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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； I believe； all the enquiries of your
letter； and where it is not sufficiently minute； Mr。 Milligan； from
his necessary acquaintance with the arrangement； will be able to
supply the smaller details。 Accept the assurances of my respect and
consideration。
MANUFACTURES
_To Benjamin Austin_
_Monticello； January 9； 1816_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of December 21st has been received； and
I am first to thank you for the pamphlet it covered。 The same
description of persons which is the subject of that is so much
multiplied here too； as to be almost a grievance； and by their
numbers in the public councils； have wrested from the public hand the
direction of the pruning knife。 But with us as a body； they are
republican； and mostly moderate in their views； so far； therefore；
less objects of jealousy than with you。 Your opinions on the events
which have taken place in France； are entirely just； so far as these
events are yet developed。 But they have not reached their ultimate
termination。 There is still an awful void between the present and
what is to be the last chapter of that history； and I fear it is to
be filled with abominations as frightful as those which have already
disgraced it。 That nation is too high…minded； has too much innate
force； intelligence and elasticity； to remain under its present
compression。 Samson will arise in his strength； as of old； and as of
old will burst asunder the withes and the cords； and the webs of the
Philistines。 But what are to be the scenes of havoc and horror； and
how widely they may spread between brethren of the same house； our
ignorance of the interior feuds and antipathies of the country places
beyond our ken。 It will end； nevertheless； in a representative
government； in a government in which the will of the people will be
an effective ingredient。 This important element has taken root in
the European mind； and will have its growth； their despots； sensible
of this； are already offering this modification of their governments；
as if on their own accord。 Instead of the parricide treason of
Bonaparte； in perverting the means confided to him as a republican
magistrate； to the subversion of that republic and erection of a
military despotism for himself and his family； had he used it
honestly for the establishment and support of a free government in
his own country； France would now have been in freedom and rest； and
her example operating in a contrary direction； every nation in Europe
would have had a government over which the will of the people would
have had some control。 His atrocious egotism has checked the
salutary progress of principle； and deluged it with rivers of blood
which are not yet run out。 To the vast sum of devastation and of
human misery； of which he has been the guilty cause； much is still to
be added。 But the object is fixed in the eye of nations； and they
will press on to its accomplishment and to the general amelioration
of the condition of man。 What a germ have we planted； and how
faithfully should we cherish the parent tree at home！
You tell me I am quoted by those who wish to continue our
dependence on England for manufactures。 There was a time when I
might have been so quoted with more candor； but within the thirty
years which have since elapsed； how are circumstances changed！ We
were then in peace。 Our independent place among nations was
acknowledged。 A commerce which offered the raw material in exchange
for the same material after receiving the last touch of industry； was
worthy of welcome to all nations。 It was expected that those
especially to whom manufacturing industry was important； would
cherish the friendship of such customers by every favor； by every
inducement； and particularly cultivate their peace by every act of
justice and friendship。 Under this prospect the question seemed
legitimate； whether； with such an immensity of unimproved land；
courting the hand of husbandry； the industry of agriculture； or that
of manufactures； would add most to the national wealth？ And the
doubt was entertained on this consideration chiefly； that to the
labor of the husbandman a vast addition is made by the spontaneous
energies of the earth on which it is employed： for one grain of wheat
committed to the earth； she renders twenty； thirty； and even fifty
fold； whereas to the labor of the manufacturer nothing is added。
Pounds of flax； in his hands； yield； on the contrary； but
penny…weights of lace。 This exchange； too； laborious as it might
seem； what a field did it promise for the occupations of the ocean；
what a nursery for that class of citizens who were to exercise and
maintain our equal rights on that element？ This was the state of
things in 1785； when the 〃Notes on Virginia〃 were first printed；
when； the ocean being open to all nations； and their commo