I am flattered by your thinking so favourably of my _pamphlets_,
which were only calculated to give some satisfaction to my
suspicious neighbours. Chancellor Livingston informs me that he
has got an edition of them printed at Albany, for the information
of the people in the back country, where, he says, it is so much
wanted. Indeed, it seems extraordinary, that in such a country as
this, where there is no court to dazzle men's eyes a maxim as
plain as that 2 and 2 make 4 should not be understood, and acted
upon. It is evident that the bulk of mankind are governed by
something very different from reasoning and argument. This
principle must have its influence even in your Congress, for if
the members are not convinced by the excellent speeches of Mr.
Gallatin and Nicolas, neither would they be persuaded tho one
should rise from the dead.
It is true that I had more to do with colleges, and places of
education, than most men in Europe; but I would not pretend to
advise in this country. I will, however, at my leisure, propose
such _hints_ as shall occur to me; and if you want tutors from
England, I can recommend some very good ones. Were I a few years
younger, and more moveable, I should make interest for some
appointment in your institution myself; but age and inactivity are
fast approaching, and I am so fixed here, that a remove is
absolutely impossible, unless you were possessed of _Aladin's
lamp_, and could transport my house, library, and laboratory,
into Virginia without trouble or expense.
On my settlement here the gentlemen in the neighbourhood, thinking
to make me of some use, set on foot a college, of which I gave
them the plan, and they got it incorporated, and made me the
president; but tho I proposed to give lectures _gratis_, and had
the disposal of a valuable library at the decease of a learned
friend (new, near so), and had it in my power to render them
important service in various ways, yet, owing I suspect, in part
at least, to religious and political prejudices, nothing more has
been done, besides marking the site of a building these five
years, so that I have told them I shall resign.
I much wish to have some conversation with you on social subjects;
but I cannot expect that the Vice President of the United States
should visit me in my _shed_ at Northumberland, and I cannot come
to you. I intended on my settling here to have spent a month or so
every winter at Philadelphia, but the state of the times, and
various accidents, have a little deranged my finances, and I
prefer to spend what I can spare on my experiments, and
publication, rather than in travelling and seeing my friends.
With the greatest respect, I am,
Dear Sir,
Yours sincerely,
J. PRIESTLEY.
Northumberland Jan. 30, 1800.