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Richmond； which you remember； in the revolutionary war； in the
circumstance only； that we had； in that case； but forty…eight hours'
notice that an enemy had arrived within our capes； whereas； at
Washington； there was abundant previous notice。 The force designated
by the President was double of what was necessary； but failed； as is
the general opinion； through the insubordination of Armstrong； who
would never believe the attack intended until it was actually made；
and the sluggishness of Winder before the occasion； and his
indecision during it。 Still； in the end； the transaction has helped
rather than hurt us； by arousing the general indignation of our
country； and by marking to the world of Europe the Vandalism and
brutal character of the English government。 It has merely served to
immortalize their infamy。 And add further； that through the whole
period of the war； we have beaten them single…handed at sea； and so
thoroughly established our superiority over them with equal force；
that they retire from that kind of contest； and never suffer their
frigates to cruize singly。 The Endymion would never have engaged the
frigate President； but knowing herself backed by three frigates and a
razee； who； though somewhat slower sailers； would get up before she
could be taken。 The disclosure to the world of the fatal secret that
they can be beaten at sea with an equal force； the evidence furnished
by the military operations of the last year that experience is
rearing us officers who； when our means shall be fully under way；
will plant our standard on the walls of Quebec and Halifax； their
recent and signal disaster at New Orleans； and the evaporation of
their hopes from the Hartford convention； will probably raise a
clamor in the British nation； which will force their ministry into
peace。 I say _force_ them； because； willingly； they would never be
at peace。 The British ministers find in a state of war rather than
of peace； by riding the various contractors； and receiving _douceurs_
on the vast expenditures of the war supplies； that they recruit their
broken fortunes； or make new ones； and therefore will not make peace
as long as by any delusions they can keep the temper of the nation up
to the war point。 They found some hopes on the state of our
finances。 It is true that the excess of our banking institutions；
and their present discredit； have shut us out from the best source of
credit we could ever command with certainty。 But the foundations of
credit still remain to us； and need but skill which experience will
soon produce； to marshal them into an order which may carry us
through any length of war。 But they have hoped more in their
Hartford convention。 Their fears of republican France being now done
away； they are directed to republican America； and they are playing
the same game for disorganization here； which they played in your
country。 The Marats； the Dantons and Robespierres of Massachusetts
are in the same pay； under the same orders； and making the same
efforts to anarchise us； that their prototypes in France did there。
I do not say that all who met at Hartford were under the same
motives of money； nor were those of France。 Some of them are Outs；
and wish to be Inns； some the mere dupes of the agitators； or of
their own party passions； while the Maratists alone are in the real
secret； but they have very different materials to work on。 The
yeomanry of the United States are not the _canaille_ of Paris。 We
might safely give them leave to go through the United States
recruiting their ranks； and I am satisfied they could not raise one
single regiment （gambling merchants and silk…stocking clerks
excepted） who would support them in any effort to separate from the
Union。 The cement of this Union is in the heart…blood of every
American。 I do not believe there is on earth a government
established on so immovable a basis。 Let them； in any State； even in
Massachusetts itself； raise the standard of separation； and its
citizens will rise in mass； and do justice themselves on their own
incendiaries。 If they could have induced the government to some
effort of suppression； or even to enter into discussion with them； it
would have given them some importance； have brought them into some
notice。 But they have not been able to make themselves even a
subject of conversation； either of public or private societies。 A
silent contempt has been the sole notice they excite； consoled；
indeed； some of them； by the _palpable_ favors of Philip。 Have then
no fears for us； my friend。 The grounds of these exist only in
English newspapers； endited or endowed by the Castlereaghs or the
Cannings； or some other such models of pure and uncorrupted virtue。
Their military heroes； by land and sea； may sink our oyster boats；
rob our hen roosts； burn our negro huts； and run off。 But a campaign
or two more will relieve them from further trouble or expense in
defending their American possessions。
You once gave me a copy of the journal of your campaign in
Virginia； in 1781； which I must have lent to some one of the
undertakers to write the history of the revolutionary war； and forgot
to reclaim。 I conclude this； because it is no longer among my
papers； which I have very diligently searched for it； but in vain。
An author of real ability is now writing that part of the history of
Virginia。 He does it in my neighborhood； and I lay open to him all
my papers。 But I possess none； nor has he any； which can enable him
to do justice to your faithful and able services in that campaign。
If you could be so good as to send me another copy； by the very first
vessel bound to any port in the United States； it might be here in
time； for although he expects to begin to print within a month or
two； yet you know the delays of these undertakings。 At any rate it
might be got in as a supplement。 The old Count Rochambeau gave me
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
di