Your very acceptable favors of the 17th: September & 22d: October came to hand within two days of each other about the middle of last month, and it would be difficult to express how much comfort they brought with them by the assurances they contained of the reestablishment of your own & your Louisa’s health. Since the receipt of this intelligence my Mother has got your favor of September 21st: giving a very elegant description of your excursion to Bohemia & Saxony, in which however, I believe, no one could take so much delight as myself.1 In addition to the natural interest one takes in the description of a place, which he has seen with pleasure, more than one who has never seen it, I have another motive for being gratified 124 by the detail, since it corroborates by such respectable testimony, facts, which I had related, with equal regard to truth, without being believed; for instance, I undertook to assert, that the Well in the Fortress of Königstein is 1800 feet in depth; a gentleman present, who was a very intimate acquaintance however, said to me on the occasion; “Take care Tom, how you shoot, for the bow you hold might well pass for a travellers, by the depth & distance it carries.” This Gentleman was no other than our sprightly friend & old acquaintance Joseph Dennie, to whose lot it has fallen, in the concurrence of incidents little anticipated, to become a subordinate in the Office of State.2 He will now have an opportunity of seeing the fact confirmed under your hand, after which, he may deny like Peter, though he cannot doubt like Thomas. My allusion is scriptural, because appropriate to the Lay Preacher.

Your letters to me & my Father have explained many things with respect to transactions between the belligerent & neutral powers, which were before unintelligible to us. The secret negotiations between England & Prussia on the one hand with respect to Holland; the counter or subsequent Embassy from Holland to Berlin; the alteration in the preconcerted plan of operations on the part of the Coalesced powers, by the treachery & bad faith of Austria & the consequent loss of Switzerland—all these things were known to us in a very imperfect manner before the receipt of your letters.3

For a few days past we have been swallowing with different appetites, no doubt, but with equal avidity, the strange & unaccountable history of a new & pretty complete revolution at Paris. The Hero of Vendemiaire, of Italy, of Egypt, that “Corsican ruffian,” as you seasonably styled him, has undertaken out of his abundant generosity to protect, in Concert with a few others, the liberties of the good people of France.4 You always thought, and you taught me to think, I suppose by convincing my judgment, that this Idol of France & of the world, was estimated far beyond his deserts, that to compare his character or his achievments with those of Cæsar, Alexander, or in later times, with Henry 4th of France, or the Generals of Louis 14th: & those who opposed them, was to deal in hyperbole at the expence of truth & historical accuracy.5 His destinies have been great—they have surpassed in brilliancy those of his Cotemporaries, and this is sufficient to authorise the strain of admiration which we lavish upon him, while his Fortune proves true. He, who had so often faced danger & death in every shape, was not to be dismayed by the daggers that threatened to immolate him, when he violated the sanctuary of 125 the laws. The Constitution too; what was a Constitution of civil Government to Buonaparte, whom every faction courted to join in a conspiracy to overturn it? Had it any reward to make for his personal sacrifices and those of his bretheren in Arms, and while it existed was there any theatre left for his talents? Did Sieyes ever love the Constitution of the 3d: year which so ignominiously consigned to oblivion the substitute he had offered for it?6

They are Consuls; or rather Buonaparte is Dictator with the title of grand Elector and Sieyes & Ducas are tribunes of the people. This looks much like a pretty exact imitation of Cæsar, of Rienze; and the dissmissal of the legislative Councils at the point of the bayonets of the Grenadiers might have been a novel proceeding, if Cromwel had not thought of and executed it first.7

Our systematic admirers of french fashions in politics have been much at a loss what comments to make upon the new order of things and the manner in which it has been brought about. Now, they extol the talents & virtues of Buonaparte, and alledge that he cannot err; again, they profess not to know what potent reasons may have compelled his conduct. A little more of the detail transpires and they at once see through the mystery, declaring every thing that has been done to be perfectly conformable to the letter of the Constitution.8

The public mind still floats in suspense as to the probable duration of the Consular usurpation and its tendencies. The Royalists have already brought to life Louis 17th: to be in perfect readiness to receive the Diadem, which Buonaparte & Sieyes are holding as a provisional pledge for him. Sieyes is said to have been his Saviour.9 Others imagine, that Buonaparte & Sieyes are well disposed to relieve, every pretender to the hereditary Crown of France, from the cares & perplexities of a Royal administration, on the ground, that by a restoration of Monarchy, Sieyes’s portfeuille of Constitutions would be rendered useless and that Buonaparte would not be the Grand Elector over the french nation.

