6748. POLITICS, Pursuit of.—
I am glad
to find that among the various branches of
science presenting themselves to your mind,
you have fixed on that of politics as your
principal pursuit. Your country will derive
from this a more immediate and sensible
benefit. She has much for you to do. For,
though we may say with confidence, that the
worst of the American constitutions is better
than the best which ever existed before in
any other country, and that they are wonderfully
perfect for a first essay, yet every
human essay must have defects. It will remain,
therefore, to those now coming on the
stage of public affairs, to perfect what has
been so well begun by those going off it.—
To T. M. Randolph, Jr. Washington ed. ii, 175.
Ford ed., iv, 403.
(P.
1787)
