He knew that I meant it for the Cincinnati generally; and that from what had passed between us at the commencement of that institution, I could not mean to include him." [Footnote 78: Vol.iv.p.

404.] In the letter to Mazzei these words obviously designate distinguished individuals, not whole classes of men, many of whom were unknown.

"It would give you a fever were _I to name to you the apostates_ who have gone over to these heresies; men who were Samsons in the field and Solomons in the council, but who have had their heads shorn by the harlot England." In addition to this apparent allusion to individuals, it may be asked, could Mr.Jefferson mean to say that every officer engaged in the war of our revolution (for almost every one of them was a member of the Cincinnati) was an apostate who had gone over to the heresies he was describing?
Could he mean to say that all those who had passed their prime of manhood in the field fighting the battles of American independence, and of republicanism against England, had become apostates from the cause to which their lives had been devoted, and the vile instruments of the power it was their pride and boast to have overthrown?
That they were in a body following their ancient chief in a course directly opposite to that glorious career by which they had elevated their country to its high rank among the nations of the earth?
There is other evidence that he could not have intended to fix this foul stigma on the officers of the revolution.

They were far from being united in support of the administration.

In Virginia certainly, a large number, perhaps a majority of the Cincinnati were opposed to it.