but it has no partisans out of those orders. 2. To put the
Clergy and _Noblesse_ into one House, and the Commons into another. The
_Noblesse_ will be generally for this. 3. To put the three orders
into one House, and make the Commons the majority of that House. This
re-unites the greatest number of partisans, and I suspect it is well
patronized in the ministry, who, I am persuaded, are proceeding
_bona fide_, to improve the constitution of their country. As to the
opposition which the English expect from the personal character of the
King, it proves they do not know what his personal character is. He is
the honestest man in his kingdom, and the most regular and economical.
He has no foible which will enlist him against the good of his people;
and whatever constitution will promote this, he will befriend. But he
will not befriend it obstinately: he has given repeated proofs of a
readiness to sacrifice his opinion to the wish of the nation. I believe
he will consider the opinion of the States General, as the best evidence
of what will please and profit the nation, and will conform to it. All
the characters at court may not be of this disposition, and from thence
may, possibly, arise representations, capable of leading the King
astray; but upon a full view of all circumstances, I have sanguine
hopes, that such a constitution will be established here, as will
regenerate the energy of the nation, cover its friends, and make its
enemies tremble. I am, with very great esteem, Dear Sir, your friend and
servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLVIII.--TO JOHN JAY, September 3, 1788

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, September 3, 1788.

Sir,

By Mrs. Barclay I had the honor of sending you letters of the 3rd, 10th,
and 11th of August; since which, I wrote you of the 20th of the same
month, by a casual conveyance, as is the present.

In my letter of the 20th, I informed you of the act of public bankruptcy
which had taken place here. The effect of this would have been a forced
loan of about one hundred and eighty millions of livres, in the course
of the present and ensuing year. But it did not yield a sufficient
immediate relief. The treasury became literally moneyless, and all
purposes depending on this mover came to a stand. The Archbishop was
hereupon removed, with Monsieur Lambert, the Comptroller General; and
Mr. Necker was called in, as Director General of the finance. To soften
the Archbishop's dismission, a cardinal's hat is as