These are my opinions of General Washington, which I would vouch at the
judgment-seat of God, having been formed on an acquaintance of thirty
years. I served with him in the Virginia legislature from 1769 to the
Revolutionary war, and again, a short time in Congress, until he left us
to take command of the army. During the war and after it we corresponded
Occasionally, and in the four years of my continuance in the office
of Secretary of State, our intercourse was daily, confidential, and
cordial. After I retired from that office, great and malignant pains
were taken by our federal monarchists, and not entirely without
effect, to make him view me as a theorist, holding French principles of
government, which would lead infallibly to licentiousness and anarchy.
And to this he listened the more easily, from my known disapprobation
of the British treaty. I never saw him afterwards, or these malignant
insinuations should have been dissipated before his just judgment, as
mists before the sun. I felt on his death, with my countrymen, that
'verily a great man hath fallen this day in Israel.'
More time and recollection would enable me to add many other traits of
his character; but why add them to you, who knew him well? And I cannot
justify to myself a longer detention of your paper.
_Vale, proprieque tuum me esse tibi persuadeas_.
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CXVIII.--TO JOSEPH C.
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