The acquaintance I formed with you during my late journey, awakened a desire for some farther communication on the topic of our late conversation. What I learned from a mutual friend of your character and past history, has increased this desire, and the interest you seemed to feel to remove misconceptions in regard to your opinions and the moral character of those who embrace them, leads me to believe that the proposal of prolonged discussion, will not be unacceptable.
In estimating the moral character of persons who believe in no God, in no future retributions, in no obligations of marriage, no rights of parents, of laws, or of property, I must necessarily adopt altogether a new standard of judging, on duties connected with these subjects. My idea of virtue, or moral excellence, includes a feeling of obligation to perform certain moral duties, temptations to violate such obligation, and a strength of principle