dly excite any attention in
America, is deemed here the most important one, which has taken place in
their civil line during the present century. Some promise their country
great things from it, some nothing. Our friend De la Fayette was placed
on the list originally. Afterwards his name disappeared; but finally was
reinstated. This shows, that his character here is not considered as
an indifferent one; and that it excites agitation. His education in
our school has drawn on him a very jealous eye, from a court whose
principles are the most absolute despotism. But I hope he has nearly
passed his crisis. The King, who is a good man, is favorably disposed
towards him; and he is supported by powerful family connections, and
by the public good will. He is the youngest man of the Notables, except
one, whose office placed him on the list.

The Count de Vergennes has, within these ten days, had a very severe
attack of what is deemed an unfixed gout. He has been well enough,
however, to do business to-day. But anxieties for him are not yet
quieted. He is a great and good minister, and an accident to him might
endanger the peace of Europe.

The tumults in America I expected would have produced in Europe an
unfavorable opinion of our political state. But it has not. On the
contrary, the small effect of these tumults seems to have given more
confidence in the firmness of our governments. The interposition of the
people themselves on the side of government, has had a great effect
on the opinion here. I am persuaded myself, that the good sense of the
people will always be found to be the best army. They may be led astray
for a moment, but will soon correct themselves. The people are the only
censors of their governors; and even their errors will tend to keep
these to the true principles of their institution. To punish these
errors too severely, would be to suppress the only safeguard of the
public liberty. The way to prevent these irregular interpositions of the
people, is to give them full information of their affairs through the
channel of the public papers, and to contrive that those papers should
penetrate the whole mass of the people. The basis of our governments
being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep
that right; and were it left to me to decide, whether we should have
a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I
should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I