at
does not put them to rights, send them to Europe, to see something of
the trappings of monarchy, and I will undertake, that every man shall go
back thoroughly cured. If all the evils which can arise among us, from
the republican form of our government, from this day to the day of
judgment, could be put into a scale against what this country suffers
from its monarchical form, in a week, or England, in a month, the latter
would preponderate. Consider the contents of the Red Book in England, or
the Almanac Royale of France, and say what a people gain by monarchy.
No race of kings has ever presented above one man of common, sense, in
twenty generations. The best they can do is, to leave things to their
ministers; and what are their ministers, but a committee, badly chosen?
If the king ever meddles, it is to do harm. Adieu, my Dear Sir, and be
assured of the esteem of your friend and servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXX.--TO COLONEL MONROE, August 5, 1787

TO COLONEL MONROE.

Paris, August 5, 1787.

Dear Sir,

A journey of between three and four months, into the southern parts of
France and northern of Italy, has prevented my writing to you. In
the mean time, you have changed your ground, and engaged in different
occupations, so that I know not whether the news of this side the water
will even amuse you. However, it is all I have for you. The storm which
seemed to be raised suddenly in Brabant, will probably blow over.
The Emperor, on his return to Vienna, pretended to revoke all the
concessions which had been made by his Governors General, to his
Brabantine subjects; but he, at the same time, called for deputies from
among them to consult with. He will use their agency to draw himself out
of the scrape, and all there I think will be quieted. Hostilities go on
occasionally in Holland. France espouses the cause of the Patriots, as
you know, and England and Prussia that of the Stadtholder. France and
England are both unwilling to bring on a war, but a hasty move of the
King of Prussia will perplex them. He has thought the stopping his
sister sufficient cause for sacrificing a hundred or two thousand of his
subjects, and as many Hollanders and French. He has therefore ordered
twenty thousand men to march, without consulting England, or even his
own ministers. He may thus drag England into a war, and of course this
country, against their will. But it is certain they will do every thing
they can, to prevent it