Thomas Jefferson to Francis Eppes, 27 June 1821
To Francis Eppes
Monticello June 27. 21.
Dear Francis
Your letter of May 7. was recieved in due time, and in it you ask my opinion as to the utility of pursuing metaphysical studies. no well educated person should be entirely igno[r]a[n]t of the operations of the human mind, to which the name of metaphysics has been given. there are three books on this subject, Locke’s essay on the human understanding, Tracey’s element[s]1 of Idiology, & Stewart’s Philosophy of the human mind, any one of which will communicate as much on the subject as is worth attention. I consider Tracy as the most correct Metaphysicia[n]2 living; and I inclose you a small tract of his worth reading [be]cause it is short, profound, and treats an interesting question, to wit that on the certainty of human knolege. he prostrates the visions of Malebranche & Barclay and other Sceptics, by resting the question on the single basis of ‘we feel.’ with him who denies this basis, there can be no ground of reasoning at all. to pursue the science further is following a Will of the wisp, and a very useless waste of time much better given to sciences more palpable, and more useful in the businesses of life.
Tracy’s Review or Commentaries on Montesquieu is the best elementary book on government which has ever been published. being afraid to publish it in France, he sent his manuscript to me in 1809. and I got it translated and published in Philadelphia in 1811. it will be the text-book of the Political lectures of the University.—the buildings of the University (except the library) will all be finished the ensuing winter. towards this object the Legislature permitted an advance of 120.M.D. from the literary fund, but under the name of a loan, taking in pledge our annuity of 15,000 D. if it is to be really r[e]deemed by this, many years will be necessary to clear that fu[n]d. b[ut]3 it is hoped they will consider it as an approp[riation] and discharge the annuity. within one year after that discharge we may open the institution, as it will require that time to bring our professors into place. mr Watts, when here, asked me for a copy of the Report containing the plan of that institution. I did not know then that I had a spare copy. I have since found one, which I inclose for his acceptance with the tender of my great respect.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (CSmH: JF); some words faint; endorsed by TJ. Enclosure: Proceedings and Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia. Presented December 8, 1818 (Richmond, 1818; , 6 [no. 233]).
The small tract was probably a copy of Destutt de Tracy’s Principes Logiques, ou Recueil de Faits relatifs a l’Intelligence Humaine (Paris, 1817; manuscript and printed volume listed in , 8 [no. 455]; see Destutt de Tracy to TJ, 24 Dec. 1816, and TJ to Robert Walsh, 9 Jan. 1818).
Eppes’s letter of may 7, not found, is recorded in SJL as received 19 May 1821 from Columbia “by mr Watts.” An earlier letter of 1 May 1821 from Eppes to TJ, also missing, is recorded in SJL as received 18 May 1821 from Columbia.
1. Edge trimmed.
2. Edge trimmed.
3. Edge trimmed.
Index Entries
- An Essay concerning Human Understanding (J. Locke) search
- Barclay, Robert; Quaker theologian search
- books; on government search
- books; on metaphysics search
- Commentary and Review of Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws (Destutt de Tracy); as textbook search
- Commentary and Review of Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws (Destutt de Tracy); TJ’s role in publication of search
- Destutt de Tracy, Antoine Louis Claude; Élémens d’Idéologie search
- Destutt de Tracy, Antoine Louis Claude; Principes Logiques, ou Recueil de Faits relatifs a l’Intelligence Humaine search
- Destutt de Tracy, Antoine Louis Claude; TJ on search
- Destutt de Tracy, Antoine Louis Claude; TJ onCommentary search
- Destutt de Tracy, Antoine Louis Claude; TJ onPrincipes Logiques search
- Élémens d’Idéologie (Destutt de Tracy); TJ on search
- Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind (D. Stewart) search
- Eppes, Francis Wayles (TJ’s grandson); and Central College–University of Virginia search
- Eppes, Francis Wayles (TJ’s grandson); education of, at South Carolina College search
- Eppes, Francis Wayles (TJ’s grandson); letters from accounted for search
- Eppes, Francis Wayles (TJ’s grandson); letters to search
- Eppes, Francis Wayles (TJ’s grandson); TJ’s relationship with search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; recommends books search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; sends books search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Family & Friends; relations with grandchildren search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; college textbooks search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; Destutt de Tracy’s works search
- Literary Fund; and annuity for University of Virginia search
- Literary Fund; and loans for University of Virginia search
- Locke, John; An Essay concerning Human Understanding search
- Malebranche, Nicolas de; TJ on search
- metaphysics; books on search
- metaphysics; study of search
- Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); Visitors to; Watts, Mr. search
- politics; books on government search
- Principes Logiques, ou Recueil de Faits relatifs a l’Intelligence Humaine (Destutt de Tracy) search
- Proceedings and Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia (Thomas Jefferson); distributed by TJ search
- Stewart, Dugald; Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind search
- Virginia, University of; Administration and Financial Affairs; funding for search
- Virginia, University of; Books and Library; books and manuscripts for search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; progress of search
- Virginia, University of; Establishment; and General Assembly search
- Virginia, University of; Establishment; commissioners’ report search
- Virginia; General Assembly search
- Watts, Mr.; TJ sends work to search
- Watts, Mr.; visits Monticello search