第55章

DEARSIR，——NopleasurecanexceedthatwhichIreceivedfromreadingyourletterofthe21stult。Itwaslikethejoyweexpectinthemansionsoftheblessed，whenreceivedwiththeembracesofourfathers，weshallbewelcomedwiththeirblessingashavingdoneourpartnotunworthilyofthem。Thestormthroughwhichwehavepassed，hasbeentremendousindeed。ThetoughsidesofourArgosiehavebeenthoroughlytried。Herstrengthhasstoodthewavesintowhichshewassteered，withaviewtosinkher。Weshallputheronherrepublicantack，&shewillnowshowbythebeautyofhermotiontheskillofherbuilders。Figureapart，ourfellowcitizenshavebeenledhood-winkedfromtheirprinciples，byamostextraordinarycombinationofcircumstances。Butthebandisremoved，andtheynowseeforthemselves。Ihopetoseeshortlyaperfectconsolidation，toeffectwhich，nothingshallbesparedonmypart，shortoftheabandonmentoftheprinciplesofourrevolution。Ajustandsolidrepublicangovernmentmaintainedhere，willbeastandingmonument&

examplefortheaim&imitationofthepeopleofothercountries；andIjoinwithyouinthehopeandbeliefthattheywillsee，fromourexample，thatafreegovernmentisofallothersthemostenergetic；

thattheinquirywhichhasbeenexcitedamongthemassofmankindbyourrevolution&it’sconsequences，willamelioratetheconditionofmanoveragreatportionoftheglobe。Whatasatisfactionhaveweinthecontemplationofthebenevolenteffectsofourefforts，comparedwiththoseoftheleadersontheotherside，whohavediscountenancedalladvancesinscienceasdangerousinnovations，haveendeavoredtorenderphilosophyandrepublicanismtermsofreproach，topersuadeusthatmancannotbegovernedbutbytherod，&c。Ishallhavethehappinessofliving&dyinginthecontraryhope。Acceptassurancesofmyconstant&sincererespectandattachment，andmyaffectionatesalutations。

SOMETHINGNEWUNDERTHESUN

_ToDr。JosephPriestley_

_Washington，Mar。21，1801_

DEARSIR，——IlearntsometimeagothatyouwereinPhiladelphia，butthatitwasonlyforafortnight；&supposedyouweregone。ItwasnottillyesterdayIreceivedinformationthatyouwerestillthere，hadbeenveryill，butwereontherecovery。I

sincerelyrejoicethatyouareso。Yoursisoneofthefewlivesprecioustomankind，&forthecontinuanceofwhicheverythinkingmanissolicitous。Bigotsmaybeanexception。Whataneffort，mydearSir，ofbigotryinPolitics&Religionhavewegonethrough！

ThebarbariansreallyflatteredthemselvestheyshouldbeabletobringbackthetimesofVandalism，whenignoranceputeverythingintothehandsofpower&priestcraft。Alladvancesinsciencewereproscribedasinnovations。Theypretendedtopraiseandencourageeducation，butitwastobetheeducationofourancestors。Weweretolookbackwards，notforwards，forimprovement；thePresidenthimselfdeclaring，inoneofhisanswerstoaddresses，thatwewerenevertoexpecttogobeyondtheminrealscience。Thiswastherealgroundofalltheattacksonyou。Thosewholivebymystery&

_charlatanerie_，fearingyouwouldrenderthemuselessbysimplifyingtheChristianphilosophy，——themostsublime&benevolent，butmostpervertedsystemthatevershoneonman，——endeavoredtocrushyourwell-earnt&well-deservedfame。ButitwastheLilliputiansuponGulliver。Ourcountrymenhaverecoveredfromthealarmintowhichart&industryhadthrownthem；science&honestyarereplacedontheirhighground；andyou，mydearSir，astheirgreatapostle，areonit’spinnacle。Itiswithheartfeltsatisfactionthat，inthefirstmomentsofmypublicaction，Icanhailyouwithwelcometoourland，tendertoyouthehomageofit’srespect&esteem，coveryouundertheprotectionofthoselawswhichweremadeforthewiseandgoodlikeyou，anddisdainthelegitimacyofthatlibelonlegislation，whichundertheformofalaw，wasforsometimeplacedamongthem。

Asthestormisnowsubsiding，andthehorizonbecomingserene，itispleasanttoconsiderthephenomenonwithattention。Wecannolongersaythereisnothingnewunderthesun。Forthiswholechapterinthehistoryofmanisnew。ThegreatextentofourRepublicisnew。Itssparsehabitationisnew。Themightywaveofpublicopinionwhichhasrolledoveritisnew。Butthemostpleasingnoveltyis，it’ssoquicklysubsidingoversuchanextentofsurfacetoit’struelevelagain。Theorder&goodsensedisplayedinthisrecoveryfromdelusion，andinthemomentouscrisiswhichlatelyarose，reallybespeakastrengthofcharacterinournationwhichaugurswellforthedurationofourRepublic；&Iammuchbettersatisfiednowofit’sstabilit