The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
Sir,--I am favored with yours of the 1st of November, and recollect with
pleasure our acquaintance in Virginia. With respect to the schools of
Europe, my mind is perfectly made up, and on full enquiry. The best in the
world is Edinburgh. Latterly, too, the spirit of republicanism has become
that of the students in general, and of the younger professors; so on that
account also it is eligible for an American. On the continent of Europe,
no place is comparable to Geneva. The sciences are there more modernized
than anywhere else. There, too, the spirit of republicanism is strong with
the body of the inhabitants: but that of aristocracy is strong also with
a particular class; so that it is of some consequence to attend to the
class of society in which a youth is made to move. It is a cheap place.
Of all these particulars Mr. Kinloch and Mr. Huger, of South Carolina, can
give you the best account, as they were educated there, and the latter is
lately from thence. I have the honor to be, with great esteem, Sir, your
most obedient humble servant.
TO MR. STUART.
Philadelphia, December 23, 1791.
Dear Sir,--I received duly your favor of October 22, and should have
answered it by the gentleman who delivered it, but that he left town
before I knew of it.
That it is really important to provide a constitution for our State cannot
be doubted: as little can it be doubted that the ordinance called by that
name has important defects. But before we attempt it, we should endeavor
to be as certain as is practicable that in the attempt we should not make
bad worse. I have understood that Mr. Henry has always been opposed to
this undertaking; and I confess that I consider his talents and influence
such as that, were it decided that we should call a convention for the
purpose of amending, I should fear he might induce that convention either
to fix the thing as at present, or change it for the worse. Would it not
therefore be well that means should be adopted for coming at his ideas of
the changes he would agree to, and for communicating to him those which
we should propose? Perhaps he might find ours not so distant from his,
but that some mutual sacrifices might bring them together.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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