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The Memoirs, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

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Volume One

Volume One

PREFACE. MEMOIR. APPENDIX TO THE MEMOIR. [NOTE A.] Letter to John Saunderson, Esq. [NOTE B.] Letter to Samuel A. Wells, Esq. [NOTE C] August, 1774, Instructions to the first Delegation [NOTE D.] August, 1774., Instructions for the Deputies [NOTE E.] Monticello, November 1, 1778. [Re: Crimes and Punishment] [NOTE F.] Coinage for the United States [NOTE G.] [NOTE H.] LETTER I. TO DR. WILLIAM SMALL, May 7, 1775 LETTER II. TO JOHN RANDOLPH, August 25,1775 LETTER III.

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PREFACE.

PREFACE.

The opinion universally entertained of the extraordinary abilities of Thomas Jefferson, and the signal evidence given by his country, of a profound sense of his patriotic services, and of veneration for his memory, have induced the Editor, who is both his Executor and the Legatee of his Manuscript Papers, to believe that an extensive publication from them would be particularly acceptable to the American people. The Memoir, contained in the first volume, commences with circumstantial notices of h

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MEMOIR.

MEMOIR.

January 6, 1821. At the age of 77, I begin to make some memoranda, and state some recollections of dates and facts concerning myself, for my own more ready reference, and for the information of my family. The tradition in my father’s family was, that their ancestor came to this country from Wales, and from near the mountain of Snowden, the highest in Great Britain. I noted once a case from Wales, in the law reports, where a person of our name was either plaintiff or defendant; and one of the sam

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[NOTE A.] Letter to John Saunderson, Esq.

[NOTE A.] Letter to John Saunderson, Esq.

Sir, Monticello, August 31, 1820. Your letter of the 19th was received in due time, and I wish it were in my power to furnish you more fully, than in the enclosed paper, with materials for the biography of George Wythe; but I possess none in writing, am very distant from the place of his birth and early life, and know not a single person in that quarter from whom inquiry could be made, with the expectation of collecting any thing material. Add to this, that feeble health disables me, almost, fro

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[NOTE B.]—Letter to Samuel A. Wells, Esq.

[NOTE B.]—Letter to Samuel A. Wells, Esq.

Sir, Monticello, May 12, 1829. An absence, of sometime, at an occasional and distant residence, must apologize for the delay in acknowledging the receipt of your favor of April 12th; and candor obliges me to add, that it has been somewhat extended by an aversion to writing, as well as to calls on my memory for facts so much obliterated from it by time, as to lessen my own confidence in the traces which seem to remain. One of the enquiries in your letter, however, may be answered without an appea

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[NOTE C]—August, 1774, Instructions to the first Delegation

[NOTE C]—August, 1774, Instructions to the first Delegation

On the Instructions given to the first Delegation of Virginia to Congress, in August, 1774. The Legislature of Virginia happened to be in session in Williamsburg, when news was received of the passage, by the British Parliament, of the Boston Port Bill, which was to take effect on the first day of June then ensuing. The House of Burgesses, thereupon, passed a resolution, recommending to their fellow-citizens that that day should be set apart for fasting and prayer to the Supreme Being, imploring

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[NOTE D.]—August, 1774., Instructions for the Deputies

[NOTE D.]—August, 1774., Instructions for the Deputies

Instructions for the Deputies appointed to meet in General Congress on the Part of this Colony. The unhappy disputes between Great Britain and her American colonies, which began about the third year of the reign of his present Majesty, and since, continually increasing, have proceeded to lengths so dangerous and alarming, as to excite just apprehensions in the minds of his Majesty’s faithful subjects of this colony, that they are in danger of being deprived of their natural, ancient, constitutio

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[NOTE E.]—Monticello, November 1, 1778.—[Re: Crimes and Punishment]

[NOTE E.]—Monticello, November 1, 1778.—[Re: Crimes and Punishment]

Dear Sir, I have got through the bill ‘for proportioning crimes and punishments in cases heretofore capital,’ and now enclose it to you with a request that you will be so good, as scrupulously to examine and correct it, that it may be presented to our committee, with as few defects as possible. In its style, I have aimed at accuracy, brevity, and simplicity, preserving, however, the very words of the established law, wherever their meaning had been sanctioned by judicial decisions, or rendered t

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[NOTE F.]—Coinage for the United States

[NOTE F.]—Coinage for the United States

On the Establishment of a Money Unit, and of a Coinage for the United States . In fixing the Unit of Money, these circumstances are of principal importance. I. That it be of convenient size to be applied as a measure to the common money transactions of life. II. That its parts and multiplies be in an easy proportion to each other, so as to facilitate the money arithmetic; III. That the Unit and its parts, or divisions, be so nearly of the value of some of the known coins , as that they may be of

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[NOTE G.]

