engagedhimtoinquireforthis；hewastherejustaftertheharvest，procuredandsentmeathirty-galloncaskofit。Itarrivedintimetheensuingspringtobesown。IdivideditbetweentheAgriculturalSocietyofCharlestonandsomeprivategentlemenofGeorgia，recommendingittotheircare，inthehopewhichhadinducedmetoendeavortoobtainit，thatifitansweredaswellastheswamprice，itmightridthemofthatsourceoftheirsummerdiseases。NothingcameofthetrialsinSouthCarolina，butbeingcarriedintotheupperhillypartsofGeorgia，itsucceededthereperfectly，hasspreadoverthecountry，andisnowcommonlycultivated；still，however，forfamilyusechiefly，astheycannotmakeitforsaleincompetitionwiththericeoftheswamps。Theformerpartofthesedetailsiswrittenfrommemory，thepapersbeingatMonticellowhichwouldenablemetoparticularizeexactlythedatesoftimesandplaces。ThelatterpartisfromthelateMr。Baldwin，oneofthosewhomIengagedinthedistributionoftheseedinGeorgia，andwhoinhisannualattendanceonCongress，gavemefromtimetotimethehistoryofitsprogress。IthasgotfromGeorgiaintoKentucky，whereitiscultivatedbymanyindividualsforfamilyuse。I
cultivatedittwoorthreeyearsatMonticello，andhadgoodcrops，asdidmyneighbors，butnothavingconveniencesforhuskingit，wedeclinedit。Itriedsomeofitinapot，whileIlivedinPhiladelphia，andgaveseedtoMr。Bartram。Itproducedluxuriantplantswithusboth，butnoseed；nordoIbelieveitwillripenintheUnitedStatesasfarnorthasPhiladelphia。BusinessandanindispositionofsomedaysmustapologizeforthisdelayinansweringyourletterofOctober24th，whichIdidnotreceivetillthe6thofNovember。Andpermitmeheretoaddmysalutationsandassurancesofesteemandrespect。”LASTTRIALFORPEACE”
_ToJamesMonroe_
_Washington，January28，1809_
DEARSIR，——Yourfavorofthe18thwasreceivedinduetime，andtheanswerhasbeendelayedaswellbyapressureofbusiness，asbytheexpectationofyourabsencefromRichmond。
TheideaofsendingaspecialmissiontoFranceorEnglandisnotentertainedatallhere。Aftersolittleattentiontousfromtheformer，andsoinsultingananswerfromCanning，suchamarkofrespectasanextraordinarymission，wouldbeadegradationagainstwhichallmindsrevolthere。TheideawashazardedintheHouseofRepresentativesafewdaysago，byamember，andanapprobationexpressedbyanother，butrejectedindignantlybyeveryotherpersonwhospoke，andverygenerallyinconversationbyallothers；andIamsatisfiedsuchapropositionwouldgetnovoteintheSenate。ThecoursetheLegislaturemeanstopursue，maybeinferredfromtheactnowpassedforameetinginMay，andapropositionbeforethemforrepealingtheembargoinJune，andthenresumingandmaintainingbyforceourrightofnavigation。Therewillbeconsiderableoppositiontothislastproposition，notonlyfromthefederalists，oldandnew，whoopposeeverything，butfromsoundmembersofthemajority。Yetitisbelieveditwillobtainagoodmajority，andthatitistheonlypropositionwhichcanbedevisedthatcouldobtainamajorityofanykind。Finalpropositionswill，therefore，besoondespatchedtoboththebelligerentsthroughtheresidentministers，sothattheiranswerswillbereceivedbeforethemeetinginMay，andwilldecidewhatistobedone。Thislasttrialforpeaceisnotthoughtdesperate。If，asisexpected，BonaparteshouldbesuccessfulinSpain，howevereveryvirtuousandliberalsentimentrevoltsatit，itmayinducebothpowerstobemoreaccommodatingwithus。Englandwillseeheretheonlyasylumforhercommerceandmanufactures，worthmoretoherthanherordersofcouncil。AndBonaparte，havingSpainathisfeet，willlookimmediatelytotheSpanishcolonies，andthinkourneutralitycheaplypurchasedbyarepealoftheillegalpartsofhisdecrees，withperhapstheFloridasthrownintothebargain。ShouldachangeintheaspectofaffairsinEuropeproducethisdispositioninbothpowers，ourpeaceandprosperitymayberevivedandlongcontinue。Otherwise，wemustagaintakethetentedfield，aswedidin1776undermoreinauspiciouscircumstances。
Thereneverhasbeenasituationoftheworldbefore，inwhichsuchendeavorsaswehavemadewouldnothavesecuredourpeace。Itisprobablethereneverwillbesuchanother。Ifwegotowarnow，I
