r
of collision than any two on earth; who become natural friends, instead
of natural enemies, which this change of position would make them. My
letters of April the 25th, May the 5th, and this present one have been
written, without any disguise, in this view; and while safe in your
hands they can never do any thing but good. But you and I are now at
that time of life when our call to another state of being cannot be
distant, and may be near. Besides, your government is in the habit of
seizing papers without notice. These letters might thus get into hands,
which, like the hornet which extracts poison from the same flower that
yields honey to the bee, might make them the ground of blowing up a
flame between our two countries, and make our friendship and confidence
in each other effect exactly the reverse of what we are aiming at. Being
yourself thoroughly possessed of every idea in them, let me ask from
your friendship an immediate consignment of them to the flames. That
alone can make all safe, and ourselves secure.

I intended to have answered you here, on the subject of your agency in
the transacting what money matters we may have at Paris, and for that
purpose meant to have conferred with Mr. Gallatin. But he has, for two
or three days, been confined to his room, and is not yet able to do
business. If he is out before Mr. Monroe's departure, I will write an
additional letter on that subject. Be assured that it will be a great
additional satisfaction to me to render services to yourself and sons by
the same acts which shall at the same time promote the public service.
Be so good as to present my respectful salutations to Madame Dupont, and
to accept yourself assurances of my constant and affectionate friendship
and great respect.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCCIV.--TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH, April 21, 1803

TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH.

Washington, April 21, 1803.

Dear Sir,

In some of the delightful conversations with you, in the evenings of
1798-99, and which served as an anodyne to the afflictions of the crisis
through which our country was then laboring, the Christian religion was
sometimes our topic: and I then promised you, that, one day or other, I
would give you my views of it. They are the result of a life of inquiry
and reflection, and very different from that anti-Christian system
imputed to me by those who know nothing of my opinions. To the
corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not t