of the
revolution in the public opinion, as to the powers of the monarch,
and of the force, too, of that opinion. Six weeks ago, we saw the King
displaying the plenitude of his omnipotence, as hitherto conceived, to
enforce these two acts. At this day, he is forced to retract them by the
public voice; for as to the opposition of the parliamemt, that body is
too little esteemed to produce this effect in any case, where the public
do not throw themselves into the same scale.

I have the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir,
your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XCV.--TO JOHN JAY, September 22, 1787

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, September 22, 1787.

Sir,

When I had the honor of addressing you this morning, intelligence
was handing about, which I did not think well enough authenticated to
communicate to you. As it is now ascertained, I avail myself of the
chance that another post may yet reach Havre, before the departure of
the packet. This will depend on the wind, which has for some days
been unfavorable. I must premise that this court, about ten days
ago, declared, by their _Charge des Affaires_ in Holland, that if
the Prussian troops continued to menace Holland with an invasion, his
Majesty was determined, in quality of ally, to succor that province. An
official letter from the Hague, of the 18th instant, assures that the
Prussian army entered the territory of Holland on the 15th, that most
of the principal towns had submitted, some after firing a gun or two,
others without resistance: that the Rhingrave de Salm had evacuated
Utrecht, with part of the troops under his command, leaving behind him
one hundred and forty-four pieces of cannon, with great warlike stores:
that the standard of Orange was hoisted every where: that no other
cockade could be worn at the Hague: that the States General were to
assemble that night for reinstating the Stadtholder in all his rights.
The letter concludes, 'We have this moment intelligence that Woerden
has capitulated; so that Amsterdam remains without defence.' So far the
letter. We know, otherwise, that Monsieur de St. Priest, who had set
out on his embassy to the Hague, has stopped at Antwerp, not choosing
to proceed further till new orders. This Court has been completely
deceived, first by its own great desire to avoid a war, and secondly by
calculating that the King of Prussia would have acted on principles
of common sense