wish your opinion on the
expediency of the measure. If you approve it, I shall propose to ------
or some other, to father it, and to present it to the counties at their
general muster. This will be in time for our Assembly. The presentment
going in the public papers just at the moment when Congress was
together, produced a great effect both on its friends and foes in that
body, very much to the disheartening and mortification of the latter.
I wish this petition, if approved, to arrive there under the same
circumstances, to produce the counter effect so wanting for their
gratification. I could have wished to receive it from you again at our
court on Monday, because ------ and ------ will be there, and might also
be consulted, and commence measures for putting it into motion. If you
can return it then, with your opinion, it will be of importance. Present
me affectionately to Mrs. Madison, and convey to her my entreaties to
interpose her good offices and persuasives with you to bring her
here, and before we uncover our house, which will yet be some weeks.
Salutations and adieu.

LETTER CCXVII.--TO COLONEL ARTHUR CAMPBELL, September 1, 1797

TO COLONEL ARTHUR CAMPBELL.

Monticello, September 1, 1797.

Dear Sir,

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of July the 4th, and to
recognise in it the sentiments you have ever held, and worthy of the day
on which it is dated. It is true that a party has risen up among us, or
rather has come among us, which is endeavoring to separate us from all
friendly connection with France, to unite our destinies with those of
Great Britian, and to assimilate our government to theirs. Our lenity
in permitting the return of the old tories, gave the first body to
this party; they have been increased by large importations of British
merchants and factors, by American merchants dealing on British capital,
and by stock-dealers and banking-companies, who, by the aid of a paper
system are enriching themselves to the ruin of our country, and swaying
the government by their possession of the printing-presses, which
their wealth commands, and by other means, not always honorable to the
character of our countrymen. Hitherto, their influence and their system
have been irresistible, and they have raised up an executive power which
is too strong for the legislature. But I flatter myself they have passed
their zenith. The people, while these things were doing, were lulled
into rest and s