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others； or their case may； by change of circumstances； become his
own。 It behoves him； too； in his own case； to give no example of
concession； betraying the common right of independent opinion； by
answering questions of faith； which the laws have left between God &
himself。 Accept my affectionate salutations。
SYLLABUS OF AN ESTIMATE OF THE MERIT OF THE DOCTRINES OF JESUS；
COMPARED WITH THOSE OF OTHERS
_April； 1803_
In a comparative view of the Ethics of the enlightened nations
of antiquity； of the Jews and of Jesus； no notice should be taken of
the corruptions of reason among the ancients； to wit； the idolatry &
superstition of the vulgar； nor of the corruptions of Christianity by
the learned among its professors。
Let a just view be taken of the moral principles inculcated by
the most esteemed of the sects of ancient philosophy； or of their
individuals； particularly Pythagoras； Socrates； Epicurus； Cicero；
Epictetus； Seneca； Antoninus。
I。 PHILOSOPHERS。 1。 Their precepts related chiefly to
ourselves； and the government of those passions which； unrestrained；
would disturb our tranquillity of mind。 In this branch of philosophy
they were really great。
2。 In developing our duties to others； they were short and
defective。 They embraced； indeed； the circles of kindred & friends；
and inculcated patriotism； or the love of our country in the
aggregate； as a primary obligation： toward our neighbors & countrymen
they taught justice； but scarcely viewed them as within the circle of
benevolence。 Still less have they inculcated peace； charity & love
to our fellow men； or embraced with benevolence the whole family of
mankind。
II。 JEWS。 1。 Their system was Deism； that is； the belief of one
only God。 But their ideas of him & of his attributes were degrading
& injurious。
2。 Their Ethics were not only imperfect； but often
irreconcilable with the sound dictates of reason & morality； as they
respect intercourse with those around us； & repulsive & anti…social；
as respecting other nations。 They needed reformation； therefore； in
an eminent degree。
III。 JESUS。 In this state of things among the Jews； Jesus
appeared。 His parentage was obscure； his condition poor； his
education null； his natural endowments great； his life correct and
innocent： he was meek； benevolent； patient； firm； disinterested； & of
the sublimest eloquence。
The disadvantages under which his doctrines appear are
remarkable。
1。 Like Socrates & Epictetus； he wrote nothing himself。
2。 But he had not； like them； a Xenophon or an Arrian to write
for him。 On the contrary； all the learned of his country； entrenched
in its power and riches； were opposed to him； lest his labors should
undermine their advantages； and the committing to writing his life &
doctrines fell on the most unlettered & ignorant men； who wrote； too；
from memory； & not till long after the transactions had passed。
3。 According to the ordinary fate of those who attempt to
enlighten and reform mankind； he fell an early victim to the jealousy
& combination of the altar and the throne； at about 33。 years of age；
his reason having not yet attained the _maximum_ of its energy； nor
the course of his preaching； which was but of 3。 years at most；
presented occasions for developing a complete system of morals。
4。 Hence the doctrines which he really delivered were defective
as a whole； and fragments only of what he did deliver have come to us
mutilated； misstated； & often unintelligible。
5。 They have been still more disfigured by the corruptions of
schismatising followers； who have found an interest in sophisticating
& perverting the simple doctrines he taught by engrafting on them the
mysticisms of a Grecian sophist； frittering them into subtleties； &
obscuring them with jargon； until they have caused good men to reject
the whole in disgust； & to view Jesus himself as an impostor。
Notwithstanding these disadvantages； a system of morals is
presented to us； which； if filled up in the true style and spirit of
the rich fragments he left us； would be the most perfect and sublime
that has ever been taught by man。
The question of his being a member of the Godhead； or in direct
communication with it； claimed for him by some of his followers； and
denied by others； is foreign to the present view； which is merely an
estimate of the intrinsic merit of his doctrines。
1。 He corrected the Deism of the Jews； confirming them in their
belief of one only God； and giving them juster notions of his
attributes and government。
2。 His moral doctrines； relating to kindred & friends； were
more pure & perfect than those of the most correct of the
philosophers； and greatly more so than those of the Jews； and they
went far beyond both in inculcating universal philanthropy； not only
to kindred and friends； to neighbors and countrymen； but to all
mankind； gathering all into one family； under the bonds of love；
charity； peace； common wants and common aids。 A development of this
head will evince the peculiar superiority of the system of Jesus over
all others。
3。 The precepts of philosophy； & of the Hebrew code； laid hold
of actions only。 He pushed his scrutinies into the heart of man；
erected his tribunal in the region of his thoughts； and purified the
waters at the fountain head。
4。 He taught； emphatically； the doctrines of a future state；
which was either doubted； or disbelieved by the Jews； and wielded it
with efficacy； as an important incentive； supplementary to the other
motives to moral conduct。
EXPEDITION TO THE PACIFIC
_Instructions to Captain Lewis_
_June 20； 1803_
To Merryweather Lewis； Esq。； Captain of the 1st Regiment of
Infantry of the United States of America。
Your situation as Secretary of the President of the United
States has made you acquainted with the objects of my confidential
message of Jan。 18； 1803； to the legislature。 You have seen the act
they passed； which； tho' expressed in general terms； was meant to
sanction those objects； and you are appointed to carry them into
execution。
Instruments for ascertaining by celestial observations the
geography of the country thro' which you will pass； have been already
provided。 Light articles for barter； & presents among the Indians；
arms for your attendants； say for from 10 to 12 men； boats； tents； &
other travelling apparatus； with ammunition； medicine； surgical
instruments & provision you will have prepared with such aids as the
Secretary at War can yield in his department； & from him also you
will receive authority to engage among our troops； by voluntary
agreement； the number of attendant