I feel great anxiety for the occurrences of the ensuing four or five months.  If peace can be preserved, I hope and trust you will have a smooth administration.  I know no government which would be so embarrassing in war as ours.  This would proceed very much from the lying and licentious character of our papers; but much, also, from the wonderful credulity of the members of Congress in the floating lies of the day.  And in this no experience seems to correct them.  I have never seen a Congress during the last eight years, a great majority of which I would not implicitly have relied on in any question, could their minds have been purged of all errors of fact.  The evil, too, increases greatly with the protraction of the session, and I apprehend, in case of war, their session would have a tendency to become permanent.  It is much, therefore, to be desired that war may be avoided, if circumstances will admit.  Nor in the present maniac state of Europe, should I estimate the point of honor by the ordinary scale.  I believe we shall, on the contrary, have credit with the world, for having made the avoidance of being engaged in the present unexampled war, our first object.  War, however, may become a less losing business than unresisted depredation.  With every wish that events may be propitious to your administration, I salute you with sincere affection and every sympathy of the heart.

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER LXXX.—­TO THE INHABITANTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, April 3, 1809

TO THE INHABITANTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, IN VIRGINIA,

Returning to the scenes of my birth and early life, to the society of those with whom I was raised, and who have been ever dear to me, I receive, fellow-citizens and neighbors, with inexpressible pleasure, the cordial welcome you are so good as to give me.  Long absent on duties which the history of a wonderful era made incumbent on those called to them, the pomp, the turmoil, the bustle, and splendor of office, have drawn but deeper sighs for the tranquil and irresponsible occupations of private life, for the enjoyment of an affectionate intercourse with you, my neighbors and friends, and the endearments of family love, which nature has given us all, as the sweetener of every hour.  For these I gladly lay down the distressing burthen of power, and seek, with my fellow-citizens, repose and safety under the watchful cares, the labors, and perplexities of younger and abler minds.  The anxieties you express to administer to my happiness, do, of themselves, confer that happiness; and the measure will be complete, if my endeavors to fulfil my duties in the several public stations to which I have been called, have obtained for me the approbation of my country.  The part which I have acted on the theatre of public life, has been before them; and to their sentence I submit it:  but the testimony of my native county, of the individuals who have known me in private life,