These, Sir, are my opinions of the governments we see among men, and of
the principles by which alone we may prevent our own from falling into
the same dreadful track. I have given them at greater length than your
letter called for. But I cannot say things by halves; and I confide them
to your honor, so to use them as to preserve me from the gridiron of the
public papers. If you shall approve and enforce them, as you have done
that of equal representation, they may do some good. If not, keep them
to yourself as the effusions of withered age, and useless time. I
shall, with not the Less truth, assure you of my great respect and
consideration.
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CXXXVI.--TO JOHN TAYLOR, July 21, 1816
TO JOHN TAYLOR.
Monticello, July 21, 1816.
Dear Sir,
Yours of the 10th is received, and I have to acknowledge a copious
supply of the turnip-seed requested. Besides taking care myself, I
shall endeavor again to commit it to the depository of the neighborhood,
generally found to be the best precaution against losing a good thing.
I will add a word on the political part of our letters. I believe we do
not differ on either of the points you suppose. On education certainly
not; of which the proofs are my bill for the diffusion of knowledge,
proposed near forty years ago, and my uniform endeavors, to this day,
to get our counties divided into wards, one of the principal objects of
which is, the establishment of a primary school in each.
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