I now return you the paper containing Mr Hassler’s publication, which, so very slight was my previous knowledge of him, has given me more insight into his character than I before possessed. It breathes, I think, the tone of worth and of true science; but the wide difference must not be lost sight of, between a skilful, and perfectly scientific astronomer, and a good mathematician; nor that between even a good mathematician & a good professor of mathematics. With me, the disdain with which Mr H. speaks of the empty pretensions and nonsensical criticisms of his detractors, would be a favorable symptom. I have had some little opportunity of judging of the measure of science among the class of whom he speaks; and do not entertain any doubt but that it is such as to excite the most contemptuous feelings, in any well qualified judge. Their expression of “native genius” quoted by Mr Hassler, recalled to my mind the use of it by one whose high reputation had led me to expect something better from him: Major Lee. You know that he visited Monticello during Mr Jefferson’s last illness.1 On enquiring by whom he was attended, & learning that it was Dr Dunglison, he expressed great regret that some of the neighboring doctors had not been called in; and in answer to the objection which I urged of their want of science, he replied “Oh! but I have great confidence in native genius.” Of course, I had nothing farther to say. The gentlemen who are deluded by this confidence, seem to lose sight entirely of the true nature of genius; and to forget that, spontaneously, it possesses no power of production whatever. That science, on every subject, is a matter of observation & induction; and that all which the most resplendent genius can do, is to vivify the seeds of knowledge deposited in it by observation and learning.

I have looked into the arithmetic, and shall take an early opportunity of depositing it in the library. According to my own notions, such a subject furnishes as good an opportunity for displaying the first of all the qualities in a professor, as any other of a more abstruse nature. I therefore examined the first parts of Mr H’s work with a good deal of interest. The result has been a better opinion of his store of ideas, than of his dexterity in imparting them to others. Take, for instance, his first sentence—his definition of Quantity. To my mind, which is not unpractised in the pursuit of abstractions, this seemed a very intricate & perplexed passage; involving a complication of ideas, at least a hundred miles beyond the point from which I should like to take my departure. In point of scientific qualifications, I imagine that the comparison would be very unfav[o]rable to Mr H, or almost any one else in the U.S., with Mr Crozet,2 now the chief Engineer of this state; a situation for which he gave up that of professor of the art of War & Fortification at West-point. He is a pupil of the Polytechnic, and the real father of all the advances in science made at W.P.; where his entrance as professor was about contemporaneous with that of Colo. Thayer,3 the superintendent, who, as is usual for commanders, has reaped all the glory. I was never in his class; but, so far as I know, he was extremely popular as a professor, and considered by the first young men there, indeed I may say, by all, as, beyond all compare, the first man in the institution. One of his qualities is an uncommon talent for communicating ideas. Genl. Cocke has taken up, however, very unfavorable ideas of his moral character (as to integrity); an opinion which, to my knowledge, he has communicated to several other members of the board. I have not data sufficient to pronounce either for, or against it. Entre-nous, I know him to be extremely petulant in his domestic relations, (although his family evince great attachment towards him) and close in his pecuniary transactions. Whether he carried his petulance into the lecture room, I know not. There is one other mathematician of the french school, whom I have heard of. An Irishman by the name of Nulty,4 who resides in Philadelphia. My brother5 took instruction from him, and entertained a high opinion of him in every point of view. When Mr Short6 was at Monticello, I made enquiries after him, & learned that he was held in very high estimation there, that he was doing an exceedingly good business, & that he probably could not be induced to quit. Have you considered the facilities now offered for filling the chair in England, by the presence of Mr Gallatin there? According to the opinion entertained of him by Mr Jefferson, and the rank which I have understood, from travellers, that he held in the very first circles of savans in Paris, I should suppose that one equally qualified for making a selection could scarcely be found in the country. Dr Birkbeck7 (brother to our western settler) one of the leaders in the London University, who so cordially assisted Mr Gilmer, and was the cause of his getting Dr Dunglison, is still there. Seven months will elapse between Mr Key’s resignation, (should it take place) and the commencement of the session in september; would a month or two more added to the vacancy be of importance when weighed with that of procuring the best attainable professor? Should you contemplate any communication with the rest of the board on this subject, requiring despatch, do me the favor to enclose your circular to me; I will write & forward the copies. As to the transfer of Mr B., I fear it would have a great tendency to confirm him in the indolence into which he has been falling; in the next place, he has perhaps not adverted to the change which it would make in his standing salary, as he would be the second incumbent in the office; and lastly, I am sorry to inform you that even he has evinced some symptoms of an intention to leave us, at the close of his engagement. Just before the sale, he declined the application of a servant, whom he had before expressed a desire to purchase, to be bought by him; assigning for reason his intention to return to England. At the sale however, he bought her; but Mr Key was very near doing the same. The latter was extremely desirous of having a servant who had been living with him some time, sold subject to the condition of remaining with him six months longer; and as this could not be done, he bid for her.

Here I ought, in all conscience, to close this already unreasonably long letter. I cannot resist however the opportunity presented by the concluding paragraph of your last favor, to request that you will, at some leisure moment, (if impertinent correspondents ever allow you a moment of leisure) look over an article contained in the central gazette that goes herewith.8 It contains some ideas which to my mind were new, and which strike me as being important. One in particular—the distinction between a constitutional government and a government founded on or rather directed by public opinion: two very distinct things that are every day confounded. We every day see in some discourse or other, the having public opinion for its basis pointed out as a peculiarity of our government and again, the being written, as the peculiarity. Another of these ideas is the gradual departure which our government is taking from the constitutional principle, to assume the character of being directed by public opinion merely. This very departure is illustrated by the distinction pointed out in your letter between a measure supported by, and another obnoxious to, public opinion. Having gone so far as to put this piece into your hands; I may proceed, and make for it the apology which I can make without affectation. It was written in the midst of the bustle of the “Fayette week,” and sent to the press piece meal: and the ideas contained in it existed at that time in a far cruder state in my mind than they do now. The origin of the publication was this. Wishing to form an opinion for myself on the convention question and others connected with it, I reflected a great deal on the subject. The result of these reflexions, after a good deal of perplexity, having at length proved perfectly satisfactory; and having arrived at what I conceived to be the only proper principle on which the people ought to decide on the propriety of committing their constitution to their wise men for examination, and reform if necessary; as contradistinguished from the question whether the constitution does or does not require reform; which latter, agreeably to the principles my reason has conducted me to, the people ought never to apply their own minds immediately to: I naturally desired to publish the result; which I began to do, under the signature of my favorite hero, Regulus. It was necessary however to clear away the ground for my intended building; and particularly, as the ultimate principle was so very undemocratic, to show its consistency with the most democratic axioms, in the truth and wisdom of which my faith is equally strong as in those of the former. Before I had arrived at my end, however, I became satisfied of the futility of the project; and came to the wise determination never again to throw away my time in newspaper scribbling. I now sometimes think that, should I ever have leisure, & should the idea be thought by competent judges deserving of farther developement, I may one day undertake to spread it out, and compare it with the other principles of government which the history of man makes us acquainted with. Particularly with that which, in the order of reform, immediately precedes this, which is so incomparably its superior—the principle which consists in the express designation of the powers which shall not be exercised.

Let me conclude with the prayer that you will discard all idea of an obligation to answer my letters; for I can say with the most perfect candor that it would afford me far more concern than pleasure, & be a great source of self-reproach to think that you put yourself to any inconvenience on the subject. My usual salutations attend Mrs Madison and yourself