Andastheremustbesomeruleofpriorityforthedistribution，letusbeginwithourowncounties，whicharecontiguousandnearlycentraltotheState，andproceed，circleaftercircle，tillwehavegivenaramtoeverycounty。Thiswilltakeaboutsevenyears，ifweaddtothefulldescendantsthosewhichwillhavepasttothefourthgenerationfromcommonewes，tomakethebenefitofasinglemaleasgeneralaspracticabletothecounty，wemayasksomeknowncharacterineachcountytohaveasmallsocietyformedwhichshallreceivetheanimalandprescriberulesforhiscareandgovernment。Weshouldretainourselvesallthefull-bloodedewes，thattheymayenableusthesoonertofurnishamaletoeverycounty。Whenallshallhavebeenprovidedwithrams，wemay，inayearortwomore，beinaconditiontogiveanewealsotoeverycounty，ifitbethoughtnecessary。ButIsupposeitwillnot，asfourgenerationsfromtheirfull-bloodedramwillgivethemthepureracefromcommonewes。
Inthemeantimeweshallnotbewithoutaprofitindemnifyingourtroubleandexpense。Forifofourpresentstockofcommonewes，weplacewiththeramasmanyashemaybecompetentto，supposefifty，wemaysellthemalelambsofeveryyearforsuchreasonablepriceasinadditiontothewool，willpayforthemaintenanceoftheflock。Thefirstyeartheywillbehalfbloods，thesecondthree-quarters，thethirdseven-eights，andthefourthfull-blooded，ifwetakecareinsellingannuallyhalftheewesalso，tokeepthoseofhighestblood，thiswillbeafundforkindnessestoourfriends，aswellasforindemnificationtoourselves；andourwholeStatemaythus，fromthissmallstock，sodispersed，befilledinaveryfewyearswiththisvaluablerace，andmoresatisfactionresulttoourselvesthanmoneyeveradministeredtothebosomofashaver。
Therewillbedangerthatwhatishereproposed，thoughbutanactofordinaryduty，maybepervertedintooneofostentation，butmalicewillalwaysfindbadmotivesforgoodactions。Shallwethereforeneverdogood?Itmayalsobeusedtocommituswiththoseonwhoseexampleitwilltrulybeareproof。Wemayguardagainstthisperhapsbyaproperreserve，developingourpurposeonlybyitsexecution。
Vive，vale，etsiquidnovistirectiusistisCandidusimpertisinon，hisuleremecum。
SCHOOLSAND”LITTLEREPUBLICS”
_ToJohnTyler_
_Monticello，May26，1810_
DEARSIR，——Yourfriendlyletterofthe12thhasbeendulyreceived。AlthoughIhavelaiditdownasalawtomyself，nevertoembarrassthePresidentwithmysolicitations，andhavenottillnowbrokenthroughit，yetIhavemadeapartofyourletterthesubjectofonetohim，andhavedoneitwithallmyheart，andinthefullbeliefthatIservehimandthepublicinurgingthatappointment。
Wehavelongenoughsufferedunderthebaseprostitutionoflawtopartypassionsinonejudge，andtheimbecilityofanother。Inthehandsofonethelawisnothingmorethananambiguoustext，tobeexplainedbyhissophistryintoanymeaningwhichmaysubservehispersonalmalice。Norcananymilk-and-waterassociatemaintainhisowndependance，andbyafirmpursuanceofwhatthelawreallyis，extenditsprotectiontothecitizensorthepublic。Ibelieveyouwilldoit，andwhereyoucannotinduceyourcolleaguetodowhatisright，youwillbefirmenoughtohinderhimfromdoingwhatiswrong，andbyopposingsensetosophistry，leavethejuriesfreetofollowtheirownjudgment。
Ihavelonglamentedwithyouthedepreciationoflawscience。
