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how it answered。 But I do not understand how the viva voce
examination comes to be practiced in the Federal court with you； &
not in your own courts； the Federal courts being decided by law to
proceed & decide by the laws of the states。
A great revolution has taken place at Paris。 The people of
that country having never been in the habit of self…government； are
not yet in the habit of acknoleging that fundamental law of nature；
by which alone self government can be exercised by a society； I mean
the _lex majoris partis_。 Of the sacredness of this law； our
countrymen are impressed from their cradle； so that with them it is
almost innate。 This single circumstance may possibly decide the fate
of the two nations。 One party appears to have been prevalent in the
Directory & council of 500。 the other in the council of antients。
Sieyes & Ducos； the minority in the Directory； not being able to
carry their points there seem to have gained over Buonaparte； &
associating themselves with the majority of the Council of antients；
have expelled （*） 120。 odd members the most obnoxious of the minority
of the Elders； & of the majority of the council of 500。 so as to give
themselves a majority in the latter council also。 They have
established Buonaparte； Sieyes & Ducos into an executive； or rather
Dictatorial consulate； given them a committee of between 20。 & 30。
from each council； & have adjourned to the 20th of Feb。 Thus the
Constitution of the 3d year which was getting consistency & firmness
from time is demolished in an instant； and nothing is said about a
new one。 How the nation will bear it is yet unknown。 Had the
Consuls been put to death in the first tumult & before the nation had
time to take sides； the Directory & councils might have reestablished
themselves on the spot。 But that not being done； perhaps it is now
to be wished that Buonaparte may be spared； as； according to his
protestations； he is for liberty； equality & representative
government； and he is more able to keep the nation together； & to
ride out the storm than any other。 Perhaps it may end in their
establishing a single representative & that in his person。 I hope it
will not be for life； for fear of the influence of the example on our
countrymen。 It is very material for the latter to be made sensible
that their own character & situation are materially different from
the French； & that whatever may be the fate of republicanism there；
we are able to preserve it inviolate here： we are sensible of the
duty & expediency of submitting our opinions to the will of the
majority and can wait with patience till they get right if they
happen to be at any time wrong。 Our vessel is moored at such a
distance； that should theirs blow up； ours is still safe； if we will
but think so。
（*） 60。 were expelled from the 500； so as to change the
majority there to the other side。 It seems doubtful whether any were
expelled from the Antients。 The majority there was already with the
Consular party。
I had recommended the enclosed letter to the care of the
postmaster at Louisville； but have been advised it is better to get a
friend to forward it by some of the boats。 I will ask that favor of
you。 It is the duplicate of one with the same address which I
inclosed last week to mr。 Innes & should therefore go by a different
conveyance。 I am with great esteem dear sir your friend & servant。
ILLUMINATISM
_To Bishop James Madison_
_Philadelphia； Jan。 31； 1800_
DEAR SIR； I have received your favor of the 17th； &
communicated it to Mr。 Smith。 I lately forwarded your letter from
Dr。 Priestley； endorsed ‘with a book'； I struck those words through
with my pen； because no book had then come。 It is now received； &
shall be forwarded to Richmond by the first opportunity： but such
opportunities are difficult to find； gentlemen going in the stage not
liking to take charge of a packet which is to be attended to every
time the stage is changed。 The best chance will be by some captain
of a vessel going round to Richmond。 I shall address it to the care
of Mr。 George Jefferson there。
I have lately by accident got a sight of a single volume （the
3d。） of the Abbe Barruel's ‘Antisocial conspiracy；' which gives me
the first idea I have ever had of what is meant by the Illuminatism
against which ‘illuminate Morse' as he is now called； & his
ecclesiastical & monarchical associates have been making such a hue
and cry。 Barruel's own parts of the book are perfectly the ravings
of a Bedlamite。 But he quotes largely from Wishaupt whom he
considers as the founder of what he calls the order。 As you may not
have had an opportunity of forming a judgment of this cry of ‘mad
dog' which has been raised against his doctrines； I will give you the
idea I have formed from only an hour's reading of Barruel's
quotations from him； which you may be sure are not the most
favorable。 Wishaupt seems to be an enthusiastic Philanthropist。 He
is among those （as you know the excellent Price and Priestley also
are） who believe in the indefinite perfectibility of man。 He thinks
he may in time be rendered so perfect that he will be able to govern
himself in every circumstance so as to injure none； to do all the
good he can； to leave government no occasion to exercise their powers
over him； & of course to render political government useless。 This
you know is Godwin's doctrine； and this is what Robinson； Barruel &
Morse had called a conspiracy against all government。 Wishaupt
believes that to promote this perfection of the human character was
the object of Jesus Christ。 That his intention was simply to
reinstate natural religion； & by diffusing the light of his morality；
to teach us to govern ourselves。 His precepts are the love of god &
love of our neighbor。 And by teaching innocence of conduct； he
expected to place men in their natural state of liberty & equality。
He says； no one ever laid a surer foundation for liberty than our
grand master； Jesus of Nazareth。 He believes the Free masons were
originally possessed of the true principles & objects of
Christianity； & have still preserved some of them by tradition； but
much disfigured。 The means he proposes to effect this improvement of
human nature are ‘to enlighten men； to correct their morals & inspire
them with benevolence。 Secure of our success； sais he； we abstain
from violent commotions。 To have foreseen the happiness of posterity
& to have prepared it by irreproachable means； suffices for our
felicity。 The tranquility of our consciences is not troubled by the
reproach of aiming at the ruin or overthrow of states or thrones。' As
Wishaupt lived under the tyranny of a despot & priests； he knew that
caution was necessary even in spreading information； & the principles
of pure morality。 He proposed therefore to lead the Free masons to
adopt this o