[NOTE G.]

I have sometimes asked myself, whether my country is the better for my having lived at all. I do not know that it is. I have been the instrument of doing the following things; but they would have been done by others; some of them, perhaps, a little better. The Rivanna had never been used for navigation; scarcely an empty canoe had ever passed down it. Soon after I came of age I examined its obstructions, set on foot a subscription for removing them, got an act of Assembly passed, and the thing e

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[NOTE H.]

[NOTE H.]

Sir, New York, October 13, 1789. In the selection of characters to fill the important offices of Government in the United States, I was naturally led to contemplate the talents and dispositions which I knew you to possess and entertain for the service of your country; and without being able to consult your inclination, or to derive any knowledge of your intentions from your letters, either to myself or to any other of your friends, I was determined, as well by motives of private regard, as a con

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LETTER I.—TO DR. WILLIAM SMALL, May 7, 1775

LETTER I.—TO DR. WILLIAM SMALL, May 7, 1775

TO DR. WILLIAM SMALL. May 7, 1775. Dear Sir, Within this week we have received the unhappy news of an action of considerable magnitude, between the King’s troops and our brethren of Boston, in which, it is said, five hundred of the former, with the Earl of Percy, are slain. That such an action has occurred, is undoubted, though perhaps the circumstances may not have reached us with truth. This accident has cut off our last hope of reconciliation, and a phrenzy of revenge seems to have seized all

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LETTER II.—TO JOHN RANDOLPH, August 25,1775

LETTER II.—TO JOHN RANDOLPH, August 25,1775

TO JOHN RANDOLPH, ESQ., Monticello, August 25,1775. I am sorry the situation of our country should render it not eligible to you to remain longer in it. I hope the returning wisdom of Great Britain will, ere long, put an end to this unnatural contest. There may be people to whose tempers and dispositions contention is pleasing, and who, therefore, wish a continuance of confusion; but to me it is of all states but one, the most horrid: My first wish is a restoration of our just rights; my second,

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LETTER III.—TO JOHN RANDOLPH, November 29, 1775

LETTER III.—TO JOHN RANDOLPH, November 29, 1775

TO JOHN RANDOLPH, ESQ.. Philadelphia, November 29, 1775. Dear Sir, I am to give you the melancholy intelligence of the death of our most worthy Speaker, which happened here on the 22nd of the last month. He was struck with an apoplexy, and expired within five hours. I have it in my power to acquaint you that the success of our arms has corresponded with the justness of our cause. Chambly and St. Johns were taken some weeks ago, and in them the whole regular army in Canada, except about forty or

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LETTER IV.—TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, August 13, 1777

LETTER IV.—TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, August 13, 1777

TO DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, PARIS. Virginia, August 13, 1777. Honorable Sir, I forbear to write you news, as the time of Mr. Shore’s departure being uncertain, it might be old before you receive it, and he can, in person, possess you of all we have. With respect to the State of Virginia in particular, the people seem to have laid aside the monarchical, and taken up the republican government, with as much ease as would have attended their throwing off an old and putting on a new suit of clothes. No

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LETTER V.—TO PATRICK HENRY, March 27, 1779

LETTER V.—TO PATRICK HENRY, March 27, 1779

TO HIS EXCELLENCY PATRICK HENRY. Albemarle, March 27, 1779. Sir, A report prevailing here, that in consequence of some powers from Congress, the Governor and Council have it in contemplation to remove the Convention troops, [The troops under Burgoyne, captured at Saratoga.] either wholly or in part, from their present situation, I take the liberty of troubling you with some observations on that subject. The reputation and interest of our country, in general, may be affected by such a measure; it

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LETTER VI.—TO JOHN PAGE, January 22, 1779

