第69章
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  wouldratherleavethetransfertotheslowhandofaccident,thanhastenitbyguiltyexperimentsonthosewhoputtheirlivesintomyhands。Theonlysurefoundationsofmedicineare,anintimateknolegeofthehumanbody,andobservationontheeffectsofmedicinalsubstancesonthat。Theanatomical&clinicalschools,therefore,arethoseinwhichtheyoungphysicianshouldbeformed。

  Ifheenterswithinnocencethatofthetheoryofmedicine,itisscarcelypossibleheshouldcomeoutuntaintedwitherror。Hismindmustbestrongindeed,if,risingabovejuvenilecredulity,itcanmaintainawiseinfidelityagainsttheauthorityofhisinstructors,&thebewitchingdelusionsoftheirtheories。YouseethatI

  estimatejustlythatportionofinstructionwhichourmedicalstudentsderivefromyourlabors;&,associatingwithitoneofthechairswhichmyold&ablefriend,DoctorRush,sohonorablyfills,I

  considerthemasthetwofundamentalpillarsoftheedifice。Indeed,Ihavesuchanopinionofthetalentsoftheprofessorsintheotherbrancheswhichconstitutetheschoolofmedicinewithyou,astohope&believe,thatitisfromthissideoftheAtlantic,thatEurope,whichhastaughtussomanyotherthings,willatlengthbeledintosoundprinciplesinthisbranchofscience,themostimportantofallothers,beingthattowhichwecommitthecareofhealth&life。

  Idaresay,thatbythistime,youaresufficientlysensiblethatoldheadsaswellasyoung,maysometimesbechargedwithignoranceandpresumption。Thenaturalcourseofthehumanmindiscertainlyfromcredulitytoscepticism;andthisisperhapsthemostfavorableapologyIcanmakeforventuringsofaroutofmydepth,&

  toonetoo,towhomthestrongaswellastheweakpointsofthissciencearesofamiliar。Buthavingstumbledonthesubjectinmyway,Iwishedtogiveaconfessionofmyfaithtoafriend;&therather,asIhadperhaps,attime,tohimaswellasothers,expressedmyscepticisminmedicine,withoutdefiningit’sextentorfoundation。Atanyrate,ithaspermittedme,foramoment,toabstractmyselffromthedry&drearywasteofpolitics,intowhichI

  havebeenimpressedbythetimesonwhichIhappened,andtoindulgeintherichfieldsofnature,wherealoneIshouldhaveservedasavolunteer,iflefttomynaturalinclinations&partialities。

  Isaluteyouatalltimeswithaffection&respect。

  TORPEDOESANDSUBMARINES

  _ToRobertFulton_

  _Monticello,August16,1807_

  SIR,——YourletterofJuly28,cametohandjustasIwasaboutleavingWashington,&ithasnotbeensoonerinmypowertoacknolegeit。Iconsideryourtorpedoesasveryvaluablemeansofdefenceofharbors,&havenodoubtthatweshouldadoptthemtoaconsiderabledegree。NotthatIgothewholelengthasIbelieveyoudoofconsideringthemassolelytobereliedon。Neitheranationnorthoseentrustedwithit’saffairs,couldbejustifiable,howeversanguinetheirexpectations,intrustingsolelytoanenginenotyetsufficientlytried,underallthecircumstanceswhichmayoccur,&againstwhichweknownotasyetwhatmeansofparryingmaybedevised。If,indeed,themodeofattachingthemtothecableofashipbetheonlyoneproposed,modesofpreventioncannotbedifficult。ButIhaveeverlookedtothesubmarineboatasmosttobedependedonforattachingthem,&tho’Iseenomentionofitinyourletter,oryourpublications,Iaminhopesitisnotabandonedasimpracticable。Ishouldwishtoseeacorpsofyoungmentrainedtothisservice。Itwouldbelongtotheengineersifatland,butbeingnautical,Isupposewemusthaveacorpsofnavalengineers,topractise&usethem。Idonotknowwhetherwehaveauthoritytoputanypartofourexistingnavalestablishmentinacourseoftraining,butitshallbethesubjectofaconsultationwiththeSecretaryoftheNavy。GenlDearbornehasinformedyouoftheurgencyofourwantofyouatNOrleansforthelocksthere。