fearwemayrenounceforeverthehopeofseeinganendofournationaldebt。Ifwecankeepatpeaceeightyearslonger，ourincome，liberatedfromdebt，willbeadequatetoanywar，withoutnewtaxesorloans，andourpositionandincreasingstrengthputus_horsd’insulte_fromanynation。Iamnowsonearthemomentofretiring，thatItakenopartinaffairsbeyondtheexpressionofanopinion。
Ithinkitfairthatmysuccessorshouldnoworiginatethosemeasuresofwhichhewillbechargedwiththeexecutionandresponsibility，andthatitismydutytoclothethemwiththeformsofauthority。
FiveweeksmorewillrelievemefromadrudgerytowhichIamnolongerequal，andrestoremetoasceneoftranquillity，amidstmyfamilyandfriends，morecongenialtomyageandnaturalinclinations。Inthatsituation，itwillalwaysbeapleasuretometoseeyou，andtorepeattoyoutheassurancesofmyconstantfriendshipandrespect。
THEREPUBLICOFSCIENCE
_ToJohnHollins_
_Washington，February19，1809_
DEARSIR，——Alittletransactionofmine，asinnocentanoneasIeverenteredinto，andwhereanimproperconstructionwasneverlessexpected，ismakingsomenoise，Iobserve，inyourcity。Ibegleavetoexplainittoyou，becauseImeantoaskyouragencyinit。
Thelastyear，theAgriculturalSocietyofParis，ofwhichIamamember，havinghadaploughpresentedtothem，which，ontrialwithagraduatedinstrument，didequalworkwithhalftheforceoftheirbestploughs，theythoughtitwouldbeabenefittomankindtocommunicateit。Theyaccordinglysentonetome，withaviewtoitsbeingmadeknownhere，andtheysentonetotheDukeofBedfordalso，whoisoneoftheirmembers，tobemadeuseofforEngland，althoughthetwonationswerethenatwar。BytheMentor，nowgoingtoFrance，IhavegivenpermissiontotwoindividualsinDelawareandNewYork，toimporttwoparcelsofMerinosheepfromFrance，whichtheyhaveprocuredthere，andtosomegentlemeninBoston，toimportaveryvaluablemachinewhichspinscotton，woolandflaxequally。
Thelastspring，theSocietyinformedmetheywerecultivatingthecottonoftheLevantandotherpartsoftheMediterranean，andwishedtotryalsothatofoursouthernStates。Iimmediatelygotafriendtohavetwotiercesofseedforwardedtome。TheywereconsignedtoMessrs。FallsandBrownofBaltimore，andnoticeofitbeinggivenme，Iimmediatelywrotetothemtore-shipthemtoNewYork，tobesentbytheMentor。Theirfirstobjectwastomakeashowofmyletter，assomethingverycriminal，andtocarrythesubjectintothenewspapers。Ihad，onalikerequest，sometimeago，butbeforetheembargofromthePresidentoftheBoardofAgricultureofLondon，ofwhichIamalsoamember，tosendthemsomeofthegenuineMaywheatofVirginia，forwardedtothemtwoorthreebarrelsofit。GeneralWashington，inhistime，receivedfromthesameSocietytheseedoftheperennialsuccory，whichArthurYounghadcarriedoverfromFrancetoEngland，andIhavesincereceivedfromamemberofittheseedofthefamousturnipofSweden，nowsowellknownhere。I
mentionthesethings，toshewthenatureofthecorrespondencewhichiscarriedonbetweensocietiesinstitutedforthebenevolentpurposeofcommunicatingtoallpartsoftheworldwhateverusefulisdiscoveredinanyoneofthem。Thesesocietiesarealwaysinpeace，howevertheirnationsmaybeatwar。Liketherepublicofletters，theyformagreatfraternityspreadingoverthewholeearth，andtheircorrespondenceisneverinterruptedbyanycivilizednation。
Vaccinationhasbeenalateandremarkableinstanceoftheliberaldiffusionofablessingnewlydiscovered。Itisreallypainful，itismortifying，tobeobligedtonotethesethings，whichareknowntoeveryonewhoknowsanything，andfeltwithapprobationbyeveryonewhohasanyfeeling。Butwehaveafactiontowhosehostilepassionsthetortureevenofrightintowrongisadeliciousgratification。
TheirmaliceIhavelonglearnedtodisregard，theircensuretodeempraise。ButIobserve，thatsomerepublicansarenotsatisfiedevenwhilewearereceivingliberallyfromothersthatthissmallreturnshouldbemade。Theywillthinkmorejustlyatanotherday：butinthemeantime，Iwishtoavoidoffence。Myprayertoyou，therefore，is，thatyouwillbesogood，undertheinclosedorder，astoreceivethesetwotiercesofseedfromFallsandBrown，andpaythemtheirdisbursementsforfreight，&c。whichIwillimmediatelyremityouonknowingtheamount。Oftheseed，whenreceived，besogoodastomakemanureforyourgarden。Whenrottedwithaduemixtureofstablemanureorearth，itisthebestintheworld。Irelyonyourfriendshiptoexcusethistrouble，itbeingnecessaryIshouldnotcommitmyselfagaintopersonsofwhosehonor，orthewantofit，I
