Your commands, Madam, to give what information I could, have drawn thus much from me.  I would not wish to weaken the hopes he so justly rests on your, known goodness and benevolence.  On the contrary, the weaker his claims elsewhere, the stronger they will plead in your bosom to procure him relief; and whatever may be done for him here, I repeat it, that if he has any just demand against the United States, and will furnish me with proofs of it, I will solicit it with zeal, and, I trust, with effect.  To procure him justice will be one gratification, and a great additional one will be, that he has procured me the occasion of offering you my portion of the general tribute so justly due, for all the good you have done, and all you are perpetually endeavoring to do.  Accept then, Madam, I pray you, this homage from one, whose motives are pure truth and justice, when he assures you of the sincerity of those sentiments of esteem and respect, with which he has the honor to be, Madam, your most obedient and most

humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CLXXXI.—­TO JOHN JAY, February 1, 1789

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, February 1, 1789.

Sir,

My last letters have been of the 11th, 14th, and 21st of January.  The present conveyance being through the post to Havre, from whence a vessel is to sail for New York, I avail myself of it, principally to send you the newspapers.  That of Leyden of the 24th, contains a note of the Charge des Affaires of France, at Warsaw, which is interesting.  It shows a concert between France and Russia; it is a prognostication that Russia will interfere in the affairs of Poland, and if she does, it is most probable that the King of Prussia must be drawn into the war.  The revolution which has taken place in Geneva, is a remarkable and late event.  With the loss of only two or three lives, and in the course of one week, riots, begun at first on account of a rise in the price of bread, were improved and pointed to a reformation of their constitution; and their ancient constitution has been almost completely re-established.  Nor do I see any reason to doubt of the permanence of the re-establishment.  The King of England has shown such marks of returning reason, that the regency bill was postponed in the House of Lords, on the 19th instant.  It seems now probable, there may be no change of the ministry, perhaps no regent.  We may be sure, however, that the present ministry make the most of those favorable symptoms.  There has been a riot in Brittany, begun on account of the price of bread, but converted into a quarrel between the Noblesse and Tiers-Etat.  Some few lives were lost in it.  All is quieted for the present moment.  In Burgundy and Franche Compte, the opposition of the nobles to the views of government is very warm.  Every where else, however, the revolution is going on quietly and steadily, and the public mind