how they
can prohibit, altogether, the aid of the military in cases of riot,
and yet I doubt whether they can descend from the sublimity of ancient
military pride, to let a Marechal of France, with his troops, be
commanded by a magistrate. They cannot conceive that General Washington,
at the head of his army, during the late war, could have been commanded
by a common constable to go as his _posse comitates_, to suppress a mob,
and that Count Rochambeau, when he was arrested at the head of his army
by a sheriff, must have gone to jail if he had not given bail to appear
in court. Though they have gone astonishing lengths, they are not yet
thus far. It is probable, therefore, that not knowing how to use the
military as a civil weapon, they will do too much or too little with it.

I have said that things will be so and so. Understand by this, that
these are only my conjectures, the plan of the constitution not
being proposed yet, much less agreed to. Tranquillity is pretty well
established in the capital; though the appearance of any of the refugees
here would endanger it. The Baron de Besenval is kept away: so is M. de
la Vauguyon. The latter was so short a time a member of the obnoxious
administration, that probably he might not be touched were he here.
Seven Princes of the house of Bourbon, and seven ministers, fled into
foreign countries, is a wonderful event indeed.

I have the honor to be, with great respect and attachment, Dear Sir,
your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER VII.--TO JOHN JAY, August 12, 1789

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, August 12, 1789.

Sir,

I wrote you on the 19th, 23rd, 29th of the last, and 5th of the present
month. The last occasions not having admitted the forwarding to you the
public papers, I avail myself of the present, by a gentleman going to
London, to furnish you with them to the present date. It is the only
use I can prudently make of the conveyance. I shall, therefore, only
observe, that the National Assembly has been entirely occupied since
my last, in developing the particulars which were the subject of their
resolutions of the 4th instant, of which I send you the general heads.

The city is as yet not entirely quieted. Every now and then summary
execution is done on individuals, by individuals, and nobody is in
condition to ask for what, or by whom. We look forward to the completion
of the establishment of the city militia, as that which is to r