Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/166

150 to its power. Strange, that a set of men, who have made sale of their virtue to the Minister, should yet talk of retaining dignity ! But I am getting into politics, though I sat down only to ask your acceptance of the wine, and express my constant wishes for your happiness.

LETTER II.

TO JOHN RANDOLPH, ESQ.

Monticello, August 25, 1775.

I am sorry the situation of our country should render it not eligible to you, to remain longer in it. I hope the returning wisdom of Great Britain, will, ere long, put an end to this un natural contest. There may be people to whose tempers and dispositions, contention is pleasing, and who, therefore, wish a con tinuance of confusion, but to me it is of all states but one, the most horrid. My first wish is .a restoration of our just rights; my second, a return of the happy period, when, consistently with duty, I may withdraw myself totally from the public stage, and pass the rest of my days in domestic ease and tranquillity, banish ing every desire of ever hearing what passes in the world. Per haps, (for the latter adds considerably to the warmth of the former wish,) looking with fondness towards a reconciliation with Great Britain, I cannot help hoping you may be able to contribute to wards expediting this good work. I think it must be evident to yourself, that the Ministry have been deceived by their offi cers on this side of the water, who, (for what purpose, I cannot tell) have constantly represented the American opposition as that of a small faction, in which the body of the people took little part. This, you can inform them, of your own knowledge, is untrue. They have taken it into their heads, too, that we are cowards, and shall surrender at discretion to an armed force. The past and future operations of the war must confirm or undeceive them on that head. I wish they were thoroughly and minutely acquainted with every circumstance, Relative to America, as it exists in truth. I am persuaded, this would go far towards disposing them to re conciliation. Even those in Parliament who are called friends to America, seem to know nothing of our real determinations. I observe, they pronounced in the last Parliament, that the Congress