TheopinionseemstobethatBlackstoneistouswhattheAlcoranistotheMahometans，thateverythingwhichisnecessaryisinhim，andwhatisnotinhimisnotnecessary。Istilllendmycounselandbookstosuchyoungstudentsaswillfixthemselvesintheneighborhood。Coke’sinstitutesandreportsaretheirfirst，andBlackstonetheirlastbook，afteranintermediatecourseoftwoorthreeyears。Itisnothingmorethananelegantdigestofwhattheywillthenhaveacquiredfromtherealfountainsofthelaw。Nowmenarebornscholars，lawyers，doctors；inourdaythiswasconfinedtopoets。Youwishtoseemeagaininthelegislature，butthisisimpossible；mymindisnowsodissolvedintranquillity，thatitcanneveragainencounteracontentiousassembly；thehabitsofthinkingandspeakingoff-hand，afteradisuseoffiveandtwentyyears，havegivenplacetotheslowerprocessofthepen。Ihaveindeedtwogreatmeasuresatheart，withoutwhichnorepubliccanmaintainitselfinstrength。1。Thatofgeneraleducation，toenableeverymantojudgeforhimselfwhatwillsecureorendangerhisfreedom。
2。Todivideeverycountyintohundreds，ofsuchsizethatallthechildrenofeachwillbewithinreachofacentralschoolinit。Butthisdivisionlookstomanyotherfundamentalprovisions。Everyhundred，besidesaschool，shouldhaveajusticeofthepeace，aconstableandacaptainofmilitia。Theseofficers，orsomeotherswithinthehundred，shouldbeacorporationtomanageallitsconcerns，totakecareofitsroads，itspoor，anditspolicebypatrols，&c。，astheselectmenoftheEasterntownships。Everyhundredshouldelectoneortwojurorstoservewhererequisite，andallotherelectionsshouldbemadeinthehundredsseparately，andthevotesofallthehundredsbebroughttogether。OurpresentCaptainciesmightbedeclaredhundredsforthepresent，withapowertothecourtstoalterthemoccasionally。Theselittlerepublicswouldbethemainstrengthofthegreatone。WeowetothemthevigorgiventoourrevolutioninitscommencementintheEasternStates，andbythemtheEasternStateswereenabledtorepealtheembargoinoppositiontotheMiddle，SouthernandWesternStates，andtheirlargeandlubberlydivisionintocountieswhichcanneverbeassembled。Generalordersaregivenoutfromacentretotheforemanofeveryhundred，astothesergeantsofanarmy，andthewholenationisthrownintoenergeticaction，inthesamedirectioninoneinstantandasoneman，andbecomesabsolutelyirresistible。CouldI
onceseethisIshouldconsideritasthedawnofthesalvationoftherepublic，andsaywitholdSimeon，”nuncdimittasDomine。”Butourchildrenwillbeaswiseasweare，andwillestablishinthefulnessoftimethosethingsnotyetripeforestablishment。Sobeit，andtoyourselfhealth，happinessandlonglife。
HUMEANDMONTESQUIEU
_ToWilliamDuane_
_Monticello，August12，1810_
SIR，——YourletterofJuly16thhasbeendulyreceived，withthepaperitenclosed，forwhichacceptmythanks，andespeciallyforthekindsentimentsexpressedtowardsmyself。Thesetestimoniesofapprobation，andfriendlyremembrance，arethehighestgratificationsIcanreceivefromany，andespeciallyfromthoseinwhoseprinciplesandzealforthepublicgoodIhaveconfidence。Ofthatconfidenceinyourselfthemilitaryappointmenttowhichyoualludewassufficientproof，asitwasmade，notontherecommendationsofothers，butonourownknowledgeofyourprinciplesandqualifications。WhileIcherishwithfeelingtherecollectionsofmyfriends，Ibanishfrommymindallpoliticalanimositieswhichmightdisturbitstranquillity，orthehappinessIderivefrommypresentpursuits。Ihavethoughtitamongthemostfortunatecircumstancesofmylateadministrationthat，duringitseightyearscontinuance，itwasconductedwithacordialityandharmonyamongallthemembers，whichneverwereruffledonany，thegreatestorsmallestoccasion。
