loveofourneighbor。Andbyteachinginnocenceofconduct，heexpectedtoplacemenintheirnaturalstateofliberty&equality。
Hesays，nooneeverlaidasurerfoundationforlibertythanourgrandmaster，JesusofNazareth。HebelievestheFreemasonswereoriginallypossessedofthetrueprinciples&objectsofChristianity，&havestillpreservedsomeofthembytradition，butmuchdisfigured。Themeansheproposestoeffectthisimprovementofhumannatureare`toenlightenmen，tocorrecttheirmorals&inspirethemwithbenevolence。Secureofoursuccess，saishe，weabstainfromviolentcommotions。Tohaveforeseenthehappinessofposterity&tohaveprepareditbyirreproachablemeans，sufficesforourfelicity。Thetranquilityofourconsciencesisnottroubledbythereproachofaimingattheruinoroverthrowofstatesorthrones。’AsWishauptlivedunderthetyrannyofadespot&priests，heknewthatcautionwasnecessaryeveninspreadinginformation，&theprinciplesofpuremorality。HeproposedthereforetoleadtheFreemasonstoadoptthisobject&tomaketheobjectsoftheirinstitutionthediffusionofscience&virtue。Heproposedtoinitiatenewmembersintohisbodybygradationsproportionedtohisfearsofthethunderboltsoftyranny。Thishasgivenanairofmysterytohisviews，wasthefoundationofhisbanishment，thesubversionofthemasonicorder，&isthecolourfortheravingsagainsthimofRobinson，Barruel&Morse，whoserealfearsarethatthecraftwouldbeendangeredbythespreadingofinformation，reason，&naturalmoralityamongmen。Thissubjectbeingnewtome，Ihaveimaginedthatifitbesotoyoualso，youmayreceivethesamesatisfactioninseeing，whichIhavehadinformingtheanalysisofit：&I
believeyouwillthinkwithmethatifWishaupthadwrittenhere，wherenosecrecyisnecessaryinourendeavorstorendermenwise&
virtuous，hewouldnothavethoughtofanysecretmachineryforthatpurpose。AsGodwin，ifhehadwritteninGermany，mightprobablyalsohavethoughtsecrecy&mysticismprudent。IwillsaynothingtoyouonthelaterevolutionofFrance，whichispainfullyinteresting。
Perhapswhenweknowmoreofthecircumstanceswhichgaverisetoit，&thedirectionitwilltake，Buonaparte，itschieforgan，maystandinabetterlightthanatpresent。Iamwithgreatesteem，dearsir，youraffectionatefriend。”AFEWPLAINDUTIES”
_ToGideonGranger_
_Monticello，Aug。13，1800_
DEARSIR，——IreceivedwithgreatpleasureyourfavorofJune4，andammuchcomfortedbytheappearanceofachangeofopinioninyourstate；fortho’wemayobtain，&Ibelieveshallobtain，amajorityinthelegislatureoftheUnitedStates，attachedtothepreservationoftheFederalconstitutionaccordingtoit’sobviousprinciples，&thoseonwhichitwasknowntobereceived；attachedequallytothepreservationtothestatesofthoserightsunquestionablyremainingwiththem；friendstothefreedomofreligion，freedomofthepress，trialbyjury&toeconomicalgovernment；opposedtostandingarmies，papersystems，war，&allconnection，otherthancommerce，withanyforeignnation；inshort，amajorityfirminallthoseprincipleswhichwehaveespousedandthefederalistshaveopposeduniformly；still，shouldthewholebodyofNewEnglandcontinueinoppositiontotheseprinciplesofgovernment，eitherknowinglyorthroughdelusion，ourgovernmentwillbeaveryuneasyone。Itcanneverbeharmonious&solid，whilesorespectableaportionofit’scitizenssupportprincipleswhichgodirectlytoachangeofthefederalconstitution，tosinkthestategovernments，consolidatethemintoone，andtomonarchizethat。Ourcountryistoolargetohaveallitsaffairsdirectedbyasinglegovernment。
