autobiography-第23部分

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nces　of　opinion；　and　produced　repulsive　combinations　among　the　Patriots。　The　Aristocracy　was　cemented　by　a　common　principle　of　preserving　the　ancient　regime；　or　whatever　should　be　nearest　to　it。　　Making　this　their　Polar　star；　they　moved　in　phalanx；　gave　preponderance　on　every　question　to　the　minorities　of　the　Patriots；　and　always　to　those　who　advocated　the　least　change。　　The　features　of　the　new　constitution　were　thus　assuming　a　fearful　aspect；　and　great　alarm　was　produced　among　the　honest　patriots　by　these　dissensions　in　their　ranks。　　In　this　uneasy　state　of　things；　I　received　one　day　a　note　from　the　Marquis　de　la　Fayette；　informing　me　that　he　should　bring　a　party　of　six　or　eight　friends　to　ask　a　dinner　of　me　the　next　day。　　I　assured　him　of　their　welcome。　　When　they　arrived；　they　were　La　Fayette　himself；　Duport；　Barnave；　Alexander　La　Meth；　Blacon；　Mounier；　Maubourg；　and　Dagout。　　These　were　leading　patriots；　of　honest　but　differing　opinions　sensible　of　the　necessity　of　effecting　a　coalition　by　mutual　sacrifices；　knowing　each　other；　and　not　afraid　therefore　to　unbosom　themselves　mutually。　　This　last　was　a　material　principle　in　the　selection。　　With　this　view　the　Marquis　had　invited　the　conference　and　had　fixed　the　time　&　place　inadvertently　as　to　the　embarrassment　under　which　it　might　place　me。　　The　cloth　being　removed　and　wine　set　on　the　table；　after　the　American　manner；　the　Marquis　introduced　the　objects　of　the　conference　by　summarily　reminding　them　of　the　state　of　things　in　the　Assembly；　the　course　which　the　principles　of　the　constitution　were　taking；　and　the　inevitable　result；　unless　checked　by　more　concord　among　the　Patriots　themselves。　　He　observed　that　altho'　he　also　had　his　opinion；　he　was　ready　to　sacrifice　it　to　that　of　his　brethren　of　the　same　cause：　but　that　a　common　opinion　must　now　be　formed；　or　the　Aristocracy　would　carry　everything；　and　that　whatever　they　should　now　agree　on；　he；　at　the　head　of　the　National　force；　would　maintain。　　The　discussions　began　at　the　hour　of　four；　and　were　continued　till　ten　o'clock　in　the　evening；　during　which　time　I　was　a　silent　witness　to　a　coolness　and　candor　of　argument　unusual　in　the　conflicts　of　political　opinion；　to　a　logical　reasoning；　and　chaste　eloquence；　disfigured　by　no　gaudy　tinsel　of　rhetoric　or　declamation；　and　truly　worthy　of　being　placed　in　parallel　with　the　finest　dialogues　of　antiquity；　as　handed　to　us　by　Xenophon；　by　Plato　and　Cicero。　　The　result　was　an　agreement　that　the　king　should　have　a　suspensive　veto　on　the　laws；　that　the　legislature　should　be　composed　of　a　single　body　only；　&　that　to　be　chosen　by　the　people。　　This　Concordate　decided　the　fate　of　the　constitution。　　The　Patriots　all　rallied　to　the　principles　thus　settled；　carried　every　question　agreeably　to　them；　and　reduced　the　Aristocracy　to　insignificance　and　impotence。　　But　duties　of　exculpation　were　now　incumbent　on　me。　　I　waited　on　Count　Montmorin　the　next　morning；　and　explained　to　him　with　truth　and　candor　how　it　had　happened　that　my　house　had　been　made　the　scene　of　conferences　of　such　a　character。　　He　told　me　he　already　knew　everything　which　had　passed；　that；　so　far　from　taking　umbrage　at　the　use　made　of　my　house　on　that　occasion；　he　earnestly　wished　I　would　habitually　assist　at　such　conferences；　being　sure　I　should　be　useful　in　moderating　the　warmer　spirits；　and　promoting　a　wholesome　and　practicable　reformation　only。　　I　told　him　I　knew　too　well　the　duties　I　owed　to　the　king；　to　the　nation；　and　to　my　own　country　to　take　any　part　in　councils　concerning　their　internal　government；　and　that　I　should　persevere　with　care　in　the　character　of　a　neutral　and　passive　spectator；　with　wishes　only　and　very　sincere　ones；　that　those　measures　might　prevail　which　would　be　for　the　greatest　good　of　the　nation。　　I　have　no　doubt　indeed　that　this　conference　was　previously　known　and　approved　by　this　honest　minister；　who　was　in　confidence　and　communication　with　the　patriots；　and　wished　for　a　reasonable　reform　of　the　Constitution。

