In 1791, as the "Beast" Alexander Hamilton subdued the "monster with thirteen heads" his libertarian adversaries Maximilien Robespierre, Jean-Paul Marat and Thomas Jefferson spent a convivial evening at Monticello smoking Virginia Hemp.

Mashed Up at MonticelloSurely Charles De Montesquieu had it right when he declared that "There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice".

But as Jefferson pottered off to scare up some much needed munchies, Robespierre realised that he wasn't too bombed to notice that some of the children in the yard had a striking resemblace to the host. Nor to notice that Marat appeared to be dying from some form of wretched venereal disease.

But he reflected, even in this relaxed atmosphere, the inner thoughts of Jefferson himself were quite unknown. He was as unfathomable as the sphinx.