Publicservantsatsuchadistance，&fromundertheeyeoftheirconstituents，must，fromthecircumstanceofdistance，beunabletoadminister&overlookallthedetailsnecessaryforthegoodgovernmentofthecitizens，andthesamecircumstance，byrenderingdetectionimpossibletotheirconstituents，willinvitethepublicagentstocorruption，plunder&waste。AndIdoverilybelieve，thatiftheprincipleweretoprevail，ofacommonlawbeinginforceintheUS，whichprinciplepossessesthegeneralgovernmentatonceofallthepowersofthestategovernments，andreducesustoasingleconsolidatedgovernment，itwouldbecomethemostcorruptgovernmentontheearth。Youhaveseenthepractisesbywhichthepublicservantshavebeenabletocovertheirconduct，or，wherethatcouldnotbedone，delusionsbywhichtheyhavevarnisheditfortheeyeoftheirconstituents。Whatanaugmentationofthefieldforjobbing，speculating，plundering，office-building&office-huntingwouldbeproducedbyanassumptionofallthestatepowersintothehandsofthegeneralgovernment。Thetruetheoryofourconstitutionissurelythewisest&best，thatthestatesareindependentastoeverythingwithinthemselves，&unitedastoeverythingrespectingforeignnations。Letthegeneralgovernmentbereducedtoforeignconcernsonly，andletouraffairsbedisentangledfromthoseofallothernations，exceptastocommerce，whichthemerchantswillmanagethebetter，themoretheyareleftfreetomanageforthemselves，andourgeneralgovernmentmaybereducedtoaverysimpleorganization，&averyunexpensiveone；afewplaindutiestobeperformedbyafewservants。ButIrepeat，thatthissimple&economicalmodeofgovernmentcanneverbesecured，iftheNewEnglandStatescontinuetosupportthecontrarysystem。Irejoice，therefore，ineveryappearanceoftheirreturningtothoseprincipleswhichIhadalwaysimaginedtobealmostinnateinthem。InthisState，afewpersonsweredeludedbytheX。Y。Z。duperies。YousawtheeffectofitinourlastCongressionalrepresentatives，chosenundertheirinfluence。
Thisexperimentontheircredulityisnowseeninto，andournextrepresentationwillbeasrepublicanasithasheretoforebeen。Onthewhole，wehope，thatbyapartoftheUnionhavingheldontotheprinciplesoftheconstitution，timehasbeengiventothestatestorecoverfromthetemporaryfrenzyintowhichtheyhadbeendecoyed，torallyroundtheconstitution，&torescueitfromthedestructionwithwhichithadbeenthreatenedevenattheirownhands。IseecopiedfromtheAmericanMagazinetwonumbersofapapersignedDonQuixotte，mostexcellentlyadaptedtointroducetherealtruthtothemindsevenofthemostprejudiced。
Iwould，withgreatpleasure，havewrittentheletteryoudesiredinbehalfofyourfriend，butthereareexistingcircumstanceswhichrenderaletterfrommetothatmagistrateasimproperasitwouldbeunavailing。Ishallbehappy，onsomemorefortunateoccasion，toprovetoyoumydesireofservingyourwishes。
IsometimeagoreceivedaletterfromaMr。M’GregoryofDerby，inyourState；itiswrittenwithsuchadegreeofgoodsense&
appearanceofcandor，asentitlesittoananswer。Yetthewriterbeingentirelyunknowntome，andthestratagemsofthetimesverymultifarious，Ihavethoughtitbesttoavailmyselfofyourfriendship，&enclosetheanswertoyou。Youwillseeit’snature。
Ifyoufindfromthecharacterofthepersontowhomitisaddressed，thatnoimproperusewouldprobablybemadeofit，besogoodastoseal&sendit。Otherwisesuppressit。
HowwillthevoteofyourStateandRIbeastoA。andP。?
