and principles of its administration.  Others will view it as an energetic republic, turning in all its points on the pivot of free and frequent elections.  The great body of our native citizens are unquestionably of the republican sentiment.  Foreign education, and foreign connections of interest, have produced some exceptions in every part of the Union, north and south; and perhaps other circumstances in your quarter, better known to you, may have thrown into the scale of exceptions a greater number of the rich.  Still there, I believe, and here, I am sure, the great mass is republican.  Nor do any of the forms in which the public disposition has been pronounced in the last half dozen years, evince the contrary.  All of them, when traced to their true source, have only been evidences of the preponderant popularity of a particular great character.  That influence once withdrawn, and our countrymen left to the operation of their own unbiassed good sense, I have no doubt we shall see a pretty rapid return of general harmony, and our citizens moving in phalanx in the paths of regular liberty, order, and a sacrosanct adherence to the constitution.  Thus I think it will be, if war with France can be avoided.  But if that untoward event comes athwart us in our present point of deviation, no body, I believe, can foresee into what port it will drive us.

I am always glad of an opportunity of inquiring after my most ancient and respected friend Mr. Samuel Adams.  His principles, founded on the immovable basis of equal right and reason, have continued pure and unchanged.  Permit me to place here my sincere veneration for him, and wishes for his health and happiness; and to assure yourself of the sentiments of esteem and respect, with which I am, Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CCX.—­TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, May 13, 1797

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY.

Philadelphia, May 13, 1797.

My Dear Friend,

Your favor of the 4th instant came to hand yesterday.  That of the 4th of April, with the one for Monroe, has never been received.  The first, of March the 27th, did not reach me till April the 21st, when I was within a few days of setting out for this place, and I put off acknowledging it till I should come here.  I entirely commend your dispositions towards Mr. Adams; knowing his worth as intimately and esteeming it as much as any one, and acknowledging the preference of his claims, if any I could have had, to the high office conferred on him.  But in truth, I had neither claims nor wishes on the subject, though I know it will be difficult to obtain belief of this.  When I retired from this place and the office of Secretary of State, it was in the firmest contemplation of never more returning here.  There had indeed been suggestions in the public papers, that I was looking towards a succession to the President’s chair, but feeling