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So that the collection； which I suppose is of between nine and ten
thousand volumes； while it includes what is chiefly valuable in
science and literature generally； extends more particularly to
whatever belongs to the American statesman。 In the diplomatic and
parliamentary branches； it is particularly full。 It is long since I
have been sensible it ought not to continue private property； and had
provided that at my death； Congress should have the refusal of it at
their own price。 But the loss they have now incurred； makes the
present the proper moment for their accommodation； without regard to
the small remnant of time and the barren use of my enjoying it。 I
ask of your friendship； therefore； to make for me the tender of it to
the library committee of Congress； not knowing myself of whom the
committee consists。 I enclose you the catalogue； which will enable
them to judge of its contents。 Nearly the whole are well bound；
abundance of them elegantly； and of the choicest editions existing。
They may be valued by persons named by themselves； and the payment
made convenient to the public。 It may be； for instance； in such
annual instalments as the law of Congress has left at their disposal；
or in stock of any of their late loans； or of any loan they may
institute at this session； so as to spare the present calls of our
country； and await its days of peace and prosperity。 They may enter；
nevertheless； into immediate use of it； as eighteen or twenty wagons
would place it in Washington in a single trip of a fortnight。 I
should be willing indeed； to retain a few of the books； to amuse the
time I have yet to pass； which might be valued with the rest； but not
included in the sum of valuation until they should be restored at my
death； which I would carefully provide for； so that the whole library
as it stands in the catalogue at this moment should be theirs without
any garbling。 Those I should like to retain would be chiefly
classical and mathematical。 Some few in other branches； and
particularly one of the five encyclopedias in the catalogue。 But
this； if not acceptable； would not be urged。 I must add； that I have
not revised the library since I came home to live； so that it is
probable some of the books may be missing； except in the chapters of
Law and Divinity； which have been revised and stand exactly as in the
catalogue。 The return of the catalogue will of course be needed；
whether the tender be accepted or not。 I do not know that it
contains any branch of science which Congress would wish to exclude
from their collection； there is； in fact； no subject to which a
member of Congress may not have occasion to refer。 But such a wish
would not correspond with my views of preventing its dismemberment。
My desire is either to place it in their hands entire； or to preserve
it so here。 I am engaged in making an alphabetical index of the
author's names； to be annexed to the catalogue； which I will forward
to you as soon as completed。 Any agreement you shall be so good as
to take the trouble of entering into with the committee； I hereby
confirm。 Accept the assurance of my great esteem and respect。
A JUST BUT SAD WAR
_To William Short_
_Monticello； November 28； 1814_
DEAR SIR； Yours of October 28th came to hand on the 15th
instant only。 The settlement of your boundary with Colonel Monroe；
is protracted by circumstances which seem foreign to it。 One would
hardly have expected that the hostile expedition to Washington could
have had any connection with an operation one hundred miles distant。
Yet preventing his attendance； nothing could be done。 I am satisfied
there is no unwillingness on his part； but on the contrary a desire
to have it settled； and therefore； if he should think it
indispensable to be present at the investigation； as is possible； the
very first time he comes here I will press him to give a day to the
decision； without regarding Mr。 Carter's absence。 Such an occasion
must certainly offer soon after the fourth of March； when Congress
rises of necessity； and be assured I will not lose one possible
moment in effecting it。
Although withdrawn from all anxious attention to political
concerns； yet I will state my impressions as to the present war；
because your letter leads to the subject。 The essential grounds of
the war were； 1st； the orders of council； and 2d； the impressment of
our citizens； （for I put out of sight from the love of peace the
multiplied insults on our government and aggressions on our commerce；
with which our pouch； like the Indian's； had long been filled to the
mouth。） What immediately produced the declaration was； 1st； the
proclamation of the Prince Regent that he would never repeal the
orders of council as to us； until Bonaparte should have revoked his
decrees as to all other nations as well as ours； and 2d； the
declaration of his minister to ours that no arrangement whatever
could be devised admissible in lieu of impressment。 It was certainly
a misfortune that _they_ did not know themselves at the date of this
silly and insolent proclamation； that within one month they would
repeal the orders； and that _we_； at the date of our declaration；
could not know of the repeal which was then going on one thousand
leagues distant。 Their determinations； as declared by themselves；
could alone guide us； and they shut the door on all further
negotiation； throwing down to us the gauntlet of war or submission as
the only alternatives。 We cannot blame the government for choosing
that of war； because certainly the great majority of the nation
thought it ought to be chosen； not that they were to gain by it in
dollars and cents； all men know that war is a losing game to both
parties。 But they know also that if they do not resist encroachment
at some point； all will be taken from them； and that more would then
be lost even in dollars and cents by submission than resistance。 It
is the case of giving a part to save the whole； a limb to save life。
It is the melancholy law of human societies to be compelled sometimes
to choose a great evil in order to ward off a greater； to deter their
neighbors from rapine by making it cost them more than honest gains。
The enemy are accordingly now disgorging what they had so ravenously
swallowed。 The orders of council had taken from us near one thousand
vessels。 Our list of captures from them is now one thousand three
hundred； and； just become sensible that it is small and not large
ships which gall them most； we shall probably add one thousand prizes
a year to their past losses。 Again； supposing that； according to the
confession of their own minister in parliament； the Americans they
had impressed were something short of two thousand； the war against
us alone cannot cost them less than twenty millions of dollars a
year； so that each American impressed has already cost them ten
thousand dollars； and e