intended to have written a word to your Excellency on the subject
of the new Constitution, but I have already spun out my letter to an
immoderate length. I will just observe, therefore, that according to my
ideas, there is a great deal of good in it. There are two things,
however, which I dislike strongly. 1. The want of a declaration of
rights. I am in hopes the opposition of Virginia will remedy this, and
produce such a declaration. 2. The perpetual re-eligibility of the
President. This, I fear, will make that an office for life, first, and
then hereditary. I was much an enemy to monarchies before I came to
Europe. I am ten thousand times more so, since I have seen what they
are. There is scarcely an evil known in these countries, which may not
be traced to their king, as its source, nor a good, which is not
derived from the small fibres of republicanism existing among them. I
can further say, with safety, there is not a crowned head in Europe,
whose talents or merits would entitle him to be elected a vestryman, by
the people of any parish in America. However, I shall hope, that before
there is danger of this change taking place in the office of President,
the good sense and free spirit of our countrymen, will make the changes
necessary to prevent it. Under this hope, I look forward to the general
adoption of the new Constitution with anxiety, as necessary for us
under our present circumstances. I have so much trespassed on your
patience already, by the length of this letter, that I will add nothing
further, than those assurances of sincere esteem and attachment with
which I have the honor to be, your Excellency's most obedient, and most
humble servant.

TO MR. JAMES MADISON.

PARIS, May 3, 1788.

DEAR SIR,--Mine of February the 6th, acknowledged the receipt of yours
of December the 9th and 20th; since that, those of February the 19th
and 20th have come to hand. The present will be delivered to you by Mr.
Warville, whom you will find truly estimable, and a great enthusiast
for liberty. His writings will have shown you this.

For public news, I must refer you to my letters to Mr. Jay. Those I
wrote to him from Amsterdam will have informed you of my journey
thither. While there, I endeavored to get, as well as I could, into the
state of national credit there; for though I am an enemy to the using
our credit but under absolute necessity, yet the possessing a good
credit I consider as indispensable, in the pre