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am leading a life of considerable activity as a farmer； reading
little and writing less。 Something pursued with ardor is necessary
to guard us from the _tedium…vitae；_ and the active pursuits lessen
most our sense of the infirmities of age。 That to the health of
youth you may add an old age of vigor； is the sincere prayer of
Yours； affectionately。
PROSTRATION OF REASON
_To Caesar A。 Rodney_
_Monticello； February 10； 1810_
MY DEAR SIR； I have to thank you for your favor of the 31st
ultimo； which is just now received。 It has been peculiarly
unfortunate for us； personally； that the portion in the history of
mankind； at which we were called to take a share in the direction of
their affairs； was such an one as history has never before presented。
At any other period； the even…handed justice we have observed towards
all nations； the efforts we have made to merit their esteem by every
act which candor or liberality could exercise； would have preserved
our peace； and secured the unqualified confidence of all other
nations in our faith and probity。 But the hurricane which is now
blasting the world； physical and moral； has prostrated all the mounds
of reason as well as right。 All those calculations which； at any
other period； would have been deemed honorable； of the existence of a
moral sense in man； individually or associated； of the connection
which the laws of nature have established between his duties and his
interests； of a regard for honest fame and the esteem of our fellow
men； have been a matter of reproach on us； as evidences of
imbecility。 As if it could be a folly for an honest man to suppose
that others could be honest also； when it is their interest to be so。
And when is this state of things to end？ The death of Bonaparte
would； to be sure； remove the first and chiefest apostle of the
desolation of men and morals； and might withdraw the scourge of the
land。 But what is to restore order and safety on the ocean？ The
death of George III？ Not at all。 He is only stupid； and his
ministers； however weak and profligate in morals； are ephemeral。 But
his nation is permanent； and it is that which is the tyrant of the
ocean。 The principle that force is right； is become the principle of
the nation itself。 They would not permit an honest minister； were
accident to bring such an one into power； to relax their system of
lawless piracy。 These were the difficulties when I was with you。 I
know they are not lessened； and I pity you。
It is a blessing； however； that our people are reasonable； that
they are kept so well informed of the state of things as to judge for
themselves； to see the true sources of their difficulties； and to
maintain their confidence undiminished in the wisdom and integrity of
their functionaries。 _Macte virtute_ therefore。 Continue to go
straight forward； pursuing always that which is right； as the only
clue which can lead us out of the labyrinth。 Let nothing be spared
of either reason or passion； to preserve the public confidence
entire； as the only rock of our safety。 In times of peace the people
look most to their representatives； but in war； to the executive
solely。 It is visible that their confidence is even now veering in
that direction； that they are looking to the executive to give the
proper direction to their affairs； with a confidence as auspicious as
it is well founded。
I avail myself of this； the first occasion of writing to you；
to express all the depth of my affection for you； the sense I
entertain of your faithful co…operation in my late labors； and the
debt I owe for the valuable aid I received from you。 Though
separated from my fellow laborers in place and pursuit； my affections
are with you all； and I offer daily prayers that ye love one another；
as I love you。 God bless you。
〃THE BOOK OF KINGS〃
_To Governor John Langdon_
_Monticello； March 5； 1810_
Your letter； my dear friend； of the 18th ultimo； comes like the
refreshing dews of the evening on a thirsty soil。 It recalls antient
as well as recent recollections； very dear to my heart。 For five and
thirty years we have walked together through a land of tribulations。
Yet these have passed away； and so； I trust； will those of the
present day。 The toryism with which we struggled in '77； differed
but in name from the federalism of '99； with which we struggled also；
and the Anglicism of 1808； against which we are now struggling； is
but the same thing still； in another form。 It is a longing for a
King； and an English King rather than any other。 This is the true
source of their sorrows and wailings。
The fear that Buonaparte will come over to us and conquer us
also； is too chimerical to be genuine。 Supposing him to have
finished Spain and Portugal； he has yet England and Russia to subdue。
The maxim of war was never sounder than in this case； not to leave an
enemy in the rear； and especially where an insurrectionary flame is
known to be under the embers； merely smothered； and ready to burst at
every point。 These two subdued； （and surely the Anglomen will not
think the conquest of England alone a short work） antient Greece and
Macedonia； the cradle of Alexander； his prototype； and
Constantinople； the seat of empire for the world； would glitter more
in his eye than our bleak mountains and rugged forests。 Egypt； too；
and the golden apples of Mauritania； have for more than half a
century fixed the longing eyes of France； and with Syria； you know；
he has an old affront to wipe out。 Then come ‘Pontus and Galatia；
Cappadocia； Asia and Bithynia；' the fine countries on the Euphrates
and Tigris； the Oxus and Indus； and all beyond the Hyphasis； which
bounded the glories of his Macedonian rival； with the invitations of
his new British subjects on the banks of the Ganges； whom； after
receiving under his protection the mother country； he cannot refuse
to visit。 When all this is done and settled； and nothing of the old
world remains unsubdued； he may turn to the new one。 But will he
attack us first； from whom he will get but hard knocks and no money？
Or will he first lay hold of the gold and silver of Mexico and Peru；
and the diamonds of Brazil？ A _republican_ Emperor； from his
affection to republics； independent of motives of expediency； must
grant to ours the Cyclop's boon of being the last devoured。 While
all this is doing； we are to suppose the chapter of accidents read
out； and that nothing can happen to cut short or to disturb his
enterprises。
But the Anglomen； it seems； have found out a much safer
dependance； than all these chances of death or disappointment。 That
is； that we should first let England plunder us； as she has been
doing for years； for fear Buonaparte should do it； and then ally
ourselves with her； and enter into the war。 A conqueror； whose
career England could not arrest when aided by Russia； Austria；
Prussia； Sweden； Spain and Portugal； she is now to destroy； with all
these on his side； by the aid of the United States alone。 This；
indeed； is making us a mighty people。 And what is to be our
security； that when embarked for her in the war； she will not make a
separate peace； and leave us in the lurch？ Her good faith！ The
faith of a nation of merchants！ The _Punica fides_ of modern
Carthage！ Of the friend and protectress of Copenhagen！ Of the
nation who never admitted a chapter of morality into her political
code！ And is now boldly avowing； that whatever power can make hers；
is hers of right。 Money； and not morality； is the principle of
commerce and commercial nations。 But； in addition to this； the
nature of the English government forbids； of itself； reliance on her
engagements； and it is well known she has been the least faithful to
her alliances of any nation of Europe； since the period of her
history wherein she has been distinguished for her commerce and
corruption； that is to say； under the houses of Stuart and Brunswick。
To Portugal alone she has steadily adhered； because； by her Methuin
treaty she had made it a colony； and one of the most valuable to her。
It may be asked； what； in the nature of her government； unfits
England for the observation of moral duties？ In the first place； her
King is a cypher； his only function being to name the oligarchy which
is to govern her。 The parliament is； by corruption； the mere
instrument of the will of the administration。 The real power and
property in the government is in the great aristocratical families of
the nation。 The nest of office being too small for all of them to
cuddle into at once； the contest is eternal； which shall crowd the
other out。 For this purpose； they are divided into two parties； the
Ins and the Outs； so equal in weight that a small matt