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Accept my affectionate salutations, and assurances of my constant esteem and respect.

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER VI.—­TO DAVID WILLIAMS, November 14, 1803

To David Williams.

Washington, November 14, 1803.

Sir,

I have duly received the volume on the claims of literature; which you did me the favor to send me through Mr. Monroe:  and have read with satisfaction the many judicious reflections it contains, on the condition of the respectable class of literary men.  The efforts for their relief, made by a society of private citizens, are truly laudable:  but they are, as you justly observe, but a palliation of an evil, the cure of which calls for all the wisdom and the means of the nation.  The greatest evils of populous society have ever appeared to me to spring from the vicious distribution of its members among the occupations called for.  I have no doubt that those nations are essentially right, which leave this to individual choice, as a better guide to an advantageous distribution, than any other which could be devised.  But when, by a blind concourse, particular occupations are ruinously overcharged, and others left in want of hands, the national authorities can do much towards restoring the equilibrium.  On the revival of letters, learning became the universal favorite.  And with reason, because there was not enough of it existing to manage the affairs of a nation to the best advantage, nor to advance its individuals to the happiness of which they were susceptible, by improvements in their minds, their morals, their health, and in those conveniences which contribute to the comfort and embellishment of life.  All the efforts of the society, therefore, were directed to the increase of learning, and the inducements of respect, ease, and profit were held up for its encouragement.  Even the charities of the nation forgot that misery was their object, and spent themselves in founding schools to transfer to science the hardy sons of the plough.  To these incitements were added the powerful fascinations of great cities.  These circumstances have long since produced an overcharge in the class of competitors for learned occupation, and great distress among the supernumerary candidates; and the more, as their habits of life have disqualified them for re-entering into the laborious class.  The evil cannot be suddenly, nor perhaps ever entirely cured:  nor should I presume to say by what means it may be cured.  Doubtless there are many engines which the nation might bring to bear on this object.  Public opinion and public encouragement are among these.  The class principally defective is that of agriculture.  It is the first in utility, and ought to be the first in respect.  The same artificial means which have been used to produce a competition in learning, may be equally successful in restoring agriculture to its