  Isaluteyouwithgreatrespect&esteem。

  RELIGIOUSFREEDOM

  _ToRev。SamuelMiller_

  _Washington,Jan。23,1808_

  SIR,——Ihavedulyreceivedyourfavorofthe18thandamthankfultoyouforhavingwrittenit,becauseitismoreagreeabletopreventthantorefusewhatIdonotthinkmyselfauthorizedtocomplywith。IconsiderthegovernmentoftheUS。asinterdictedbytheConstitutionfromintermeddlingwithreligiousinstitutions,theirdoctrines,discipline,orexercises。Thisresultsnotonlyfromtheprovisionthatnolawshallbemaderespectingtheestablishment,orfreeexercise,ofreligion,butfromthatalsowhichreservestothestatesthepowersnotdelegatedtotheU。S。

  Certainlynopowertoprescribeanyreligiousexercise,ortoassumeauthorityinreligiousdiscipline,hasbeendelegatedtothegeneralgovernment。Itmustthenrestwiththestates,asfarasitcanbeinanyhumanauthority。ButitisonlyproposedthatIshould_recommend_,notprescribeadayoffasting&prayer。Thatis,thatIshould_indirectly_assumetotheU。S。anauthorityoverreligiousexerciseswhichtheConstitutionhasdirectlyprecludedthemfrom。

  Itmustbemeanttoothatthisrecommendationistocarrysomeauthority,andtobesanctionedbysomepenaltyonthosewhodisregardit;notindeedoffineandimprisonment,butofsomedegreeofproscriptionperhapsinpublicopinion。Anddoesthechangeinthenatureofthepenaltymaketherecommendationtheless_alaw_ofconductforthosetowhomitisdirected?Idonotbelieveitisfortheinterestofreligiontoinvitethecivilmagistratetodirectit’sexercises,it’sdiscipline,orit’sdoctrines;norofthereligioussocietiesthatthegeneralgovernmentshouldbeinvestedwiththepowerofeffectinganyuniformityoftimeormatteramongthem。Fasting&prayerarereligiousexercises。Theenjoiningthemanactofdiscipline。Everyreligioussocietyhasarighttodetermineforitselfthetimesfortheseexercises,&theobjectsproperforthem,accordingtotheirownparticulartenets;andthisrightcanneverbesaferthanintheirownhands,wheretheconstitutionhasdepositedit。

  Iamawarethatthepracticeofmypredecessorsmaybequoted。

  ButIhaveeverbelievedthattheexampleofstateexecutivesledtotheassumptionofthatauthoritybythegeneralgovernment,withoutdueexamination,whichwouldhavediscoveredthatwhatmightbearightinastategovernment,wasaviolationofthatrightwhenassumedbyanother。Bethisasitmay,everyonemustactaccordingtothedictatesofhisownreason,&minetellsmethatcivilpowersalonehavebeengiventothePresidentoftheUS。andnoauthoritytodirectthereligiousexercisesofhisconstituents。

  Iagainexpressmysatisfactionthatyouhavebeensogoodastogivemeanopportunityofexplainingmyselfinaprivateletter,inwhichIcouldgivemyreasonsmoreindetailthanmighthavebeendoneinapublicanswer:andIprayyoutoaccepttheassurancesofmyhighesteem&respect。”SUBJECTSFORAMAD-HOUSE”

