what I have done may effect an end to
them; being with much respect and esteem, Sir, your most obedient and
most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CII.--TO JOHN JAY, October 8, 1787

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, October 8, 1787.

Sir,

I had the honor of writing you on the 19th of September, twice on the
22nd, and again on the 24th. The two first went by the packet, the
third by a vessel bound to Philadelphia. I have not yet learned by what
occasion the last went. In these several letters, I communicated to
you the occurrences of Europe, as far as they were then known.
Notwithstanding the advantage which the Emperor seemed to have gained
over his subjects of Brabant, by the military arrangements he had been
permitted to make under false pretexts, he has not obtained his ends. He
certainly wished to enforce his new regulations; but he wished more to
be cleared of all domestic difficulties, that he might be free to act
in the great scenes which are preparing for the theatre of Europe.
He seems, therefore, to have instructed his Governor General of the
Netherlands to insist on compliance as far as could be insisted, without
producing resistance by arms; but at the same time, to have furnished
him with a sufficiently complete recantation, to prevent the effects of
insurrection. The Governor pressed; the people were firm; a small act of
force was then attempted, which produced a decided resistance, in which
the people killed several of the military: the last resource was
then used, which was the act of recantation; this produced immediate
tranquillity, and every thing there is now finally settled, by the
Emperor's relinquishment of his plans.

My letter of the evening of September the 22nd informed you that the
Prussian troops had entered Holland, and that of the 24th, that England
had announced to this court that she was arming generally. These two
events being simultaneous, proved that the two sovereigns acted in
concert. Immediately after, the court of London announced to the other
courts of Europe, that if France entered Holland with armed force, she
would consider it as an act of hostility, and declare war against her;
sending Mr. Grenville here, at the same time, to make what she called a
conciliatory proposition. This proposition was received as a new insult,
Mr. Grenville very coolly treated, and he has now gone back. It is said,
he has carried the ultimatum of France. What it is, particularly, has
no