LETTER VI.—TO JOHN PAGE, January 22, 1779

TO JOHN PAGE. Williamsburg, January 22, 1779. Dear Page, I received your letter by Mr. Jamieson. It had given me much pain, that the zeal of our respective friends should ever have placed you and me in the situation of competitors. I was comforted, however, with the reflection, that it was their competition, not ours, and that the difference of the numbers which decided between us, was too insignificant to give you a pain, or me a pleasure, had our dispositions towards each other been such as to

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LETTER VII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, June 23, 1779

LETTER VII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, June 23, 1779

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. June 23, 1779. Sir, I have the pleasure to enclose you the particulars of Colonel Clarke’s success against St. Vincennes, as stated in his letter but lately received; the messenger, with his first letter, having been killed. I fear it will be impossible for Colonel Clarke to be so strengthened, as to enable him to do what he desires. Indeed, the express who brought this letter, gives us reason to fear, St. Vincennes is in danger from a large body of Indians,

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LETTER VIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, July 17, 1779

LETTER VIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, July 17, 1779

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON Williamsburg, July 17, 1779. Sir, I some time ago enclosed to you a printed copy of an order of Council, by which Governor Hamilton was to be confined in irons, in close jail, which has occasioned a letter from General Phillips, of which the enclosed is a copy. The General seems to think that a prisoner on capitulation cannot be put in close confinement, though his capitulation should not have provided against it. My idea was, that all persons taken in war, w

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LETTER IX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 1, 1779

LETTER IX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 1, 1779

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Williamsburg, October 1, 1779. Sir, On receipt of your letter of August 6th, during my absence, the Council had the irons taken off the prisoners of war. When your advice was asked, we meant it should decide with us; and upon my return to Williamsburg, the matter was taken up and the enclosed advice given. [See Appendix, note B.] A parole was formed, of which the enclosed is a copy, and tendered to the prisoners. They objected to that part of it which restra

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LETTER X.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 2, 1779

LETTER X.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 2, 1779

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Williamsburg, October 2, 1779. Sir, Just as the letter accompanying this was going off, Colonel Mathews arrived on parole from New York, by the way of headquarters, bringing your Excellency’s letter on this subject, with that of the British commissary of prisoners. The subject is of great importance, and I must, therefore, reserve myself to answer after further consideration. Were I to speak from present impressions, I should say it was happy for Governor Ha

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LETTER XI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 1779

LETTER XI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 1779

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. In Council, Oct. 8, 1779. Sir, In mine of the second of the present month, written in the instant of Colonel Mathews’ delivery of your letter, I informed you what had been done on the subject of Governor Hamilton and his companions previous to that moment. I now enclose you an advice of Council, [See Appendix, note C.] in consequence of the letter you were pleased to enclose me, from the British commissary of prisoners, with one from Lord Rawdon; also a copy

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LETTER XII.—TO COLONEL MATHEWS, October, 1779

LETTER XII.—TO COLONEL MATHEWS, October, 1779

TO COLONEL MATHEWS. In Council, October, 1779. Sir, The proceedings respecting Governor Hamilton and his companions, previous to your arrival here, you are acquainted with. For your more precise information, I enclose you the advice of Council, of June the 16th, of that of August the 28th, another of September the 19th, on the parole tendered them the 1st instant, and Governor Hamilton’s letter of the same day, stating his objections, in which he persevered: from that time his confinement has be

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LETTER XIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 28, 1779

LETTER XIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 28, 1779

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Willlamsburg, November 28, 1779. Sir, Your Excellency’s letter on the discriminations which have been heretofore made, between the troops raised within this state, and considered as part of our quota, and those not so considered, was delivered me four days ago. I immediately laid it before the Assembly, who thereupon came to the resolution I now do myself the honor of enclosing you. The resolution of Congress, of March 15th, 1779, which you were so kind as t

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LETTER XIV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 10,1779

LETTER XIV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 10,1779

Williamsburg, December 10,1779. I take the liberty of putting under cover to your Excellency some letters to Generals Phillips and Reidesel, uninformed whether they are gone into New York or not, and knowing that you can best forward them in either case. I also trouble you with a letter from the master of the flag in this State, to the British commissary of prisoners in New York, trusting it will thus be more certainly conveyed than if sent to Mr. Adams. It is my wish the British commissary shou

