is homage from one, whose motives are
pure truth and justice, when he assures you of the sincerity of those
sentiments of esteem and respect, with which he has the honor to be,
Madam, your most obedient and most

humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLXXXI.--TO JOHN JAY, February 1, 1789

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, February 1, 1789.

Sir,

My last letters have been of the 11th, 14th, and 21st of January. The
present conveyance being through the post to Havre, from whence a vessel
is to sail for New York, I avail myself of it, principally to send
you the newspapers. That of Leyden of the 24th, contains a note of the
_Charge des Affaires_ of France, at Warsaw, which is interesting. It
shows a concert between France and Russia; it is a prognostication that
Russia will interfere in the affairs of Poland, and if she does, it is
most probable that the King of Prussia must be drawn into the war. The
revolution which has taken place in Geneva, is a remarkable and late
event. With the loss of only two or three lives, and in the course of
one week, riots, begun at first on account of a rise in the price of
bread, were improved and pointed to a reformation of their
constitution; and their ancient constitution has been almost completely
re-established. Nor do I see any reason to doubt of the permanence
of the re-establishment. The King of England has shown such marks of
returning reason, that the regency bill was postponed in the House
of Lords, on the 19th instant. It seems now probable, there may be no
change of the ministry, perhaps no regent. We may be sure, however, that
the present ministry make the most of those favorable symptoms. There
has been a riot in Brittany, begun on account of the price of bread, but
converted into a quarrel between the _Noblesse_ and _Tiers-Etat_. Some
few lives were lost in it. All is quieted for the present moment. In
Burgundy and Franche Compte, the opposition of the nobles to the views
of government is very warm. Every where else, however, the revolution
is going on quietly and steadily, and the public mind ripening so
fast, that there is great reason to hope a good result from the States
General. Their numbers (about twelve hundred) give room to fear, indeed,
that they may be turbulent. Having never heard of Admiral Paul Jones
since the action, in which he took a part before Oczakow, I began to be
a little uneasy. But I have now received a letter from him, dated at
St. Petersbur