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edition might have been； but for it's numerous errors of the press；
and unmanageable size in 4to。 it's notes are valuable； and it has
the whole of Freinsheim's supplement with the marginal references to
his authorities。 Clerk's edition is of a handy size； has the whole
of Freinsheim； but without the references； which we often wish to
turn to； and it is without notes。 the late Paris edition of La Malle
has only the supplement of the 2d decad and no notes。 I possess
these two last mentioned editions； but would gladly become a
subscriber to such a one as I describe； that is to say； an 8vo
edition with the Delphin notes and all Freinsheim's supplements and
references。 if correctly executed it would be the editio optima； be
called for in Europe and do us honor there。 since consigning my
library to Congress I have supplied myself from Europe with most of
the classics； and of the best editions； in which I have been much
aided by mr。 Ticknor； your most learned and valuable countryman。
I make you my acknolegement for the sermon on the Unity of God；
and am glad to see our countrymen looking that question in the face。
it must end in a return to primitive christianity； and the
disbandment of the unintelligible Athanasian jargon of 3。 being 1。
and 1。 being 3。 this sermon is one of the strongest pieces against
it。 I observe you are about printing a work of Belsham's on the same
subject； for which I wish to be a subscriber； and inclose you a 5 D。
bill； there being none of fractional denominations。 the surplus
therefore may stand as I shall be calling for other things。 Accept
the assurance of my great respect。
INFLATION AND DEMORALIZATION
_To Nathaniel Macon_
_Monticello； January 12； 1819_
DEAR SIR； The problem you had wished to propose to me was
one which I could not have solved； for I knew nothing of the facts。
I read no newspaper now but Ritchie's； and in that chiefly the
advertisements； for they contain the only truths to be relied on in a
newspaper。 I feel a much greater interest in knowing what has passed
two or three thousand years ago； than in what is now passing。 I read
nothing； therefore； but of the heroes of Troy； of the wars of
Lacedaemon and Athens； of Pompey and Caesar； and of Augustus too； the
Bonaparte and parricide scoundrel of that day。 I have had； and still
have； such entire confidence in the late and present Presidents； that
I willingly put both soul and body into their pockets。 While such
men as yourself and your worthy colleagues of the legislature； and
such characters as compose the executive administration； are watching
for us all； I slumber without fear； and review in my dreams the
visions of antiquity。 There is； indeed； one evil which awakens me at
times； because it jostles me at every turn。 It is that we have now
no measure of value。 I am asked eighteen dollars for a yard of
broadcloth； which； when we had dollars； I used to get for eighteen
shillings； from this I can only understand that a dollar is now worth
but two inches of broadcloth； but broadcloth is no standard of
measure or value。 I do not know； therefore； whereabouts I stand in
the scale of property； nor what to ask； or what to give for it。 I
saw； indeed； the like machinery in action in the years '80 and '81；
and without dissatisfaction； because in wearing out； it was working
out our salvation。 But I see nothing in this renewal of the game of
〃Robin's alive〃 but a general demoralization of the nation； a
filching from industry its honest earnings； wherewith to build up
palaces； and raise gambling stock for swindlers and shavers； who are
to close too their career of piracies by fraudulent bankruptcies。 My
dependence for a remedy； however； is with the wisdom which grows with
time and suffering。 Whether the succeeding generation is to be more
virtuous than their predecessors； I cannot say； but I am sure they
will have more worldly wisdom； and enough； I hope； to know that
honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom。 I have made a
great exertion to write you thus much； my antipathy to taking up a
pen being so intense that I have never given you a stronger proof；
than in the effort of writing a letter； how much I value you； and of
the superlative respect and friendship with which I salute you。
HABITS OF 〃A HARD STUDENT〃
_To Dr。 Vine Utley_
_Monticello； March 21； 1819_
SIR； Your letter of February the 18th came to hand on the
1st instant； and the request of the history of my physical habits
would have puzzled me not a little； had it not been for the model
with which you accompanied it； of Doctor Rush's answer to a similar
inquiry。 I live so much like other people； that I might refer to
ordinary life as the history of my own。 Like my friend the Doctor； I
have lived temperately； eating little animal food； and that not as an
aliment； so much as a condiment for the vegetables； which constitute
my principal diet。 I double； however； the Doctor's glass and a half
of wine； and even treble it with a friend； but halve its effects by
drinking the weak wines only。 The ardent wines I cannot drink； nor
do I use ardent spirits in any form。 Malt liquors and cider are my
table drinks； and my breakfast； like that also of my friend； is of
tea and coffee。 I have been blest with organs of digestion which
accept and concoct； without ever murmuring； whatever the palate
chooses to consign to them； and I have not yet lost a tooth by age。
I was a hard student until I entered on the business of life； the
duties of which leave no idle time to those disposed to fulfil them；
and now； retired； and at the age of seventy…six； I am again a hard
student。 Indeed； my fondness for reading and study revolts me from
the drudgery of letter writing。 And a stiff wrist； the consequence
of an early dislocation； makes writing both slow and painful。 I am
not so regular in my sleep as the Doctor says he was； devoting to it
from five to eight hours； according as my company or the book I am
reading interests me； and I never go to bed without an hour； or half
hour's previous reading of something moral； whereon to ruminate in
the intervals of sleep。 But whether I retire to bed early or late； I
rise with the sun。 I use spectacles at night； but not necessarily in
the day； unless in reading small print。 My hearing is distinct in
particular conversation； but confused when several voices cross each
other； which unfits me for the society of the table。 I have been
more fortunate than my friend in the article of health。 So free from
catarrhs that I have not had one； （in the breast； I mean） on an
average of eight or ten years through life。 I ascribe this exemption
partly to the habit of bathing my feet in cold water every morning；
for sixty years past。 A fever of more than twenty…four hours I have
not had above two or three times in my life。 A pe