thereforeabandonedbythepubliccare，asthatpartofthecountryitselfisinaconsiderabledegreebyit’sinhabitants。Wewishtoestablishintheupper&healthiercountry，&morecentrallyforthestate，anUniversityonaplansobroad&liberal&_modern_，astobeworthpatronizingwiththepublicsupport，andbeatemptationtotheyouthofotherstatestocomeanddrinkofthecupofknowledge&
fraternizewithus。Thefirststepistoobtainagoodplan；thatis，ajudiciousselectionofthesciences，&apracticablegroupingofsomeofthemtogether，&ramifyingofothers，soastoadapttheprofessorshipstoouruses&ourmeans。Inaninstitutionmeantchieflyforuse，somebranchesofscience，formerlyesteemed，maybenowomitted；somayothersnowvaluedinEurope，butuselesstousforagestocome。Asanexampleoftheformer，theorientallearning，andofthelatter，almostthewholeoftheinstitutionproposedtoCongressbytheSecretaryofwar’sreportofthe5thinst。Nowthereisnoonetowhomthissubjectissofamiliarasyourself。Thereisnooneintheworldwho，equallywithyourself，unitesthisfullpossessionofthesubjectwithsuchaknowledgeofthestateofourexistence，asenablesyoutofitthegarmenttohimwhoisto_pay_forit&to_wear_it。Toyouthereforeweaddressoursolicitations，andtolessentoyouasmuchaspossibletheambiguitiesofourobject，Iwillventureeventosketchthescienceswhichseemuseful&practicableforus，astheyoccurtomewhileholdingmypen。Botany，Chemistry，Zoology，Anatomy，Surgery，Medicine，NatlPhilosophy，Agriculture，Mathematics，Astronomy，Geology，Geography，Politics，Commerce，History，Ethics，Law，Arts，Finearts。ThislistisimperfectbecauseImakeithastily，andbecauseIamunequaltothesubject。Itisevidentthatsomeofthesearticlesaretoomuchforoneprofessor&mustthereforeberamified；othersmaybeascribedingroupstoasingleprofessor。
Thisisthedifficultpartofthework，&requiresaheadperfectlyknowingtheextentofeachbranch，&thelimitswithinwhichitmaybecircumscribed，soastobringthewholewithinthepowersofthefewestprofessorspossible，&consequentlywithinthedegreeofexpencepracticableforus。Weshouldproposethattheprofessorsfollownoothercalling，sothattheirwholetimemaybegiventotheiracademicalfunctions；andweshouldproposetodrawfromEuropethefirstcharactersinscience，byconsiderabletemptations，whichwouldnotneedtoberepeatedafterthefirstsetshouldhavepreparedfitsuccessors&givenreputationtotheinstitution。FromsomesplendidcharactersIhavereceivedoffersmostperfectlyreasonable&practicable。
Idonotproposetogiveyouallthistroublemerelyofmyownhead，thatwouldbearrogance。IthasbeenthesubjectofconsultationamongtheablestandhighestcharactersofourState，whoonlywaitforaplantomakeajoint&Ihopesuccessfulefforttogetthethingcarriedintoeffect。Theywillreceiveyourideaswiththegreatestdeference&thankfulness。Weshallbeherecertainlyfortwomonthstocome；butshouldyounothaveleisuretothinkofitbeforeCongressadjourns，itwillcomesafelytomeafterwardsbypost，thenearestpostofficebeingMilton。
WillnotthearrivalofDuponttemptyoutomakeavisittothisquarter?Ihavenodoubtthealarmistsarealreadywhettingtheirshaftsforhimalso，buttheirglassisnearlyrunout，andthedayIbelieveisapproachingwhenweshallbeasfreetopursuewhatistruewisdomastheeffectsoftheirfollieswillpermit；forsomeofthemweshallbeforcedtowadethroughbecauseweareemergedinthem。
