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Priestley a designation of the branches of science grouped into
professorships which he furnished at my request。 He was an excellent
judge of what may be called the old studies； of those useful and
those useless。 I have the same thing from Mr。 Dupont； a good judge
of the new branches。 His letter to me is quite a treatise。 I have
the plan of the institutions of Edinburgh； & those of the National
institute of France； and I expect from Mr。 Pictet； one of the most
celebrated professors of Geneva； their plan； in answer to a letter
written some time ago。 From these the Visitors could select the
branches useful for the country & how to groupe them。 A hasty view
of the subject on a former occasion led me to believe 10。
professorships would be necessary； but not all immediately。 Half a
dozen of the most urgent would make a good beginning。 The salaries
of the first professors should be very liberal； that we might draw
the first names of Europe to our institution in order to give it a
celebrity in the outset； which will draw to it the youth of all the
states； and make Virginia their cherished & beloved Alma mater。 I
have good reasons to believe we can command the services of some of
the first men of Europe。 3。 The emploiment of their capital。 On
this subject others are so much better judges than myself that I
shall say nothing。 4。 Buildings。 The greatest danger will be their
over…building themselves； by attempting a large house in the
beginning； sufficient to contain the whole institution。 Large houses
are always ugly； inconvenient； exposed to the accident of fire； and
bad in cases of infection。 A plain small house for the school &
lodging of each professor is best。 These connected by covered ways
out of which the rooms of the students should open would be best。
These may then be built only as they shall be wanting。 In fact an
University should not be an house but a village。 This will much
lessen their first expenses。
Not having written any three lines of this without interruption
it has been impossible to keep my ideas rallied to the subject。 I
must let these hasty outlines go therefore as they are。 Some are
premature； some probably immature： but make what use you please of
them except letting them get into print。 Should this establishment
take place on a plan worthy of approbation； I shall have a valuable
legacy to leave it； to wit； my library； which certainly has not cost
less than 15；000 Dollars。 But it's value is more in the selection； a
part of which； that which respects America； is the result of my own
personal searches in Paris for 6。 or 7。 years； & of persons employed
by me in England； Holland； Germany and Spain to make similar
searches。 Such a collection on that subject can never again be made。
With my sincere wishes for the success of this measure accept my
salutations & assurances of great esteem & respect。
THE TWO…TERM PRECEDENT
_To John Taylor_
_Washington； Jan。 6； 1805_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of Dec。 26th has been duly received；
and was received as a proof of your friendly partialities to me； of
which I have so often had reason to be sensible。 My opinion
originally was that the President of the U。S。 should have been
elected for 7。 years； & forever ineligible afterwards。 I have since
become sensible that 7。 years is too long to be irremovable； and that
there should be a peaceable way of withdrawing a man in midway who is
doing wrong。 The service for 8。 years with a power to remove at the
end of the first four； comes nearly to my principle as corrected by
experience。 And it is in adherence to that that I determined to
withdraw at the end of my second term。 The danger is that the
indulgence & attachments of the people will keep a man in the chair
after he becomes a dotard； that reelection through life shall become
habitual； & election for life follow that。 Genl。 Washington set the
example of voluntary retirement after 8。 years。 I shall follow it；
and a few more precedents will oppose the obstacle of habit to anyone
after a while who shall endeavor to extend his term。 Perhaps it may
beget a disposition to establish it by an amendment of the
constitution。 I believe I am doing right； therefore； in pursuing my
principle。 I had determined to declare my intention； but I have
consented to be silent on the opinion of friends； who think it best
not to put a continuance out of my power in defiance of all
circumstances。 There is； however； but one circumstance which could
engage my acquiescence in another election； to wit； such a division
about a successor as might bring in a Monarchist。 But this
circumstance is impossible。 While； therefore； I shall make no formal
declarations to the public of my purpose； I have freely let it be
understood in private conversation。 In this I am persuaded yourself
& my friends generally will approve of my views： and should I at the
end of a 2d term carry into retirement all the favor which the 1st
has acquired； I shall feel the consolation of having done all the
goodin my power； and expect with more than composure thetermination
of a life no longer valuable to others or of im…portance to myself。
Accept my affectionate salutations & assurances of great esteem &
respect。
CLIMATE； FEVERS； AND THE POLYGRAPH
_To C。 F。 de C。 Volney_
_Washington； February 8； 1805_
DEAR SIR； Your letter of November the 26th came to hand May
the 14th； the books some time after； which were all distributed
according to direction。 The copy for the East Indies went
immediately by a safe conveyance。 The letter of April the 28th； and
the copy of your work accompanying that； did not come to hand till
August。 That copy was deposited in the Congressional library。 It
was not till my return here from my autumnal visit to Monticello；
that I had an opportunity of reading your work。 I have read it； and
with great satisfaction。 Of the first part I am less a judge than
most people； having never travelled westward of Staunton； so as to
know any thing of the face of the country； nor much indulged myself
in geological inquiries； from a belief that the skin…deep scratches
which we can make or find on the surface of the earth； do not repay
our time with as certain and useful deductions； as our pursuits in
some other branches。 The subject of our winds is more familiar to
me。 On that； the views you have taken are always great； supported in
their outlines by your facts； and though more extensive observations；
and longer continued； may produce some anomalies； yet they will
probably take their place in this first great canvass which you have
sketched。 In no case； perhaps； does habit attach our choice or
judgment more than in climate。 The Canadian glows with delight in
his sleigh and snow； the very idea of which gives me the shivers。
The comparison of climate between Europe and North America； taking
together its corresponding parts； hangs chiefly on three great
points。 1。 The changes between heat and cold in America； are greater
and more frequent； and the extremes comprehend a greater scale on the
thermometer in America than in Europe。 Habit； however； prevents
these from affecting us more than the smaller changes of Europe
affect the European。 But he is greatly affected by ours。 2。 Our sky
is always clear； that of Europe always cloudy。 Hence a greater
accumulation of heat here than there； in the same parallel。 3。 The
changes between wet and dry are much more frequent and sudden in
Europe than in America。 Though we have double the rain； it falls in
half the time。 Taking all these together； I prefer much the climate
of the United States to that of Europe。 I think it a more cheerful
one。 It is our cloudless sky which has eradicated from our
constitutions all disposition to hang ourselves； which we might
otherwise have inherited from our English ancestors。 During a
residence of between six and seven years in Paris； I never； but once；
saw the sun shine through a whole day； without being obscured by a
cloud in any part of it： and I never saw the moment； in which；
viewing the sky through its whole hemisphere； I could say there was
not the smallest speck of a cloud in it。 I arrived at Monticello； on
my return from France； in January； and during only two months' stay
there； I observed to my daughters； who had been with me to France；
that twenty odd times within that term； there was not a speck of a
cloud in the whole hemisphere。 Still I do not wonder that an
European should prefer his grey to our azure sky。 Habit decides our
taste in this； as in most other cases。
The account you give of the yellow fever； is entirely agreeable
to what we then knew of it。 Further experience has developed more
and more its peculiar character。 Facts appear to have established
that it is originate