to the first Monday in February by a sudden vote, and a majority of five.  It was considered as an index of their dispositions on that subject, though some voted both ways on other ground.  It is most evident that the anti-republicans wish to get rid of Blount’s impeachment.  Many metaphysical niceties are handing about in conversation, to show that it cannot be sustained.  To show the contrary, it is evident, must be the task of the republicans, or of nobody.  Monroe’s book is considered as masterly by all those who are not opposed in principle, and it is deemed unanswerable.  An answer, however, is commenced in Fenno’s paper of yesterday, under the signature of Scipio.  The real author not yet conjectured.  As I take these papers merely to preserve them, I will forward them to you, as you can easily return them to me on my arrival at home; for I shall not see you on my way, as I mean to go by the Eastern Shore and Petersburg.  Perhaps the paragraphs in some of these abominable papers may draw from you now and then a squib.  A pamphlet of Fauchet’s appeared yesterday.  I send you a copy under another cover.  A hand-bill has just arrived here from New York, where they learn from a vessel which left Havre about the 9th of November, that the Emperor had signed the definitive articles, given up Mantua, evacuated Mentz, agreed to give passage to the French troops to Hanover, and that the Portuguese ambassador had been ordered to quit Paris, on account of the seizure of fort St. Julian’s by the, English, supposed with the connivance of Portugal.  Though this is ordinary mercantile news, it looks like truth.  The latest official intelligence from Paris, is from Talleyrand to the French Consul here (Lastombe), dated September the 28th, saying that our Envoys were arrived, and would find every disposition on the part of his government to accommodate with us.

My affectionate respects to Mrs. Madison; to yourself, health and friendship.  Adieu.

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CCXX.—­TO JAMES MADISON, January 25, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON.

Philadelphia, January 25, 1798.

Dear Sir,

I wrote you last on the 2nd instant, on which day I received yours of December the 25th.  I have not resumed my pen, because there has really been nothing worth writing about, but what you would see in the newspapers.  There is, as yet, no certainty what will be the aspect of our affairs with France.  Either the Envoys have not written to the government, or their communications are hushed up.  This last is suspected, because so many arrivals have happened from Bordeaux and Havre.  The letters from American correspondents in France have been always to Boston:  and the experience we had last summer of their adroitness in counterfeiting this kind of intelligence, inspires doubts as to their late paragraphs.  A letter is certainly received here by an individual, from