Jefferson, Thomas, as Vice President

Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson"), 2 pages bifolium (9 7/8 x 8 in.; 251 x 204 mm), integral address leaf with Jeffeson's free frank, Philadelphia, 2 February 1800, to Dr. William Bache, discussing personal and financial matters as well as expressing his extreme disappointment in the downfall of the French First Republic and the rise of Bonaparte as First Consul; small seal tear, address leaf silked. Marbled paper folding case, brown morocco spine.

Forbes Collection (sale, Christie's New York, 9 October 2002, lot 30)

Papers of Thomas Jefferson 31: 353–355

Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson"), 2 pages bifolium (9 7/8 x 8 in.; 251 x 204 mm), integral address leaf with Jeffeson's free frank, Philadelphia, 2 February 1800, to Dr. William Bache, discussing personal and financial matters as well as expressing his extreme disappointment in the downfall of the French First Republic and the rise of Bonaparte as First Consul; small seal tear, address leaf silked. Marbled paper folding case, brown morocco spine.
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A cautionary tale for America.  Jefferson is appalled that the confidence of the French people in a demagogue like Napoleon enabled him to seize virtually absolute power as First Consul. "The confidence of the French people in Buonaparte, has enabled him to kick down their constitution, & instead of that to leave them dependent on his will & his life."

"I have never seen so awful a moment." Napoleon's rise to power presented a frightening turn of events as well as a precaution to American citizens to uphold their Constitution, lest their rights and liberties be summarily forfeited. Jefferson confides to Bache: "Our citizens however should derive from this some useful lessons. They should see in it a necessity to rally firmly & in close bands around their constitution, never to suffer an iota of it to be infringed; to inculcate on minorities the duties of acquiescence in the will of the majority; and on majorities a respect for the rights of the minority; to beware of a military force even of citizens; and to beware of too much confidence in any man." Jefferson's attitude toward France had gone through a complete reversal in the last year of the French Revolution, no longer viewing it as the engine for regeneration of American freedom, but "for the forces that were threatening American freedom" (C. C. O'Brien, The Long Affair: Thomas Jefferson and the French Revolution, 1785–1800, p. 252).

The balance of the letter is devoted to talk about Mrs. Bache and her plans to begin work on "her new residence just as the disagreeable season was beginning, and at a moment when our society was to a certain degree breaking up. However I hope that we shall rally together again in the spring, and that the return of Mrs. Trist, Col. Monroe, & my family will add to the number of those who wish to render her new situation as agreeable as possible."  Jefferson doubts that the house will be completed before the winter was over and has ordered James Dinsmore to delivery the sashes necessary for the Bache home. Dinsmore was the talented Irish joiner responsible for most of the exquisite woodwork at Monticello. Jefferson writes Bache that he has "directed some of the London sashes to be furnished to you. They are better made than those from Philadelphia, but the panes are only 12 I[nches] square instead of 12 by 18."  There is a small sketch of one of the sashes on the address leaf, probably drawn by Bache.

Regarding a financial matter, Jefferson indicates that he could not purchase a draught in Richmond so he acquired one in Norfolk. The draught for 3,317 dollars "was forwarded two days ago to Brydie Brown & Co. with orders to place it to the credit of James Key as paid by you. and to guard against the dangers of the mail being robbed, I have this day advised of it by letter, mr Otway Byrd on whom the draught is, to assure himself when it is presnted, that it comes from Brydie Brown & co. I hope therefore that you may henceforward be at ease on this subject."  Bache, a grandson of Benjamin Franklin, married Catherine Wistar in 1797. By early 1799, the couple began to make plans to move from Philadelphia to Virginia. Jefferson had drawn up an indenture for the sale to Bache of 603 acres in Albemarle County owned by James Key (cf. Papers of Thomas Jefferson 31:188–190n).  Bache's income from the tract proved insufficient, and he disposed of the property in 1802.