I have thus, for a moment, taken a range into the field of politics, to possess you with the view we take of things here.  But in the scenes which are to ensue, I am to be but a spectator.  I have withdrawn myself from all political intermeddlings, to indulge the evening of my life with what have been the passions of every portion of it, books, science, my farms, my family, and friends.

To these every hour of the day is now devoted.  I retain a good activity of mind, not quite as much of body, but uninterrupted health.  Still the hand of age is upon me.  All my old friends are nearly gone.  Of those in my neighborhood, Mr. Divers and Mr. Lindsay alone remain.  If you could make it a partie quarree, it would be a comfort indeed.  We would beguile our lingering hours with talking over our youthful exploits, our hunts on Peter’s Mountain, with a long train of et cetera in addition, and feel, by recollection at least, a momentary flash of youth.  Reviewing the course of a long and sufficiently successful life, I find in no portion of it happier moments than those were.  I think the old hulk in which you are, is near her wreck, and that like a prudent rat, you should escape in time.  However, here, there, and every where, in peace or in war, you will have my sincere affections, and prayers for your life, health, and happiness.

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CII.—­TO THE PRESIDENT, May 30, 1812

TO THE PRESIDENT.

Monticello, May 30, 1812.

Dear Sir,

Another communication is enclosed, and the letter of the applicant is the only information I have of his qualifications.  I barely remember such a person as the secretary of Mr. Adams, and messenger to the Senate while I was of that body.  It enlarges the sphere of choice by adding to it a strong federalist.  The triangular war must be the idea of the Anglomen and malcontents; in other words, the federalists and quids.  Yet it would reconcile neither.  It would only change the topic of abuse with the former, and not cure the mental disease of the latter.  It would prevent our eastern capitalists and seamen from employment in privateering, take away the only chance of conciliating them, and keep them at home, idle, to swell the discontents; it would completely disarm us of the most powerful weapon we can employ against Great Britain, by shutting every port to our prizes, and yet would not add a single vessel to their number; it would shut every market to our agricultural productions, and engender impatience and discontent with that class which, in fact, composes the nation; it would insulate us in general negotiations for peace, making all the parties our opposers, and very indifferent about peace with us, if they have it with the rest of the world; and would exhibit a solecism worthy of Don Quixotte only, that of a choice to fight two enemies at a time, rather than to take them by succession.  And the only motive for all this is a sublimated impartiality, at which the world will laugh, and our own people will turn upon us in mass as soon as it is explained to them, as it will be by the very persons who are now laying that snare.  These are the hasty views of one who rarely thinks on these subjects.  Your own will be better, and I pray to them every success, and to yourself every felicity.