　　　　　　　　Here　I　discontinue　my　relation　of　the　French　revolution。　　The　minuteness　with　which　I　have　so　far　given　it's　details　is　disproportioned　to　the　general　scale　of　my　narrative。　　But　I　have　thought　it　justified　by　the　interest　which　the　whole　world　must　take　in　this　revolution。　　As　yet　we　are　but　in　the　first　chapter　of　it's　history。　　The　appeal　to　the　rights　of　man；　which　had　been　made　in　the　U　S。　was　taken　up　by　France；　first　of　the　European　nations。　　From　her　the　spirit　has　spread　over　those　of　the　South。　　The　tyrants　of　the　North　have　allied　indeed　against　it；　but　it　is　irresistible。　　Their　opposition　will　only　multiply　it's　millions　of　human　victims；　their　own　satellites　will　catch　it；　and　the　condition　of　man　thro'　the　civilized　world　will　be　finally　and　greatly　ameliorated。　　This　is　a　wonderful　instance　of　great　events　from　small　causes。　　So　inscrutable　is　the　arrangement　of　causes　&　consequences　in　this　world　that　a　two…penny　duty　on　tea；　unjustly　imposed　in　a　sequestered　part　of　it；　changes　the　condition　of　all　it's　inhabitants。　　I　have　been　more　minute　in　relating　the　early　transactions　of　this　regeneration　because　I　was　in　circumstances　peculiarly　favorable　for　a　knowledge　of　the　truth。　　Possessing　the　confidence　and　intimacy　of　the　leading　patriots；　&　more　than　all　of　the　Marquis　Fayette；　their　head　and　Atlas；　who　had　no　secrets　from　me；　I　learnt　with　correctness　the　views　&　proceedings　of　that　party；　while　my　intercourse　with　the　diplomatic　missionaries　of　Europe　at　Paris；　all　of　them　with　the　court；　and　eager　in　prying　into　it's　councils　and　proceedings；　gave　me　a　knolege　of　these　also。　　My　information　was　always　and　immediately　committed　to　writing；　in　letters　to　Mr。　Jay；　and　often　to　my　friends；　and　a　recurrence　to　these　letters　now　insures　me　against　errors　of　memory。

　　　　　　　　These　opportunities　of　information　ceased　at　this　period；　with　my　retirement　from　this　interesting　scene　of　action。　　I　had　been　more　than　a　year　soliciting　leave　to　go　home　with　a　view　to　place　my　daughters　in　the　society　&　care　of　their　friends；　and　to　return　for　a　short　time　to　my　station　at　Paris。　　But　the　metamorphosis　thro'　which　our　government　was　then　passing　from　it's　Chrysalid　to　it's　Organic　form　suspended　it's　action　in　a　great　degree；　and　it　was　not　till　the　last　of　August　that　I　received　the　permission　I　had　asked。　　　And　here　I　cannot　leave　this　great　and　good　country　without　expressing　my　sense　of　it's　preeminence　of　character　among　the　nations　of　the　earth。　　A　more　benevolent　people；　I　have　never　known；　nor　greater　warmth　&　devotedness　in　their　select　friendships。　　Their　kindness　and　accommodation　to　strangers　is　unparalleled；　and　the　hospitality　of　Paris　is　beyond　anything　I　had　conceived　to　be　practicable　in　a　large　city。　　Their　eminence　too　in　science；　the　communicative　dispositions　of　their　scientific　men；　the　politeness　of　the　general　manners；　the　ease　and　vivacity　of　their　conversation；　give　a　charm　to　their　society　to　be　found　nowhere　else。　　In　a　comparison　of　this　with　other　countries　we　have　the　proof　of　primacy；　which　was　given　to　Themistocles　after　the　battle　of　Salamis。　　Every　general　voted　to　himself　the　first　reward　of　valor；　and　the　second　to　Themistocles。　So　ask　the　travelled　inhabitant　of　any　nation；　In　what　country　on　earth　would　you　rather　live？　　Certainly　in　my　own；　where　are　all　my　friends；　my　relations；　and　the　earliest　&　sweetest　affections　and　recollections　of　my　life。　　Which　would　be　your　second　choice？　France。