Wishingyouthatpurehappinesswhichyourpursuitsandcircumstancesoffer，andwhichIamsureyouaretoowisetosufferadiminutionofbythepigmyassaultsmadeonyou，andwitheverysentimentofaffectionateesteem&respect，Iam，dearSir，yourmosthumble，andmostobedientservant。”ASUBLIMELUXURY”
_ToDr。JosephPriestley_
_Philadelphia，Jan。27，1800_
DEARSIR，——Inmyletterofthe18th，Iomittedtosayanythingofthelanguagesaspartofourproposeduniversity。ItwasnotthatIthink，assomedo，thattheyareuseless。Iamofaverydifferentopinion。Idonotthinkthemessentialtotheobtainingeminentdegreesofscience；butIthinkthemveryusefultowardsit。
Isupposethereisaportionoflifeduringwhichourfacultiesareripeenoughforthis，&fornothingmoreuseful。IthinktheGreeks&Romanshaveleftusthepresentmodelswhichexistoffinecomposition，whetherweexaminethemasworksofreason，orofstyle&fancy；andtothemweprobablyowethesecharacteristicsofmoderncomposition。Iknowofnocompositionofanyotherantientpeople，whichmeritstheleastregardasamodelforit’smatterorstyle。
ToallthisIadd，thattoreadtheLatin&Greekauthorsintheiroriginal，isasublimeluxury；andIdeemluxuryinsciencetobeatleastasjustifiableasinarchitecture，painting，gardening，ortheotherarts。IenjoyHomerinhisownlanguageinfinitelybeyondPope’stranslationofhim，&bothbeyondthedullnarrativeofthesameeventsbyDaresPhrygius；&itisaninnocentenjoyment。I
thankonmyknees，himwhodirectedmyearlyeducation，forhavingputintomypossessionthisrichsourceofdelight；andIwouldnotexchangeitforanythingwhichIcouldthenhaveacquired，&havenotsinceacquired。Withthisregardforthoselanguages，youwillacquitmeofmeaningtoomitthem。About20。yearsago，Idrewabillforourlegislature，whichproposedtolayoffeverycountyintohundredsortownshipsof5。or6。milessquare，inthecentreofeachofwhichwastobeafreeEnglishschool；thewholestatewasfurtherlaidoffinto10。districts，ineachofwhichwastobeacollegeforteachingthelanguages，geography，surveying，andotherusefulthingsofthatgrade；andthenasingleUniversityforthesciences。Itwasreceivedwithenthusiasm；butasIhadproposedthatWm&Mary，underanimprovedform，shouldbetheUniversity，&thatwasatthattimeprettyhighlyEpiscopal，thedissentersafterawhilebegantoapprehendsomesecretdesignofapreferencetothatsectandnothingcouldthenbedone。About3。yearsagotheyenactedthatpartofmybillwhichrelatedtoEnglishschools，exceptthatinsteadofobliging，theyleftitoptionalinthecourtofeverycountytocarryitintoexecutionornot。Ithinkitprobablethepartoftheplanforthemiddlegradeofeducation，mayalsobebroughtforwardinduetime。Inthemeanwhile，wearenotwithoutasufficientnumberofgoodcountryschools，wherethelanguages，geography，&thefirstelementsofMathematics，aretaught。Havingomittedthisinformationinmyformerletter，Ithoughtitnecessarynowtosupplyit，thatyoumightknowonwhatbaseyoursuperstructurewastobereared。I
havealetterfromM。Dupont，sincehisarrivalatN。York，datedthe20th，inwhichhesayshewillbeinPhiladelphiawithinaboutafortnightfromthattime；butonlyonavisit。Howmuchwoulditdelightmeifavisitfromyouatthesametime，weretoshewustwosuchillustriousforeignersembracingeachotherinmycountry，astheasylumforwhateverisgreat&good。Pardon，Iprayyou，thetemporarydeliriumwhichhasbeenexcitedhere，butwhichisfastpassingaway。TheGothicideathatwearetolookbackwardsinsteadofforwardsfortheimprovementofthehumanmind，andtorecurtotheannalsofourancestorsforwhatismostperfectingovernment，inreligion&inlearning，isworthyofthosebigotsinreligion&
