to go, through with this distribution.  The distribution, then, should be imposed on them.  I find Congress have reversed their division of the western States, and proposed to make them fewer and larger.  This is reversing the natural order of things.  A tractable people may be governed in large bodies:  but in proportion as they depart from this character, the extent of their government must be less.  We see into what small divisions the Indians are obliged to reduce their societies.  This measure, with the disposition to shut up the Mississippi, gives me serious apprehensions of the severance of the eastern and western parts of our confederacy.  It might have been made the interest of the western States to remain united with us, by managing their interests honestly, and for their own good.  But the moment we sacrifice their interests to our own, they will see it better to govern themselves.  The moment they resolve to do this, the point is settled.  A forced connection is neither our interest, nor within our power.  The Virginia act for religious freedom has been received with infinite approbation in Europe, and propagated with enthusiasm.  I do not mean by the governments, but by the individuals who compose them.  It has been translated into French and Italian, has been sent to most of the courts of Europe, and has been the best evidence of the falsehood of those reports, which stated us to be in anarchy.  It is inserted in the new Encyclopedie, and is appearing in most of the publications respecting America.  In fact, it is comfortable to see the standard of reason at length erected, after so many ages, during which the human mind has been held in vassalage by kings, priests, and nobles:  and it is honorable for us to have produced the first legislature who had the courage to declare, that the reason of man may be trusted with the formation of his own opinions.

*****

I thank you for your communications in Natural History.  The several instances of trees, &c. found far below the surface of the earth, as in the case of Mr. Hay’s well, seem to set the reason of man at defiance.

I am, Dear Sir, with sincere esteem, your friend and servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XXXIII.—­TO CHARLES THOMSON, December 17,1780

TO CHARLES THOMSON.

Paris, December 17,1780.

Dear Sir,

A dislocation of my right wrist has for three months past disabled me from writing, except with my left hand, which was too slow and awkward to be employed often.  I begin to have so much use of my wrist as to be able to write, but it is slowly, and in pain.  I take the first moment I can, however, to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of April the 6th, July the 8th and 30th.  In one of these, you say you have not been able to learn, whether, in the new mills in London, steam is the immediate mover of the machinery, or raises water to move it.  It is the immediate