knownothing。
Accepttheassurancesofmyconstantesteemandrespect。
THENEGRORACE
_ToHenriGregoire_
_Washington，February25，1809_
SIR，——IhavereceivedthefavorofyourletterofAugust17th，andwithitthevolumeyouweresokindastosendmeonthe”LiteratureofNegroes。”BeassuredthatnopersonlivingwishesmoresincerelythanIdo，toseeacompleterefutationofthedoubtsI
havemyselfentertainedandexpressedonthegradeofunderstandingallottedtothembynature，andtofindthatinthisrespecttheyareonaparwithourselves。MydoubtsweretheresultofpersonalobservationonthelimitedsphereofmyownState，wheretheopportunitiesforthedevelopmentoftheirgeniuswerenotfavorable，andthoseofexercisingitstilllessso。Iexpressedthemthereforewithgreathesitation；butwhateverbetheirdegreeoftalentitisnomeasureoftheirrights。BecauseSirIsaacNewtonwassuperiortoothersinunderstanding，hewasnotthereforelordofthepersonorpropertyofothers。Onthissubjecttheyaregainingdailyintheopinionsofnations，andhopefuladvancesaremakingtowardstheirre-establishmentonanequalfootingwiththeothercolorsofthehumanfamily。Iprayyouthereforetoacceptmythanksforthemanyinstancesyouhaveenabledmetoobserveofrespectableintelligenceinthatraceofmen，whichcannotfailtohaveeffectinhasteningthedayoftheirrelief；andtobeassuredofthesentimentsofhighandjustesteemandconsiderationwhichItendertoyourselfwithallsincerity。”APRISONER，RELEASEDFROMHISCHAINS”
_ToP。S。DupontdeNemours_
_Washington，March2，1809_
DEARSIR，——MylasttoyouwasofMaythe2nd；sincewhichI
havereceivedyoursofMaythe25th，Junethe1st，Julythe23rd，24th，andSeptemberthe5th，anddistributedthetwopamphletsaccordingtoyourdesire。Theyarereadwiththedelightwhicheverythingfromyourpengives。
AfterusingeveryeffortwhichcouldpreventordelayourbeingentangledinthewarofEurope，thatseemsnowouronlyresource。
Theedictsofthetwobelligerents，forbiddingustobeseenontheocean，wemetbyanembargo。Thisgaveustimetocallhomeourseamen，shipsandproperty，tolevymenandputourseaportsintoacertainstateofdefence。Wehavenowtakenofftheembargo，exceptastoFranceandEnglandandtheirterritories，becausefiftymillionsofexports，annuallysacrificed，arethetrebleofwhatwarwouldcostus；besides，thatbywarweshouldtakesomething，andloselessthanatpresent。Buttogiveyouatruedescriptionofthestateofthingshere，ImustreferyoutoMr。Coles，thebearerofthis，mysecretary，amostworthy，intelligentandwellinformedyoungman，whomIrecommendtoyournotice，andconversationonouraffairs。Hisdiscretionandfidelitymaybereliedon。IexpecthewillfindyouwithSpainatyourfeet，butEnglandstillafloat，andabarriertotheSpanishcolonies。ButalltheseconcernsIamnowleavingtobesettledbymyfriendMr。Madison。WithinafewdaysI
retiretomyfamily，mybooksandfarms；andhavinggainedtheharbormyself，Ishalllookonmyfriendsstillbuffetingthestorm，withanxietyindeed，butnotwithenvy。Neverdidaprisoner，releasedfromhischains，feelsuchreliefasIshallonshakingofftheshacklesofpower。Natureintendedmeforthetranquilpursuitsofscience，byrenderingthemmysupremedelight。ButtheenormitiesofthetimesinwhichIhavelived，haveforcedmetotakeapartinresistingthem，andtocommitmyselfontheboisterousoceanofpoliticalpassions。IthankGodfortheopportunityofretiringfromthemwithoutcensure，andcarryingwithmethemostconsolingproofsofpublicapprobation。Ileaveeverythinginthehandsofmensoabletotakecareofthem，thatifwearedestinedtomeetmisfortunes，itwillbebecausenohumanwisdomcouldavertthem。
ShouldyoureturntotheUnitedStates，perhapsyourcuriositymayleadyoutovisitthehermitofMonticello。Hewillreceiveyouwithaffectionanddelight；hailingyouinthemeantimewithhisaffectionatesalutations，andassurancesofconstantesteemandrespect。
P。S。Ifyoureturntous，bringacoupleofpairoftrue-bredshepherd’sdogs。Youwilladdavaluablepossessiontoacountrynowbeginningtopaygreatattentiontotheraisingsheep。
APARTINGBLESSING
_ToMrs。SamuelH。Smith_
_Washington，Mar。6，1809_