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LETTER XV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 10, 1780

LETTER XV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 10, 1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Williamsburg, February 10, 1780. Sir, It is possible you may have heard, that in the course of last summer an expedition was meditated, by our Colonel Clarke, against Detroit: that he had proceeded so far as to rendezvous a considerable body of Indians, I believe four or five thousand, at St. Vincennes; but, being disappointed in the number of whites he expected, and not choosing to rely principally on the Indians, he was obliged to decline it. We have a tol

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LETTER XVI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, June 11, 1780

LETTER XVI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, June 11, 1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, June 11, 1780. Sir, Major Galvan, as recommended by your Excellency, was despatched to his station without delay, and has been furnished with every thing he desired, as far as we were able. The line of expresses formed between us is such, as will communicate intelligence from one to the other in twenty-three hours. I have forwarded to him information of our disasters in the South, as they have come to me. Our intelligence from the southward is most

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LETTER XVII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, July 2, 1780

LETTER XVII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, July 2, 1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, July 2, 1780. Sir, I have received from the Committee of Congress, at headquarters, three letters calling for aids of men and provisions. I beg leave to refer you to my letter to them, of this date, on those subjects. I thought it necessary, however, to suggest to you the preparing an arrangement of officers for the men; for, though they are to supply our battalions, yet, as our whole line officers, almost, are in captivity, I suppose some temporar

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LETTER XVIII.—TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, August 4, 1780

LETTER XVIII.—TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, August 4, 1780

TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS. Richmond, August 4, 1780. Sir, Your several favors of July the 16th, 21st, and 22nd, are now before me. Our smiths are engaged in making five hundred axes and some tomahawks for General Gates. About one hundred of these will go by the wagons now taking in their loads. As these are for the army in general, no doubt but you will participate of them. A chest of medicine was made up for you in Williamsburg, and by a strange kind of forgetfulness, the vessel ordered to brin

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LETTER XIX.—TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES, August 15, 1780

LETTER XIX.—TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES, August 15, 1780

TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES. Richmond, August 15, 1780. Your favor of August 3rd is just now put into my hand. Those formerly received have been duly answered, and my replies will, no doubt, have reached you before this date. My last letter to you was by Colonel Drayton. I spoke fully with you on the difficulty of procuring wagons here, when I had the pleasure of seeing you, and for that reason pressed the sending back as many as possible. One brigade of twelve has since returned, and is again on its

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LETTER XX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, September 8, 1780

LETTER XX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, September 8, 1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, September 8, 1780. Sir, As I know the anxieties you must have felt, since the late misfortune to the South, and our latter accounts have not been quite so unfavorable as the first, I take the liberty of enclosing you a statement of this unlucky affair, taken from letters from General Gates, General Stevens, and Governor Nash, and, as to some circumstances, from an officer who was in the action.* Another army is collecting; this amounted, on the 23r

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LETTER XXI.—TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, September 12,1780

LETTER XXI.—TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, September 12,1780

TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS. Richmond, September 12,1780. Sir, Your letters of August 27th and 30th are now before me. The subsequent desertions of your militia have taken away the necessity of answering the question, how they shall be armed. On the contrary, as there must now be a surplus of arms, I am in hopes you will endeavor to reserve them, as we have not here a sufficient number by fifteen hundred or two thousand, for the men who will march hence, if they march in numbers equal to our expec

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LETTER XXII.—TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, September 15, 1780

LETTER XXII.—TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, September 15, 1780

Richmond, September 15, 1780. I beg leave to trouble you with a private letter, on a little matter of my own, having no acquaintance at camp, with whom I can take that, liberty. Among the wagons impressed, for the use of your militia, were two of mine. One of these, I know is safe, having been on its way from hence to Hillsborough, at the time of the late engagement. The other, I have reason to believe, was on the field. A wagon-master, who says he was near it, informs me the brigade quarter-mas

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LETTER XXIII.—TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES, September 23, 1780

LETTER XXIII.—TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES, September 23, 1780

TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES. Richmond, September 23, 1780. I have empowered Colonel Carrington to have twelve boats, scows, or batteaux, built at Taylor’s Ferry, and to draw on me for the cost. I recommended the constructing them so as to answer the transportation of provisions along that river, as a change of position of the two armies may render them unnecessary at Taylor’s Ferry, and I am thoroughly persuaded, that, unless we can find out some channel of transportation by water, no supplies of bre

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LETTER XXIV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, September 23, 1780

LETTER XXIV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, September 23, 1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, September 23, 1780. Sir, I yesterday forwarded to you a letter from Colonel Wood, informing you of his situation. That post has, for some time past, been pretty regularly supplied, and I hope will continue to be for some time to come. A person whose punctuality can be relied on, offers to contract for victualling it. If we can agree on terms, and the Assembly will strengthen our hands sufficiently, we think to adopt that method, as the only one to

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LETTER XXV.—TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON, September 26,1780

LETTER XXV.—TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON, September 26,1780

Richmond, September 26,1780. The enclosed copy of a letter from Lord Cornwallis [See Appendix, note E.] to Colonel Balfour, was sent me by Governor Rutledge: lest you should not have seen it, I do myself the pleasure of transmitting it, with a letter from General Harrington to General Gates giving information of some late movements of the enemy. I was honored yesterday with your favor of the 5th instant, on the subject of prisoners, and particularly Lieutenant Governor Hamilton. You are not unap

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LETTER XXVI.—TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES, October 4, 1780

LETTER XXVI.—TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES, October 4, 1780

TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES. Richmond, October 4, 1780. Sir, My letter of September 23rd answered your favors received before that date, and the present serves to acknowledge the receipt of those of September 24th and 27th. I retain in mind, and recur, almost daily, to your requisitions of August; we have, as yet, no prospect of more than one hundred tents. Flour is ordered to be manufactured, as soon as the season will render it safe; out of which, I trust, we can furnish not only your requisition o

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LETTER XXVII.—TO GENERAL GATES, October 15, 1780

LETTER XXVII.—TO GENERAL GATES, October 15, 1780

TO GENERAL GATES. Richmond, October 15, 1780. Sir, I am rendered not a little anxious by the paragraph of yours of the 7th instant, wherein you say, ‘It is near a month since I received any letter from your Excellency; indeed, the receipt of most that I have written to you, remains unacknowledged.’ You ought, within that time, to have received my letter of September the 3rd, written immediately on my return to this place, after a fortnight’s absence; that of September the 11th, acknowledging the

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LETTER XXVIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 22, 1780

LETTER XXVIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 22, 1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, October 22, 1780. Sir, I have this morning received certain information of the arrival of a hostile fleet in our bay, of about sixty sail. The debarkation of some light-horse, in the neighborhood of Portsmouth, seems to indicate that as the first scene of action. We are endeavoring to collect as large a body to oppose them as we can arm: this will be lamentably inadequate, if the enemy be in any force. It is mortifying to suppose that a people, abl

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LETTER XXIX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 25,1780

LETTER XXIX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 25,1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, October 25,1780. Sir, I take the liberty of enclosing to you letters from Governor Hamilton, for New York. On some representations received by Colonel Towles, that an indulgence to Governor Hamilton and his companions to go to New York, on parole, would produce the happiest,effect on the situation of our officers in Long Island, we have given him, Major Hay, and some of the same party at Winchester, leave to go there on parole. The two former go by

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LETTER XXX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 26, 1780

LETTER XXX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, October 26, 1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, October 26, 1780. Sir, The Executive of this State think it expedient, under our present circumstances, that the prisoners of war under the Convention of Saratoga, be removed from their present situation. It will be impossible, as long as they remain with us, to prevent the hostile army from being reinforced by numerous desertions from this corps; and this expectation may be one among the probable causes of this movement of the enemy. Should, moreo

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LETTER XXXI.—TO GENERAL GATES, October 28, 1780

LETTER XXXI.—TO GENERAL GATES, October 28, 1780

TO GENERAL GATES. Richmond, October 28, 1780. Sir, Your letters of the 14th, 20th, and 21st have come to hand, and your despatches to Congress have been regularly forwarded. I shall attend to the caveat against Mr. Ochiltree’s bill. Your letter to Colonel Senf remains still in my hands, as it did not come till the enemy had taken possession of the ground, on which I knew him to have been, and I have since no certain information where a letter might surely find him. My proposition as to your bill

