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Ins and the Outs； so equal in weight that a small matter turns the
balance。 To keep themselves in； when they are in； every stratagem
must be practised； every artifice used which may flatter thepride；
the passions or power of the nation。 Justice； honor； faith； must
yield to the necessity of keeping themselves in place。 The question
whether a measure is moral； is never asked； but whether it will
nourish the avarice of their merchants； or the piratical spirit of
their navy； or produce any other effect which may strengthen them in
their places。 As to engagements； however positive； entered into by
the predecessors of the Ins； why； they were their enemies； they did
every thing which was wrong； and to reverse every thing they did；
must； therefore； be right。 This is the true character of the English
government in practice； however different its theory； and it presents
the singular phenomenon of a nation； the individuals of which are as
faithful to their private engagements and duties； as honorable； as
worthy； as those of any nation on earth； and whose government is yet
the most unprincipled at this day known。 In an absolute government
there can be no such equiponderant parties。 The despot is the
government。 His power suppressing all opposition； maintains his
ministers firm in their places。 What he has contracted； therefore；
through them； he has the power to observe with good faith； and he
identifies his own honor and faith with that of his nation。
When I observed； however； that the King of England was a
cypher； I did not mean to confine the observation to the mere
individual now on that throne。 The practice of Kings marrying only
into the families of Kings； has been that of Europe for some
centuries。 Now； take any race of animals； confine them in idleness
and inaction； whether in a stye； a stable； or a state room； pamper
them with high diet； gratify all their sexual appetites； immerse them
in sensualities； nourish their passions； let every thing bend before
them； and banish whatever might lead them to think； and in a few
generations they become all body and no mind： and this； too； by a law
of nature； by that very law by which we are in the constant practice
of changing the characters and propensities of the animals we raise
for our own purposes。 Such is the regimen in raising Kings； and in
this way they have gone on for centuries。 While in Europe； I often
amused myself with contemplating the characters of the then reigning
sovereigns of Europe。 Louis the XVI。 was a fool； of my own
knowledge； and in despite of the answers made for him at his trial。
The King of Spain was a fool； and of Naples the same。 They passed
their lives in hunting； and despatched two couriers a week； one
thousand miles； to let each other know what game they had killed the
preceding days。 The King of Sardinia was a fool。 All these were
Bourbons。 The Queen of Portugal； a Braganza； was an idiot by nature。
And so was the King of Denmark。 Their sons； as regents； exercised
the powers of government。 The King of Prussia； successor to the
great Frederick； was a mere hog in body as well as in mind。 Gustavus
of Sweden； and Joseph of Austria； were really crazy； and George of
England you know was in a straight waistcoat。 There remained； then；
none but old Catherine； who had been too lately picked up to have
lost her common sense。 In this state Buonaparte found Europe； and it
was this state of its rulers which lost it with scarce a struggle。
These animals had become without mind and powerless； and so will
every hereditary monarch be after a few generations。 Alexander； the
grandson of Catherine； is as yet an exception。 He is able to hold
his own。 But he is only of the third generation。 His race is not
yet worn out。 And so endeth the book of Kings； from all of whom the
Lord deliver us； and have you； my friend； and all such good men and
true； in his holy keeping。
〃AN ACADEMICAL VILLAGE〃
_To Messrs。 Hugh L。 White and Others_
_Monticello； May 6； 1810_
GENTLEMEN； I received； some time ago； your letter of
February 28th； covering a printed scheme of a lottery for the benefit
of the East Tennessee College； and proposing to send tickets to me to
be disposed of。 It would be impossible for them to come to a more
inefficient hand。 I rarely go from home； and consequently see but a
few neighbors and friends； who occasionally call on me。 And having
myself made it a rule never to engage in a lottery or any other
adventure of mere chance； I can； with the less candor or effect； urge
it on others； however laudable or desirable its object may be。 No
one more sincerely wishes the spread of information among mankind
than I do； and none has greater confidence in its effect towards
supporting free and good government。 I am sincerely rejoiced；
therefore； to find that so excellent a fund has been provided for
this noble purpose in Tennessee。 Fifty…thousand dollars placed in a
safe bank； will give four thousand dollars a year； and even without
other aid； must soon accomplish buildings sufficient for the object
in its early stage。 I consider the common plan followed in this
country； but not in others； of making one large and expensive
building； as unfortunately erroneous。 It is infinitely better to
erect a small and separate lodge for each separate professorship；
with only a hall below for his class； and two chambers above for
himself； joining these lodges by barracks for a certain portion of
the students； opening into a covered way to give a dry communication
between all the schools。 The whole of these arranged around an open
square of grass and trees； would make it； what it should be in fact；
an academical village； instead of a large and common den of noise； of
filth and of fetid air。 It would afford that quiet retirement so
friendly to study； and lessen the dangers of fire； infection and
tumult。 Every professor would be the police officer of the students
adjacent to his own lodge； which should include those of his own
class of preference； and might be at the head of their table； if； as
I suppose； it can be reconciled with the necessary economy to dine
them in smaller and separate parties； rather than in a large and
common mess。 These separate buildings； too； might be erected
successively and occasionally； as the number of professorships and
students should be increased； or the funds become competent。
I pray you to pardon me if I have stepped aside into the
province of counsel； but much observation and reflection on these
institutions have long convinced me that the large and crowded
buildings in which youths are pent up； are equally unfriendly to
health； to study； to manners； morals and order； and； believing the
plan I suggest to be more promotive of these； and peculiarly adapted
to the slender beginnings and progressive growth of our institutions；
I hoped you would pardon the presumption； in consideration of the
motive which was suggested by the difficulty expressed in your
letter； of procuring funds for erecting the building。 But； on
whatever plan you proceed； I wish it every possible success； and to
yourselves the reward of esteem； respect and gratitude due to those
who devote their time and efforts to render the youths of every
successive age fit governors for the next。 To these accept； in
addition； the assurances of mine。
A PLAN FOR THE MERINOS
_To the President of the United States_
（James Madison）
_Monticello； May 13； 1810_
DEAR SIR； I thank you for your promised attention to my
portion of the Merinos； and if there be any expenses of
transportation； &c。； and you will be so good as to advance my portion
of them with yours and notify the amount； it shall be promptly
remitted。 What shall we do with them？ I have been so disgusted with
the scandalous extortions lately practised in the sale of these
animals； and with the description of patriotism and praise to the
sellers； as if the thousands of dollars apiece they have not been
ashamed to receive were not reward enough； that I am disposed to
consider as right； whatever is the reverse of what they have done。
Since fortune has put the occasion upon us； is it not incumbent upon
us so to dispense this benefit to the farmers of our country； as to
put to shame those who； forgetting their own wealth and the honest
simplicity of the farmers； have thought them fit objects of the
shaving art； and to excite； by a better example； the condemnation due
to theirs？ No sentiment is more acknowledged in the family of
Agriculturists than that the few who can afford it should incur the
risk and expense of all new improvements； and give the benefit freely
to the many of more restricted circumstances。 The question then
recurs； What are we to do with them？ I shall be willing to concur
wi