and Hill-house violently oppose it.  I conjecture that the votes will be either thirteen for and fifteen against it, or fourteen and fourteen.  Every member declares he means to go there, but though charged with an intention to come away again, not one of them disavow it.  This will engender incurable distrust.  The debate on Mr. Sprigg’s resolutions has been interrupted by a motion to call for papers.  This was carried by a great majority.  In this case, there appeared a separate squad, to wit, the Pinckney interest, which is a distinct thing, and will be seen sometimes to lurch the President.  It is in truth the Hamilton party, whereof Pinckney is only made the stalking-horse.  The papers have been sent in and read, and it is now under debate in both Houses, whether they shall be published.  I write in the morning, and if determined in the course of the day in favor of publication, I will add in the evening a general idea of their character.  Private letters from France, by a late vessel which sailed from Havre, February the 5th, assure us that France, classing us in her measures with the Swedes and Danes, has no more notion of declaring war against us than them.  You will see a letter in Bache’s paper of yesterday, which came addressed to me.  Still the fate of Spring’s resolutions seems in perfect equilibrio.  You will see in Fenno, two numbers of a paper signed Marcellus.  They promise much mischief, and are ascribed, without any difference of opinion, to Hamilton.  You must, my dear Sir, take up your pen against this champion.  You know the ingenuity of his talents; and there is not a person but yourself who can foil him.  For Heaven’s sake, then, take up your pen, and do not desert the public cause altogether.  Thursday evening.  The Senate have, to-day, voted the publication of the communications from our Envoys.  The House of Representatives decided against the publication by a majority of seventy-five to twenty-four.  The Senate adjourned, over to-morrow (good Friday), to Saturday morning:  but as the papers cannot be printed within that time, perhaps the vote of the House of Representatives may induce the Senate to reconsider theirs.  For this reason, I think it my duty to be silent on them.  Adieu.

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CCXXX.—­TO JAMES MADISON, April 6, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON.

Philadelphia, April 6, 1798.

Dear Sir,

So much of the communications from our Envoys has got abroad, and so partially, that there can now be no ground for reconsideration with the Senate.  I may therefore, consistently with duty do what every member of the body is doing.  Still, I would rather you would use the communication with reserve till you see the whole papers.  The first impressions from them are very disagreeable and confused.  Reflection, however, and analysis resolve them into this.  Mr. Adams’s speech to Congress in May is deemed such a national affront, that no explanation