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Europe would do。 The government of France may discontinue their
license trade。 Our privateers will furnish them much more abundantly
with colonial produce； and whatever the license trade has given them。
Some have apprehended we should be overwhelmed by the new
improvements of war； which have not yet reached us。 But the British
possess them very imperfectly； and what are these improvements？
Chiefly in the management of artillery； of which our country admits
little use。 We have nothing to fear from their armies； and shall put
nothing in prize to their fleets。 Upon the whole； I have known no
war entered into under more favorable auspices。
Our manufacturers are now very nearly on a footing with those
of England。 She has not a single improvement which we do not
possess； and many of them better adapted by ourselves to our ordinary
use。 We have reduced the large and expensive machinery for most
things to the compass of a private family； and every family of any
size is now getting machines on a small scale for their household
purposes。 Quoting myself as an example； and I am much behind many
others in this business； my household manufactures are just getting
into operation on the scale of a carding machine costing 60 only；
which may be worked by a girl of twelve years old； a spinning
machine； which may be made for 10； carrying 6 spindles for wool； to
be worked by a girl also； another which can be made for 25； carrying
12 spindles for cotton； and a loom； with a flying shuttle； weaving
its twenty yards a day。 I need 2；000 yards of linen； cotton and
woollen yearly； to clothe my family； which this machinery； costing
150 only； and worked by two women and two girls； will more than
furnish。 For fine goods there are numerous establishments at work in
the large cities； and many more daily growing up； and of merinos we
have some thousands； and these multiplying fast。 We consider a sheep
for every person as sufficient for their woollen clothing； and this
State and all to the north have fully that； and those to the south
and west will soon be up to it。 In other articles we are equally
advanced； so that nothing is more certain than that； come peace when
it will； we shall never again go to England for a shilling where we
have gone for a dollar's worth。 Instead of applying to her
manufacturers there； they must starve or come here to be employed。 I
give you these details of peaceable operations； because they are
within my present sphere。 Those of war are in better hands； who know
how to keep their own secrets。 Because； too； although a soldier
yourself； I am sure you contemplate the peaceable employment of man
in the improvement of his condition； with more pleasure than his
murders； rapine and devastations。
Mr。 Barnes； some time ago； forwarded you a bill of exchange for
5；500 francs； of which the enclosed is a duplicate。 Apprehending
that a war with England would subject the remittances to you to more
casualties； I proposed to Mr。 Morson； of Bordeaux； to become the
intermediate for making remittances to you； which he readily acceded
to on liberal ideas arising from his personal esteem for you； and his
desire to be useful to you。 If you approve of this medium I am in
hopes it will shield you from the effect of the accidents to which
the increased dangers of the seas may give birth。 It would give me
great pleasure to hear from you oftener。 I feel great interest in
your health and happiness。 I know your feelings on the present state
of the world； and hope they will be cheered by the successful course
of our war； and the addition of Canada to our confederacy。 The
infamous intrigues of Great Britain to destroy our government （of
which Henry's is but one sample）； and with the Indians to tomahawk
our women and children； prove that the cession of Canada； their
fulcrum for these Machiavelian levers； must be a _sine qua non_ at a
treaty of peace。 God bless you； and give you to see all these
things； and many and long years of health and happiness。
〃A RADICAL DIFFERENCE OF POLITICAL PRINCIPLE〃
_To John Melish_
_Monticello； January 13； 1813_
DEAR SIR； I received duly your favor of December the 15th；
and with it the copies of your map and travels； for which be pleased
to accept my thanks。 The book I have read with extreme satisfaction
and information。 As to the western States； particularly； it has
greatly edified me： for of the actual condition of that interesting
portion of our country； I had not an adequate idea。 I feel myself
now as familiar with it as with the condition of the maritime States。
I had no conception that manufactures had made such progress there；
and particularly of the number of carding and spinning machines
dispersed through the whole country。 We are but beginning here to
have them in our private families。 Small spinning jennies of from
half a dozen to twenty spindles； will soon； however； make their way
into the humblest cottages； as well as the richest houses； and
nothing is more certain； than that the coarse and middling clothing
for our families； will forever hereafter continue to be made within
ourselves。 I have hitherto myself depended entirely on foreign
manufactures； but I have now thirty…five spindles agoing； a hand
carding machine； and looms with the flying shuttle； for the supply of
my own farms； which will never be relinquished in my time。 The
continuance of the war will fix the habit generally； and out of the
evils of impressment and of the orders of council； a great blessing
for us will grow。 I have not formerly been an advocate for great
manufactories。 I doubted whether our labor； employed in agriculture；
and aided by the spontaneous energies of the earth； would not procure
us more than we could make ourselves of other necessaries。 But other
considerations entering into the question； have settled my doubts。
The candor with which you have viewed the manners and condition
of our citizens； is so unlike the narrow prejudices of the French and
English travellers preceding you； who； considering each the manners
and habits of their own people as the only orthodox； have viewed
everything differing from that test as boorish and barbarous； that
your work will be read here extensively； and operate great good。
Amidst this mass of approbation which is given to every other
part of the work； there is a single sentiment which I cannot help
wishing to bring to what I think the correct one； and； on a point so
interesting； I value your opinion too highly not to ambition its
concurrence with my own。 Stating in volume one； page sixty…three；
the principle of difference between the two great political parties
here； you conclude it to be； ‘whether the controlling power shall be
vested in this or that set of men。' That each party endeavors to get
into the administration of the government； and exclude the other from
power； is true； and may be stated as a motive of action： but this is
only secondary； the primary motive being a real and radical
difference of political principle。 I sincerely wish our differences
were but personally who should govern； and that the principles of our
constitution were those of both parties。 Unfortunately； it is
otherwise； and the question of preference between monarchy and
republicanism； which has so long divided mankind elsewhere； threatens
a permanent division here。
Among that section of our citizens called federalists； there
are three shades of opinion。 Distinguishing between the _leaders_
and _people_ who compose it； the _leaders_ consider the English
constitution as a model of perfection； some； with a correction of its
vices； others； with all its corruptions and abuses。 This last was
Alexander Hamilton's opinion； which others； as well as myself； have
often heard him declare； and that a correction of what are called its
vices； would render the English an impracticable government。 This
government they wished to have established here； and only accepted
and held fast； _at first_； to the present constitution； as a
stepping…stone to the final establishment of their favorite model。
This party therefore always clung to England as their prototype； and
great auxiliary in promoting and effecting this change。 A weighty
MINORITY； however； of these _leaders_； considering the voluntary
conversion of our government into a monarchy as too distant； if not
desperate； wish to break off from our Union its eastern fragment； as
being； in truth； the hot…bed of American monarchism； with a view to a
commencement of their favorite government； from whence the other
States may gangrene by degrees； and the whole be thus brought finally
to the desired point。 For Massachusetts； the prime mover in this
enterprise； is the last State in the Union to mean a _final_
separation； as being of all the most depende