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wishes for your felicity； fortunes and fame。
In sending you a copy of my Notes on Virginia； I do but obey
the desire you have expressed。 They must appear chetif enough to the
author of the great work on South America。 But from the widow her
mite was welcome； and you will add to this indulgence the acceptance
of my sincere assurances of constant friendship and respect。
〃A YOUNG GARDENER〃
_To Charles Willson Peale_
_Poplar Forest； August 20； 1811_
It is long； my dear Sir； since we have exchanged a letter。 Our
former correspondence had always some little matter of business
interspersed； but this being at an end； I shall still be anxious to
hear from you sometimes； and to know that you are well and happy。 I
know indeed that your system is that of contentment under any
situation。 I have heard that you have retired from the city to a
farm； and that you give your whole time to that。 Does not the museum
suffer？ And is the farm as interesting？ Here； as you know； we are
all farmers； but not in a pleasing style。 We have so little labor in
proportion to our land that； although perhaps we make more profit
from the same labor； we cannot give to our grounds that style of
beauty which satisfies the eye of the amateur。 Our rotations are
corn； wheat； and clover； or corn； wheat； clover and clover； or wheat；
corn； wheat； clover and clover； preceding the clover by a plastering。
But some； instead of clover substitute mere rest； and all are
slovenly enough。 We are adding the care of Merino sheep。 I have
often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and
calling； it should have been on a rich spot of earth； well watered；
and near a good market for the productions of the garden。 No
occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth； and no
culture comparable to that of the garden。 Such a variety of
subjects； some one always coming to perfection； the failure of one
thing repaired by the success of another； and instead of one harvest
a continued one through the year。 Under a total want of demand
except for our family table； I am still devoted to the garden。 But
though an old man； I am but a young gardener。
Your application to whatever you are engaged in I know to be
incessant。 But Sundays and rainy days are always days of writing for
the farmer。 Think of me sometimes when you have your pen in hand；
and give me information of your health and occupations； and be always
assured of my great esteem and respect。
REPRISE： WEIGHTS； MEASURES； AND COINS
_To Dr。 Robert Patterson_
_Monticello； November 10； 1811_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of September 23d came to hand in due
time； and I thank you for the nautical almanac it covered for the
year 1813。 I learn with pleasure that the Philosophical Society has
concluded to take into consideration the subject of a fixed standard
of measures； weights and coins； and you ask my ideas on it； insulated
as my situation is； I am sure I can offer nothing but what will occur
to the committee engaged on it； with the advantage on their part of
correction by an interchange of sentiments and observations among
themselves。 I will； however； hazard some general ideas because you
desire it； and if a single one be useful； the labor will not be lost。
The subject to be referred to as a standard； whether it be
matter or motion； should be fixed by nature； invariable and
accessible to all nations； independently of others； and with a
convenience not disproportioned to its utility。 What subject in
nature fulfils best these conditions？ What system shall we propose
on this； embracing measures； weights and coins？ and in what form
shall we present it to the world？ These are the questions before the
committee。
Some other subjects have； at different times； been proposed as
standards； but two only have divided the opinions of men： first； a
direct admeasurement of a line on the earth's surface； or second； a
measure derived from its motion on its axis。 To measure directly
such a portion of the earth as would furnish an element of measure；
which might be found again with certainty in all future times； would
be too far beyond the competence of our means to be taken into
consideration。 I am free； at the same time； to say that if these
were within our power in the most ample degree； this element would
not meet my preference。 The admeasurement would of course be of a
portion of some great circle of the earth。 If of the equator； the
countries over which that passes； their character and remoteness；
render the undertaking arduous； and we may say impracticable for most
nations。 If of some meridian； the varying measures of its degrees
from the equator to the pole； require a mean to be sought； of which
some aliquot part may furnish what is desired。 For this purpose the
45th degree has been recurred to； and such a length of line on both
sides of it terminating at each end in the ocean； as may furnish a
satisfactory law for a deduction of the unmeasured part of the
quadrant。 The portion resorted to by the French philosophers； （and
there is no other on the globe under circumstances equally
satisfactory；） is the meridian passing through their country and a
portion of Spain； from Dunkirk to Barcelona。 The objections to such
an admeasurement as an element of measure； are the labor； the time；
the number of highly…qualified agents； and the great expense
required。 All this； too； is to be repeated whenever any accident
shall have destroyed the standard derived from it； or impaired its
dimensions。 This portion of that particular meridian is accessible
of right to no one nation on earth。 France； indeed； availing herself
of a moment of peculiar relation between Spain and herself； has
executed such an admeasurement。 But how would it be at this moment；
as to either France or Spain？ and how is it at all times as to other
nations； in point either of right or of practice？ Must these go
through the same operation； or take their measures from the standard
prepared by France？ Neither case bears that character of
independence which the problem requires； and which neither the
equality nor convenience of nations can dispense with。 How would it
now be； were England the deposit of a standard for the world？ At war
with all the world； the standard would be inaccessible to all other
nations。 Against this； too； are the inaccuracies of admeasurements
over hills and valleys； mountains and waters； inaccuracies often
unobserved by the agent himself； and always unknown to the world。
The various results of the different measures heretofore attempted；
sufficiently prove the inadequacy of human means to make such an
admeasurement with the exactness requisite。
Let us now see under what circumstances the pendulum offers
itself as an element of measur