  _ToDr。ThomasLeib_

  _Washington,June23,1808_

  SIR,——IhavedulyreceivedyourfavorcoveringacopyofthetalktotheTammanysociety,forwhichIthankyou,andparticularlyforthefavorablesentimentsexpressedtowardsmyself。Certainly,nothingwillsomuchsweetenthetranquillityandcomfortofretirement,astheknoledgethatIcarrywithmethegoodwill&

  approbationofmyrepublicanfellowcitizens,andespeciallyoftheindividualsinunisonwithwhomIhavesolongacted。Withrespecttothefederalists,Ibelievewethinkalike;forwhenspeakingofthem,wenevermeantoincludeaworthyportionofourfellowcitizens,whoconsiderthemselvesasindutyboundtosupporttheconstitutedauthoritiesofeverybranch,andtoreservetheiroppositiontotheperiodofelection。Thesehavingacquiredtheappellationoffederalists,whileafederaladministrationwasinplace,havenotcaredaboutthrowingofftheirname,butadheringtotheirprinciple,arethesupportersofthepresentorderofthings。

  Theotherbranchofthefederalists,thosewhoaresoinprincipleaswellasinname,disapproveoftherepublicanprinciples&featuresofourConstitution,andwould,Ibelieve,welcomeanypubliccalamitywarwithEnglandexceptedwhichmightlessentheconfidenceofourcountryinthoseprinciples&forms。Ihavegenerallyconsideredthemratherassubjectsforamad-house。Buttheyarenowplayingagameofthemostmischevioustendency,withoutperhapsbeingthemselvesawareofit。TheyareendeavoringtoconvinceEnglandthatwesuffermorebytheembargothantheydo,&

  thatiftheywillbutholdoutawhile,wemustabandonit。Itistrue,thetimewillcomewhenwemustabandonit。Butifthisisbeforetherepealoftheordersofcouncil,wemustabandonitonlyforastateofwar。Thedayisnotdistant,whenthatwillbepreferabletoalongercontinuanceoftheembargo。Butwecanneverremovethat,&letourvesselsgoout&betakenundertheseorders,withoutmakingreprisal。Yetthisistheverystateofthingswhichthesefederalmonarchistsareendeavoringtobringabout;andinthisitisbuttoopossibletheymaysucceed。Butthefactis,thatifwehavewarwithEngland,itwillbesolelyproducedbytheirmanoeuvres。Ithinkthatintwoorthreemonthsweshallknowwhatwillbetheissue。

  Isaluteyouwithesteem&respect。

  BONESFORTHENATIONALINSTITUTE

  _ToLacepede,withaCatalogue_

  _Washington,July14,1808_

  SIR,——Ifmyrecollectiondoesnotdeceiveme,thecollectionoftheremainsoftheanimalincognitumoftheOhiosometimescalledmammoth,possessedbytheCabinetofNaturalHistoryatParis,isnotverycopious。Underthisimpression,andpresumingthatthisCabinetisalliedtotheNationalInstitute,towhichIamdesirousofrenderingsomeservice,Ihavelatelyavailedmyselfofanopportunityofcollectingsomeofthoseremains。GeneralClarkethecompanionofGovernorLewisinhisexpeditiontothePacificOcean

  being,onalatejourney,topassbytheBig-boneLickoftheOhio,waskindenoughtoundertaketoemployformeanumberoflaborers,andtodirecttheiroperationsindiggingforthesebonesatthisimportantdepositofthem。TheresultoftheseresearcheswillappearintheenclosedcatalogueofspecimenswhichIamnowabletoplaceatthedisposaloftheNationalInstitute。AnavisobeingtoleavethisplaceforsomeportofFranceonpublicservice,IdeliverthepackagestoCaptainHaley,tobedepositedwiththeConsuloftheUnitedStates,atwhateverporthemayland。TheyareaddressedtoMr。WardenofourlegationatParis,fortheNationalInstitute,andhewillhavethehonorofdeliveringthem。TotheseIhaveaddedthehornsofananimalcalledbythenativestheMountainRam,resemblingthesheepbyhishead,butmorenearlythedeerinhisotherparts;

