o open a
loan of one hundred millions to supply present wants, and it is said,
the preface of the _Arret_ will contain a promise of the convocation of
the States General during the ensuing year. Twelve or fifteen Provincial
Assemblies are already in action, and are going on well: and I think,
that, though the nation suffers in reputation, it will gain infinitely
in happiness under the present administration. I enclose to Mr. Jay a
pamphlet, which I will beg of you to forward. I leave it open for your
perusal. When you shall have read it, be so good as to stick a wafer in
it. It is not yet published, nor will be for some days. This copy has
been ceded to me as a favor.

How do you like our new constitution? I confess there are things in it,
which stagger all my dispositions to subscribe to what such an Assembly
has proposed. The House of federal representatives will not be adequate
to the management of affairs, either foreign or federal. Their President
seems a bad edition of a Polish King. He may be elected from four years
to four years, for life. Reason and experience prove to us, that a
chief magistrate, so continuable, is an office for life. When one or
two generations shall have proved, that this is an office for life, it
becomes, on every succession, worthy of intrigue, of bribery, of force,
and even of foreign interference. It will be of great consequence to
France and England, to have America governed by a Galloman or Angloman.
Once in office, and possessing the military force of the Union, without
the aid or check of a council, he would not be easily dethroned, even
if the people could be induced to withdraw their votes from him. I wish
that at the end of the four years, they had made him for ever ineligible
a second time. Indeed, I think all the good of this new constitution
might have been couched in three or four new articles to be added to the
good, old, and venerable fabric, which should have been preserved even
as a religious relique. Present me and my daughters affectionately to
Mrs. Adams. The younger one continues to speak of her warmly. Accept
yourself assurances of the sincere esteem and respect, with which I have
the honor to be, Dear Sir, your friend and servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXIV.--TO COLONEL SMITH, November 13, 1787

TO COLONEL SMITH.

Paris, November 13, 1787.

Sir,

I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of October the
4th, 8th, and 26th. In the last, you