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confide to conduct things in the house； and they are as much disposed
to support him as can be wished。 It is only speaking a truth to say
that all eyes look to you。 It was not perhaps expected from a new
member； at his first session； & before the forms & style of doing
business were familiar。 But it would be a subject of deep regret
were you to refuse yourself to the conspicuous part in the business
of the house which all assign you。 Perhaps I am not entitled to
speak with so much frankness； but it proceeds from no motive which
has not a right to your forgiveness。 Opportunities of candid
explanation are so seldom afforded me； that I must not lose them when
they occur。
The information I receive from your quarter agrees with that
from the south； that the late schism has made not the smallest
impression on the public； and that the seceders are obliged to give
to it other grounds than those which we know to be the true ones。
All we have to wish is； that at the ensuing session； every one may
take the part openly which he secretly befriends。 I recollect
nothing new and true； worthy communicating to you。 As for what is
not true； you will always find abundance in the newspapers。 Among
other things； are those perpetual alarms as to the Indians； for no
one ofwhich has there ever been the slightest ground。 They are the
suggestions of hostile traders； always wishing to embroil us with the
Indians； to perpetuate their own extortionate commerce。 I salute you
with esteem and respect。
GARDENS FOR MONTICELLO
_To William Hamilton_
_Washington； July； 1806_
Your favor of the 7'th came duly to hand and the plant you are
so good as to propose to send me will be thankfully rec'd。 The
little Mimosa Julibrisin you were so kind as to send me the last year
is flourishing。 I obtained from a gardener in this nbh'd
＇neighborhood＇ 2 plants of the paper mulberry； but the parent plant
being male； we are to expect no fruit from them；unless your ＇trees＇
should chance to be of the sex wanted。 at a future day； say two years
hence I shall ask from you some seeds of the Mimosa Farnesiana or
Nilotica； of which you were kind enough before to furnish me some。
but the plants have been lost during my absence from home。 I
remember seeing in your greenhouse a plant of a couple of feet height
in a pot the fragrance of which （from it's gummy bud if I recollect
rightly） was peculiarly agreeable to me and you were so kind as to
remark that it required only a greenhouse； and that you would furnish
me one when I should be in a situation to preserve it。 but it's name
has entirely escaped me & I cannot suppose you can recollect or
conjecture in your vast collection what particular plant this might
be。 I must acquiese therefore in a privation which my own defect of
memory has produced； unless indeed I could some of these days make an
impromptu visit to Phila。 & recognise it myself at the Woodlands。
Having decisively made up my mind for retirement at the end of
my present term； my views and attentions are all turned homewards。 I
have hitherto been engaged in my buildings which will be finished in
the course of the present year。 The improvement of my grounds has
been reserved formy occupation on my return home。 For this reason it
is that I have put off to the fall of the year after next the
collection of such curious trees as will bear our winters in the open
air。
The grounds which I destine to improve in the style of the
English gardens are in a form very difficult to be managed。 They
compose the northern quadrant of a mountain for about 2/3 of its
height & then spread for the upper third over its whole crown。 They
contain about three hundred acres； washed at the foot for about a
mile； by a river of the size of the Schuylkill。 The hill is
generally too steep for direct ascent； but we make level walks
successively along it's side； which in it's upper part encircle the
hill & intersect these again by others of easy ascent in various
parts。 They are chiefly still in their native woods； which are
majestic； and very generally a close undergrowth； which I have not
suffered to be touched； knowing how much easier it is to cut away
than to fill up。 The upper third is chiefly open； but to the South
is covered with a dense thicket of Scotch broom （Spartium scoparium
Lin。） which being favorably spread before the sun will admit of
advantageous arrangement for winter enjoyment。 You are sensible that
this disposition of the ground takes from me the first beauty in
gardening； the variety of hill & dale； & leaves me as an awkward
substitute a few hanging hollows & ridges； this subject is so unique
and at the same time refractory； that to make a disposition analogous
to its character would require much more of the genius of the
landscape painter & gardener than I pretend to。 I had once hoped to
get Parkins to go and give me some outlines； but I was disappointed。
Certainly I could never wish your health to be such as to render
travelling necessary； but should a journey at any time promise
improvement to it； there is no one on which you would be received
with more pleasure than at Monticello。 Should I be there you will
have an opportunity of indulging on a new field some of the taste
which has made the Woodlands the only rival which I have known in
America to what may be seen in England。
Thither without doubt we are to go for models in this art。
Their sunless climate has permitted them to adopt what is certainly a
beauty of the very first order in landscape。 Their canvas is of open
ground； variegated with clumps of trees distributed with taste。 They
need no more of wood than will serve to embrace a lawn or a glade。
But under the beaming； constant and almost vertical sun of Virginia；
shade is our Elysium。 In the absence of this no beauty of the eye
can be enjoyed。 This organ must yield it's gratification to that of
the other senses； without the hope of any equivalent to the beauty
relinquished。 The only substitute I have been able to imagine is
this。 Let your ground be covered with trees of the loftiest stature。
Trim up their bodies as high as the constitution & form of the tree
will bear； but so as that their tops shall still unite & yeild dense
shade。 A wood； so open below； will have nearly the appearance of
open grounds。 Then； when in the open ground you would plant a clump
of trees； place a thicket of shrubs presenting a hemisphere the crown
of which shall distinctly show itself under the branches of the
trees。 This may be effected by a due selection & arrangement of the
shrubs； & will I think offer a group not much inferior to that of
trees。 The thickets may be varied too by making some of them of
evergreens altogether； our red cedar made to grow in a bush；
evergreen privet； pyrocanthus； Kalmia； Scotch broom。 Holly would be
elegant but it