counsel. Be
a listener only, keep within yourself, and endeavor to establish with
yourself the habit of silence, especially on politics. In the fevered
state of our country, no good can ever result from any attempt to set
one of these fiery zealots to rights, either in fact or principle. They
are determined as to the facts they will believe, and the opinions on
which they will act. Get by them, therefore, as you would by an angry
bull: it is not for a man of sense to dispute the road with such an
animal. You will be more exposed than others to have these animals
shaking their horns at you, because of the relation in which you stand
with me. Full of political venom, and willing to see me and to hate me
as a chief in the antagonist party, your presence will be to them what
the vomit-grass is to the sick dog, a nostrum for producing ejaculation.
Look upon them exactly with that eye, and pity them as objects to whom
you can administer only occasional ease. My character is not within
their power. It is in the hands of my fellow-citizens at large, and will
be consigned to honor or infamy by the verdict of the republican mass of
our country, according to what themselves will have seen, not what
their enemies and mine shall have said. Never, therefore, consider these
puppies in politics as requiring any notice from you, and always show,
that you are not afraid to leave my character to the umpirage of
public opinion. Look steadily to the pursuits which have carried you
to Philadelphia, be very select in the society you attach yourself
to, avoid taverns, drinkers, smokers, idlers, and dissipated persons
generally; for it is with such that broils and contentions arise; and
you will find your path more easy and tranquil. The limits of my paper
warn me that it is time for me to close with my affectionate adieu.

Th: Jefferson.

P. S. Present me affectionately to Mr. Ogilvie, and in doing the same to
Mr. Peale, tell him I am writing with his polygraph, and shall send him
mine the first moment I have leisure enough to pack it. T. J.

LETTER LXXIV.--TO DOCTOR EUSTIS, January 14, 1809

TO DOCTOR EUSTIS.

Washington, January 14, 1809.

Sir,

I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
December the 24th, and of the resolutions of the republican citizens
of Boston, of the 19th of that month. These are worthy of the ancient
character of the sons of Massachusetts, and of the spirit of concord
with her s