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produce their good； & gratitude to you for ages； and in the way to
which you have devoted a long life； that of spreading light among
men。
We have in that state a college （Wm。 & Mary） just well enough
endowed to draw out the miserable existence to which a miserable
constitution has doomed it。 It is moreover eccentric in it's
position； exposed to bilious diseases as all the lower country is； &
therefore abandoned by the public care； as that part of the country
itself is in a considerable degree by it's inhabitants。 We wish to
establish in the upper & healthier country； & more centrally for the
state； an University on a plan so broad & liberal & _modern_； as to
be worth patronizing with the public support； and be a temptation to
the youth of other states to come and drink of the cup of knowledge &
fraternize with us。 The first step is to obtain a good plan； that
is； a judicious selection of the sciences； & a practicable grouping
of some of them together； & ramifying of others； so as to adapt the
professorships to our uses & our means。 In an institution meant
chiefly for use； some branches of science； formerly esteemed； may be
now omitted； so may others now valued in Europe； but useless to us
for ages to come。 As an example of the former； the oriental
learning； and of the latter； almost the whole of the institution
proposed to Congress by the Secretary of war's report of the 5th
inst。 Now there is no one to whom this subject is so familiar as
yourself。 There is no one in the world who； equally with yourself；
unites this full possession of the subject with such a knowledge of
the state of our existence； as enables you to fit the garment to him
who is to _pay_ for it & to _wear_ it。 To you therefore we address
our solicitations； and to lessen to you as much as possible the
ambiguities of our object； I will venture even to sketch the sciences
which seem useful & practicable for us； as they occur to me while
holding my pen。 Botany； Chemistry； Zoology； Anatomy； Surgery；
Medicine； Natl Philosophy； Agriculture； Mathematics； Astronomy；
Geology； Geography； Politics； Commerce； History； Ethics； Law； Arts；
Finearts。 This list is imperfect because I make it hastily； and
because I am unequal to the subject。 It is evident that some of
these articles are too much for one professor & must therefore be
ramified； others may be ascribed in groups to a single professor。
This is the difficult part of the work； & requires a head perfectly
knowing the extent of each branch； & the limits within which it may
be circumscribed； so as to bring the whole within the powers of the
fewest professors possible； & consequently within the degree of
expence practicable for us。 We should propose that the professors
follow no other calling； so that their whole time may be given to
their academical functions； and we should propose to draw from Europe
the first characters in science； by considerable temptations； which
would not need to be repeated after the first set should have
prepared fit successors & given reputation to the institution。 From
some splendid characters I have received offers most perfectly
reasonable & practicable。
I do not propose to give you all this trouble merely of my own
head； that would be arrogance。 It has been the subject of
consultation among the ablest and highest characters of our State；
who only wait for a plan to make a joint & I hope successful effort
to get the thing carried into effect。 They will receive your ideas
with the greatest deference & thankfulness。 We shall be here
certainly for two months to come； but should you not have leisure to
think of it before Congress adjourns； it will come safely to me
afterwards by post； the nearest post office being Milton。
Will not the arrival of Dupont tempt you to make a visit to
this quarter？ I have no doubt the alarmists are already whetting
their shafts for him also； but their glass is nearly run out； and the
day I believe is approaching when we shall be as free to pursue what
is true wisdom as the effects of their follies will permit； for some
of them we shall be forced to wade through because we are emerged in
them。
Wishing you that pure happiness which your pursuits and
circumstances offer； and which I am sure you are too wise to suffer a
diminution of by the pigmy assaults made on you； and with every
sentiment of affectionate esteem & respect； I am； dear Sir； your most
humble； and most obedient servant。
〃A SUBLIME LUXURY〃
_To Dr。 Joseph Priestley_
_Philadelphia； Jan。 27； 1800_
DEAR SIR； In my letter of the 18th； I omitted to say any
thing of the languages as part of our proposed university。 It was
not that I think； as some do； that they are useless。 I am of a very
different opinion。 I do not think them essential to the obtaining
eminent degrees of science； but I think them very useful towards it。
I suppose there is a portion of life during which our faculties are
ripe enough for this； & for nothing more useful。 I think the Greeks
& Romans have left us the present models which exist of fine
composition； whether we examine them as works of reason； or of style
& fancy； and to them we probably owe these characteristics of modern
composition。 I know of no composition of any other antient people；
which merits the least regard as a model for it's matter or style。
To all this I add； that to read the Latin & Greek authors in their
original； is a sublime luxury； and I deem luxury in science to be at
least as justifiable as in architecture； painting； gardening； or the
other arts。 I enjoy Homer in his own language infinitely beyond
Pope's translation of him； & both beyond the dull narrative of the
same events by Dares Phrygius； & it is an innocent enjoyment。 I
thank on my knees； him who directed my early education； for having
put into my possession this rich source of delight； and I would not
exchange it for anything which I could then have acquired； & have not
since acquired。 With this regard for those languages； you will
acquit me of meaning to omit them。 About 20。 years ago； I drew a
bill for our legislature； which proposed to lay off every county into
hundreds or townships of 5。 or 6。 miles square； in the centre of each
of which was to be a free English school； the whole state was further
laid off into 10。 districts； in each of which was to be a college for
teaching the languages； geography； surveying； and other useful things
of that grade； and then a single University for the sciences。 It was
received with enthusiasm； but as I had proposed that Wm & Mary； under
an improved form； should be the University； & that was at that time
pretty highly Episcopal； the dissenters after a while began to
apprehend some secret design of a preference to that sect and nothing
could then be done。 About 3。 years ago they enacted that part of my
bill which related to English schools； except that instead of
obliging； they left it optional in the court of every county to carry
it into execution or not。 I think it probable the part of the plan
for the middle grade of education； may also be brought forward in due
time。 In the meanwhile； we are not without a sufficient number of
good country schools； where the languages； geography； & the first
elements of Mathematics； are taught。 Having omitted this information
in my former letter； I thought it necessary now to supply it； that
you might know on what base your superstructure was to be reared。 I
have a letter from M。 Dupont； since his arrival at N。 York； dated the
20th； in which he says he will be in Philadelphia within about a
fortnight from that time； but only on a visit。 How much would it
delight me if a visit from you at the same time； were to shew us two
such illustrious foreigners embracing each other in my country； as
the asylum for whatever is great & good。 Pardon； I pray you； the
temporary delirium which has been excited here； but which is fast
passing away。 The Gothic idea that we are to look backwards instead
of forwards for the improvement of the human mind； and to recur to
the annals of our ancestors for what is most perfect in government；
in religion & in learning； is worthy of those bigots in religion &
government； by whom it has been recommended； & whose purposes it
would answer。 But it is not an idea which this country will endure；
and the moment of their showing it is fast ripening； and the signs of
it will be their respect for you； & growing detestation of those who
have dishonored our country by endeavors to disturb our tranquility
in it。 No one has felt this with more sensibility than； my dear Sir；
your respectful & affectionate friend & servant。
THE 18TH BRUMAIRE
_To John Breckinridge_
_Philadelphia； Jan。 29； 1800_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of the 13th has been