t fortunate in the five Professors procured from
England. A finer selection could not have been made. Besides their
being of a grade of science which has left little superior behind, the
correctness of their moral character, their accommodating dispositions,
and zeal for the prosperity of the institution, leave us nothing more
to wish. I verily believe that as high a degree of, education can now be
obtained here, as in the country they left. And a finer set of youths I
never saw assembled for instruction. They committed some irregularities
at first, until they learned the lawful length of their tether; since
which it has never been transgressed in the smallest degree. A great
proportion of them are severely devoted to study, and I fear not to say,
that within twelve or fifteen years from this time, a majority of the
rulers of our State will have been educated here. They shall carry hence
the correct principles of our day, and you may count assuredly that they
will exhibit their country in a degree of sound respectability it has
never known, either in our days, or those of our forefathers. I cannot
live to see it. My joy must only be that of anticipation. But that you
may see it in full fruition, is the probable consequence of the twenty
years I am ahead of you in time, and is the sincere prayer of your
affectionate and constant friend,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLXXXIX.--TO CLAIBORNE W. GOOCH, January 9, 1826

TO CLAIBORNE W. GOOCH.

Monticello, January 9, 1826.

Dear Sir,

I have duly received your favor of December the 31st, and fear, with
you, all the evils which the present lowering aspect of our political
horizon so ominously portends. That at some future day, which I hoped
to be very distant, the free principles of our government might change,
with the change of circumstances, was to be expected. But I certainly
did not expect that they would not over-live the generation which
established them. And what I still less expected was, that my favorite
western country was to be made the instrument of change. I had ever
and fondly cherished the interests of that country, relying on it as a
barrier against the degeneracy of public opinion from our original and
free principles. But the bait of local interests, artfully prepared
for their palate, has decoyed them from their kindred attachments,
to alliances alien to them. Yet, although I have little hope that the
torrent of consolidation can be withstood, I sho