s now near, and certain, and determined in the mind of every
man. I expected to have seen some justification of arming one part of
the society against another; of declaring a civil war the moment before
the meeting of that body which has the sole right of declaring war; of
being so patient of the kicks and scoffs of our enemies, and rising at a
feather against our friends; of adding a million to the public debt and
deriding us with recommendations to pay it if we can, &c. &c. But the
part of the speech which was to be taken as a justification of the
armament, reminded me of Parson Saunders's demonstration why minus into
minus makes plus. After a parcel of shreds of stuff from AEsop's fables
and Tom Thumb, he jumps all at once into his ergo, minus multiplied
into minus makes phis. Just so the fifteen thousand men enter after the
fables, in the speech.

However, the time is coming when we shall fetch up the leeway of our
vessel. The changes in your House, I see, are going on for the better,
and even the Augean herd over your heads are slowly purging off their
impurities. Hold on then, my dear friend, that we may not shipwreck
in the mean while. I do not see, in the minds of those with whom I
converse, a greater affliction than the fear of your retirement; but
this must not be, unless to a more splendid and a more efficacious post.
There I should rejoice to see you; I hope I may say, I shall rejoice to
see you. I have long had much in my mind to say to you on that subject.
But double delicacies have kept me silent. I ought perhaps to say, while
I would not give up my own retirement for the empire of the universe,
how I can justify wishing one whose happiness I have so much at heart
as yours, to take the front of the battle which is fighting for my
security. This would be easy enough to be done, but not at the heel of a
lengthy epistle.

Present me respectfully to Mrs. Madison, and pray her to keep you where
you are for her own satisfaction and the public good, and accept the
cordial affections of us all. Adieu.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLXXXII.--TO M. D'IVERNOIS, February 6,1795

TO M. D'IVERNOIS.

Monticello, February 6,1795.

Dear Sir,

Your several favors on the affairs of Geneva found me here, in the
month of December last. It is now more than a year that I have withdrawn
myself from public affairs, which I never liked in my life, but was
drawn into by emergencies which threatened our country with slaver