Peru   Sept 4th 1839.


Dr D.


     Here I am as some would say, have nothing to do-
inactive- and a lounger.  But it is not so – man is an active
animal either plodding, thinking, speculating castle building – or
acting some part of the world’s drama.  Man often adopts
the notion of those who have preceded him – and consequently
falls into the errors – what may be called popular prejudices
- those things are difficult to over come – and hence when
we see some resolute spirit – peircing  [piercing] farther from the
“common herd” – sweeping before him all the noxious
weeds that have accumulated with the gathered years
of time – disdaining the followers in the wake of human
folly credulity, and fashion – he is dubbed a
man before his age – and fitted for a riper and
mature age.  The adoption of this sentiment is an
error-for every age must have its pioneer – in
literature legislation or the sciences – to lay out the
design preparatory for others to follow – and give to
“chairo oscuro” [chiaroscuro] and coloring necessary to give the
proper effect.  But I have some wandered from
the point I had in view.  I wanted to establish
the fact that we frequently adopt erronious [erroneous] sentiments
and hand them down to others as precedents – now
I contend that there is no such being as an inactive
being – I have seen lazy men – worthless vagabonds –
and drones in society – “hangers on” – a sort of blood-
suckers – who “go” on the agrarian principle – “high minded
men” who feel deeply interested in the welfare and
prosperity of others with whose fortunes from a social
feeling probably they condescend to participate in.


     Having established the fact that man is naturally active
and whose body or mind is ever in motion – “Indolent men” so to use the term 
are generally vicious – because the mind becomes
stagnant and viciated [vitiated]– from a want of a healthy
action – therefore the mind being clouded by such an
impurity of atmosphere takes a direction inimical 
                                       to moral and intelligent principles