not because it is the best time for exercise, for certainly it is not; but because it is the best time to spare from your studies; and habit will soon reconcile it to health, and render it nearly as useful as if you gave to that the more precious hours of the day.  A little walk of half an hour in the morning, when you first rise, is advisable also.  It shakes off sleep, and produces other good effects in the animal economy.  Rise at a fixed and an early hour, and go to bed at a fixed and early hour also.  Sitting up late at night is injurious to the health, and not useful to the mind.  Having ascribed proper hours to exercise, divide what remain (I mean of your vacant hours) into three portions.  Give the principal to History, the other two, which should be shorter, to Philosophy and Poetry.  Write to me once every month or two, and let me know the progress you make.  Tell me in what manner you employ every hour in the day.  The plan I have proposed for you is adapted to your present situation only.  When that is changed, I shall propose a corresponding change of plan.  I have ordered the following books to be sent you from London, to the care of Mr. Madison.  Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon’s Hellenics, Anabasis, and Memorabilia, Cicero’s works, Baretti’s Spanish and English Dictionary, Martin’s Philosophical Grammar, and Martin’s Philosophia Britannica.  I will send you the following from hence.  Bezout’s Mathematics, De la Lande’s Astronomy, Muschenbroeck’s Physics, Quintus Curtius, Justin, a Spanish Grammar, and some Spanish books, You will observe that Martin, Bezout, De la Lande, and Muschenbroeck are not in the preceding plan.  They are not to be opened till you go to the University.  You are now, I expect, learning French.  You must push this; because the books which will be put into your hands when you advance into Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Natural History, &c. will be mostly French, these sciences being better treated by the French than the English writers.  Our future connection with Spain renders that the most necessary of the modern languages, after the French.  When you become a public man, you may have occasion for it, and the circumstance of your possessing that language may give you a preference over other candidates.  I have nothing further to add for the present, but husband well your time, cherish your instructors, strive to make every body your friend; and be assured that nothing will be so pleasing, as your success, to, Dear Peter,

Your’s affectionately,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XCVI.—­TO JOHN PAGE, August 20 1785

TO JOHN PAGE.

Paris, August 20 1785.

Dear Page,

I received your friendly letter of April the 28th, by Mr. Mazzei, on the 22nd of July.  That of the month before, by Monsieur La Croix, has not come to hand.  This correspondence is grateful to some of my warmest feelings, as the friendships of my youth are those which adhere closest to me, and in which I most confide.  My principal happiness is now in the retrospect of life.