1To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Bellini, 10 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Williamsburg, 10 July 1790. “L’Eminentissimo Nostro Monsignor Arcivescovo Madison” who hoped to be consecrated in America will probably have forwarded the answer to TJ’s most kind letter of 13 June.—The word impotent , which Bellini’s evil genius let drop at the end of TJ’s letter, would have been more than enough to discourage the strongest spirit: the effect of that unexpected thunderbolt on...