　　　　　　　　On　the　26th。　of　Sep。　I　left　Paris　for　Havre；　where　I　was　detained　by　contrary　winds　until　the　8th。　of　Oct。　　On　that　day；　and　the　9th。　I　crossed　over　to　Cowes；　where　I　had　engaged　the　Clermont；　Capt。　Colley；　to　touch　for　me。　　She　did　so；　but　here　again　we　were　detained　by　contrary　winds　until　the　22d。　when　we　embarked　and　landed　at　Norfolk　on　the　23d。　of　November。　　On　my　way　home　I　passed　some　days　at　Eppington　in　Chesterfield；　the　residence　of　my　friend　and　connection；　Mr。　Eppes；　and；　while　there；　I　received　a　letter　from　the　President；　Genl。　Washington；　by　express；　covering　an　appointment　to　be　Secretary　of　State。　　I　received　it　with　real　regret。　　My　wish　had　been　to　return　to　Paris；　where　I　had　left　my　household　establishment；　as　if　there　myself；　and　to　see　the　end　of　the　Revolution；　which；　I　then　thought　would　be　certainly　and　happily　closed　in　less　than　a　year。　　I　then　meant　to　return　home；　to　withdraw　from　Political　life；　into　which　I　had　been　impressed　by　the　circumstances　of　the　times；　to　sink　into　the　bosom　of　my　family　and　friends；　and　devote　myself　to　studies　more　congenial　to　my　mind。　　In　my　answer　of　Dec。　　15。　I　expressed　these　dispositions　candidly　to　the　President；　and　my　preference　of　a　return　to　Paris；　but　assured　him　that　if　it　was　believed　I　could　be　more　useful　in　the　administration　of　the　government；　I　would　sacrifice　my　own　inclinations　without　hesitation；　and　repair　to　that　destination；　this　I　left　to　his　decision。　　I　arrived　at　Monticello　on　the　23d。　of　Dec。　where　I　received　a　second　letter　from　the　President；　expressing　his　continued　wish　that　I　should　take　my　station　there；　but　leaving　me　still　at　liberty　to　continue　in　my　former　office；　if　I　could　not　reconcile　myself　to　that　now　proposed。　　This　silenced　my　reluctance；　and　I　accepted　the　new　appointment。

　　　　　　　　In　the　interval　of　my　stay　at　home　my　eldest　daughter　had　been　happily　married　to　the　eldest　son　of　the　Tuckahoe　branch　of　Randolphs；　a　young　gentleman　of　genius；　science　and　honorable　mind；　who　afterwards　filled　a　dignified　station　in　the　General　Government；　&　the　most　dignified　in　his　own　State。　　I　left　Monticello　on　the　1st　of　March　1790。　for　New　York。　　At　Philadelphia　I　called　on　the　venerable　and　beloved　Franklin。　　He　was　then　on　the　bed　of　sickness　from　which　he　never　rose。　　My　recent　return　from　a　country　in　which　he　had　left　so　many　friends；　and　the　perilous　convulsions　to　which　they　had　been　exposed；　revived　all　his　anxieties　to　know　what　part　they　had　taken；　what　had　been　their　course；　and　what　their　fate。　　He　went　over　all　in　succession；　with　a　rapidity　and　animation　almost　too　much　for　his　strength。　　When　all　his　inquiries　were　satisfied；　and　a　pause　took　place；　I　told　him　I　had　learnt　with　much　pleasure　that；　since　his　return　to　America；　he　had　been　occupied　in　prepa