Alittleknowledgeofhumannature，andattentiontoitsordinaryworkings，mighthaveforeseenthatthespiritsofthepeopleherewereinastate，inwhichtheyweremorelikelytobeprovoked，thanfrightened，byhaughtydeportment。Andtofillupthemeasureofirritation，aproscriptionofindividualshasbeensubstitutedintheroomofjusttrial。Canitbebelieved，thatagratefulpeoplewillsufferthosetobeconsignedtoexecution，whosesolecrimehasbeenthedevelopingandassertingtheirrights?HadtheParliamentpossessedthepowerofreflection，theywouldhaveavoidedameasureasimpotent，asitwasinflammatory。WhenIsawLordChatham’sbill，Ientertainedhighhopethatareconciliationcouldhavebeenbroughtabout。Thedifferencebetweenhisterms，andthoseofferedbyourCongress，mighthavebeenaccommodated，ifenteredon，bybothparties，withadispostiontoaccommodate。ButthedignityofParliament，itseems，canbrooknooppositiontoitspower。Strange，thatasetofmen，whohavemadesaleoftheirvirtuetotheMinister，shouldyettalkofretainingdignity！ButIamgettingintopolitics，thoughIsatdownonlytoaskyouracceptanceofthewine，andexpressmyconstantwishesforyourhappiness。Thishoweverseemstobeensuredbyyourphilosophy&peacefulvocation。
Ishallstillhopethatamidstpublicdissentionprivatefriendshipmaybepreservedinviolateandamongthewarmestyoucaneverpossessisthatofyourhumbleservt。
RECONCILIATIONORINDEPENDENCE
_ToJohnRandolph_
_Monticello，August25，1775_