University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.[127]

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The Alien bill[128] proposed in the Senate is a monster
that must forever disgrace its parents. I should
not have supposed it possible that such an one could
have been engendered in either House, & still persuade
myself, that it cannot possibly be fathered by
both. It is truly to be deplored that a standing
army should be let in upon us by the absence of a
few sound votes. It may however all be for the
best. These addresses to the feelings of the people
from their enemies may have more effect in opening
their eyes, than all the arguments addressed to their
understanding by their friends. The President,
also, seems to be co-operating for the same purpose.

Every answer he gives to his addressers unmasks
more and more his principles & views. His language
to the young men at Pha. is the most abominable
& degrading that could fall from the lips of the
first magistrate of an independent people, & particularly
from a Revolutionary patriot. It throws
some light on his meaning when he remarked to me,
"that there was not a single principle the same in
the American & French Revolutions;" & on my
alluding to the contrary sentiment of his predecessor
expressed to Adêt on the presentment of the Colours,
added, "that it was false let who would express it."
The abolition of Royalty was it seems not one of his
Revolutionary principles. Whether he always made
this profession is best known to those, who knew
him in the year 1776.—The turn of the elections in
N. Y. is a proof that the late occurrences have increased
the noise only & not the number of the Tory
party. Besides the intrinsic value of the acquisition,
it will encourage the hopes & exertions in other
States. You will see by the Newspapers the turn
which a Townmeeting took in Fredericksbg. I forgot
to acknowledge the pamphlet containing the last
Despatch from the Envoys recd with your letter of
the 10th. It is evidently more in the forensic than
Diplomatic stile, and more likely in some of its reasonings
to satisfy an American Jury than the French
Government. The defence of the provision article
is the most shallow that has appeared on that subject.
In some instances the reasoning is good,
but so tedious and tautologous as to insult the
understanding as well as patience of the Directory, if
really intended for them, and not for the partial ear
of the American public. The want of rain begins
to be severely felt, and every appearance indicates
a continuance of it. Since the 10th of April there
has fallen but one inch of water, except a very
partial shower of less than 1/2 an inch.