By this time you must be weary of these adverse & incoherent conjectures; but I have dwelt the longer upon them, as affording an evidence of our state of preparation to receive further light on this subject.

I was much amused with the account you gave me of the slight apostacy of the German Jews and the manner in which these advances on their part were met by the Provost Teller & the Chemist M de Luc. It would not surprize me if the Chemist should surpass 126 the Theologian in finding a solution for the difficulties raised by the Jews. It must be a potent crucible that could amalgamate such opposite compositions as Christianity & Judaism.

Shakespeare distinguishes between an Hebrew Jew & a Christian Jew, and I take it for granted that these Berlin Jews are desirous of perpetuating the distinction.10

Our own affairs are not of a very interesting nature at this moment, I mean, to us, who note the occurrences as they pass. Since the death of Washington, which I announced to you in my No 12,11 we have had an inundation of funeral Eulogies Orations & Sermons, and the 22d: of this month is to be dedicated by Appointment of authority, to exercises of a similar nature. Amid this profusion of effort to panegerize the departed Hero, there are few that succeed. I shall make up a packet of them for you, and if your judgment coincides with mine, the Oration pronounced by Governeur Morris at New York, will bear the palm from every other that has appeared on the occasion.12 Judge Minot pronounced an Oration at Boston, which is also very generally esteemed. T. Paine, made an attempt at Newbury Port & failed, in my opinion, for his whole Capital of reputation.

Congress have done little business of moment during the present session hitherto. Excepting a pretty elaborate debate upon certain resolutions for reducing the military establishment, and upon a letter, of which you will hear & read much in the newspapers, I can recollect nothing that has much excited public feeling or curiosity. You recollect the fable of the Jack in Lyon’s skin. Tell me I pray you, whether certain incidents, that have occurred within the walls of a certain House, do not provoke a most irresistible application of it. That Assembly have, in my opinion, an exclusive privilege to admit into their society, creatures, distinguished but in shape, from those whose names they bear.13

Present me most affectionately to your Louisa, & believe me in truth / Your’s

I received by the post of Yesterday, Your kind favour of Jan’ry 28th and I am the more solicitious to reply immediatly to it, in order to rectify a mistake which mr shaw must have made, if he said, that I had determined never to go to Washington. So far from it, that I know not any thing, which would give me more pleasure than visiting that city, and Many Towns in its vicinity. Mr shaw may have heard me express a doubt whether I should go the next session of Congress— for reasons which must be obvious to you, circumstances may take place, which might oblige me to make a jouney home in the Month of March, the worst in the Year for travelling, or remain there in a situation which would be Dissagreable— I have never askd the President his intentions, nor shall I advise him to resign, or to continue in office. His Duty I trust will be pointed out to him, and that in so plain a Manner that he cannot mistake it— He has never been inattentive to the voice of his Country.2 I shall certainly consider it My duty, as it will be my inclination to follow accompany him in any situation in which he may be placed—3

The accounts you give of the general satisfaction which prevails in our Country, with the Government; and the administration of it, affords me real pleasure, and corresponds with similar assurences from other quarters.— virgina appears to be an exception. the government of that state has fallen into hands, hostile to the National government and the politicks of some parts of this state are not more favourable4 the late revolution in France has stagered the faith of some of the most Sanguine. they appear to be so astonished, as not to know, what to say or think of Republican France. Specters of Royalty haunt their Dreams. it is indeed very difficult to see how the present change will opperate. there is one consolation, that no change can be for the worse. from present appearences, it may prove advantageous, and lead to a general Peace— Buonaparta is more critically Situated than when contending with the Arabs—

I have mentiond to mrs Cushing your request. the Judge will 130 befriend You. he has mentiond You to judge Paterson, but as Mrs Cushing informs me; there are recommendations in favour of some other person. the Judge advises that you write a Letter to each of the Judges during their present Sitting least as he says, they should think themselves neglected—5

I have heard from Quincy the last Week. our Friends were all well. Your Mamma much engaged in promoting the settlement of mr Whitney. the ordination is to be on Wednesday the 5th, 45 years from the Day on which mr Wibird was ordaind

Present me kindly to mrs Cranch, and to Your Little Family. I know you will be glad to hear that by late Letters from Berlin, mr and Mrs Adams were in good Health the last date was the 30 october—

It will always give Me pleasure to hear from you. I hope you will be successfull in Your present application, but if you should not, be not discouraged. Time & Chance happen to all Men. I am my Dear Sir / affectionatly Your / Friend