h the
temperature of the air. I meant this to be merely a specimen to be
communicated to the Philosophical Society at Philadelphia, in order to
engage them, by means of their correspondents, to have the same thing
done in every State, and through a series of years. By seizing the days
when the winds centred in any part of the United States, we might, in
time, have come at some of the causes which determine the direction
of the winds, which I suspect to be very various. But this long-winded
project was prevented by the war which came upon us, and since that
I have been far otherwise engaged. I am sure you will have viewed the
subject from much higher ground, and I shall be happy to learn your
views in some of the hours of _delassement_, which I hope we are yet
to pass together. To this must be added your observations on the new
character of man, which you have seen in your journey, as he is in all
his shapes a curious animal, on whom no one is better qualified to judge
than yourself; and no one will be more pleased to participate of
your views of him than one, who has the pleasure of offering you his
sentiments of sincere respect and esteem.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCV.--TO HENRY TAZEWELL, January 16, 1797

TO HENRY TAZEWELL.

Monticello, January 16, 1797.

Dear Sir,

As far as the public papers are to be credited, I may suppose that the
choice of Vice-President has fallen on me. On this hypothesis I trouble
you, and only pray, if it be wrong, that you will consider this letter
as not written. I believe it belongs to the Senate to notify the
Vice-President of his election. I recollect to have heard, that on
the first election of President and Vice-President, gentlemen of
considerable office were sent to notify the parties chosen. But this was
the inauguration of our new government, and ought not to be drawn into
example. At the second election, both gentlemen were on the spot and
needed no messengers. On the present occasion, the President will be
on the spot, so that what is now to be done respects myself alone: and
considering that the season of notification will always present one
difficulty, that the distance in the present case adds a second, not
inconsiderable, and which may in future happen to be sometimes much more
considerable, I hope the Senate will adopt that method of notification,
which will always be least troublesome and most certain. The channel
of the post is certainly the least troubleso