itical, that every day brings something
new and important, not known the day before. Observing the wind still
unfavorable, I am in hopes the packet may not sail to-morrow, and that
this letter may be at Havre in time for that conveyance. Mr. Eden has
waited on Count Montmorin to inform him, officially, that England must
consider its convention with France, relative to the giving notice of
its naval armament, as at an end, and that they are arming generally.
This is considered here as a declaration of war. The Dutch ambassador
told me yesterday, that he supposed the Prussian troops probably in
possession of the Hague. I asked him if it would interrupt the course
of business, commercial or banking, in Amsterdam; and particularly,
whether our depot of money there was safe. He said, the people of
Amsterdam would be surely so wise as to submit, when they should see
that they could not oppose the Stadtholder; therefore he supposed our
depot safe, and that there would be no interruption of business. It is
the hour of the departure of the post; so I have only time to add
assurances of the respect and esteem with which I have the honor to be,
Sir, your most obedient humble servant.

TO JOHN ADAMS.

PARIS, September 28, 1787.

DEAR SIR,--I received your favor by Mr. Cutting, and thank you
sincerely for the copy of your book. The departure of a packet boat,
which always gives me full employment for some time before, has only
permitted me to look into it a little. I judge of it from the first
volume, which I thought formed to do a great deal of good. The first
principle of a good government, is certainly, a distribution of its
powers into executive, judiciary and legislative, and a subdivision of
the latter into two or three branches. It is a good step gained, when
it is proved that the English constitution, acknowledged to be better
than all which have preceded it, is only better in proportion as it has
approached nearer to this distribution of powers. From this, the last
step is easy, to show by a comparison of our constitutions with that of
England, how much more perfect they are. The article of Confederations
is certainly worthy of your pen. It would form a most interesting
addition, to show, what have been the nature of the Confederations
which have existed hitherto, what were their excellences, and what
their defects. A comparison of ours with them would be to the advantage
of ours, and would increase the veneratio