As you Seem to wish to know my sentiments of Mr Kents Lecture I will give you a few Hints to assist your own Reflections and Inquiries but as they may be liable to misconstruction and Misrepresentation, they must be in Confidence between you and me.1

I am much pleased with the Lecture, and esteem the Talents and Character of the Professor: indeed I wish you to consider whatever I may write upon the subject as Queries proposed for your Research, rather than as opinions of mine, much less as Lessons didactically inculcated by a Father upon a Son.

I can Scarcely Say with Mr Kent, in the first & second Page that “the Attention of Mankind is Strongly engaged in Speculations on the Principles of Public Policy.” I see a general Dissolution of Society, a general Absence of Principle, a general Scamble of Factions for Power, but the Sincere Inquirers after Truth, the impartial Investigators of Principles are yet to appear. And after they shall appear, Miracles must be wrought, for what I see, before Mankind will respect and Adopt their Discoveries.

“The human Mind, says Mr Kent, which had been so long degraded by the Fetters of Feudal and Papal Tyranny, has begun to free herself from Bondage” When We speak of the human Mind We mean commonly in Europe: and there it is true Feudal and Papal Tyranny have declined. I shall say nothing of Popery at present, having chiefly in view the civil part of our subject. Feudal Tyranny has declined, but it may still be a question whether the human mind has proportionably freed itself from Bondage. Instead of Feudal Tyranny the Tyranny of national Debts, Taxes and Funds & stocks were Substituted: and it has been Sometimes a serious Question which was worst? Are the Standing Armies of Europe, which have created the Debts & Taxes, freer Men, than the Retainers and Tenants of the Feudal Barons? I trow not. Are not the People now universally tributary to the Holders of Stock, the Public Creditors,? obliged to labour as much to pay them, as they did formerly to pay their Landlords? It must be confessed that the funding systems have 392 been more friendly to Arts sciences, Agriculture Commerce Manufactures & Industry, than the Feudal System: they have also promoted more Corruption and Luxury and the Destruction of all Principle. They may have converted an ardour for honour and military Glory into universal Avarice. one Passion is exchanged for another one Tyranny is substituted for another: but it is not yet quite clear, that the “human Mind has even begun to free herself from Bondage.” or if it has begun it has made little Progress.

The Funding Systems and standing Armies have grown to Such an height of Tyranny and oppression, that Mankind can bear them no longer and they are shaking their shoulders to throw them off— and in the Struggle are increasing the Evil, by doubling both Debts Taxes & armies. Are they nearer freeing themselves from Bondage?

They have now Substituted a new Species of Bondage, without destroying the old one.— In france they have destroyed Monarchy & Nobility but they have substituted a Tyranny of Clubbs and Majorities, which for the time has been the worst Tyranny that ever existed among Men. They have committed more Cruelties in one night than the whole House of Bourbon ever committed from the Accession of H. 4. to the Death. of L. 16th.— Instead of being “strongly engaged in Speculations on the Principles,” instead of freeing themselves from Bondage, Mankind seem to have broken to Pieces the Feudal Bondage and demolished funding systems, only to bow their Necks to mere Popularity & Tyranny as terrible as either, it is the Tyranny of Hurricanes & Tornadoes, or the raging Waves of the Sea. All fredom of Thought, Speech Writing and Printing Shrinks and trembles before it, as if it were made up of Prætorian Bands or Turkish Janisaries.2

There may be a few Instances of Men who have examined the Theory of Government, with a liberal Spirit: but I really know not who they are— But certainly they have not been Attended to. Those who have taught for Doctrines the Commandments of Faction and the imperious Dogmas of Popularity are the only ones who have attracted the Public attention.

You may preserve my Letters, if you think them deserving any Notice and fity Years hence, compare them with the times.

I am my dear sir your / Affectionate Father

Our amiable Professor, in the 5th Page, informs us that “The free Commonwealth of the United States, which in all its ties, relations and dependencies, is animated with the pure Spirit of popular Representation, offers the highest Rewards to a Successfull cultivation of the Law, and the Utmost Encouragement to Genius.”—

I Scarcely have the Courage, my dear son, to write even to you, my candid, free and independent Thoughts upon this Passage. Would to God it were true in any reasonable Construction of the Words.!

Is it animated with the pure Spirit of Popular Representation? And what is the pure Spirit of popular Representation? I know of no other Answer which can be given to this last question than this vizt a Spirit in Elections, of Candour, Truth, Justice, and public Affection: in Contradistinction and opposition to all Partiality, falshood, party Spirit Intrigue or other Species of Corruption.

Is the Commonwealth of the U. S. animated with Such a pure Spirit? Recollect the first Election of P. and V. P.— There were no Bribes received or offered. But were there not Intrigues of an unwarrantable Nature, wholly inconsistent with the pure Spirit We have described! Recollect the Second Election of the same officers. Collect together the Newspapers, in all the States and see what a monstrous Mass of Lies you will have before you. Recollect the pure Spirit of Clintonian Cabal—of Virginia Artifice—of Kentucky Delusion—and then Say whether all this is pure Spirit. Examine and see whether you find, this pure Spirit, in the Elections of Senators of U. S.— I shall not descend into minute Details: But in general, my son enquire whether the Elections of senators are not too often determined by Party Spirit and even by Factious motives in the Legislatures of the states and whether there is not danger that Such an Evil will increase?

But I have a more serious Question still to ask, whether the pure Spirit of popular Representation, when Elections are so frequent of the Executives as well as of the Senate is consistent with Liberty? 394 The purest Spirit of popular Representation will forever elect Representatives of the Majority in Number— Education Property Honour will not be proportionally represented. Consequently Education Property and Honour will not be Secure.

Moreover if the pure Spirit of Popularity is to give the Ton to every Thing why are the P. & V.P. chosen by Electors instead of the People? Why are senators chosen by another Description of Electors and not by the People? The Answer is obvious the pure Spirit of Popularity is not always and in all Things to be trusted.

We are told, further that “The free Commonwealth of the U. S. offers the highest Rewards to a successful Cultivation of the Law and the Utmost Encouragement to Genius.”—

Whether this is true or not, and in what degree it is true, or otherwise deserves your serious Consideration. The purest Spirit of Popularity that We have in this Country is adulterated if not poisoned with ancient monkish Prejudices against the Profession and Professors of Law, which it is difficult to overcome. It deserves your Consideration whether the highest Rewards are given to the cultivation of the Law, or not. Whether they are not given too often to a Successful Cultivation of popular Prejudices? to an assiduous fomentation of contracted notions—to a party Spirit? and to vulgar sophistry. to an abuse of Words? read Mr Locks Chapter on the Abuse of Words and see if the Frauds and Knaveries there described do not too often decide the Spirit of popular Representation, and bestow the highest rewards.—1

I am afraid “the Encouragements to Genius” will as little bear Examination.— Genius with Integrity appears to be very little Encouraged— and Genius without Integrity, had better not be encouraged at all. Genius is too much encouraged to affect Popularity; to flatter the People; to excite Prejudices; to inflame Passions; to unite with Parties; to associate with Clubbs: but not enough to study and pursue the public Good, in the plain path of Virtue Honour and Knowledge.

Tell me Charles is this Croaking.? At all Events you must keep it to yourself and not expose yourself or your / Affectionate Father