Adieu
affectionately.
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CCVIII.--TO JAMES MADISON, January 30, 1797
TO JAMES MADISON,
Monticello, January 30, 1797.
Yours of the 18th came to hand yesterday. I am very thankful for the
discretion you have exercised over the letter. That has happened to be
the case, which I knew to be possible, that the honest expression of
my feelings towards Mr. Adams might be rendered mal-apropos from
circumstances existing, and known at the seat of government, but not
known by me in my retired situation. Mr. Adams and myself were cordial
friends from the beginning of the revolution. Since our return from
Europe, some little incidents have happened, which were capable of
affecting a jealous mind like his. His deviation from that line of
politics on which we had been united, has not made me less sensible
of the rectitude of his heart: and I wished him to know this, and also
another truth, that I am sincerely pleased at having escaped the late
draught for the helm, and have not a wish which he stands in the way of.
That he should be convinced of these truths, is important to our mutual
satisfaction, and perhaps to the harmony and good of the public service.
But there was a difficulty in conveying them to him, and a possibility
that the attempt might do mischief there or somewhere else; and I would
not have hazarded the attempt, if you had not been in place to decide
upon its expediency.
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