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which I now enclose for your perusal； after which be so good as to
return it to me； as I have never communicated it to any mortal
breathing； before。 I send it to you； to convince you I have not been
wanting either in the desire； or the endeavor to remove this
misunderstanding。 Indeed； I thoughtit highly disgraceful to us both；
as indicating minds notsufficiently elevated to prevent a public
competition fromaffecting our personal friendship。 I soon found from
thecorrespondence that conciliation was desperate； and yielding to an
intimation in her last letter； I ceased from further explanation。 I
have the same good opinion of Mr。 Adams which I ever had。 I know him
to be an honest man； an able one with his pen； and he was a powerful
advocate on the floor of Congress。 He has been alienated from me； by
belief in the lying suggestions contrived for electioneering
purposes； that I perhaps mixed in the activity and intrigues of the
occasion。 My most intimate friends can testify that I was perfectly
passive。 They would sometimes； indeed； tell me what was going on；
but no man ever heard me take part in such conversations； and none
ever misrepresented Mr。 Adams in my presence； without my asserting
his just character。 With very confidential persons I have doubtless
disapproved of the principles and practices of his administration。
This was unavoidable。 But never with those with whom it could do him
any injury。 Decency would have required this conduct from me； if
disposition had not； and I am satisfied Mr。 Adams' conduct was
equally honorable towards me。 But I think it part of his character
to suspect foul play in those of whom he is jealous； and not easily
to relinquish his suspicions。
I have gone； my dear friend； into these details； that you might
know everything which had passed between us； might be fully possessed
of the state of facts and dispositions； and judge for yourself
whether they admit a revival of that friendly intercourse for which
you are so kindly solicitous。 I shall certainly not be wanting in
anything on my part which may second your efforts； which will be the
easier with me； inasmuch as I do not entertain a sentiment of Mr。
Adams； the expression of which could give him reasonable offence。
And I submit the whole to yourself； with the assurance； that whatever
be the issue； my friendship and respect for yourself will remain
unaltered and unalterable。
〃THE SEEDS OF CIVILIZATION〃
_To John Lynch_
_Monticello； January 21； 1811_
SIR； You have asked my opinion on the proposition of Mrs。
Mifflin； to take measures for procuring； on the coast of Africa； an
establishment to which the people of color of these States might；
from time to time； be colonized； under the auspices of different
governments。 Having long ago made up my mind on this subject； I have
no hesitation in saying that I have ever thought it the most
desirable measure which could be adopted； for gradually drawing off
this part of our population； most advantageously for themselves as
well as for us。 Going from a country possessing all the useful arts；
they might be the means of transplanting them among the inhabitants
of Africa； and would thus carry back to the country of their origin；
the seeds of civilization which might render their sojournment and
sufferings here a blessing in the end to that country。
I received； in the first year of my coming into the
administration of the General Government； a letter from the Governor
of Virginia； （Colonel Monroe；） consulting me； at the request of the
Legislature of the State； on the means of procuring some such asylum；
to which these people might be occasionally sent。 I proposed to him
the establishment of Sierra Leone； to which a private company in
England had already colonized a number of negroes； and particularly
the fugitives from these States during the Revolutionary War； and at
the same time suggested； if this could not be obtained； some of the
Portuguese possessions in South America； as next most desirable。 The
subsequent Legislature approving these ideas； I wrote； the ensuing
year； 1802； to Mr。 King； our Minister in London； to endeavor to
negotiate with the Sierra Leone company a reception of such of these
people as might be colonized thither。 He opened a correspondence
with Mr。 Wedderburne and Mr。 Thornton； secretaries of the company； on
the subject； and in 1803 I received through Mr。 King the result；
which was that the colony was going on； but in a languishing
condition； that the funds of the company were likely to fail； as they
received no returns of profit to keep them up； that they were
therefore in treaty with their government to take the establishment
off their hands； but that in no event should they be willing to
receive more of these people from the United States； as it was
exactly that portion of their settlers which had gone from hence；
which； by their idleness and turbulence； had kept the settlement in
constant danger of dissolution； which could not have been prevented
but for the aid of the Maroon negroes from the West Indies； who were
more industrious and orderly than the others； and supported the
authority of the government and its laws。 I think I learned
afterwards that the British Government had taken the colony into its
own hands； and I believe it still exists。 The effort which I made
with Portugal； to obtain an establishment for them within their
claims in South America； proved also abortive。
You inquire further； whether I would use my endeavors to
procure for such an establishment security against violence from
other powers； and particularly from France？ Certainly； I shall be
willing to do anything I can to give it effect and safety。 But I am
but a private individual； and could only use endeavors with private
individuals； whereas； the National Government can address themselves
at once to those of Europe to obtain the desired security； and will
unquestionably be ready to exert its influence with those nations for
an object so benevolent in itself； and so important to a great
portion of its constituents。 Indeed； nothing is more to be wished
than that the United States would themselves undertake to make such
an establishment on the coast of Africa。 Exclusive of motives of
humanity； the commercial advantages to be derived from it might repay
all its expenses。 But for this； the national mind is not yet
prepared。 It may perhaps be doubted whether many of these people
would voluntarily consent to such an exchange of situation； and very
certain that few of those advanced to a certain age in habits of
slavery； would be capable of self…government。 This should not；
however； discourage the experiment； nor the early trial of it； and
the proposition should be made with all the prudent cautions and
attentions requisite to reconcile it to the interests； the safety and
the prejudices of all parties。
Accept the assurances of my respect and esteem。
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE
_To A。 L。 C。 Destutt de Tracy_
_Monticello； January 26； 1811_
SIR； The length of time your favor of June the 12th； 1809；
was on its way to me； and my absence from home the greater part of
the autumn； delayed very much the pleasure which awaited me of
reading the packet which accompanied it。 I cannot express to you the
satisfaction which I received from its perusal。 I had； with the
world； deemed Montesquieu's work of much merit； but saw in it； with
every thinking man； so much of paradox； of false principle and
misapplied fact； as to render its value equivocal on the whole。
Williams and others had nibbled only at its errors。 A radical
correction of them； therefore； was a great desideratum。 This want is
now supplied； and with a depth of thought； precision of idea； of
language and of logic； which will force conviction into every mind。
I declare to you； Sir； in the spirit of truth and sincerity； that I
consider it the most precious gift the present age has received。 But
what would it have been； had the author； or would the author； take up
the whole scheme of Montesquieu's work； and following the correct
analysis he has here developed； fill up all its parts according to
his sound views of them？ Montesquieu's celebrity would be but a
small portion of that which would immortalize the author。 And with
whom？ With the rational and high…minded spirits of the present and
all future ages。 With those whose approbation is both incitement and
reward to virtue and ambition。 Is then the hope desperate？ To what
object can the occupation of his future life be devoted so usefully
to the world； so splendidly to himself？ But I must leave to others
who have higher claims on his attention； to press these
considerations。
My situation； far in the interior of the country； w