按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
confidence that he will never submit； but finally defeat this
atrocious violation of the laws of god and man under which he is
suffering； and the wisdom and firmness of the Cortes afford
reasonable hope that that nation will settle down in a temperate
representative government； with an Executive properly subordinated to
that。 Portugal； Italy； Prussia； Germany； Greece will follow suit。
You and I shall look down from another world on these glorious
atchievements to man； which will add to the joys even of heaven。
I observe your toast of Mr。 Jay on the 4th。 of July； wherein
you say that the omission of his signature to the Declaration of
Independance was by _accident_。 Our impressions as to this fact
being different； I shall be glad to have mine corrected； if wrong。
Jay； you know； had been in constant opposition to our laboring
majority。 Our estimate； at the time； was that he； Dickinson and
Johnson of Maryland by their ingenuity； perseverance and partiality
to our English connection； had constantly kept us a year behind where
we ought to have been in our preparations and proceedings。 From
about the date of the Virginia instructions of May 15。 76。 to declare
Independance Mr。 Jay absented himself from Congress； and never came
there again until Dec。 78。 Of course he had no part in the
discussions or decision of that question。 The instructions to their
delegates by the Convention of New York； then sitting； to sign the
Declaration； were presented to Congress on the 15th。 of July only；
and on that day the journals shew the absence of Mr。 Jay by a letter
recieved from him； as they had done as early as the 29th。 of May by
another letter。 And； I think； he had been omitted by the Convention
on a new election of Delegates when they changed their instructions。
Of this last fact however having no evidence but an antient
impression； I shall not affirm it。 But whether so or not； no agency
of _accident_ appears in the case。 This error of fact however；
whether yours or mine； is of little consequence to the public。 But
truth being as cheap as error； it is as well to rectify it for our
own satisfaction。
I have had a fever of about three weeks during the last and
preceding month； from which I am entirely recovered except as to
strength。 Ever and affectionately yours
〃THE BEST LETTER THAT EVER WAS WRITTEN 。 。 。〃
_To John Adams_
_Monticello； Oct。 12； 1823_
DEAR SIR； I do not write with the ease whichyour letter of
Sep。 18。 supposes。 Crippled wrists and fingers make writing slow and
laborious。 But； while writing to you； I lose the sense of these
things； in the recollection of antient times； when youth and health
made happiness out of every thing。 I forget for a while the hoary
winter of age； when we can think of nothing but how to keep ourselves
warm； and how to get rid of our heavy hours until the friendly hand
of death shall rid us of all at once。 Against this tedium vitae
however I am fortunately mounted on a Hobby； which indeed I should
have better managed some 30。 or 40。 years ago； but whose easy amble
is still sufficient to give exercise and amusement to an Octogenary
rider。 This is the establishment of an University； on a scale more
comprehensive； and in a country more healthy and central than our old
William and Mary； which these obstacles have long kept in a state of
languor and inefficiency。 But the tardiness with which such works
proceed may render it doubtful whether I shall live to see it go into
action。
Putting aside these things however for the present； I write
this letter as due to a friendship co…eval with our government； and
now attempted to be poisoned； when too late in life to be replaced by
new affections。 I had for some time observed； in the public papers；
dark hints and mysterious innuendoes of a correspondence of yours
with a friend； to whom you had opened your bosom without reserve； and
which was to be made public by that friend； or his representative。
And now it is said to be actually published。 It has not yet reached
us； but extracts have been given； and such as seemed most likely to
draw a curtain of separation between you and myself。 Were there no
other motive than that of indignation against the author of this
outrage on private confidence； whose shaft seems to have been aimed
at yourself more particularly； this would make it the duty of every
honorable mind to disappoint that aim； by opposing to it's impression
a seven…fold shield of apathy and insensibility。 With me however no
such armour is needed。 The circumstances of the times； in which we
have happened to live； and the partiality of our friends； at a
particular period； placed us in a state of apparent opposition； which
some might suppose to be personal also； and there might not be
wanting those who wish'd to make it so； by filling our ears with
malignant falsehoods； by dressing up hideous phantoms of their own
creation； presenting them to you under my name； to me under your's；
and endeavoring to instill into our minds things concerning each
other the most destitute of truth。 And if there had been； at any
time； a moment when we were off our guard； and in a temper to let the
whispers of these people make us forget what we had known of each
other for so many years； and years of so much trial； yet all men who
have attended to the workings of the human mind； who have seen the
false colours under which passion sometimes dresses the actions and
motives of others； have seen also these passions subsiding with time
and reflection； dissipating； like mists before the rising sun； and
restoring to us the sight of all things in their true shape and
colours。 It would be strange indeed if； at our years； we were to go
an age back to hunt up imaginary； or forgotten facts； to disturb the
repose of affections so sweetening to the evening of our lives。 Be
assured； my dear Sir； that I am incapable of recieving the slightest
impression from the effort now made to plant thorns on the pillow of
age； worth； and wisdom； and to sow tares between friends who have
been such for near half a century。 Beseeching you then not to suffer
your mind to be disquieted by this wicked attempt to poison it's
peace； and praying you to throw it by； among the things which have
never happened； I add sincere assurances of my unabated； and constant
attachment； friendship and respect。
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
_To the President of the United States_
（JAMES MONROE）
_Monticello； October 24； 1823_
DEAR SIR； The question presented by the letters you have
sent me； is the most momentous which has ever been offered to my
contemplation since that of Independence。 That made us a nation；
this sets our compass and points the course which we are to steer
through the ocean of time opening on us。 And never could we embark
on it under