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〃THE SPIRIT OF 1776〃
_To Thomas Lomax_
_Monticello； Mar。 12； 1799_
DEAR SIR； Your welcome favor of last month came to my hands
in Philadelphia。 So long a time has elapsed since we have been
separated by events； that it was like a letter from the dead； and
recalled to my memory very dear recollections。 My subsequent journey
through life has offered nothing which； in comparison with those； is
not cheerless & dreary。 It is a rich comfort sometimes to look back
on them。
I take the liberty of enclosing a letter to mr。 Baylor； open；
because I solicit your perusal of it。 It will； at the same time；
furnish the apology for my not answering you from Philadelphia。 You
ask for any communication I may be able to make； which may administer
comfort to you。 I can give that which is solid。 The spirit of 1776
is not dead。 It has only been slumbering。 The body of the American
people is substantially republican。 But their virtuous feelings have
been played on by some fact with more fiction； they have been the
dupes of artful man；oeuvres； & made for a moment to be willing
instruments in forging chains for themselves。 But time & truth have
dissipated the delusion； & opened their eyes。 They see now that
France has sincerely wished peace； & their seducers have wished war；
as well for the loaves & fishes which arise out of war expences； as
for the chance of changing the constitution； while the people should
have time to contemplate nothing but the levies of men and money。
Pennsylvania； Jersey & N York are coming majestically round to the
true principles。 In Pensylva； 13。 out of 22。 counties had already
petitioned on the alien & sedition laws。 Jersey & N Y had begun the
same movement； and tho' the rising of Congress stops that channel for
the expression of their sentiment； the sentiment is going on rapidly；
& before their next meeting those three States will be solidly
embodied in sentiment with the six Southern & Western ones。 The
atrocious proceedings of France towards this country； had well nigh
destroyed its liberties。 The Anglomen and monocrats had so artfully
confounded the cause of France with that of freedom； that both went
down in the same scale。 I sincerely join you in abjuring all
political connection with every foreign power； and tho I cordially
wish well to the progress of liberty in all nations； and would
forever give it the weight of our countenance； yet they are not to be
touched without contamination from their other bad principles。
Commerce with all nations； alliance with none； should be our motto。
Accept assurances of the constant & unaltered affection of；
dear Sir； your sincere friend and servant。
FREEDOM OF MIND
_To William Green Munford_
_Monticello； June 18； 1799_
DEAR SIR I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of
May 14 in which you mention that you have finished the 6。 first books
of Euclid； plane trigonometry； surveying & algebra and ask whether I
think a further pursuit of that branch of science would be useful to
you。 There are some propositions in the latter books of Euclid； &
some of Archimedes； which are useful； & I have no doubt you have been
made acquainted with them。 Trigonometry； so far as this； is most
valuable to every man。 There is scarcely a day in which he will not
resort to it for some of the purposes of common life。 The science of
calculation also is indispensible as far as the extraction of the
square & cube roots； algebra as far as the quadratic equation & the
use of logarithms are often of value in ordinary cases： but all
beyond these is but a luxury； a delicious luxury indeed； but not to
be indulged in by one who is to have a profession to follow for his
subsistence。 In this light I view the conic sections； curves of the
higher orders； perhaps even spherical trigonometry； algebraical
operations beyond the 2d dimension； and fluxions。 There are other
branches of science however worth the attention of every man。
Astronomy； botany； chemistry； natural philosophy； natural history；
anatomy。 Not indeed to be a proficient in them； but to possess their
general principles & outlines； so as that we may be able to amuse and
inform ourselves further in any of them as we proceed through life &
have occasion for them。 Some knowledge of them is necessary for our
character as well as comfort。 The general elements of astronomy & of
natural philosophy are best acquired at an academy where we can have
the benefit of the instruments & apparatus usually provided there：
but the others may well be acquired from books alone as far as our
purposes require。 I have indulged myself in these observations to
you； because the evidence cannot be unuseful to you of a person who
has often had occasion to consider which of his acquisitions in
science have been really useful to him in life； and which of them
have been merely a matter of luxury。
I am among those who think well of the human character
generally。 I consider man as formed for society； and endowed by
nature with those dispositions which fit him for society。 I believe
also； with Condorcet； as mentioned in your letter； that his mind is
perfectible to a degree of which we cannot as yet form any
conception。 It is impossible for a man who takes a survey of what is
already known； not to see what an immensity in every branch of
science yet remains to be discovered； & that too of articles to which
our faculties seem adequate。 In geometry & calculation we know a
great deal。 Yet there are some desiderata。 In anatomy great
progress has been made； but much is still to be acquired。 In natural
history we possess knowlege； but we want a great deal。 In chemistry
we are not yet sure of the first elements。 Our natural philosophy is
in a very infantine state； perhaps for great advances in it； a
further progress in chemistry is necessary。 Surgery is well
advanced； but prodigiously short of what may be。 The state of
medecine is worse than that of total ignorance。 Could we divest
ourselves of every thing we suppose we know in it； we should start
from a higher ground & with fairer prospects。 From Hippocrates to
Brown we have had nothing but a succession of hypothetical systems
each having it's day of vogue； like the fashions & fancies of caps &
gowns； & yielding in turn to the next caprice。 Yet the human frame；
which is to be the subject of suffering & torture under these learned
modes； does not change。 We have a few medecines； as the bark； opium；
mercury； which in a few well defined diseases are of unquestionable
virtue： but the residuary list of the materia medica； long as it is；
contains but the charlataneries of the art； and of the diseases of
doubtful form； physicians have ever had a false knowlege； worse than
ignorance。 Yet surely the list of unequivocal diseases & remedies is
capable of enlargement； and it is still more certain that in the
other branches of science； great fields are yet to be explored to
which our faculties are equal； & that to an extent of which we cannot
fix the limits。 I join you therefore in branding as cowardly the
idea that the human mind is incapable of further advances。 This is
precisely the doctrine which the present despots of the earth are
inculcating； & their friends here re…echoing； & applying especially
to religion & politics； ‘that it is not probable that any thing
better will be discovered than what was known to our fathers。' We are
to look backwards then & not forwards for the improvement of science；
& to find it amidst feudal barbarisms and the fires of Spital…fields。
But thank heaven the American mind is already too much opened； to
listen to these impostures； and while the art of printing is left to
us； science can never be retrograde； what is once acquired of real
knowlege can never be lost。 To preserve the freedom of the human
mind then & freedom of the press； every spirit should be ready to
devote itself to martyrdom； for as long as we may think as we will； &
speak as we think； the condition of man will proceed in improvement。
The generation which is going off the stage has deserved well of
mankind for the struggles it has made； & for having arrested that
course of despotism which had overwhelmed the world for thousands &
thousands of years。 If there seems to be danger that the ground they
have gained will be lost again； that danger comes from the generation
your cotemporary。 But that the enthusiasm which characterises youth
should lift its parricide hands against freedom & science； would be
such a monstrous phaenomenon as I cannot place among possible things
in this age & this country。 Your college at least has shewn itself
incapable of it； and if the youth of any other place have seemed to
rally under other banners it has been from delusions which they will
soon diss