Mr. Smith wrote to me on the transportation of the library, and particularly, that it is submitted to your direction.  He mentioned also, that Dougherty would be engaged to superintend it.  No one will more carefully and faithfully execute all those duties which would belong to a wagon-master.  But it requires a character acquainted with books, to receive the library.  I am now employing as many hours of every day as my strength will permit, in arranging the books, and putting every one in its place on the shelves, corresponding with its order in the catalogue, and shall have them numbered correspondently.  This operation will employ me a considerable time yet.  Then I should wish a competent agent to attend, and, with the catalogue in his hand, see that every book is on the shelves, and have their lids nailed on, one by one, as he proceeds.  This would take such a person about two days; after which, Dougherty’s business would be the mere mechanical removal, at convenience.  I enclose you a letter from Mr. Milligan, offering his service, which would not cost more than eight or ten days’ reasonable compensation.  This is necessary for my safety, and your satisfaction, as a just caution for the public.  You know there are persons, both in and out of the public councils, who will seize every occasion of imputation on either of us, the more difficult to be repelled in this case, in which a negative could not be proved.  If you approve of it, therefore, as soon as I am through the review, I will give notice to Mr. Milligan, or any other person whom you will name, to come on immediately.  Indeed it would be well worth while to add to his duty, that of covering the books with a little paper (the good bindings at least), and filling the vacancies of the presses with paper-parings, to be brought from Washington.  This would add little more to the time, as he could carry on both operations at once.

Accept the assurance of my constant and affectionate friendship and respect,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CXXVI.—­TO JOHN ADAMS, June 10,1815

TO JOHN ADAMS.

Monticello, June 10,1815.

Dear Sir,

It is long since we have exchanged a letter, and yet what volumes might have been written on the occurrences even of the last three months.  In the first place, peace, God bless it! has returned, to put us all again into a course of lawful and laudable pursuits:  a new trial of the Bourbons has proved to the world their incompetence to the functions of the station they have occupied:  and the recall of the usurper has clothed him with the semblance of a legitimate autocrat.  If adversity should have taught him wisdom, of which I have little expectation, he may yet render some service to mankind, by teaching the ancient dynasties that they can be changed for misrule, and by wearing down the maritime power of England to limitable and safe dimensions.  But it is not