States, perhaps your curiosity may lead you to visit the hermit
of Monticello. He will receive you with affection and delight; hailing
you in the mean time with his affectionate salutations, and assurances
of constant esteem and respect.

Th: Jefferson.

P. S. If you return to us, bring a couple of pair of true-bred
shepherd's dogs. You will add a valuable possession to a country now
beginning to pay great attention to the raising sheep.

T.J.

LETTER LXXIX.--TO THE PRESIDENT, March 17, 1809

TO THE PRESIDENT.

Monticello, March 17, 1809.

Dear Sir,

On opening my letters from France, in the moment of my departure from
Washington, I found from their signatures that they were from literary
characters, except one from Mr. Short, which mentioned in the outset
that it was private, and that his public communications were in the
letter to the Secretary of State, which I sent you. I find, however, on
reading his letter to me (which I did not do till I got home) a passage
of some length, proper to be communicated to you, and which I have
therefore extracted.

I had a very fatiguing journey, having found the roads excessively bad,
although I have seen them worse. The last three days I found it better
to be on horseback, and travelled eight hours through as disagreeable
a snow storm as I was ever in. Feeling no inconvenience from the
expedition but fatigue, I have more confidence in my _vis vitae_ than I
had before entertained. The spring is remarkably backward. No oats
sown, not much tobacco seed, and little done in the gardens. Wheat has
suffered considerably. No vegetation visible yet but the red maple,
weeping-willow, and lilac. Flour is said to be at eight dollars at
Richmond, and all produce is hurrying down.

I feel great anxiety for the occurrences of the ensuing four or five
months. If peace can be preserved, I hope and trust you will have
a smooth administration. I know no government which would be so
embarrassing in war as ours. This would proceed very much from the
lying and licentious character of our papers; but much, also, from the
wonderful credulity of the members of Congress in the floating lies of
the day. And in this no experience seems to correct them. I have never
seen a Congress during the last eight years, a great majority of which
I would not implicitly have relied on in any question, could their minds
have been purged of all errors of fact. The evil, too, increases greatly
with the