turn from our own uneasiness to the miseries of our southern friends.  Bolivar and Morillo, it seems, have come to a parley, with dispositions at length to stop the useless effusion of human blood in that quarter.  I feared from the beginning, that these people were not yet sufficiently enlightened for self-government; and that after wading through blood and slaughter, they would end in military tyrannies, more or less numerous.  Yet as they wished to try the experiment, I wished them success in it:  they have now tried it, and will possibly find that their safest road will be an accommodation with the mother country, which shall hold them together by the single link of the same chief magistrate, leaving to him power enough to keep them in peace with one another, and to themselves the essential power of self-government and self-improvement, until they shall be sufficiently trained by education and habits of freedom, to walk safely by themselves.  Representative government, native functionaries, a qualified negative on their laws, with a previous security by compact for freedom of commerce, freedom of the press, habeas corpus, and trial by jury, would make a good beginning.  This last would be the school in which their people might begin to learn the exercise of civic duties as well as rights.  For freedom of religion they are not yet prepared.  The scales of bigotry have not sufficiently fallen from their eyes, to accept it for themselves individually, much less to trust others with it.  But that will come in time, as well as a general ripeness to break entirely from the parent stem.  You see, my dear Sir, how easily we prescribe for others a cure for their difficulties, while we cannot cure our own.  We must leave both, I believe, to Heaven, and wrap ourselves up in the mantle of resignation, and of that friendship of which I tender to you the most sincere assurances.

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CLVIII.—­TO JOSEPH C CABELL, January 31, 1821

TO JOSEPH C CABELL.

Monticello, January 31, 1821.

Dear Sir,

Your favors of the 18th and 25th came together, three days ago.  They fill me with gloom as to the dispositions of our legislature towards the University.  I perceive that I am not to live to see it opened.  As to what had better be done within the limits of their will, I trust with entire confidence to what yourself, General Breckenridge, and Mr. Johnson shall think best.  You will see what is practicable, and give it such shape as you think best.  If a loan is to be resorted to, I think sixty thousand dollars will be necessary, including the library.  Its instalments cannot begin until those of the former loan are accomplished; and they should not begin later, nor be less than thirteen thousand dollars a year. (I think it safe to retain two thousand dollars a year for care of the buildings, improvement of the grounds, and unavoidable contingencies.) To extinguish