republics may learn useful lessons,
never to call on foreign powers to settle their differences, to guard
against hereditary magistrates, to prevent their citizens from becoming
so established in wealth and power, as to be thought worthy of alliance
by marriage with the nieces, sisters, &c. of Kings, and, in short, to
besiege the throne of Heaven with eternal prayers, to extirpate from
creation this class of human lions, tigers, and mammoths, called Kings;
from whom, let him perish who does not say, 'Good Lord, deliver us;' and
that so we may say, one and all, or perish, is the fervent prayer of
him who has the honor to mix with it sincere wishes for your health and
happiness, and to be, with real attachment and respect, Dear Sir, your
affectionate friend and humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXXIX.--TO JOHN JAY, August 15, 1787

TO JOHN JAY.

Sir,

Paris, August 15, 1787.

An American gentleman leaving Paris this afternoon, to go by the way
of L'Orient to Boston, furnishes me the rare occasion of a conveyance,
other than the packet, sure and quick. My letter by the packet informed
you of the bed of justice, for enregistering the stamp tax and land
tax. The parliament, on their return came to an _Arretee_ (a resolution)
which, besides protesting against the enregistering, as done by force,
laid the foundation for an _Arret de defence_ (an act) against the
execution of the two new laws. The question on the final _Arret_ was
adjourned to the day before yesterday. It is believed they did not
conclude on this _Arret_, as it has not appeared. However, there was a
concourse of about ten thousand people at the parliament house, who, on
their adjournment, received them with acclamations of joy, loosened
the horses of the most eminent speakers against the tax from their
carriages, and drew them home. This morning, the parliament is exiled
to Troyes. It is believed to proceed, principally, from the fear of a
popular commotion here.

The officer charged by this court, to watch the English squadron, which
was under sailing orders, returned about a week ago with information
that it had sailed, having shaped its course west-wardly. This is
another step towards war. It is the more suspicious, as their minister
here denies the fact. Count Adhemar is here from London, by leave from
his court. The Duke of Dorset, the British ambassador here, has lately
gone to London on leave. Neither of these ambassadors has the