at any other period, would have been deemed honorable, of the existence of a moral sense in man, individually or associated, of the connection which the laws of nature have established between his duties and his interests, of a regard for honest fame and the esteem of our follow-men, have been a matter of reproach on us, as evidences of imbecility.  As if it could be a folly for an honest man to suppose that others could be honest also, when it is their interest to be so.  And when is this state of things to end?  The death of Bonaparte would, to be sure, remove the first and chiefest apostle of the desolation of men and morals, and might withdraw the scourge of the land.  But what is to restore order and safety on the ocean?  The death of George III?  Not at all.  He is only stupid; and his ministers, however weak and profligate in morals, are ephemeral.  But his nation is permanent, and it is that which is the tyrant of the ocean.  The principle that force is right, is become the principle of the nation itself.  They would not permit an honest minister, were accident to bring such an one into power, to relax their system of lawless piracy.  These were the difficulties when I was with you.  I know they are not lessened, and I pity you.

It is a blessing, however, that our people are reasonable; that they are kept so well informed of the state of things as to judge for themselves, to see the true sources of their difficulties, and to maintain their confidence undiminished in the wisdom and integrity of their functionaries. Macte virtute therefore.  Continue to go straight forward, pursuing always that which is right, as the only clue which can lead us out of the labyrinth.  Let nothing be spared of either reason or passion, to preserve the public confidence entire, as the only rock of our safety.  In times of peace the people look most to their representatives; but in war, to the executive solely.  It is visible that their confidence is even now veering in that direction; that they are looking to the executive to give the proper direction to their affairs, with a confidence as auspicious as it is well founded.

I avail myself of this, the first occasion of writing to you, to express all the depth of my affection for you; the sense I entertain of your faithful co-operation in my late labors, and the debt I owe for the valuable aids I received from you.  Though separated from my fellow-laborers in place and pursuit, my affections are with you all, and I offer daily prayers that ye love one another, as I love you.  God bless you.

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER LXXXVII.*—­TO SAMUEL KERCHEVAL, February 19,1810

TO SAMUEL KERCHEVAL.

Monticello, February 19,1810.

     [* This letter is endorsed, ‘not sent.’]

Sir,