University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Dear Sir,—I have duly received your favor of
the 31 Ult: & am glad to find mine are recd as

regularly as yours. The law for capturing French
privateers may certainly be deemed a formal commencement
of hostilities, and renders all hope of
peace vain, unless a progress in amicable arrangements
at Paris not to be expected, should have
secured it agst the designs of our Govermt. If the
Bill suspending commerce with the French Dominions
passes, as it doubtless will, the French Government
will be confirmed in their suspicion begotten
by the British Treaty, of our coalition in the project
of starving their people, and the effect of the
measure will be to feed the English at the expence
of the farmers of this Country. Already flour is
down, I hear, at 4 dollars a barrel. How far the
views of the Govt. will be answd by annihilating the
ability to pay a land tax at the very moment of
imposing it, will be best explained by the experimt..
Looking beyond the present moment it may be
questioned whether the interest of G. B. will be as
much advanced by the sacrifice of our trade with her
enemies as may be intended. The use of her manufactures
here depends on our means of payment, &
then on the sale of our produce to the markets of her
enemies. There is too much passion, it seems in
our Councils to calculate consequences of any sort.
The only hope is that its violence by defeating itself
may save the Country. The answers of Mr. Adams
to his addressers form the most grotesque scene in
the tragicomedy acting by the Govermt. They
present not only the grossest contradictions to the
maxims measures & language of his predecessor and
the real principles & interests of his Constituents,
but to himself. He is verifying compleatly the last
feature in the character drawn of him by Dr. F.,
however his title may stand to the two first, "Always
an honest man, often a wise one, but sometimes
wholly out of his senses." I thank you for the offspring
of the Senatorial Muse, which shall be taken
care of. It is truly an unique. It is not even prose
run mad.[129] Monroe is much at a loss what course
to take in consequence of the wicked assault on him
by Mr. A. and I am as much so as to the advice that
ought to be given him. It deserves consideration
perhaps that if the least occasion be furnished for
reviving Governmental attention to him, the spirit
of party revenge may be wreaked thro' the forms of
the Constitution. A majority in the H. of R. & 2/3 of
the Senate seem to be ripe for everything. A
temperate & dignified animadversion on the proceeding,
published with his name, as an appeal to
the candor & justice of his fellow Citizens agst the
wanton & unmanly treatment, might perhaps be of
use. But it wd be difficult to execute it in a manner
to do justice to himself, & inflict it on his adversary,
without clashing with the temper of the moment.
Hoping for the pleasure of congratulating you soon, on
your release from your painful situation, I close with
the most affectionate assurance that I am yours[130]