at all enterprise must be
suspended between the three great belligerent powers. Poland is
likely to be thrown into great convulsions. The Empress of Russia has
peremptorily demanded such aids from Poland, as might engage it in the
war. The King of Prussia, on the other hand, threatens to march an army
on their borders. The vote of the Polish confederacy for one hundred
thousand men, was a coalition of the two parties, in that single act
only. The party opposed to the King, have obtained a majority, and have
voted that this army shall be independent of him. They are supported by
Prussia, while the King depends on Russia. Authentic information from
England leaves not a doubt, that the King is lunatic; and that, instead
of the effect, is the cause of the illness, under which he has been so
near dying. I mention this, because the English newspapers, speaking by
guess on that as they do on all other subjects, might mislead you as to
his true situation; or rather, might mislead others, who know less
than you do, that a thing is not rendered the more probable, by being
mentioned in those papers.

I enclose those of Leyden to the present date, with the gazettes of
France, and have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect
esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

Th: Jefferson

LETTER, CLXXII.--TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 4, 1788

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Paris, December 4, 1788.

Sir,

Your favor of August the 31st came to hand yesterday; and a confidential
conveyance offering, by the way of London, I avail myself of it, to
acknowledge the receipt.

I have seen, with infinite pleasure, our new constitution accepted by
eleven States, not rejected by the twelfth; and that the thirteenth
happens to be a state of the least importance. It is true, that the
minorities in most of the accepting States have been very respectable;
so much so, as to render it prudent, were it not otherwise reasonable,
to make some sacrifice to them. I am in hopes, that the annexation of
a bill of rights to the constitution will alone draw over so great
a proportion of the minorities, as to leave little danger in the
opposition of the residue; and that this annexation may be made by
Congress and the Assemblies, without calling a convention, which
might endanger the most valuable parts of the system. Calculation has
convinced me, that circumstances may arise, and probably will arise,
wherein all the reso