7530. REVOLUTION (French), National Assembly.—[continued].
It is impossible to desire
better dispositions towards us than prevail
in the National Assembly. Our proceedings
have been viewed as a model for them on every
occasion; and though in the heat of debate
men are generally disposed to contradict every
authority urged by their opponents, ours has
been treated like that of the Bible, open to explanation
but not to question. I am sorry that
in the moment of such a disposition, anything
should come from us to check it. The placing
them on a mere footing with the English will
have this effect.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. iii, 99.
Ford ed., v, 110.
(P.
Aug. 1789)
