“The political opinions which have produced the rejection of the Constitution, and which, as it would seem, can only be entertained by intemperate and ill-informed minds, unaccustomed to a union of theory and practice of liberty, must be associated with a general system which if brought into action will produce the same excesses here which have been so justly deplored in France. The same materials exist, though not in so great a degree. They have their clubs, they have a numerous poor, and they have enormous wealth in the hands of a minority of the nation. On my remarking this to a very rich and intelligent merchant of Amsterdam, and observing that if one class of men withdrew itself from public duties and offices it would be immediately succeeded by another, which would acquire a degree of power and influence that might be exercised to the destruction of those who had retired from society, he replied that the remark was just, but that they relied on France for a protection from those evils which she had herself experienced. That France would continue to require great supplies from Holland, and knew its situation too well to permit it to become the prey of anarchy. That Holland was an artificial country acquired by persevering industry, and which could only be preserved by wealth and order. That confusion and anarchy would banish a large portion of that wealth, would dry up its sources, and would entirely disable them from giving France that pecuniary aid she so much needed. That under this impression many who, though friendly to the revolution, saw with infinite mortification French troops garrison the towns of Holland, would now see their departure with equal regret. Thus they willingly relinquished national independence for individual safety. What a lesson to those who would admit foreign influence into the United States!”...
The condition of affairs in Paris at that time is illustrated by the fact that Marshall’s later letters, written from there, were not signed; and that they allude to the action of himself and his associates in the third person. Thus, writing from Paris, October 24, 1797, in the character of an anonymous private American to an unnamed correspondent, he says:--