tful issue. It is, in fact, between the monarchy and the
parliaments. The nation is no otherwise concerned, but as both parties
may be induced to let go some of its abuses, to court the public favor.
The danger is, that the people, deceived by a false cry of liberty, may
be led to take side with one party, and thus give the other a pretext
for crushing them still more. If they can avoid the appeal to arms, the
nation will be sure to gain much by this controversy. But if that appeal
is made, it will depend entirely on the disposition of the army, whether
it issue in liberty or despotism. Those dispositions are not as yet
known. In the mean time, there is great probability that the war kindled
in the east, will spread from nation to nation, and, in the long run,
become general.

*****

I am, with the most sincere esteem and attachment, my dear; Sir, your
friend and servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXLVII.--TO MR. BELLINI, July 25,1788

TO MR. BELLINI.

Paris, July 25,1788.

Dear Sir,

Though I have written to you seldom, you are often the object of
my thoughts, and always of my affection. The truth is, that the
circumstances with which I am surrounded, offer little worth detailing
to you. You are too wise to feel an interest in the squabbles, in
which the pride, the dissipations, and the tyranny of kings, keep this
hemisphere constantly embroiled. Science, indeed, finds some aliment
here, and you are one of her sons. But this I have pretty regularly
communicated to Mr. Madison, with whom, I am sure, you participate of
it. It is with sincere pleasure I congratulate you on the good fortune
of our friend Mazzei, who is appointed here, to correspond with the King
of Poland. The particular character given him is not well defined, but
the salary is, which is more important. It is eight thousand livres a
year, which will enable him to live comfortably, while his duties will
find him that occupation, without which he cannot exist. Whilst this
appointment places him at his ease, it affords a hope of permanence
also. It suspends, if not entirely prevents, the visit he had intended
to his native country, and the return to his adoptive one, which the
death of his wife had rendered possible. This last event has given him
three quarters of the globe elbow-room, which he had ceded to her, on
condition she would leave him quiet in the fourth. Their partition of
the next world will be more difficult, if it be divided on