PARIS, July 2, 1787.
DEAR SIR,--I received lately your favor of April the 23d, on my return
from a journey of three or four months; and am always happy in an
occasion of recalling myself to your memory. The most interesting
intelligence from America, is that respecting the late insurrection in
Massachusetts. The cause of this has not been developed to me, to my
perfect satisfaction. The most probable is, that those individuals were
of the imprudent number of those, who have involved themselves in debt
beyond their abilities to pay, and that a vigorous effort in that
government to compel the payment of private debts, and raise money for
public ones, produced the resistance. I believe you may be assured,
that an idea or desire of returning to anything like their ancient
government, never entered into their heads. I am not discouraged by
this. For thus I calculate. An insurrection in one of thirteen States,
in the course of eleven years that they have subsisted, amounts to one
in any particular State, in one hundred and forty-three years, say a
century and a half. This would not be near as many, as have happened in
every other government that has ever existed. So that we shall have the
difference between a light and a heavy government, as clear gain. I
have no fear, but that the result of our experiment will be, that men
may be trusted to govern themselves without a master. Could the
contrary of this be proved, I should conclude, either that there is no
God, or that he is a malevolent being. You have heard of the federal
convention, now sitting at Philadelphia, for the amendment of the
Confederation. Eleven States appointed delegates certainly; it was
expected that Connecticut would also appoint, the moment its Assembly
met. Rhode Island had refused. I expect they will propose several
amendments; that that relative to our commerce will probably be adopted
immediately, but that the others must wait to be adopted, one after
another, in proportion as the minds of the States ripen for them. Dr.
Franklin enjoys good health. I shall always be happy to hear from you,
being with sentiments of very sincere esteem and respect, dear Sir,
your most obedient, and most humble servant.