The gazettes of France, to the departure of my letter, will accompany it, and those of Leyden to the 22nd of July, at which time their distribution in this country was prohibited.  How long the prohibition may continue, I cannot tell.  As far as I can judge, it is the only paper in Europe worth reading.  Since the suppression of the packet-boats, I have never been able to find a safe conveyance for a letter to you, till the present by Mrs. Barclay.  Whenever a confidential person shall be going from hence to London, I shall send my letters for you to the care of Mr. Trumbull, who will look out for safe conveyances.  This will render the epochs of my writing very irregular.  There is a proposition under consideration, for establishing packet-boats on a more economical plan, from Havre to Boston; but its success is uncertain, and still more, its duration.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CL.—­TO COLONEL MONROE, August 9, 1788

TO COLONEL MONROE.

Paris, August 9, 1788.

Dear Sir,

Since my last to you, I have to thank your for your favors of July the 27th, 1787, and April the 10th, 1788, and the details they contained; and in return, will give you now the leading circumstances of this continent.

*****

This nation is at present under great internal agitation.  The authority of the crown on one part, and that of the parliaments on the other, are fairly at issue.  Good men take part with neither, but have raised an opposition, the object of which is to obtain a fixed and temperate constitution.  There was a moment when this opposition ran so high, as to endanger an appeal to arms, in which case, perhaps, it would have been crushed.  The moderation of government has avoided this, and they are yielding daily one right after another to the nation.  They have given them Provincial Assemblies, which will be very perfect representations of the nation, and stand somewhat in the place of our State Assemblies; they have reformed the criminal law; acknowledged the King cannot lay a new tax, without the consent of the States General; and they will call the States General the next year.  The object of this body, when met, will be a bill of rights, a civil list, a national assembly meeting at certain epochs, and some other matters of that kind.  So that I think it probable this country will, within two or three years, be in the enjoyment of a tolerably free constitution, and that without its having cost them a drop of blood; for none has yet been spilt, though the English papers have set the whole nation to cutting throats.

Be assured of those sentiments of esteem and attachment, with which I am, Dear Sir, your friend and servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CLI.—­TO MONSIEUR DE CREVE-COEUR, August 9, 1788