I confess then, I can neither see what Cicero, Cato, and
Brutus, united and uncontrolled, could have devised to lead their people
into good government, nor how this enigma can be solved, nor how further
shown why it has been the fate of that delightful country never to have
known, to this day, and through a course of five and twenty hundred
years, the history of which we possess, one single day of free and
rational government. Your intimacy with their history, ancient, middle,
and modern, your familiarity with the improvements in the science of
government at this time, will enable you, if any body, to go back with
our principles and opinions to the limes of Cicero, Cato, and Brutus,
and tell us by what process these great and virtuous men could have led
so unenlightened and vitiated a people into freedom and good government,
_et eris mihi magnus Apollo. Cura ut valeas, et tibi persuadeas
carissimum te mihi esse_.
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CLI.--TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 13, 1820
TO WILLIAM SHORT.
Monticello, April 13, 1820.
Dear Sir,
Your favor of March the 27th is received, and, as you request, a copy of
the syllabus is now enclosed. It was originally written to Dr. Rush. On
his death, fearing that the inquisition of the public might get hold of
it, I asked the return of it from the family, which they kindly complied
with. At the request of another friend, I had given him a copy.
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