Iam，withgreatandsincereesteem，dearSir，yourfriendandservant。”IHAVESWORNUPONTHEALTAROFGOD……”
_ToDr。BenjaminRush_
_Monticello，Sep。23，1800_
DEARSIR，——IhavetoacknolegethereceiptofyourfavorofAug。22，andtocongratulateyouonthehealthinessofyourcity。
StillBaltimore，Norfolk&Providenceadmonishusthatwearenotclearofournewscourge。Whengreatevilshappen，Iaminthehabitoflookingoutforwhatgoodmayarisefromthemasconsolationstous，andProvidencehasinfactsoestablishedtheorderofthings，asthatmostevilsarethemeansofproducingsomegood。Theyellowfeverwilldiscouragethegrowthofgreatcitiesinournation，&I
viewgreatcitiesaspestilentialtothemorals，thehealthandthelibertiesofman。True，theynourishsomeoftheelegantarts，buttheusefulonescanthriveelsewhere，andlessperfectionintheothers，withmorehealth，virtue&freedom，wouldbemychoice。
Iagreewithyouentirely，incondemningthemaniaofgivingnamestoobjectsofanykindafterpersonsstillliving。Deathalonecansealthetitleofanymantothishonor，byputtingitoutofhispowertoforfeitit。Thereisoneothermodeofrecordingmerit，whichIhaveoftenthoughtmightbeintroduced，soastogratifythelivingbypraisingthedead。Ingiving，forinstance，acommissionofchiefjusticetoBushrodWashington，itshouldbeinconsiderationofhisintegrity，andscienceinthelaws，andoftheservicesrenderedtoourcountrybyhisillustriousrelation，&c。A
commissiontoadescendantofDr。Franklin，besidesbeinginconsiderationoftheproperqualificationsoftheperson，shouldaddthatofthegreatservicesrenderedbyhisillustriousancestor，BnFr，bytheadvancementofscience，byinventionsusefultoman，&c。
Iamnotsurethatweoughttochangeallournames。Andduringtheregalgovernment，sometimes，indeed，theyweregiventhroughadulation；butoftenalsoastherewardofthemeritofthetimes，sometimesforservicesrenderedthecolony。Perhaps，too，anamewhengiven，shouldbedeemedasacredproperty。
IpromisedyoualetteronChristianity，whichIhavenotforgotten。Onthecontrary，itisbecauseIhavereflectedonit，thatIfindmuchmoretimenecessaryforitthanIcanatpresentdisposeof。IhaveaviewofthesubjectwhichoughttodispleaseneithertherationalChristiannorDeists，andwouldreconcilemanytoacharactertheyhavetoohastilyrejected。Idonotknowthatitwouldreconcilethe_genusirritabilevatum_whoareallinarmsagainstme。Theirhostilityisontoointerestinggroundtobesoftened。ThedelusionintowhichtheX。Y。Z。plotsheweditpossibletopushthepeople；thesuccessfulexperimentmadeundertheprevalenceofthatdelusionontheclauseoftheconstitution，which，whileitsecuredthefreedomofthepress，coveredalsothefreedomofreligion，hadgiventotheclergyaveryfavoritehopeofobtaininganestablishmentofaparticularformofChristianitythro’
theU。S。；andaseverysectbelievesitsownformthetrueone，everyoneperhapshopedforhisown，butespeciallytheEpiscopalians&Congregationalists。Thereturninggoodsenseofourcountrythreatensabortiontotheirhopes，&theybelievethatanyportionofpowerconfidedtome，willbeexertedinoppositiontotheirschemes。
Andtheybelieverightly；forIhaveswornuponthealtarofgod，eternalhostilityagainsteveryformoftyrannyoverthemindofman。
Butthisisalltheyhavetofearfromme：&enoughtoointheiropinion，&thisisthecauseoftheirprintinglyingpamphletsagainstme，forgingconversationsformewithMazzei，BishopMadison，&c。，whichareabsolutefalsehoodswithoutacircumstanceoftruthtoreston；falsehoods，too，ofwhichIacquitMazzei&BishopMadison，fortheyaremenoftruth。
