not, therefore, by
useless condolences, open afresh the sluices of your grief, nor,
although mingling sincerely my tears with yours, will I say a word more
where words are vain, but that it is of some comfort to us both, that
the term is not very distant, at which we are to deposit in the same
cerement our sorrows and suffering bodies, and to ascend in essence to
an ecstatic meeting with the friends we have loved and lost, and whom we
shall still love, and never lose again. God bless you, and support you
under your heavy affliction.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXLV.--TO ROBERT WALSH, December 4, 1818

TO ROBERT WALSH.

Monticello, December 4, 1818.

Dear Sir,

Yours of November the 8th has been some time received; but it is in my
power to give little satisfaction as to its inquiries. Dr. Franklin had
many political enemies, as every character must, which, with decision
enough to have opinions, has energy and talent to give them effect on
the feelings of the adversary opinion. These enmities were chiefly in
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. In the former, they were merely of
the proprietary party. In the latter, they did not commence till the
Revolution, and then sprung chiefly from personal animosities, which,
spreading by little and little, became at length of some extent. Dr.
Lee was his principal calumniator, a man of much malignity, who, besides
enlisting his whole family in the same hostility, was enabled, as the
agent of Massachusetts with the British government, to infuse it into
that State with considerable effect. Mr. Izard, the Doctor's enemy
also, but from a pecuniary transaction, never countenanced these charges
against him. Mr. Jay, Silas Deane, Mr. Laurens, his colleagues also,
ever maintained towards him unlimited confidence and respect. That he
would have waived the formal recognition of our independence, I never
heard on any authority worthy notice. As to the fisheries, England was
urgent to retain them exclusively, France neutral, and I believe, that
had they been ultimately made a _sine qua non_, our commissioners (Mr.
Adams excepted) would have relinquished them, rather than have broken
off the treaty. To Mr. Adams's perseverance alone, on that point, I
have always understood we were indebted for their reservation. As to the
charge of subservience to France, besides the evidence of his friendly
colleagues before named, two years of my own service with him at Paris,
daily visits, and the mo