done it the rather,
because, though you will have heard many of them, and seen them in the
public papers, yet, floating in the mass of lies which constitute the
atmosphere of London and Paris, you may not have been sure of their
truth; and I have mentioned every truth of any consequence, to enable
you to stamp as false, the facts pretermitted. I think that in the
course of three months, the royal authority has lost, and the rights
of the nation gained, as much ground by a revolution of public opinion
only, as England gained in all her civil wars under the Stuarts. I
rather believe, too, they will retain the ground gained, because it
is defended by the young and the middle-aged, in opposition to the old
only. The first party increases, and the latter diminishes daily, from
the course of nature. You may suppose, that in this situation, war would
be unwelcome to France. She will surely avoid it, if not forced into it
by the courts of London and Berlin. If forced, it is probable she
will change the system of Europe totally, by an alliance with the two
empires, to whom nothing would be more desirable. In the event of such
a coalition, not only Prussia, but the whole European world must receive
from them their laws. But France will probably endeavor to preserve the
present system, if it can be done, by sacrificing, to a certain degree,
the pretensions of the patriotic party in Holland. But of all these
matters, you can judge, in your position, where less secrecy is
observed, better than I can.

I have news from America as late as July the 19th. Nothing had
transpired from the federal convention. I am sorry they began their
deliberations by so abominable a precedent, as that of tying up the
tongues of their members. Nothing can justify this example, but the
innocence of their intentions, and ignorance of the value of public
discussions. I have no doubt that all their other measures will be good
and wise. It is really an assembly of demigods. General Washington was
of opinion, that they should not separate till October.

I have the honor to be, with every sentiment of friendship and respect,
Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XCI.--TO MR. WYTHE, September 16,1787

TO MR. WYTHE.

Paris, September 16,1787.

Dear Sir,

I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of December the 13th
and 22nd, 1786, and of January, 1787. These should not have been so
long unanswe