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and known; scientific men will undertake; & verify & class it's

subjects。  Our emigration to the western country from these states

the last year is estimated at about 100;000。  I conjecture that about

one…half the number of our increase will emigrate westwardly

annually。  A newspaper paragraph tells me; with some details; that

the society of agriculture of Paris had thought a mould…board of my

construction worthy their notice & Mr。 Dupont confirms it in a

letter; but not specifying anything particular。  I send him a model

with an advantageous change in the form; in which however the

principle is rigorously the same。  I mention this to you lest he

should have left France for America; and I notice it no otherwise

lest there should have been any error in the information。  Present my

respectful salutations to Doctr。 Cabanis & accept them yourself with

assurances of my constant friendship & attachment。







        A NATIONAL ACADEMY




        _To Joel Barlow_

        _Feb。 24; 1806_




        I return you the draft of the bill for the establishment of a

National Academy & University at the city of Washington; with such

alterations as we talked over the last night。  They are chiefly

verbal。  I have often wished we could have a Philosophical society or

academy so organized as that while the central academy should be at

the seat of government; it's members dispersed over the states;

should constitute filiated academies in each state; publish their

communications; from which the central academy should select

unpublished what should be most choice。  In this way all the members

wheresoever dispersed might be brought into action; and an useful

emulation might arise between the filiated societies。  Perhaps the

great societies now existing might incorporate themselves in this way

with the National one。  But time does not allow me to pursue this

idea; nor perhaps had we time at all to get it into the present bill。

I procured an Agricultural society to be established (voluntarily) on

this plan; but it has done nothing。  Friendly salutations。







        COURTING ALEXANDER




        _To the Emperor Alexander_

        _Washington; April 19; 1806_




        I owe an acknowledgment to your Imperial Majesty for the great

satisfaction I have received from your letter of Aug。 20; 1805; and

embrace the opportunity it affords of giving expression to the

sincere respect and veneration I entertain for your character。  It

will be among the latest and most soothing comforts of my life; to

have seen advanced to the government of so extensive a portion of the

earth; and at so early a period of his life; a sovereign whose ruling

passion is the advancement of the happiness and prosperity of his

people; and not of his own people only; but who can extend his eye

and his good will to a distant and infant nation; unoffending in its

course; unambitious in its views。




        The events of Europe come to us so late; and so suspiciously;

that observations on them would certainly be stale; and possibly wide

of their actual state。  From their general aspect; however; I collect

that your Majesty's interposition in them has been disinterested and

generous; and having in view only the general good of the great

European family。  When you shall proceed to the pacification which is

to re…establish peace and commerce; the same dispositions of mind

will lead you to think of the general intercourse of nations; and to

make that provision for its future maintenance which; in times past;

it has so much needed。  The northern nations of Europe; at the head

of which your Majesty is distinguished; are habitually peaceable。

The United States of America; like them; are attached to peace。  We

have then with them a common interest in the neutral rights。  Every

nation indeed; on the continent of Europe; belligerent as well as

neutral; is interested in maintaining these rights; in liberalizing

them progressively with the progress of science and refinement of

morality; and in relieving them from restrictions which the extension

of the arts has long since rendered unreasonable and vexatious。




        Two personages in Europe; of which your Majesty is one; have it

in their power; at the approaching pacification; to render eminent

service to nations in general; by incorporating into the act of

pacification; a correct definition of the rights of neutrals on the

high seas。  Such a definition; declared by all the powers lately or

still belligerent; would give to those rights a precision and

notoriety; and cover them with an authority; which would protect them

in an important degree against future violation; and should any

further sanction be necessary; that of an exclusion of the violating

nation from commercial intercourse with all the others; would be

preferred to war; as more analogous to the offence; more easy and

likely to be executed with good faith。  The essential articles of

these rights; too; are so few and simple as easily to be defined。




        Having taken no part in the past or existing troubles of

Europe; we have no part to act in its pacification。  But as

principles may then be settled in which we have a deep interest; it

is a great happiness for us that they are placed under the protection

of an umpire; who; looking beyond the narrow bounds of an individual

nation; will take under the cover of his equity the rights of the

absent and unrepresented。  It is only by a happy concurrence of good

characters and good occasions; that a step can now and then be taken

to advance the well…being of nations。  If the present occasion be

good; I am sure your Majesty's character will not be wanting to avail

the world of it。  By monuments of such good offices; may your life

become an epoch in the history of the condition of man; and may He

who called it into being; for the good of the human family; give it

length of days and success; and have it always in His holy keeping。







        A TRIBUTE OF GRATITUDE




        _To Dr。 Edward Jenner_

        _Monticello; May 14; 1806_




        SIR;  I have received a copy of the evidence at large

respecting the discovery of the vaccine inoculation which you have

been pleased to send me; and for which I return you my thanks。

Having been among the early converts; in this part of the globe; to

its efficiency; I took an early part in recommending it to my

countrymen。  I avail myself of this occasion of rendering you a

portion of the tribute of gratitude due to you from the whole human

family。  Medicine has never before produced any single improvement of

such utility。  Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the blood was

a beautiful addition to our knowledge of the animal economy; but on a

review of the practice of medicine before and since that epoch; I do

not see any great amelioration which has been derived from that

discovery。  You have erased from the calendar of human afflictions

one of its greatest。  Yours is the comfortable reflection that

mankind can never forget that you have lived。  Future nations will

know by history only that the loathsome small…pox has existed and by

you has been extirpated。




        Accept my fervent wishes for your health and happiness and

assurances of the greatest respect and consideration。







        SCHISM AND THE MAJORITY LEADSHIP




        _To Barnabas Bidwell_

        _Washington; July 5; 1806_




        SIR;  Your favor of June the 21st has been duly received。  We

have not as yet heard from General Skinner on the subject of his

office。  Three persons are proposed on the most respectable

recommendations; and under circumstances of such equality as renders

it difficult to decide between them。  But it shall be done

impartially。  I sincerely congratulate you on the triumph of

republicanism in Massachusetts。  The Hydra of federalism has now lost

all its heads but two。  Connecticut I

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