ise me.

This is the first letter I have written to Philadelphia since my arrival
at home, and yours the only ones I have received.

Accept assurances of my sincere esteem and respect. Yours
affectionately,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLXXVII.--TO JAMES MADISON, April 3, 1794

TO JAMES MADISON.

Monticello, April 3, 1794.

Dear Sir,

Our post having ceased to ride ever since the inoculation began in
Richmond, till now, I received three days ago, and all together, your
friendly favors of March the 2nd, 9th, 12th, 14th, and Colonel Monroe's
of March the 3rd and 16th. I have been particularly gratified by the
receipt of the papers containing yours and Smith's discussion of your
regulating propositions. These debates had not been seen here but in a
very short and mutilated form. I am at no loss to ascribe Smith's
speech to its true father. Every tittle of it is Hamilton's except the
introduction. There is scarcely any thing there which I have not heard
from him in our various private, though official discussions. The very
turn of the arguments is the same, and others will see as well as myself
that the style is Hamilton's. The sophistry is too fine, too ingenious,
even to have been comprehended by Smith, much less devised by him.
His reply shows he did not understand his first speech; as its general
inferiority proves its legitimacy, as evidently as it does the bastardy
of the original. You know we had understood that Hamilton had prepared a
counter report, and that some of his humble servants in the Senate were
to move a reference to him in order to produce it. But I suppose they
thought it would have a better effect, if fired off in the House of
Representatives. I find the report, however, so fully justified, that
the anxieties with which I left it are perfectly quieted. In this
quarter, all espouse your propositions with ardor, and without a
dissenting voice.

The rumor of a declaration of war has given an opportunity of seeing,
that the people here, though attentive to the loss of value of their
produce in such an event, yet find in it a gratification of some other
passions, and particularly of their ancient hatred to Great Britain.
Still I hope it will not come to that; but that the proposition will
be carried, and justice be done ourselves in a peaceable way. As to the
guarantee of the French islands, whatever doubts may be entertained of
the moment at which we ought to interpose, yet I have no doubt but