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of whim and caprice, or, what is worse, of cruelty, fixed on us as a nation, and, to crown the whole, our own people disgusted with such a proceeding.
I have thus taken the liberty of representing to you the facts and the reasons, which seem to militate against the separation or removal of these troops. JI am sensible, however, that the same subject may appear to different persons, in very different lights. What I have urged as reasons, may, to sounder minds, be apparent fallacies. I hope they will appear, at least, so plausible, as to ex- cuse the interposition of
your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant, Tu: JEFFERSON.
LETTER VI. TO JOHN PAGE.
Williamsburg, January 22, 1779. Dear Pace,
I received vour letter by Mr. Jamieson. It had given me much pain, that the. zeal of our respective friends, should ever have placed you and me in the situation of competitors. I was com- forted, however, with the reflection, that it was their competition, not ours, and that the difference of the numbers which decided between us, was too insignificant to give you a pain, or me a plea- sure, had our dispositions towards each other, been such as to admit those sensations. I know you too well to need an apology for any thing you do, and hope you will forever be assured of this; and as to the constructions of the world, they would only have added one to the many sins for which they are to go to the devil. As this is the first, I hope it will be the last, instance of ceremony between us. A desire to see my family, which isin Charles City, carries me thither to-morrow, and I shall not return till Monday. Be pleased to present my compliments to Mrs. Page, and add this to the assurances I have ever given you, that I am, dear Page,
your affectionate friend, Th: JEFFERSON.
