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also his _memoire_ of the operations at York； which is gone in the
same way； and I have no means of applying to his family for it。
Perhaps you could render them as well as us； the service of procuring
another copy。
I learn； with real sorrow； the deaths of Monsieur and Madame de
Tesse。 They made an interesting part in the idle reveries in which I
have sometimes indulged myself； of seeing all my friends of Paris
once more； for a month or two； a thing impossible； which； however； I
never permitted myself to despair of。 The regrets； however； of
seventy…three at the loss of friends； may be the less； as the time is
shorter within which we are to meet again； according to the creed of
our education。
This letter will be handed you by Mr。 Ticknor； a young
gentleman of Boston； of great erudition； indefatigable industry； and
preparation for a life of distinction in his own country。 He passed
a few days with me here； brought high recommendations from Mr。 Adams
and others； and appeared in every respect to merit them。 He is well
worthy of those attentions which you so kindly bestow on our
countrymen； and for those he may receive I shall join him in
acknowledging personal obligations。
I salute you with assurances of my constant and affectionate
friendship and respect。
P。 S。 February 26th。 My letter had not yet been sealed； when I
received news of our peace。 I am glad of it； and especially that we
closed our war with the eclat of the action at New Orleans。 But I
consider it as an armistice only； because no security is provided
against the impressment of our seamen。 While this is unsettled we
are in hostility of mind with England； although actual deeds of arms
may be suspended by a truce。 If she thinks the exercise of this
outrage is worth eternal war； eternal war it must be； or
extermination of the one or the other party。 The first act of
impressment she commits on an American； will be answered by reprisal；
or by a declaration of war here； and the interval must be merely a
state of preparation for it。 In this we have much to do； in further
fortifying our seaport towns； providing military stores； classing and
disciplining our militia； arranging our financial system； and above
all； pushing our domestic manufactures； which have taken such root as
never again can be shaken。 Once more； God bless you。
LIBRARY CLASSIFICATION
_To George Watterston_
_Monticello； May 7； 1815_
SIR； I have duly received your favor of April 26th； in which
you are pleased to ask my opinion on the subject of the arrangement
of libraries。 I shall communicate with pleasure what occurs to me on
it。 Two methods offer themselves； the one alphabetical； the other
according to the subject of the book。 The former is very
unsatisfactory； because of the medley it presents to the mind； the
difficulty sometimes of recalling an author's name； and the greater
difficulty； where the name is not given； of selecting the word in the
title； which shall determine its alphabetical place。 The arrangement
according to subject is far preferable； although sometimes presenting
difficulty also； for it is often doubtful to what particular subject
a book should be ascribed。 This is remarkably the case with books of
travels； which often blend together the geography； natural history；
civil history； agriculture； manufactures； commerce； arts；
occupations； manners； &c。； of a country； so as to render it difficult
to say to which they chiefly relate。 Others again； are polygraphical
in their nature； as Encyclopedias； magazines； etc。 Yet on the whole
I have preferred arrangement according to subject； because of the
peculiar satisfaction； when we wish to consider a particular one； of
seeing at a glance the books which have been written on it； and
selecting those from which we effect most readily the information we
seek。 On this principle the arrangement of my library was formed；
and I took the basis of its distribution from Lord Bacon's table of
science； modifying it to the changes in scientific pursuits which
have taken place since his time； and to the greater or less extent of
reading in the science which I proposed to myself。 Thus the law
having been my profession； and politics the occupation to which the
circumstances of the times in which I have lived called my particular
attention； my provision of books in these lines； and in those most
nearly connected with them was more copious； and required in
particular instances subdivisions into sections and paragraphs； while
other subjects of which general views only were contemplated are
thrown into masses。 A physician or theologist would have modified
differently； the chapters； sections； and paragraphs of a library
adapted to their particular pursuits。
You will receive my library arranged very perfectly in the
order observed in the catalogue； which I have sent with it。 In
placing the books on their shelves； I have generally； but not always；
collocated distinctly the folios； quarto； octavo； and duodecimo；
placing with the last all smaller sizes。 On every book is a label；
indicating the chapter of the catalogue to which it belongs； and the
other it holds among those of the same format。 So that； although the
numbers seem confused on the catalogue； they are consecutive on the
volumes as they stand on their shelves； and indicate at once the
place they occupy there。 Mr。 Milligan in packing them has preserved
their arrangement so exactly； in their respective presses； that on
setting the presses up on end； he will be able readily to replace
them in the order corresponding with the catalogue； and thus save you
the immense labor which their rearrangement would otherwise require。
To give to my catalogue the convenience of the alphabetical
arrangement I have made at the end an alphabet of authors' names and
have noted the chapter or chapters； in which the name will be found；
where it occurs several times in the same chapter； it is indicated；
by one or more perpendicular scores； thus according to the number of
times it will be found in the chapter。 Where a book bears no
author's name； I have selected in its title some leading word for
denoting it alphabetically。 This member of the catalogue would be
more perfect if； instead of the score； the number on the book were
particularly noted。 This could not be done when I made the
catalogue； because no label of numbers had then been put on the
books。 That alteration can now be readily made； and would add
greatly to the convenient use of the catalogue。 I gave to Mr。
Milligan a note of three folio volumes of the laws of Virginia
belonging to the library； which being in known hands； will be
certainly recovered； and shall be forwarded to you。 One is a MS。
volume from which a printed copy is now preparing for publication。
This statement meets；