Butenoughofthis：itismorethanIhavebeforecommittedtopaperonthesubjectofalltheliesthathasbeenpreachedandprintedagainstme。IhavenotseentheworkofSonnoniwhichyoumention，butIhaveseenanotherworkonAfrica，Parke’s，whichI
fearwillthrowcoldwateronthehopesofthefriendsoffreedom。
Youwillhearanaccountofanattemptatinsurrectioninthisstate。
Iamlookingwithanxietytoseewhatwillbeit’seffectonourstate。Wearetrulytobepitied。IfearwehavelittlechancetoseeyouattheFederalcityorinVirginia，andaslittleatPhiladelphia。Itwouldbeagreattreattoreceiveyouhere。Butnothingbutsicknesscouldeffectthat；soIdonotwishit。ForI
wishyouhealthandhappiness，andthinkofyouwithaffection。
Adieu。”PHILOSOPHICALVEDETTE”ATADISTANCE
_ToWilliamDunbar_
_Washington，Jan。12，1801_
DEARSIR，——YourfavorofJuly14，withthepapersaccompanyingit，camesafelytohandaboutthelastofOctober。ThatcontainingremarksonthelineofdemarcationIperusedaccordingtoyourpermission，andwithgreatsatisfaction，andthenenclosedtoafriendinPhiladelphia，tobeforwardedtoit’saddress。Thepapersaddressedtome，ItookthelibertyofcommunicatingtothePhilosophicalsociety。Thatonthelanguagebysignsisquitenew。
Soonafterreceivingyourmeteorologicaldiary，IreceivedoneofQuebec；andwasstruckwiththecomparisonbetween-32&193/4
thelowestdepressionofthethermometeratQuebec&theNatchez。I
haveoftenwonderedthatanyhumanbeingshouldliveinacoldcountrywhocanfindroominawarmone。Ihavenodoubtbutthatcoldisthesourceofmoresufferancetoallanimalnaturethanhunger，thirst，sickness，&alltheotherpainsoflife&ofdeathitselfputtogether。Iliveinatemperateclimate，andundercircumstanceswhichdonotexposemeoftentocold。YetwhenI
recollectononehandallthesufferingsIhavehadfromcold，&ontheotherallmyotherpains，theformerpreponderategreatly。Whatthenmustbethesumofthatevilifwetakeinthevastproportionofmenwhoareobligedtobeoutinallweather，byland&bysea，allthefamiliesofbeasts，birds，reptiles，&eventhevegetablekingdom！forthattoohaslife，andwherethereislifetheremaybesensation。Iremarkarainbowofagreatportionofthecircleobservedbyyouwhenonthelineofdemarcation。Iliveinasituationwhichhasgivenmeanopportunityofseeingmorethanthesemicircleoften。Iamonahill500f。perpendicularlyhigh。Ontheeastsideitbreaksdownabruptlytothebase，whereariverpassesthrough。Arainbow，therefore，aboutsunset，plungesoneofit’slegsdowntotheriver，500f。belowtheleveloftheeyeonthetopofthehill。Ihavetwiceseenbowsformedbythemoon。Theywereofthecolorofthecommoncircleroundthemoon，andwereverynear，beingwithinafewpacesofmeinbothinstances。IthankyouforthelittlevocabulariesofBedais，JankawisandTeghas。IhaveitmuchathearttomakeasextensiveacollectionaspossibleoftheIndiantongues。Ihaveatpresentabout30。tolerablyfull，amongwhichthenumberradicallydifferent，istrulywonderful。Itiscurioustoconsiderhowsuchhandfulsofmencamebydifferentlanguages，&howtheyhavepreservedthemsodistinct。Iatfirstthoughtofreducingthemalltooneorthography，butIsoonbecomesensiblethatthiswouldoccasiontwosourcesoferrorinsteadofone。Ithereforethinkitbesttokeepthemintheformoforthographyinwhichtheyweretaken，onlynotingwhetherthatwereEnglish，French，German，orwhat。Ihaveneverbeenaverypunctualcorrespondent，anditispossiblethatnewdutiesmaymakemelessso。IhopeIshallnotonthataccountlosethebenefitofyourcommunications。Philosophicalvedetteatthedistanceofonethousandmiles，andonthevergeoftheterraincognitaofourcontinent，isprecioustoushere。Iprayyoutoacceptassurancesofmyhighconsideration&esteem，andfriendlysalutations。
THEREVOLUTIONOF1800
_ToJohnDickinson_
_Washington，Mar。6，1801_