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LETTER XXXII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 3,1780

LETTER XXXII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 3,1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, November 3,1780. Sir, Since I had the honor of writing to your Excellency, on the 25th ultimo, the enemy have withdrawn their forces from the north side of James river, and have taken post at Portsmouth, which, we learn, they are fortifying. Their highest post is Suffolk, where there is a very narrow and defensible pass between Nansemond river and the Dismal Swamp, which covers the country below, from being entered by us. More accurate information

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LETTER XXXIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 10, 1780

LETTER XXXIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 10, 1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, November 10, 1780. Sir, I enclose your Excellency a copy of an intercepted letter from Major General Leslie to Lord Cornwallis. [See Appendix, note F.] It was taken from a person endeavoring to pass through the country from Portsmouth towards Carolina. When apprehended, and a proposal made to search him, he readily consented to be searched, but, at the same time, was observed to put his hand into his pocket and carry something towards his mouth, as

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LETTER XXXIV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 26, 1780

LETTER XXXIV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 26, 1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, November 26, 1780. Sir, I have been honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 8th instant. Having found it impracticable to move, suddenly, the whole Convention troops, British and German, and it being represented that there could not, immediately, be covering provided for them all at Fort Frederick, we concluded to march off the British first, from whom was the principal danger of desertion, and to permit the Germans, who show little dispositio

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LETTER XXXV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 15,1780

LETTER XXXV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 15,1780

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, December 15,1780. Sir, I had the honor of writing to your Excellency on the subject of an expedition contemplated by this State, against the British post at Detroit, and of receiving your answer of October the 10th. Since the date of my letter, the face of things has so far changed, as to leave it no longer optional in us to attempt or decline the expedition, but compels us to decide in the affirmative, and to begin our preparations immediately. Th

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LETTER XXXVI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, January 10, 1781

LETTER XXXVI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, January 10, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, January 10, 1781. Sir, It may seem odd, considering the important events which have taken place in this State within the course of ten days, that I should not have transmitted an account of them to your Excellency; but such has been their extraordinary rapidity, and such the unremitted attention they have required from all concerned in government, that I do not recollect the portion of time which I could have taken to commit them to paper. On the 3

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LETTER XXXVII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 15, 1781

LETTER XXXVII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 15, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Richmond, January 15,1781. Sir, As the dangers which threaten our western frontiers, the ensuing spring, render it necessary that we should send thither Colonel Crocket’s battalion, at present on guard at Fredericktown, but raised for the western service, I thought it necessary to give your Excellency previous information thereof, that other forces may be provided in time to succeed to their duties. Captain Read’s troop of horse, if necessary, may be

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LETTER XXXVIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 15, 1781

LETTER XXXVIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 15, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Richmond, January 15, 1781. I received some time ago from Major Forsyth, and afterwards from you, a requisition to furnish one half the supplies of provision for the Convention troops, removed into Maryland. I should sooner have done myself the honor of writing to you on this subject, but that I hoped to have laid it before you more fully than could be done in writing, by a gentleman who was to pass on other public business to Philadelphia. The late e

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LETTER XXXIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 17, 1781

LETTER XXXIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 17, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Richmond, January 17, 1781. Sir, I do myself the honor of transmitting to your Excellency a resolution of the General Assembly of this Commonwealth, entered into in consequence of the resolution of Congress of September the 6th, 1780, on the subject of the Confederation. I shall be rendered very happy if the other States of the Union, equally impressed with the necessity of that important convention, shall be willing to sacrifice equally to its comple

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LETTER XL.—TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, Jan. 18, 1781

LETTER XL.—TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, Jan. 18, 1781

TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS. Richmond, January 18, 1781. Gentlemen, I enclose you a Resolution of Assembly, directing your conduct as to the navigation of the Mississippi. The loss of powder lately sustained by us (about five tons), together with the quantities sent on to the southward, have reduced our stock very low indeed. We lent to Congress, in the course of the last year (previous to our issues for the southern army), about ten tons of powder. I shall be obliged to you to procure

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LETTER XLI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 8, 1781

