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Reading； Writing； Arithmetic； Geography。
2d； or General Grade。
1。 Language and History； ancient and modern。
2。 Mathematics； viz： Mathematics pure；
Physico…Mathematics； Physics； Chemistry； Anatomy； Theory of Medicine；
Zoology； Botany and Mineralogy。 ｜P1352｜p1
3。 Philosophy； viz： Ideology； and Ethics； Law of Nature
and Nations； Government； Political Economy。
3d； or Professional Grades。
Theology and Ecclesiastical History； Law； Municipal and
Foreign； Practice of Medicine； Materia Medica and Pharmacy； Surgery；
Architecture； Military and Naval； and Projectiles； Technical
Philosophy； Rural Economy； Fine Arts。
On this survey of the field of science； I recur to the
question； what portion of it we mark out for the occupation of our
institution？ With the first grade of education we shall have nothing
to do。 The sciences of the second grade are our first object； and；
to adapt them to our slender beginnings； we must separate them into
groups； comprehending many sciences each； and greatly more； in the
first instance； than ought to be imposed on； or can be competently
conducted by a single professor permanently。 They must be subdivided
from time to time； as our means increase； until each professor shall
have no more under his care than he can attend to with advantage to
his pupils and ease to himself。 For the present； we may group the
sciences into professorships； as follows； subject； however； to be
changed； according to the qualifications of the persons we may be
able to engage。
I。 Professorship。
Languages and History； ancient and modern。
Belles…Lettres； Rhetoric and Oratory。
II。 Professorship。
Mathematics pure； Physico…Mathematics。
Physics； Anatomy； Medicine； Theory。
III。 Professorship。
Chemistry； Zoology； Botany； Mineralogy。
IV。 Professorship。
Philosophy。
The organization of the branch of the institution which
respects its government； police and economy； depending on principles
which have no affinity with those of its institution； may be the
subject of separate and subsequent consideration。
With this tribute of duty to the board of trustees； accept
assurances of my great esteem and consideration。
A LIBRARY FOR CONGRESS
_To Samuel H。 Smith_
_Monticello； September 21； 1814_
DEAR SIR； I learn from the newspapers that the Vandalism of
our enemy has triumphed at Washington over science as well as the
arts； by the destruction of the public library with the noble edifice
in which it was deposited。 Of this transaction； as of that of
Copenhagen； the world will entertain but one sentiment。 They will
see a nation suddenly withdrawn from a great war； full armed and full
handed； taking advantage of another whom they had recently forced
into it； unarmed； and unprepared； to indulge themselves in acts of
barbarism which do not belong to a civilized age。 When Van Ghent
destroyed their shipping at Chatham； and De Ruyter rode triumphantly
up the Thames； he might in like manner； by the acknowledgment of
their own historians； have forced all their ships up to London
bridge； and there have burnt them； the tower； and city； had these
examples been then set。 London； when thus menaced； was near a
thousand years old； Washington is but in its teens。
I presume it will be among the early objects of Congress to
re…commence their collection。 This will be difficult while the war
continues； and intercourse with Europe is attended with so much risk。
You know my collection； its condition and extent。 I have been fifty
years making it； and have spared no pains； opportunity or expense； to
make it what it is。 While residing in Paris； I devoted every
afternoon I was disengaged； for a summer or two； in examining all the
principal book…stores； turning over every book with my own hand； and
putting by everything which related to America； and indeed whatever
was rare and valuable in every science。 Besides this； I had standing
orders during the whole time I was in Europe； on its principal
book…marts； particularly Amsterdam； Frankfort； Madrid and London； for
such works relating to America as could not be found in Paris。 So
that in that department particularly； such a collection was made as
probably can never again be effected； because it is hardly probable
that the same opportunities； the same time； industry； perseverance
and expense； with some knowledge of the bibliography of the subject；
would again happen to be in concurrence。 During the same period； and
after my return to America； I was led to procure； also； whatever
related to the duties of those in the high concerns of the nation。
So that the collection； which I suppose is of between nine and ten
thousand volumes； while it includes what is chiefly valuable in
science and literature generally； extends more particularly to
whatever belongs to the American statesman。 In the diplomatic and
parliamentary branches； it is particularly full。 It is long since I
have been sensible it ought not to continue private property； and had
provided that at my death； Congress should have the refusal of it at
their own price。 But the loss they have now incurred； makes the
present the proper moment for their accommodation； without regard to
the small remnant of time and the barren use of my enjoying it。 I
ask of your friendship； therefore； to make for me the tender of it to
the library committee of Congress； not knowing myself of whom the
committee consists。 I enclose you the catalogue； which will enable
them to judge of its contents。 Nearly the whole are well bound；
abundance of them elegantly； and of the choicest editions existing。
They may be valued by persons named by themselves； and the payment
made convenient to the public。 It may be； for instance； in such
annual instalments as the law of Congress has left at their disposal；
or in stock of any of their late loans； or of any loan they may
institute at this session； so as to spare the present calls of our
country； and await its days of peace and prosperity。 They may enter；
nevertheless； into immediate use of it； as eighteen or twenty wagons
would place it in Washington in a single trip of a fortnight。 I
should be willing indeed； to retain a few of the books； to amuse the
time I have yet to pass； which might be valued with the rest； but not
included in the sum of valuation until they should be restored at my
death； which I would carefully provide for； so that the whole library
as it stands in the catalogue at this moment should be theirs without
any garbling。 Those I should like to retain would be chiefly
classical and mathematical。 Some few in other branches； and
particularly one of the five encyclopedias in the catalogue。 But
this； if not acceptable； would not be urged。 I must add； that I have
not revised the library since I came home to live； so that it is
probable some of the books may be missing； except in the chapters of
Law and Divinity； which have been revised and stand exactly as in the
catalogue。 The return of the catalogue will of course be needed；
whether the tender be accepted or not。 I do not know that it
contains any branch of science which Congress would wish to exclude
from their collection； there is； in fact； no subject to which a
member of Congress may not have occasion to refer。 But such a wish
would not correspond with my views of preventing its dismemberment。
My desire is either to place it in their hands entire； or to preserve
it so here。 I am engaged in making an alphabetical index of the
author's names； to be annexed to the catalogue； which I will forward
to you as soon as completed。 Any agreement you shall be so good as
to take the trouble of entering into with the committee； I hereby
confirm。 Accept the assurance of my great esteem and respect。
A JUST BUT SAD WAR
_To William Short_
_Monticello； November 28； 1814_
DEAR SIR； Yours of October 28th came to hand on the 15th
instant only。 The settlement of your boundary with Colonel Monroe；
is protracted by circumstances which seem foreign to it。 One would
hardly have expected that the hostile expedition to Washington could
have had any connection with an operation one hundred miles distant。
Yet preventing his attendance； nothing could be done。 I am satisfied
there is no unwillingness on his part； but on the contrary a desire
to have it settled； and therefore； if he should think it
indispensable to be present at the investigation； as is possible； the
very first time he comes here I will press him to give a day to the
decision； without regarding Mr。 Carter's absence。 Such an occasion
must certainly offer s