nsider as
dangerous to their views, and I do not know that we could count on one
third in an emergency. All depends then on the House of Representatives,
who are the impeachers; and there the majorities are of one, two, or
three only; and these sometimes one way and sometimes another: in a
question of pure party they have the majority, and we do not know what
circumstances may turn up to increase that majority temporarily, it not
permanently. I know of no solid purpose of punishment which the
courts of law are not equal to, and history shows, that, in England,
impeachment has been an engine more of passion than justice. A great
ball is to be given here on the 22nd, and in other great towns of the
Union. This is, at least, very indelicate, and probably excites uneasy
sensations in some. I see in it, however, this useful deduction,
that the birth-days which have been kept, have been, not those of the
President, but of the General. I enclose, with the newspapers, the two
acts of parliament passed on the subject of our commerce, which
are interesting. The merchants here, say, that the effect of the
countervailing tonnage on American vessels, will throw them completely
out of employ as soon as there is peace. The eastern members say nothing
but among themselves. But it is said that it is working like grave
in their stomachs. Our only comfort is, that they have brought it on
themselves. My respectful salutations to Mrs. Madison; and to yourself,
friendship and adieu.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCXXIII.--TO GENERAL GATES, February 21, 1798

TO GENERAL GATES.

Philadelphia, February 21, 1798.

Dear General,

I received duly your welcome favor of the 15th, and had an opportunity
of immediately delivering the one it enclosed to General Kosciusko. I
see him often, and with great pleasure mixed with commiseration. He is
as pure a son of liberty as I have ever known, and of that liberty which
is to go to all, and not to the few or the rich alone. We are here under
great anxiety to hear from our Envoys.

*****

I agree with you that some of our merchants have been milking the cow:
yet the great mass of them have become deranged, they are daily falling
down by bankruptcies, and on the whole, the condition of our commerce
far less firm and really prosperous, than it would have been by the
regular operations and steady advances which a state of peace would have
occasioned. Were a war to take place, and throw our agricult