government，bywhomithasbeenrecommended，&whosepurposesitwouldanswer。Butitisnotanideawhichthiscountrywillendure；
andthemomentoftheirshowingitisfastripening；andthesignsofitwillbetheirrespectforyou，&growingdetestationofthosewhohavedishonoredourcountrybyendeavorstodisturbourtranquilityinit。Noonehasfeltthiswithmoresensibilitythan，mydearSir，yourrespectful&affectionatefriend&servant。
THE18THBRUMAIRE
_ToJohnBreckinridge_
_Philadelphia，Jan。29，1800_
DEARSIR，——Yourfavorofthe13thhasbeendulyreceived，ashadbeenthatcontainingtheresolutionsofyourlegislatureonthesubjectoftheformerresolutions。Iwasgladtoseethesubjecttakenup，anddonewithsomuchtemper，firmnessandpropriety。FromthereasonofthethingIcannotbuthopethattheWesterncountrywillbelaidoffintoaseparateJudiciarydistrict。FromwhatI
recollectofthedispositionsonthesamesubjectatthelastsession，Ishouldexpectthatthepartialitytoageneral&uniformsystemwouldyieldtogeographical&physicalimpracticabilities。I
wasonceagreatadvocateforintroducingintochanceryvivavocetestimony，&trialbyjury。Iamstillsoastothelatter，buthaveretiredfromtheformeropinionontheinformationreceivedfrombothyourstate&ours，thatitworkedinconveniently。IintroduceditintotheVirginialaw，butdidnotreturntothebar，soastoseehowitanswered。ButIdonotunderstandhowthevivavoceexaminationcomestobepracticedintheFederalcourtwithyou，&
notinyourowncourts；theFederalcourtsbeingdecidedbylawtoproceed&decidebythelawsofthestates。
AgreatrevolutionhastakenplaceatParis。Thepeopleofthatcountryhavingneverbeeninthehabitofself-government，arenotyetinthehabitofacknolegingthatfundamentallawofnature，bywhichaloneselfgovernmentcanbeexercisedbyasociety，Imeanthe_lexmajorispartis_。Ofthesacrednessofthislaw，ourcountrymenareimpressedfromtheircradle，sothatwiththemitisalmostinnate。Thissinglecircumstancemaypossiblydecidethefateofthetwonations。OnepartyappearstohavebeenprevalentintheDirectory&councilof500。theotherinthecouncilofantients。
Sieyes&Ducos，theminorityintheDirectory，notbeingabletocarrytheirpointsthereseemtohavegainedoverBuonaparte，&
associatingthemselveswiththemajorityoftheCouncilofantients，haveexpelled*120。oddmembersthemostobnoxiousoftheminorityoftheElders，&ofthemajorityofthecouncilof500。soastogivethemselvesamajorityinthelattercouncilalso。TheyhaveestablishedBuonaparte，Sieyes&Ducosintoanexecutive，orratherDictatorialconsulate，giventhemacommitteeofbetween20。&30。
fromeachcouncil，&haveadjournedtothe20thofFeb。ThustheConstitutionofthe3dyearwhichwasgettingconsistency&firmnessfromtimeisdemolishedinaninstant，andnothingissaidaboutanewone。Howthenationwillbearitisyetunknown。HadtheConsulsbeenputtodeathinthefirsttumult&beforethenationhadtimetotakesides，theDirectory&councilsmighthavereestablishedthemselvesonthespot。Butthatnotbeingdone，perhapsitisnowtobewishedthatBuonapartemaybespared，as，accordingtohisprotestations，heisforliberty，equality&representativegovernment，andheismoreabletokeepthenationtogether，&torideoutthestormthananyother。