rnish
aliment to our appetite. The mild and simple principles of the Christian
philosophy would produce too much calm, too much regularity of good,
to extract from its disciples a support for a numerous priesthood, were
they not to sophisticate it, ramify it, split it into hairs, and
twist its texts till they cover the divine morality of its author with
mysteries, and require a priesthood to explain them. The Quakers seem to
have discovered this. They have no priests, therefore no schisms. They
judge of the text by the dictates of common sense and common morality.
So the printers can never leave us in a state of perfect rest and union
of opinion. They would be no longer useful, and would have to go to
the plough. In the first moments of quietude which have succeeded the
election, they seem to have aroused their lying faculties beyond their
ordinary state, to re-agitate the public mind. What appointments to
office have they detailed which had never been thought of, merely to
found a text for their calumniating commentaries. However, the steady
character of our countrymen is a rock to which we may safely moor:
and notwithstanding the efforts of the papers to disseminate early
discontents, I expect that a just, dispassionate, and steady conduct
will at length rally to a proper system the great body of our country.
Unequivocal in principle, reasonable in manner, we shall be able, I
hope, to do a great deal of good to the cause of freedom and harmony. I
shall be happy to hear from you often, to know your own sentiments
and those of others on the course of things, and to concur with you in
efforts for the common good. Your letters through the post will now
come safely. Present my best respects to Mrs. Gerry, and accept yourself
assurances of my constant esteem and high consideration.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCLXXXIV.--TO GIDEON GRANGER, May 3, 1801

TO GIDEON GRANGER.

Washington, May 3, 1801.

Dear Sir,

I wrote you on the 29th of March. Yours of the 25th of that month, with
the address it covered, had not reached this place on the 1st of April,
when I set out on a short visit to my residence in Virginia, where some
arrangements were necessary previous to my settlement here. In fact,
your letter came to me at Monticello only the 24th of April, two
days before my departure from thence. This, I hope, will sufficiently
apologize for the delay of the answer, which those unapprized of these
circumstances will have