plation. His showing it to the Queen, proves
he entertained the same mistrust with the public. It may be asked, What
is the Queen disposed to do in the present situation of things? Whatever
rage, pride, and fear can dictate in a breast which never knew the
presence of one moral restraint.

Upon the whole, I do not see it as yet probable that any actual
commotion will take place; and if it does take place, I have strong
confidence that the patriotic party will hold together, and their party
in the nation be what I have described it. In this case, there would be
against them the aristocracy and the faction of Orleans. This consists,
at this time, of only the Catilines of the Assembly, and some of the
lowest descriptions of the mob. Its force, within the kingdom, must
depend on how much of this last kind of people it can debauch with money
from its present bias to the right cause. This bias is as strong as any
one can be, in a class which must accept its bread from him who will
give it. Its resources out of the kingdom are not known. Without doubt,
England will give money to produce and to feed the fire which should
consume this country; but it is not probable she will engage in open
war for that. If foreign troops should be furnished, it would be most
probably by the King of Prussia, who seems to offer himself as the
bull-dog of tyranny to all his neighbors. He might, too, be disturbed by
the contagion of the same principles gaining his own subjects, as
they have done those of the Austrian Netherlands, Liege, Cologne, and
Hesse-Cassel. The army of the latter Prince, joining with his subjects,
are said to have possessed themselves of the treasures he had amassed
by hiring troops to conquer us, and by other iniquities. Fifty-four
millions of livres is the sum mentioned. But all these means, external
and internal must prove inadequate to their ultimate object, if the
nation be united as it is at present. Expecting within a few days to
leave Paris, and that this is my last letter on public subjects, I have
indulged myself in giving you a general view of things, as they appear
to me at the time of my leaving them. Mr. Short will have the honor
of continuing the narration, and of correcting it, where circumstances
unknown or unforseen may give a different turn to events.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and
respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LE