  asalsotheskinofanotheranimal,resemblingthesheepbyhisfleecebutthegoatinhisotherparts。ThisiscalledbythenativestheFleecyGoat,orinthestyleofthenaturalhistorian,thePokotragos。IsuspectittobenearlyrelatedtothePacos,andwerewetogroupthefleecyanimalstogether,itwouldstandperhapswiththeVigogne,Pacos,andSheep。TheMountainRamwasfoundinabundancebyMessrs。LewisandClarkeontheirwesterntour,andwasfrequentlyanarticleoffoodfortheirparty,andesteemedmoredelicatethanthedeer。TheFleecyGoattheydidnotsee,butprocuredtwoskinsfromtheIndians,ofwhichthisisone。TheirdescriptionwillbegivenintheworkofGovernorLewis,thejournalandgeographicalpartofwhichmaybesoonexpectedfromthepress;

  butthepartsrelatingtotheplantsandanimalsobservedinhistour,willbedelayedbytheengravings。Inthemeantime,theplantsofwhichhebroughtseeds,havebeenverysuccessfullyraisedinthebotanicalgardenofMr。HamiltonoftheWoodlands,andbyMr。

  McMahon,agardenerofPhiladelphia;andonthewhole,itiswithpleasureIcanassureyouthattheadditiontoourknowledgeineverydepartment,resultingfromthistourofMessrs。LewisandClarke,hasentirelyfulfilledmyexpectationsinsettingitonfoot,andthattheworldwillfindthatthosetravellershavewellearneditsfavor。

  IwilltakecarethattheInstituteaswellasyourselfshallreceiveGovernorLewis’sworkasitappears。

  ItiswithpleasureIembracethisoccasionofreturningyoumythanksforthefavorofyourveryvaluableworks,_surlespoissonsetlescetacees_,whichyouweresokindastosendmethroughMr。

  LivingstonandGeneralTurreau,andwhichIfindentirelyworthyofyourhighreputationintheliteraryworld。ThatIhavenotsoonermadethisacknowledgmenthasnotproceededfromanywantofrespectandattachmenttoyourself,orajustvalueofyourestimablepresent,butfromthestrongandincessantcallsofdutytootherobjects。Thecandorofyourcharactergivesmeconfidenceofyourindulgenceonthishead,andIassureyouwithtruththatnocircumstancesaremorewelcometomethanthosewhichgivemetheoccasionofrecallingmyselftoyourrecollection,andofrenewingtoyoutheassurancesofsincerepersonalattachment,andofgreatrespectandconsideration。

  _ContentsofthelargesquareBox。_

  AFibia。

  ARadius。

  Tworibsbelongingtotheupperpartofthethorax。

  Tworibsfromalowerpartofthethorax。

  Oneentirevertebra。

  Twospinousprocessesofthevertebrabrokenfromthebodies。

  Dentesmolares,whichappeartohavebelongedtothefull-grownanimal。

  Aportionoftheunder-jawofayounganimalwithtwomolarteethinit。

  Theseteethappeartohavebelongedtoafirstset,astheyaresmall,andtheposteriorhasbutthreegrindingridges,insteadoffive,thecommonnumberinadultteethofthelowerjaw。

  Anotherportionoftheunder-jaw,includingthesymphisis,orchin。Inthisportiontheteethofonesideareeverywaycomplete;

  towit,theposteriorhasfivetransverseridges,andtheanteriorthree。

  Afragmentoftheupper-jawwithonemolartoothmuchworn。

  MolarteethwhichwesupposetobelikethoseofthemammothorelephantofSiberia。Theyareessentiallydifferentfromthoseofthemammothorelephantofthiscountry,andalthoughsimilarinsomerespectstotheteethoftheAsiaticelephant,theyagreemorecompletelywiththedescriptionoftheteethfoundinSiberiainthearrangementandsizeofthetransverselaminaofenamel。Thisidea,however,isnotderivedfromactualcomparisonofthedifferentteethwitheachother,forwehavenospecimensofSiberianteethinthiscountry;butfrominferencesdeducedfromthevariousaccountsanddrawingsoftheseteethtobefoundinbooks。AfewoftheseteethhavebeenfoundinseveralplaceswherethebonesoftheAmericananimalhaveexisted。

  AnAstragalus。

  AnOscalcis。

  Osnaviculare。

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