Perhapsitmayendintheirestablishingasinglerepresentative&thatinhisperson。Ihopeitwillnotbeforlife，forfearoftheinfluenceoftheexampleonourcountrymen。Itisverymaterialforthelattertobemadesensiblethattheirowncharacter&situationaremateriallydifferentfromtheFrench；&thatwhatevermaybethefateofrepublicanismthere，weareabletopreserveitinviolatehere：wearesensibleoftheduty&expediencyofsubmittingouropinionstothewillofthemajorityandcanwaitwithpatiencetilltheygetrightiftheyhappentobeatanytimewrong。Ourvesselismooredatsuchadistance，thatshouldtheirsblowup，oursisstillsafe，ifwewillbutthinkso。
*60。wereexpelledfromthe500，soastochangethemajoritytheretotheotherside。ItseemsdoubtfulwhetheranywereexpelledfromtheAntients。ThemajoritytherewasalreadywiththeConsularparty。
IhadrecommendedtheenclosedlettertothecareofthepostmasteratLouisville；buthavebeenadviseditisbettertogetafriendtoforwarditbysomeoftheboats。Iwillaskthatfavorofyou。ItistheduplicateofonewiththesameaddresswhichI
inclosedlastweektomr。Innes&shouldthereforegobyadifferentconveyance。Iamwithgreatesteemdearsiryourfriend&servant。
ILLUMINATISM
_ToBishopJamesMadison_
_Philadelphia，Jan。31，1800_
DEARSIR，——Ihavereceivedyourfavorofthe17th，&
communicatedittoMr。Smith。IlatelyforwardedyourletterfromDr。Priestley，endorsed`withabook’；Istruckthosewordsthroughwithmypen，becausenobookhadthencome。Itisnowreceived，&
shallbeforwardedtoRichmondbythefirstopportunity：butsuchopportunitiesaredifficulttofind；gentlemengoinginthestagenotlikingtotakechargeofapacketwhichistobeattendedtoeverytimethestageischanged。ThebestchancewillbebysomecaptainofavesselgoingroundtoRichmond。IshalladdressittothecareofMr。GeorgeJeffersonthere。
Ihavelatelybyaccidentgotasightofasinglevolumethe3d。oftheAbbeBarruel’s`Antisocialconspiracy，’whichgivesmethefirstideaIhaveeverhadofwhatismeantbytheIlluminatismagainstwhich`illuminateMorse’asheisnowcalled，&hisecclesiastical&monarchicalassociateshavebeenmakingsuchahueandcry。Barruel’sownpartsofthebookareperfectlytheravingsofaBedlamite。ButhequoteslargelyfromWishauptwhomheconsidersasthefounderofwhathecallstheorder。Asyoumaynothavehadanopportunityofformingajudgmentofthiscryof`maddog’whichhasbeenraisedagainsthisdoctrines，IwillgiveyoutheideaIhaveformedfromonlyanhour’sreadingofBarruel’squotationsfromhim，whichyoumaybesurearenotthemostfavorable。WishauptseemstobeanenthusiasticPhilanthropist。HeisamongthoseasyouknowtheexcellentPriceandPriestleyalsoarewhobelieveintheindefiniteperfectibilityofman。Hethinkshemayintimeberenderedsoperfectthathewillbeabletogovernhimselfineverycircumstancesoastoinjurenone，todoallthegoodhecan，toleavegovernmentnooccasiontoexercisetheirpowersoverhim，&ofcoursetorenderpoliticalgovernmentuseless。ThisyouknowisGodwin’sdoctrine，andthisiswhatRobinson，Barruel&
Morsehadcalledaconspiracyagainstallgovernment。WishauptbelievesthattopromotethisperfectionofthehumancharacterwastheobjectofJesusChrist。Thathisintentionwassimplytoreinstatenaturalreligion，&bydiffusingthelightofhismorality，toteachustogovernourselves。Hispreceptsaretheloveofgod&