1327. CLINTON (De Witt), Defends Jefferson.—
Thomas Jefferson presents his
compliments to Mr. Clinton, and his thanks for
the pamphlet sent him. [81]
He recollects the having
read it at the time with a due sense of his
obligation to the author, whose name was surmised,
though not absolutely known, and a conviction
that he had made the most of his matter.
The ground of defence might have been solidly
aided by the assurance (which is the absolute
fact) that the whole story fathered on Mazzei,
was an unfounded falsehood. Dr. Linn, as
aware of that, takes care to quote it from a
dead man, who is made to quote from one residing
in the remotest part of Europe. Equally
false was Dr. Linn's other story about Bishop
Madison's lawn sleeves, as the Bishop can testify,
for certainly Th: J. never saw him in
lawn sleeves. Had the Doctor ventured to
name time, place, and person, for his third lie
(the government without religion), it is probable
he might have been convicted on that also.
But these are slander and slanderers, whom
Th: J. has thought it best to leave to the
scourge of public opinion.—
To De Witt Clinton. Washington ed. v, 80.
Ford ed., ix, 59.
(W.
1807)