Ileftmybrethrenwithsentimentsofsincereaffectionandfriendship，sorootedintheuniformtenorofalongandintimateintercourse，thattheevidenceofmyownsensesaloneoughttobepermittedtoshakethem。Anxious，inmyretirement，toenjoyundisturbedrepose，myknowledgeofmysuccessorandlatecoadjutors，andmyentireconfidenceintheirwisdomandintegrity，wereassurancestomethatImightsleepinsecuritywithsuchwatchmenatthehelm，andthatwhateverdifficultiesanddangersshouldassailourcourse，theywoulddowhatcouldbedonetoavoidorsurmountthem。InthisconfidenceIenvelopemyself，andhopetoslumberontomylastsleep。Andshoulddifficultiesoccurwhichtheycannotavert，ifwefollowtheminphalanx，weshallsurmountthemwithoutdanger。
Ihavebeenlongintendingtowritetoyouasoneoftheassociatedcompanyforprintingusefulworks。
Ourlaws，language，religion，politicsandmannersaresodeeplylaidinEnglishfoundations，thatweshallneverceasetoconsidertheirhistoryasapartofours，andtostudyoursinthatasitsorigin。EveryoneknowsthatjudiciousmatterandcharmsofstylehaverenderedHume’shistorythemanualofeverystudent。I
rememberwelltheenthusiasmwithwhichIdevoureditwhenyoung，andthelengthoftime，theresearchandreflectionwhichwerenecessarytoeradicatethepoisonithadinstilledintomymind。ItwasunfortunatethathefirsttookupthehistoryoftheStuarts，becametheirapologist，andadvocatedalltheirenormities。Tosupporthiswork，whendone，hewentbacktotheTudors，andsoselectedandarrangedthematerialsoftheirhistoryastopresenttheirarbitraryactsonly，asthegenuinesamplesoftheconstitutionalpowerofthecrown，and，stillwritingbackwards，hethenrevertedtotheearlyhistory，andwrotetheSaxonandNormanperiodswiththesamepervertedview。Althoughallthisisknown，hestillcontinuestobeputintothehandsofallouryoungpeople，andtoinfectthemwiththepoisonofhisownprinciplesofgovernment。ItisthisbookwhichhasunderminedthefreeprinciplesoftheEnglishgovernment，haspersuadedreadersofallclassesthatthesewereusurpationsonthelegitimateandsalutaryrightsofthecrown，andhasspreaduniversaltoryismovertheland。Andthebookwillstillcontinuetobereadhereaswellasthere。Baxter，oneofHorneTooke’sassociatesinpersecution，hashitontheonlyremedytheeviladmits。HehastakenHume’swork，correctedinthetexthismisrepresentations，suppliedthetruthswhichhesuppressed，andyethasgiventhemassoftheworkinHume’sownwords。Anditiswonderfulhowlittleinterpolationhasbeennecessarytomakeitasoundhistory，andtojustifywhatshouldhavebeenitstitle，towit，”Hume’shistoryofEnglandabridgedandrenderedfaithfultofactandprinciple。”IcannotsaythathisamendmentsareeitherinmatterormannerinthefinestyleofHume。Yettheyareoftenunperceived，andoccupysolittleofthewholeworkasnottodepreciateit。Unfortunatelyhehas_abridged_Hume，byleavingoutallthelessimportantdetails。Itisthusreducedtoaboutonehalfitsoriginalsize。Hehasalsocontinuedthehistory，butverysummarily，to1801。Thewholeworkisof834quartopages，printedclose，ofwhichthecontinuationoccupies283。Ihavereadbutlittleofthispart。AsfarasIcanjudgefromthatlittle，itisamerechronicle，offeringnothingprofound。Thisworkissounpopular，sodistastefultothepresentTorypalatesandprinciplesofEngland，thatIbelieveithasneverreachedasecondedition。I
