But to avoid my being run
away with by another subject, and adding to the length and ennui of
the present letter, I will here present to Mrs. Adams and yourself, the
assurance of my constant and sincere friendship and respect.
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CXX.--TO COLONEL MONROE, January 1, 1815
TO COLONEL MONROE.
Monticello, January 1, 1815.
Dear Sir,
Your letters of November the 30th and December the 21st have been
received with great pleasure. A truth now and then projecting into the
ocean of newspaper lies, serves like headlands to correct our course.
Indeed, my scepticism as to every thing I see in a newspaper, makes me
indifferent whether I ever see one. The embarrassments at Washington, in
August last, I expected would be great in any state of things; but they
proved greater than expected. I never doubted that the plans of the
President were wise and sufficient. Their failure we all impute, 1.
To the insubordinate temper of Armstrong: and, 2. To the indecision of
Winder. However, it ends well. It mortifies ourselves, and so may check,
perhaps, the silly boasting spirit of our newspapers, and it enlists the
feelings of the world on our side: and the advantage of public opinion
is like that of the weather-gage in a naval action. In Europe, the
transient possession of our Capital can be no disgrace. Nearly every
Capital there was in possession of its enemy some often and long.
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