ent the borrowing any
money in Europe, till these shall be paid off. This is a momentous
object, and, in my opinion, should receive instantaneous attention.

The gazettes of France, to the departure of my letter, will accompany
it, and those of Leyden to the 22nd of July, at which time their
distribution in this country was prohibited. How long the prohibition
may continue, I cannot tell. As far as I can judge, it is the only paper
in Europe worth reading. Since the suppression of the packet-boats, I
have never been able to find a safe conveyance for a letter to you, till
the present by Mrs. Barclay. Whenever a confidential person shall be
going from hence to London, I shall send my letters for you to the
care of Mr. Trumbull, who will look out for safe conveyances. This will
render the epochs of my writing very irregular. There is a proposition
under consideration, for establishing packet-boats on a more economical
plan, from Havre to Boston; but its success is uncertain, and still
more, its duration.

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

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CL.--TO COLONEL MONROE, August 9, 1788

TO COLONEL MONROE.

Paris, August 9, 1788.

Dear Sir,

Since my last to you, I have to thank your for your favors of July the
27th, 1787, and April the 10th, 1788, and the details they contained;
and in return, will give you now the leading circumstances of this
continent.

*****

This nation is at present under great internal agitation. The authority
of the crown on one part, and that of the parliaments on the other, are
fairly at issue. Good men take part with neither, but have raised an
opposition, the object of which is to obtain a fixed and temperate
constitution. There was a moment when this opposition ran so high, as to
endanger an appeal to arms, in which case, perhaps, it would have been
crushed. The moderation of government has avoided this, and they are
yielding daily one right after another to the nation. They have given
them Provincial Assemblies, which will be very perfect representations
of the nation, and stand somewhat in the place of our State Assemblies;
they have reformed the criminal law; acknowledged the King cannot lay a
new tax, without the consent of the States General; and they will call
the States General the next year. The object of this body, when met,
will be a bill of rights, a c