。 le Vasseur has that passport to the esteem of every American;

and; to me; the additional one of having been your friend and

co…operator; and he will; I hope; join you in making head…quarters

with us at Monticello。  But all these things _a revoir_  ; in the

meantime we are impatient that your ceremonies at York should be

over; and give you to the embraces of friendship。




        P。 S。 Will you come by Mr。 Madison's; or let him or me know on

what day he may meet you here; and join us in our greetings?







        COUNSEL TO A NAMESAKE




        _To Thomas Jefferson Smith_

        _Monticello; February 21; 1825_




        This letter will; to you; be as one from the dead。  The writer

will be in the grave before you can weigh its counsels。  Your

affectionate and excellent father has requested that I would address

to you something which might possibly have a favorable influence on

the course of life you have to run; and I too; as a namesake; feel an

interest in that course。  Few words will be necessary; with good

dispositions on your part。  Adore God。  Reverence and cherish your

parents。  Love your neighbor as yourself; and your country more than

yourself。  Be just。  Be true。  Murmur not at the ways of Providence。

So shall the life into which you have entered; be the portal to one

of eternal and ineffable bliss。  And if to the dead it is permitted

to care for the things of this world; every action of your life will

be under my regard。  Farewell。




        _The portrait of a good man by the most sublime of poets; for

your imitation_

        Lord; who's the happy man that may to thy blest courts repair;

        Not stranger…like to visit them but to inhabit there?

        'Tis he whose every thought and deed by rules of virtue moves;

        Whose generous tongue disdains to speak the thing his heart

disproves。

        Who never did a slander forge; his neighbor's fame to wound;

        Nor hearken to a false report; by malice whispered round。

        Who vice in all its pomp and power; can treat with just

neglect;

        And piety; though clothed in rages; religiously respect。

        Who to his plighted vows and trust has ever firmly stood;

        And though he promise to his loss; he makes his promise good。

        Whose soul in usury disdains his treasure to employ;

        Whom no rewards can ever bribe the guiltless to destroy。

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        The man; who; by his steady course; has happiness insur'd。

        When earth's foundations shake; shall stand; by Providence

secur'd。




        _A Decalogue of Canons for observation in practical life_。

        1。 Never put off till to…morrow what you can do to…day。

        2。 Never trouble another for what you can do yourself。

        3。 Never spend your money before you have it。

        4。 Never buy what y

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