ceive its final vote. The debate had been ardent and protracted, and the members, wearied and exhausted, were not disposed to recommence the subject, whatever good they might perceive in the draught sent them by Mr. Jefferson. His preamble however, in the following words, was adopted entire, and prefixed to their constitution.

"To the citizens of the commonwealth of Virginia, and all others whom it may concern, the delegates for the said commonwealth in convention assembled, send greeting.

It is known to you and to the world, that the government of Great-Britain, with which the American States were not long since connected, assumed over them an authority unwarrantable and oppressive; that they endeavoured to enforce this authority by arms, and that the states of NewHampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, SouthCarolina, and Georgia, considering resistance, with all its train of horrors, as a lesser evil than abject submission, closed in the appeal to arms. It hath pleased the Sovreign Disposer of all human events to give to this appeal an issue favourable to the rights of the States; to enable them to reject forever all dependence on a government which had shown itself so capable of abusing the trusts reposed in it; and to obtain from that government a solemn and explicit acknowledgment that they are free, sovereign, and independent States. Du

1

ring the progress of that war, through which we had to labour for the establishmentof our rights, the legislature of the commonwealth of Virginia, found it necessary to make a temporary organization of government for preventing anarchy, and pointing our efforts to the two important objects of war against our invaders, and peace and happiness among ourselves. But this like all other acts of legislation, being subject to change by subsequent legislatures, possessing equal power with themselves, it has been thought expedient, that it should receive those amendments which time and trial have suggested, and rendered permanent by power superior to that of the ordinary legislature. The general assembly therefore of this state recommend to the good people thereof, to chose delegates to meet in general convention, with powers to form a constitution of government for them, and to declare those fundamentals to which all our laws present and future shall be subordinate: and in compliance with this recommendation, they have thought proper to make choise of us, and to vest us with powers for this purpose.

We therefore, the delegates, chosen by the said good people of this state for the purpose aforesaid, and now assembled in general convention, do in execution of the authority with which we are invested, establish the following constitution and fundamentals of government for the said State of Virginia."*

*See note B. at the end of the Volume

On the establishment of peace, and the consequent opening of a general commercial intercorse, plenipotentiary commissions for the concluding of treaties of commerce, were given to Thomas Jefferson, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, addressed to the several powers of Europe, and Mr. Jefferson sailed from the United states in July 1784. A commercial treaty with Prussia was the only result of these commissions, immediately after the signing of which, Dr. Franklin returned to America, and Mr. Jefferson was appointed his successor as minister Plenipotentiary to France. A short time previous to the expiration of the joint commissions, he crossed over to London, with his collegue Mr Adams, to endeavour to promote, between the governments of the United States and Great Britain, a cordial connection of interests, and, among the terms they proposed to offer, was an exchange of naturalization of citizens and vessels, as to every thing relating to commerce or commercial navigation. The two ministers were received by Lord Carmathaen, and their commissions read, but he evaded every attempt they made to procure a conference on the subject, and a few days only before their commissions would have expired, and after seven weeks attendance in London, Mr. Jefferson returned to Paris.

The subjects of negotiation at the court at Versailles, were not of a character, perhaps, to call into exhibition what are usually termed shining diplomatic talents, but no little address was requi

G

red, to gain from de Vergennes and Calonne, the commercial advantages he did, in opposition to the powerful body of the farmers generally, and other interested persons. Among the principle benifits then obtained, and continued to the United States till the period of the French revolution, were the abolition of several monopolies, and the free admission into France of tobacco, rice, whale oil, salt fish, and flour; and of the two latter articles into the French West India Islands.

While residing in France, Mr. Jefferson was requested by his native State, to present in its name, to the city of Paris, the bust of our recent national guest, the Marquis de la Fayette: An accident de prived him from having this gratification; and his friend Mr. Short of Virginia, was deputed by him to perform the ceremony, in person, accompanied by a letter from Mr. Jefferson.

The leisure, as minister, which was imposed on him by the increasing distraction of the country, allowed him the opportunity of cultivating his acquaintance with the fine arts, and of enjoying the society and conversation of men celebrated in literature and science. His freqent letters to eminent persons in America, during this period, display the great versatility of his genius, and the constant attention he bestowed on every thing calculated to embellish or benifit Society.

He continued in France until October 1789, when, having obtained leave of a temporary absence, he embarked for America, and arrived at Norfolk in the following November. On his way

to his seat at Monticello, he was met by an express from the President, bringing him a commission as Secretary of State under the lately established Federal constitution. He would,. it is believed, have preferred returning to France, but could not refuse to acquiesce in the very strong desire expressed by General Washington that he would afford the aid of his talents to the government at home. He, accordingly, in April 1790, proceeded to New-York, then the seat of government, and entered upon the office of Secretary of State, in which he continued until the first of January 1794, when he resigned the situation and retried to private life. The reasons which induced him to retire from public affairs, have been variously stated. Although the charmes of domestic retirement, from which he had been so much estranged, must have been greatly attractive to one who had always so high a relish for its enjoyment, yet the principal cause of his retirement seems to be too obvious to be mistaken. His weight in the cabinet was overbalanced by opposite political opinions and interests, and he might naturally desire, under such circumstances, to quit a situation where he found he could be no longer useful. He had, therefore, in the preceeding summer, intimated to the president, the design he now executed, of retiring at the close of the year. He withdrew with unimpared, and even with added, reputation. The arduous and important duties of his station are universally acknowledged to have been discharged in