personally the duties to which they have appointed me.  If this mode of proceeding shall meet the approbation of the heads of departments, it may go into execution without giving them the trouble of an answer:  if any other can be suggested which would answer our views and add less to their labors, that will be a sufficient reason for my preferring it to my own proposition, to the substance of which only, and not the form, I attach any importance.

Accept for yourself particularly, my Dear Sir, assurances of my constant and sincere affection and respect.

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CCXCIII.—­TO JOHN DICKINSON, December 19, 1801

TO JOHN DICKINSON.

Washington, December 19, 1801.

Dear Sir,

The approbation of my ancient friends is above all things the most grateful to my heart.  They know for what objects we relinquished the delights of domestic society, tranquillity, and science, and committed ourselves to the ocean of revolution, to wear out the only life God has given us here, in scenes, the benefits of which will accrue only to those who follow us.  Surely we had in view to obtain the theory and practice of good government; and how any, who seemed so ardent in this pursuit, could as shamelessly have apostatized, and supposed we meant only to put our government into other hands, but not other forms, is indeed wonderful.  The lesson we have had will probably be useful to the people at large, by showing to them how capable they are of being made the instruments of their own bondage.  A little more prudence and moderation in those who had mounted themselves on their fears, and it would have been long and difficult to unhorse them.  Their madness had done in three years what reason alone acting against them would not have effected in many; and the more, as they might have gone on forming new entrenchments for themselves from year to year.  My great anxiety at present is, to avail ourselves of our ascendency to establish good principles, and good practices:  to fortify republicanism behind as many barriers as possible, that the outworks may give time to rally and save the citadel, should that be again in danger.  On their part, they have retired into the judiciary as a strong hold.  There the remains of federalism are to be preserved and fed from the treasury, and from that battery all the works of republicanism are to be beaten down and erased.  By a fraudulent use of the constitution, which has made judges irremovable, they have multiplied useless judges merely to strengthen their phalanx.