They believe the present is the last campaign of Europe, and wish to rub through this fragment of a year as they have through the four preceding ones, opposing patience to insult, and interest to honor.  They will, therefore, immediately adjourn.  This is indeed a most humiliating state of things, but it commenced in 1793.  Causes have been adding to causes, and effects accumulating on effects, from that time to this.  We had, in 1793, the most respectable character in the universe.  What the neutral nations think of us now, I know not; but we are low indeed with the belligerents.  Their kicks and cuffs prove their contempt.  If we weather the present storm, I hope we shall avail ourselves of the calm of peace, to place our foreign connections under a new and different arrangement.  We must make the interest of every nation stand surety for their justice, and their own loss to follow injury to us, as effect follows its cause.  As to every thing except commerce, we ought to divorce ourselves from them all.  But this system would require time, temper, wisdom, and occasional sacrifice of interest:  and how far all of these will be ours, our children may see, but we shall not.  The passions are too high at present, to be cooled in our day.  You and I have formerly seen warm debates and high political passions.  But gentlemen of different politics would then speak to each other, and separate the business of the Senate from that of society.  It is not so now.  Men who have been intimate all their lives, cross the streets to avoid meeting, and turn their heads another way, lest they should be obliged to touch their hats.  This may do for young men with whom passion is enjoyment.  But it is afflicting to peaceable minds.  Tranquillity is the old man’s milk.  I go to enjoy it in a few days, and to exchange the roar and tumult of bulls and bears, for the prattle of my grand-children and senile rest.  Be these yours, my dear friend, through long years, with every other blessing, and the attachment of friends as warm and sincere, as yours affectionately,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER, CCXVI.—­TO JAMES MADISON, August 3, 1797

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JAMES MADISON.

Monticello, August 3, 1797.

I scribbled you a line on the 24th ultimo:  it missed of the post, and so went by a private hand.  I perceive from yours by Mr. Bringhurst, that you had not received it.  In fact, it was only an earnest exhortation to come here with Monroe, which I still hope you will do.  In the mean time, I enclose you a letter from him, and wish your opinion on its principal subject.  The variety of other topics the day I was with you, kept out of sight the letter to Mazzei imputed to me in the papers, the general substance of which is mine, though the diction has been considerably altered and varied in the course of its translations from English into Italian, from Italian into French, and from French into English.