Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 to James Maury Esq.
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09077 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 Place Written: Monticello, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 June 1815 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; Order a Copy
"...what is incomprehensible to me is that the Marquis of Wellesly...says that 'the aggression which led to war was from the US, not from England.' is there a person in the world who, knowing the circumstances, thinks this? the acts which produced the war were, 1. the impressment of our citizens by their ships of war, and 2. the orders of council forbidding our vessells to trade with any country but England without going to England to obtain a special license...these categorical and definitive answers put an end to necessitation, and were a declaration of a continuance of the war in which they had already taken from us 1000. ships and 6000. seamen. we determined then to defend ourselves and to oppose further hostilities by war on our side also...they expected to give us an exemplary scourging, to separate from us the States east of the Hudson, take for their Indian allies those west of the Ohio, placing 300,000 American citizens under the government of savages and to leave the residuum a powerless enemy, if not submissive subjects. I cannot conceive what is the use of your Bedlam, when such men are out of it...The interruption of our intercourse with England has rendered us one essential service in planting radically and firmly coarse manufactures among us...all theory must yield to experience, and every constitution has it's own laws. I have for 50. years bathed my feet in cold water every morning... and having been remarkably exempted from colds (not having had one in every 7. years of my life on an average) I have supposed it might be ascribed to this practice."
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