haveofteninquiredforitinourbookshops，butnevercouldfindacopyinthem，andIthinkitpossibletheoneIimportedmaybetheonlyoneinAmerica。Canwenothaveitre-printedhere?Itwouldbeaboutfourvolumes8vo。
Ihaveanotherenterprisetoproposeforsomegoodprinter。I
haveinmypossessionaMS。workinFrench，confidedtomebyafriend，whosenamealonewouldgiveitcelebritywereitpermittedtobementioned。Butconsiderationsinsuperableforbidthat。ItisaCommentaryandReviewofMontesquieu’sSpiritofLaws。Thehistoryofthatworkiswellknown。Hehadbeenagreatreader，andhadcommonplacedeverythingheread。Atlengthhewishedtoundertakesomeworkintowhichhecouldbringhiswholecommonplacebookinadigestedform。HefixedonthesubjectofhisSpiritofLaws，andwrotethebook。HeconsultedhisfriendHelvetiusaboutpublishingit，whostronglydissuadedit。Hepublishedit，however，andtheworlddidnotconfirmHelvetius’opinion。Still，everymanwhoreflectsashereads，hasconsidereditasabookofparadoxes；
having，indeed，muchoftruthandsoundprinciple，butaboundingalsowithinconsistencies，apochryphalfactsandfalseinferences。ItisacorrectionofthesewhichhasbeenexecutedintheworkImention，bywayofcommentaryandreview；notbycriticisingwordsorsentences，butbytakingabookatatime，consideringitsgeneralscope，andproceedingtoconfirmorconfuteit。Andmuchofconfutationthereis，andofsubstitutionoftrueforfalseprinciple，andthetrueprincipleiseverthatofrepublicanism。I
willnotventuretosaythateverysentimentinthebookwillbeapproved，because，beinginmanuscript，andtheFrenchcharacters，I
havenotreadthewhole，butsomuchonlyasmightenablemetoestimatethesoundnessoftheauthor’swayofviewinghissubject；
and，judgingfromthatwhichIhaveread，Iinferwithconfidencethatweshallfindtheworkgenerallyworthyofourhighapprobation，andthatiteverywheremaintainsthepreeminenceofrepresentativegovernment，byshowingthatitsfoundationsarelaidinreason，inright，andingeneralgood。Ihadexpectedthisfrommyknowledgeoftheotherwritingsoftheauthor，whichhavealwaysaprecisionrarelytobemetwith。Buttogiveyouanideaofthemannerofitsexecution，ItranslateandenclosehiscommentaryonMontesquieu’seleventhbook，whichcontainsthedivisionofthework。IwishI
couldhaveaddedhisreviewatthecloseofthetwelvefirstbooks，asthiswouldgiveamorecompleteideaoftheextraordinarymeritofthework。Butitistoolongtobecopied。Iaddfromit，however，afewextractsofhisreviewsofsomeofthebooks，asspecimensofhisplanandprinciples。IfprintedinFrench，itwouldbeofabout180pages8vo，or23sheets。Ifanyonewillundertaketohaveittranslatedandprintedontheirownaccount，IwillsendontheMS。
bypost，andtheycantakethecopyrightasofanoriginalwork，whichitoughttobeunderstoodtobe。Iamanxiousitshouldbeablytranslatedbysomeonewhopossessesstyleaswellascapacitytodojusticetoabstruseconceptions。Iwouldevenundertaketorevisethetranslationifrequired。Theoriginalsheetsmustbereturnedtome，andIshouldwishtheworktobeexecutedwithaslittledelayaspossible。
Iclosethislongletterwithassurancesofmygreatesteemandrespect。
ALAWBEYONDTHECONSTITUTION
_ToJohnB。Colvin_
_Monticello，September20，1810_
SIR，——Yourfavorofthe14thhasbeendulyreceived，andI
havetothankyouforthemanyobligingthingsrespectingmyselfwhicharesaidinit。IfIhaveleftinthebreastsofmyfellowcitizensasentimentofsatisfactionwithmyconductinthetransactionoftheirbusiness，itwillsoftenthepillowofmyreposethroughtheresidueoflife。