TO COLONEL EDWARD CARRINGTON.

Paris, January 16, 1787.

Dear Sir,

Uncertain whether you might be at New York at the moment of Colonel Franks’ arrival, I have enclosed my private letters for Virginia, under cover to our delegation in general, which, otherwise, I would have taken the liberty to enclose particularly to you, as best acquainted with the situation of the persons to whom they are addressed.  Should this find you at New York, I will still ask your attention to them.

In my letter to Mr. Jay, I have mentioned the meeting of the Notables, appointed for the 29th instant.  It is now put off to the 7th or 8th of next month.  This event, which will hardly excite any attention in America, is deemed here the most important one, which has taken place in their civil line during the present century.  Some promise their country great things from it, some nothing.  Our friend De la Fayette was placed on the list originally.  Afterwards his name disappeared; but finally was reinstated.  This shows, that his character here is not considered as an indifferent one; and that it excites agitation.  His education in our school has drawn on him a very jealous eye, from a court whose principles are the most absolute despotism.  But I hope he has nearly passed his crisis.  The King, who is a good man, is favorably disposed towards him; and he is supported by powerful family connections, and by the public good will.  He is the youngest man of the Notables, except one, whose office placed him on the list.

The Count de Vergennes has, within these ten days, had a very severe attack of what is deemed an unfixed gout.  He has been well enough, however, to do business to-day.  But anxieties for him are not yet quieted.  He is a great and good minister, and an accident to him might endanger the peace of Europe.

The tumults in America I expected would have produced in Europe an unfavorable opinion of our political state.  But it has not.  On the contrary, the small effect of these tumults seems to have given more confidence in the firmness of our governments.  The interposition of the people themselves on the side of government, has had a great effect on the opinion here.  I am persuaded myself, that the good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army.  They may be led astray for a moment, but will soon correct themselves.  The people are the only censors of their governors; and even their errors will tend to keep these to the true principles of their institution.  To punish these errors too severely, would be to suppress the only safeguard of the public liberty.  The way to prevent these irregular interpositions of the people, is to give them full information of their affairs through the channel of the public papers, and to contrive that those papers should penetrate the whole mass of the people.  The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should