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successively along it's side； which in it's upper part encircle the
hill & intersect these again by others of easy ascent in various
parts。 They are chiefly still in their native woods； which are
majestic； and very generally a close undergrowth； which I have not
suffered to be touched； knowing how much easier it is to cut away
than to fill up。 The upper third is chiefly open； but to the South
is covered with a dense thicket of Scotch broom （Spartium scoparium
Lin。） which being favorably spread before the sun will admit of
advantageous arrangement for winter enjoyment。 You are sensible that
this disposition of the ground takes from me the first beauty in
gardening； the variety of hill & dale； & leaves me as an awkward
substitute a few hanging hollows & ridges； this subject is so unique
and at the same time refractory； that to make a disposition analogous
to its character would require much more of the genius of the
landscape painter & gardener than I pretend to。 I had once hoped to
get Parkins to go and give me some outlines； but I was disappointed。
Certainly I could never wish your health to be such as to render
travelling necessary； but should a journey at any time promise
improvement to it； there is no one on which you would be received
with more pleasure than at Monticello。 Should I be there you will
have an opportunity of indulging on a new field some of the taste
which has made the Woodlands the only rival which I have known in
America to what may be seen in England。
Thither without doubt we are to go for models in this art。
Their sunless climate has permitted them to adopt what is certainly a
beauty of the very first order in landscape。 Their canvas is of open
ground； variegated with clumps of trees distributed with taste。 They
need no more of wood than will serve to embrace a lawn or a glade。
But under the beaming； constant and almost vertical sun of Virginia；
shade is our Elysium。 In the absence of this no beauty of the eye
can be enjoyed。 This organ must yield it's gratification to that of
the other senses； without the hope of any equivalent to the beauty
relinquished。 The only substitute I have been able to imagine is
this。 Let your ground be covered with trees of the loftiest stature。
Trim up their bodies as high as the constitution & form of the tree
will bear； but so as that their tops shall still unite & yeild dense
shade。 A wood； so open below； will have nearly the appearance of
open grounds。 Then； when in the open ground you would plant a clump
of trees； place a thicket of shrubs presenting a hemisphere the crown
of which shall distinctly show itself under the branches of the
trees。 This may be effected by a due selection & arrangement of the
shrubs； & will I think offer a group not much inferior to that of
trees。 The thickets may be varied too by making some of them of
evergreens altogether； our red cedar made to grow in a bush；
evergreen privet； pyrocanthus； Kalmia； Scotch broom。 Holly would be
elegant but it does not grow in my part of the country。
Of prospect I have a rich profusion and offering itself at
every point of the compass。 Mountains distant & near； smooth &
shaggy； single & in ridges； a little river hiding itself among the
hills so as to shew in lagoons only； cultivated grounds under the eye
and two small villages。 To prevent a satiety of this is the
principal difficulty。 It may be successively offered； & in different
portions through vistas； or which will be better； between thickets so
disposed as to serve as vistas； with the advantage of shifting the
scenes as you advance on your way。
You will be sensible by this time of the truth of my
information that my views are turned so steadfastly homeward that the
subject runs away with me whenever I get on it。 I sat down to thank
you for kindnesses received； & to bespeak permission to ask further
contributions from your collection & I have written you a treatise on
gardening generally； in which art lessons would come with more
justice from you to me。
DISCONTENTS IN THE WEST
_To John Dickinson_
_Washington； Jan。 13； 1807_
MY DEAR AND ANCIENT FRIEND； I have duly received your favor
of the 1st inst。； and am ever thankful for communications which may
guide me in the duties which I wish to perform as well as I am able。
It is but too true that great discontents exist in the territory of
Orleans。 Those of the French inhabitants have for their sources； 1；
the prohibition of importing slaves。 This may be partly removed by
Congress permitting them to receive slaves from the other States；
which； by dividing that evil； would lessen its danger； 2； the
administration of justice in our forms； principles； & language； with
all of which they are unacquainted； & are the more abhorrent； because
of the enormous expense； greatly exaggerated by the corruption of
bankrupt & greedy lawyers； who have gone there from the Ud S。 &
engrossed the practice； 3； the call on them by the land commissioners
to produce the titles of their lands。 The object of this is really
to record & secure their rights。 But as many of them hold on rights
so ancient that the title papers are lost； they expect the land is to
be taken from them wherever they cannot produce a regular deduction
of title in writing。 In this they will be undeceived by the final
result； which will evince to them a liberal disposition of the
government towards them。 Among the American inhabitants it is the
old division of federalists & republicans。 The former are as hostile
there as they are everywhere； & are the most numerous & wealthy。
They have been long endeavoring to batter down the Governor； who has
always been a firm republican。 There were characters superior to him
whom I wished to appoint； but they refused the office： I know no
better man who would accept of it； and it would not be right to turn
him out for one not better。 But it is the 2d。 cause； above
mentioned； which is deep…seated & permanent。 The French members of
the Legislature； being the majority in both Houses； lately passed an
act declaring that the civil； or French laws； should be the laws of
their land； and enumerated about 50 folio volumes； in Latin； as the
depositories of these laws。 The Governor negatived the act。 One of
the houses thereupon passed a vote for self…dissolution of the
Legislature as a useless body； which failed in the other House by a
single vote only。 They separated； however； & have disseminated all
the discontent they could。 I propose to the members of Congress in
conversation； the enlisting 30；000 volunteers； Americans by birth； to
be carried at the public expense； & settled immediately on a bounty
of 160 acres of land each； on the west side of the Mississippi； on
the condition of giving two years of military service； if that
country should be attacked within 7 years。 The defence of the
country would thus be placed on the spot； and the additional number
would entitle the territory to become a State； would make the
majority American； & make it an American instead of a French State。
This would not sweeten the pill to the French； but in making that
acquisition we had some view to our own good as well as theirs； and I
believe the greatest good of both will be promoted by whatever will
amalgamate us together。
I have tired you； my friend； with a long letter。 But your
tedium will end in a few lines more。 Mine has yet two years to
endure。 I am tired of an office where I can do no more good than
many others； who would be glad to be employed in it。 To myself；
personally； it brings nothing but unceasing drudgery & daily loss of
friends。 Every office becoming vacant； every appointment made； me
donne un ingrat； et cent ennemis。 My only consolation is in the
belief that my fellow citizens at large give me credit for good
intentions。 I will certainly endeavor to merit the continuance of
that good…will which follows well…intended actions； and their
approbation will be the dearest reward I can carry into retirement。
God bless you； my excellent friend； and give you yet many
healthy and happy years。
LAWS OF VIRGINIA
_To William Waller Hening_
_Washington； January 14； 1807_
SIR； Your letter of Dec。 26th； was received in due time。
The only object I had in making my collection of the laws of
Virginia； was to save all those for the Public which were not then
already lost； in the hope that at some future day they might be
republished。 Whether this be by public or private enterprise； my end
will be equally answered。 The work divides itself into two very
distinct parts； to wit； the printed and the unprinted laws。 The
former begin in 1682； （Purvis' collection。） My collection of these is
in strong volumes； well bound； and therefore may safely be