qualms of conscience
would not permit her to go all lengths with her Holy Allies, are all to
gull her own people. It is a theatrical farce, in which the five powers
are the actors, England the Tartuffe, and her people the dupes. Playing
thus so dextrously into each other's hands, and their own persons
seeming secured, they are now looking to their privileged orders.
These faithful auxiliaries, or accomplices, must be saved. This war is
evidently that of the general body of the aristocracy, in which England
is also acting her part. 'Save but the Nobles, and there shall be no
war,' says she, masking her measures at the same time under the form of
friendship and mediation, and hypocritically, while a party, offering
herself as a judge, to betray those whom she is not permitted openly to
oppose. A fraudulent neutrality, if neutrality at all, is all Spain will
get from her. And Spain, probably, perceives this, and willingly winks
at it rather than have her weight thrown openly into the other scale.

But I am going beyond my text, and sinning against the adage of carrying
coals to Newcastle. In hazarding to you my crude and uninformed notions
of things beyond my cognizance, only be so good as to remember that it
is at your request, and with as little confidence on my part as profit
on yours. You will do what is right, leaving the people of Europe to act
their follies and crimes among themselves, while we pursue in good faith
the paths of peace and prosperity. To your judgment we are willingly
resigned, with sincere assurances of affectionate esteem and respect.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLXXII.--TO JUDGE JOHNSON, June 12, 1823

TO JUDGE JOHNSON.

Monticello, June 12, 1823.

Dear Sir,

Our correspondence is of that accommodating character, which admits of
suspension at the convenience of either party, without inconvenience to
the other. Hence this tardy acknowledgment of your favor of April the
11th. I learn from that with great pleasure, that you have resolved on
continuing your history of parties. Our opponents are far ahead of us in
preparations for placing their cause favorably before posterity. Yet
I hope even from some of them the escape of precious truths, in angry
explosions or effusions of vanity, which will betray the genuine
monarchism of their principles. They do not themselves believe what
they endeavor to inculcate, that we were an opposition party, not on
principle, but merely seeking for office. T