Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) to George Washington
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03338 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: Paris, France Type: Manuscript letter Date: 14 November 1786 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 22.4 x 18.6 cm. Order a Copy
Extract of a letter in the hand of Tobias Lear, secretary to George Washington. Explains that he proof-read entries from the "Encyclopedie Methodique" on the "Etats unis" and the "Cincinnati," and gave corrections to the author. Also gave the article on the Cincinnati to Colonel [David] Humphreys and the Marquis de Lafayette to get their corrections, and encloses it for General Washington to read. Discusses the Society of the Cincinnati: "I have never heard a person in Europe, learned, or unlearned, express his thoughts upon this institution, who did not consider it as dishonorable & destructive to our Governments, and that every writing which has come out since my arrival here, in which it is mentioned, considers it, even as now reformed, as the germ whose development is one day to destroy the fabric we have reared." After spending time in France, where the aristocracy is a "scourge" to most people, has come to believe that "tho' the day may be at some distance, beyond the reach of our lives perhaps, yet it will certainly come, when a single fibre left of this institution, will produce an hereditary aristocracy which will change the form of our Governments from the best to the worst in the world." Docketed by Henry Knox.
[draft]
Extrt. of Letter from Mr. Jefferson, dated Paris Novr. 14th. 1786.
The author of the political part of the Encyclopedie Methodique desired me to examine his article "Etats unis." I did so. I found it a tissu of Errors; for in truth they know nothing about us here; particularly however the article "Cincinnati" was a mere Philippic against that institution, in which it appeared that there was an utter ignorance of facts & motives. I gave him notes on it. He reformed it as he supposed & sent it again to me to revise: in this reformed State Colo. Humphrys saw it. I found it necessary to write that article for him; before I gave it to him I showed it to the Marquis de la Fayette who made a correction or two. I then sent it to the Author; he used the materials mixing a great deal of his own with them. In a work which is sure of going down to the latest posterity, I thought it material to set facts to rights as much as possible. The author was well disposed, but could not entirely get the better of his original bias. I send you the article as ultimately published. If you find any material errors in it & will be so good as to inform me of them, I shall probably have opportunities of setting the Author to rights. what has heretofore passed between us on this institution, makes it my duty to mention to you that I have never heard a person in Europe, learned, or unlearned, express his thoughts upon this institution, who did not consider it as dishonorable & destructive to our Governments, and that [2] every writing which has come out since my arrival here, in which it is mentioned, considers it, even as now reformed, as the germ whose development is one day to destroy the fabric we have reared. I did not apprehend this while I had American ideas only, but I confess what I have seen in Europe has brought me over to that opinion; & that tho' the day may be at some distance, beyond the reach of our lives perhaps, yet it will certainly come, when a single fibre left of this institution, will produce an hereditary aristocracy which will change the form of our Governments from the best to the worst in the world. To know the mass of evil which flows from this fatal source, a person must be in France, he must see the finest soil, the finest climate, the most compact State, the most benevolent character of people, & every earthly advantage combined, insufficient to prevent this Scourge from rendering existence [sic] a curse to 24 out of 25 parts of the inhabitants of this Country. With us the branches of this institution cover all the States: the Southern ones are at this time aristocratical in their disposition: and that that disposition should grow & extend itself is [struck: very] within the natural order of things. I do not flatter myself with the immortality of our Governments: but I shall think little also of their longevity unless this germ of destruction be taken out. When the Society themselves shall weigh the possibility of evil against the impossibility of any good to proceed from this institution I cannot help hoping they will eradicate it. I know they wish the permanence of our Governments as much as any individuals composing them-
[docket]
an extract of a letter
from Mr. Jefferson to
Genl Washington relative
to the Cincinnati
Novr. 14. 1786
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