nnovation in the plan. But
the minorities are too respectable, not to be entitled to some sacrifice
of opinion in the majority; especially, when a great proportion of them
would be contented with a bill of rights. Here, things internally, are
going on well. The _Notables_ now in session, have, indeed, passed one
vote, which augurs ill to the rights of the people; but if they do not
obtain now so much as they have a right to, they will in the long
run. The misfortune is, that they are not yet ripe for receiving the
blessings to which they are entitled. I doubt, for instance, whether
the body of the nation, if they could be consulted, would accept of
a _habeas corpus_ law, if offered them by the King. If the _Etats
Generaux_, when they assemble, do not aim at too much, they may begin
a good constitution. There are three articles which they may easily
obtain; 1. their own meeting, periodically; 2. the exclusive right of
taxation; 3. the right of registering laws and proposing amendments to
them, as exercised now by the parliaments. This last would be readily
approved by the court, on account of their hostility against the
parliaments, and would lead immediately to the origination of laws:
the second has been already solemnly avowed by the King; and it is well
understood, there would be no opposition to the first. If they push at
much more, all may fail. I shall not enter further into public details,
because my letter to Mr. Jay will give them. That contains a request of
permission to return to America the next spring, for the summer only.
The reasons therein urged, drawn from my private affairs, are very
cogent. But there is another, more cogent on my mind, though of a nature
not to be explained in a public letter. It is the necessity of attending
my daughters, myself, to their own country, and depositing them safely
in the hands of those, with whom I can safely leave them. I have
deferred this request as long as circumstances would permit, and am in
hopes it will meet with no difficulty. I have had too many proofs
of your friendship, not to rely on your patronage of it, as, in all
probability, nothing can suffer by a short absence. But the immediate
permission is what I am anxious about; as by going in April and
returning in October, I shall be sure of pleasant and short passages,
out and in. I must intreat your attention, my friend, to this matter,
and that the answers may be sent me through several channels.

Mr. Linioz