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really such a treasure of agricultural knowledge； as has not before
been offered to the world in a single work。
It is not merely for myself； but for my country； that I must do
homage to the philanthropy of the Society； which has dictated their
destination for me of their newly…improved plough。 I shall certainly
so use it as to answer their liberal views； by making the
opportunities of profiting by it as general as possible。
I have just received information that a plough addressed to me
has arrived at New York； _from England_； but unaccompanied by any
letter or other explanation。 As I have had no intimation of such an
article to be forwarded to me from that country； I presume it is the
one sent by the Society of the Seine； that it has been carried into
England under their orders of council； and permitted to come on from
thence。 This I shall know within a short time。 I shall with great
pleasure attend to the construction and transmission to the Society
of a plough with my mould board。 This is the only part of that
useful instrument to which I have paid any particular attention。 But
knowing how much the perfection of the plough must depend； 1st； on
the line of traction； 2d； on the direction of the share； 3d； on the
angle of the wing； 4th； on the form of the mould…board； and persuaded
that I shall find the three first advantages eminently exemplified in
that which the Society sends me； I am anxious to see combined with
these a mould…board of my form； in the hope it will still advance the
perfection of that machine。 But for this I must ask time till I am
relieved from the cares which have now a right to all my time； that
is to say； till the next Spring。 Then giving； in the leisure of
retirement； all the time and attention this construction merits and
requires； I will certainly render to the Society the result in a
plough of the best form I shall be able to have executed。 In the
meantime； accept for them and yourself the assurances of my high
respect and consideration。
EDUCATION OF A GRANDSON
_To Thomas Jefferson Randolph_
_Washington； Nov。 24th； 1808_
MY DEAR JEFFERSON I have just recieved the inclosed letter
under cover from Mr。 Bankhead which I presume is from Anne and will
inform you she is well。 Mr。 Bankhead has consented to go and pursue
his studies at Monticello； and live with us till his pursuits or
circumstances may require a separate establishment。 Your situation；
thrown at such a distance from us and alone； cannot but give us all；
great anxieties for you。 As much has been secured for you； by your
particular position and the acquaintance to which you have been
recommended； as could be done towards shielding you from the dangers
which surround you。 But thrown on a wide world； among entire
strangers without a friend or guardian to advise so young too and
with so little experience of mankind； your dangers are great； and
still your safety must rest on yourself。 A determination never to do
what is wrong； prudence； and good humor； will go far towards securing
to you the estimation of the world。 When I recollect that at 14。
years of age； the whole care and direction of my self was thrown on
my self entirely； without a relation or friend qualified to advise or
guide me； and recollect the various sorts of bad company with which I
associated from time to time； I am astonished I did not turn off with
some of them； and become as worthless to society as they were。 I had
the good fortune to become acquainted very early with some characters
of very high standing； and to feel the incessant wish that I could
even become what they were。 Under temptations and difficulties； I
could ask myself what would Dr。 Small； Mr。 Wythe； Peyton Randolph do
in this situation？ What course in it will ensure me their
approbation？ I am certain that this mode of deciding on my conduct
tended more to it's correctness than any reasoning powers I
possessed。 Knowing the even and dignified line they pursued； I could
never doubt for a moment which of two courses would be in character
for them。 Whereas seeking the same object through a process of moral
reasoning； and with the jaundiced eye of youth； I should often have
erred。 From the circumstances of my position I was often thrown into
the society of horseracers； cardplayers； Foxhunters； scientific and
professional men； and of dignified men； and many a time have I asked
myself； in the enthusiastic moment of the death of a fox； the victory
of a favorite horse； the issue of a question eloquently argued at the
bar or in the great Council of the nation； well； which of these kinds
of reputation should I prefer？ That of a horse jockey？ A foxhunter？
An Orator？ Or the honest advocate of my country's rights？ Be
assured my dear Jefferson； that these little returns into ourselves；
this self…cathechising habit； is not trifling； nor useless； but leads
to the prudent selection and steady pursuits of what is right？ I
have mentioned good humor as one of the preservatives of our peace
and tranquillity。 It is among the most effectual； and it's effect is
so well imitated and aided artificially by politeness； that this also
becomes an acquisition of first rate value。 In truth； politeness is
artificial good humor； it covers the natural want of it； and ends by
rendering habitual a substitute nearly equivalent to the real virtue。
It is the practice of sacrificing to those whom we meet in society
all the little conveniences and preferences which will gratify them；
and deprive us of nothing worth a moment's consideration； it is the
giving a pleasing and flattering turn to our expressions which will
conciliate others； and make them pleased with us as well as
themselves。 How cheap a price for the good will of another！ When
this is in return for a rude thing said by another； it brings him to
his senses； it mortifies and corrects him in the most salutary way；
and places him at the feet of your good nature in the eyes of the
company。 But in stating prudential rules for our government in
society I must not omit the important one of never entering into
dispute or argument withanother。 I never yet saw an instance of one
of two disputantsconvincing the other by argument。 I have seen many
on their getting warm； becoming rude； and shooting one another。
Conviction is the effect of our own dispassionate reasoning； either
in solitude； or weighing within ourselves dispassionately what we
hear from others standing uncommitted in argument ourselves。 It was
one of the rules which above all others made Doctr。 Franklin the most
amiable of men in society； ‘never to contradict any body。' If he was
urged to anounce an opinion； he did it rather by asking questions； as
if for information； or by suggesting doubts。 When I hear another
express an opinion； which is not mine； I say to myself； He has a
right to his opinion； as I to mine； why should I question it。 His
error does me no injury； and shall I becomea Don Quixot to bring all
men by force of argument； to one opinion？ If a fact be misstated； it
is probable he is gratified by a belief of it； and I have no right to
deprive him of the gratification。 If he wants information he will
ask it； and then I will give it in measured terms； but if he still
believes his own story； and shows a desire to dispute the fact with
me； I hear him and say nothing。 It is his affair； not mine； if he
prefers error。 There are two classes of disputants most frequently
to be met with among us。 The first is of young students just entered
the threshold of science； with a first view of it's outlines； not yet
filled up with the details and modifications which a further progress
would bring to their knoledge。 The other consists of the
ill…tempered and rude men in society who have taken up a passion for
politics。 （Good humor and politeness never introduce into mixed
society a question on which they foresee there will be a difference
of opinion。） From both of these classes of disputants； my dear
Jefferson； keep aloof； as you would from the infected subjects of
yellow fever or pestilence。 Consider yourself； when with them； as
among the patients of Bedlam needing medical more than moral counsel。
Be a listener only； keep within yourself； and endeavor to establish
with yourself the habit of silence； especially in politics。 In the
fevered state of our country； no good can ever result from any
attempt to set one of these fiery zealots to rights either in fact or
principle。 They are determined as to the facts they will believe；
and the opinions on which they will act。 Get by them； therefore as
you would by an angry bull： it is not for a man of sense to dispute
the road with such an animal。 You will be more exposed than others
to have these animals shaking their horns at you； because of the
relation in which you stand with me and to hate me as