Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-06-25

we must content ourselves with the consola-
tons which you from sound and sure reasons,
SD clearly suggest. These hopes are as well
founded as our fears of the contrary evils. On
the whole, the prospect is cheering.
Ihave lately undertaken To read Alg-rnon
Sidney, on Government. There is a great
difference in reading a book at fuur-ant-
twenty, and at eighty eight As often AS
have read 1t, and fumbled il over, il now ex-
cites fresh admiration, that this work has ex-
cited So little interest in the literary world. As
splendid an edition Of il as the art of printn.
can produce, as we'll for the intrinsic merit of
the work, as for the proof it brings, of tn.
bitter suGtrings Of the advocates Of liberty,
from that time TO this, and TO show the slow
progress of moi al, philosophical, political H.
Illumination in the world, ought to be row pub
lished in America.
!. is true, that Mr.. Jay, MIR. Dickinson, and
Mr.. johnson contributed to retard many
vigorous measures, and particularly the vote
of Independence, until he (Mr. JAY left Com
gress but have reason TO think he would
have concurred in that vote, when it was
AIKEN, il he had been there. His absence was
accidental. Congress, ON the l5th may pre-
ceding, as remember, had recommended to
all the States, to abolish all authority, under
the Grown, and institute and organize new
Government, under the authority of the PEG
Pile. Mr.. Jay had promoted this resolution
in New York, 10y advising them to call Con-
ventiOn to frame new Constitution. He had
been chosen member OF that Con, enti0n,
and called home by his constituents to assist
in il !; and as Duane told me, he had gone
home, with my letter to Wythe in his pocket,
for his model and foundation (; and the sat' e
Duane after the Constitution appeared, asked
me IL it was aOt sufficiently confOrmable To my
letter to Wythe answered him, I believed It
would do very well. MIR. jay was immediate
ly appointed Chief Justice of the State, and
oblist to enter, immediately, on the dsties of
his Office, which Occassioned his detention
from Congress-, afterwards. But have no
doubt, had he been in Congress at the time, he
would have subscribed the Declaration of In
dependence. He wsuld have been neither re-
called by his constituents nor have left Con-
gress himself, like Mr.. Dickinson, Mr. Willing,
Governor Livingston, and several others.
As you write so easy,* and so well, pray
you to write me as often as possible, for nothing
revives my spirits so much as your letters, ex-
c.pt the society of my son and his family,
VINO are now happily with me, after an alb
sence of two years.
am, sir, with sentiments of affection and
respect, your ancient friend and servant,
JOHN ADAMS.
President j, FFERsoN.
2. Warmly az feel for the Spanish
Pa'rnts fear the most sensible men among
them have little confdendence in their Con-
situton, which it appears to me is modelled
upon that in France ofthe year 1885, in which
the Sovereignty in a single Assembly was
every thing, and the Executive nothing. The
Spaniards have adopted all this, with the
singular addition, that the members of the
Cortes can Serve only two years What ra-
tlonaI being can have any we'll grounded con-
fdence in such a Constitution
To this passage Mr.. Jefferson refers in the commence
nent Of his letter.