I send the present letter by a private conveyance to a sea-port, in hopes a conveyance may be found by some merchant vessel.

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 CLVII.—­TO MR. CUTTING, August 23, 1788

TO MR. CUTTING.

Paris, August 23, 1788.

Dear Sir,

I have duly received your favors of the 3rd, 8th, 14th, and 15th instant, and have now the honor of enclosing you a letter of introduction to Doctor Ramsay.

I think a certainty that England and France must enter into the war, was a great inducement to the ministry here to suspend the portion of public payments, which they have lately suspended.  By this operation, they secure two hundred and three millions of livres, or eight millions and a half of guineas, in the course of this and the ensuing year, which will be sufficient for the campaign of the first year:  for what is to, follow, the States General must provide.  The interesting question now is, how the States General shall be composed?  There are three opinions. 1.  To place the three estates, Clergy, Noblesse, and Commons, in three different Houses.  The Clergy would, probably, like this, and some of the Nobility; but it has no partisans out of those orders. 2.  To put the Clergy and Noblesse into one House, and the Commons into another.  The Noblesse will be generally for this. 3.  To put the three orders into one House, and make the Commons the majority of that House.  This re-unites the greatest number of partisans, and I suspect it is well patronized in the ministry, who, I am persuaded, are proceeding bona fide, to improve the constitution of their country.  As to the opposition which the English expect from the personal character of the King, it proves they do not know what his personal character is.  He is the honestest man in his kingdom, and the most regular and economical.  He has no foible which will enlist him against the good of his people; and whatever constitution will promote this, he will befriend.  But he will not befriend it obstinately:  he has given repeated proofs of a readiness to sacrifice his opinion to the wish of the nation.  I believe he will consider the opinion of the States General, as the best evidence of what will please and profit the nation, and will conform to it.  All the characters at court may not be of this disposition, and from thence may, possibly, arise representations, capable of leading the King astray; but upon a full view of all circumstances, I have sanguine hopes, that such a constitution will be established here, as will regenerate the energy of the nation, cover its friends, and make its enemies tremble.  I am, with very great esteem, Dear Sir, your friend and servant,

Th:  Jefferson.