LETTER XLI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 8, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, February 8, 1781. Sir, I have just received intelligence, which, though from a private hand, I believe is to be relied on, that a fleet of the enemy’s ships have entered Cape Fear river, that eight of them had got over the bar, and many others were lying off; and that it was supposed to be a reinforcement to Lord Cornwallis, under the command of General Prevost. This account, which had come through another channel, is confirmed by a letter from Gen

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LETTER XLII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 12, 1781

LETTER XLII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 12, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, February 12, 1781. Sir, The enclosed extract from a letter from Governor Nash, which I received this day, being a confirmation of the intelligence I transmitted in a former letter, I take the liberty of transmitting it to your Excellency. I am informed, through a private channel, on which I have considerable reliance, that the enemy had landed five hundred troops under the command of a Major Craig, who were joined by a number of disaffected; that t

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LETTER XLIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 17, 1781

LETTER XLIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 17, 1781

Richmond, February 17, 1781. By a letter from General Greene, dated Guilford Court House, February 10th, we are informed that Lord Cornwallis had burned his own wagons in order to enable himself to move with greater facility, and had pressed immediately on. The prisoners taken at the Cow-pens, were happily saved by the accidental rise of a water-course, which gave so much time as to withdraw them from the reach of the enemy. Lord Cornwallis had advanced to the vicinities of the Moravian towns, a

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LETTER XLIV.—TO GENERAL GATES, February 17, 1781

LETTER XLIV.—TO GENERAL GATES, February 17, 1781

TO GENERAL GATES. Richmond, February 17, 1781. Dear General, The situation of affairs here and in Carolina is such as must shortly turn up important events, one way orihe other. By letter from General Greene, dated Guilford Court House, February the 10th, I learn that Lord Cornwallis, rendered furious by the affair of the Cowpens and the surprise of Georgetown, had burned his own wagons, to enable himself to move with facility, had pressed on to the vicinity of the Moravian towns, and was still

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LETTER XLV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 26,1781

LETTER XLV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, February 26,1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, February 26,1781. Sir, I gave you information in my last letter, that General Greene had crossed the Dan, at Boyd’s Ferry, and that Lord Cornwallis had arrived at the opposite shore. Large reinforcements of militia having embodied both in front and rear of the enemy, he is retreating with as much rapidity as he advanced; his route is towards Hillsborough. General Greene re-crossed the Dan on the 21st, in pursuit of him. I have the pleasure to infor

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LETTER XLVI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, March 8, 1781

LETTER XLVI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, March 8, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, March 8, 1781. Sir, I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from General Greene, dated High-rock Ford, February 29th (probably March the 1st), who informs me, that, on the night of the 24th, Colonel M’Call surprised a subaltern’s guard at Hart’s Mill, killed eight, and wounded and took nine prisoners, and that on the 25th, General Pickens and Lieutenant Colonel Lee routed a body of near three hundred tories, on the Haw river, who were in arms to j

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LETTER XLVII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 19,1781

LETTER XLVII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 19,1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Richmond, March 19,1781; Sir, I have the honor of enclosing to your Excellency a copy of a letter from General Greene, with some other intelligence received, not doubting your anxiety to know the movements in the South. I find we have deceived ourselves not a little, by counting on the whole numbers of the militia which have been in motion, as if they had all remained with General Greene, when, in fact, they seem only to have visited and quitted him.

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LETTER XLVIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 21, 1781

LETTER XLVIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 21, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Richmond, March 21, 1781. Sir, The enclosed letter will inform you of the arrival of a British fleet in Chesapeake bay. The extreme negligence of our stationed expresses is no doubt the cause why, as yet, no authentic account has reached us of a general action, which happened on the 15th instant, about a mile and a half from Guilford Court House, between General Greene and Lord Cornwallis. Captain Singleton, an intelligent officer of Harrison’s artill

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LETTER XLIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 26,1781

LETTER XLIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 26,1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. In Council, Richmond, March 26,1781. Sir, The appointment of commissioner to the war-office of this State having lately become vacant, the Executive are desirous to place Colonel William Davies, of the Virginia Continentals, in that office. This gentleman, however, declines undertaking it, unless his rank in the army, half pay for life and allowance for depreciation of pay, can be reserved to him; observing with justice, that these emoluments, distant

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LETTER L.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 28, 1781

LETTER L.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 28, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Richmond, March 28, 1781. Sir, I forward to your Excellency, under cover with this, copies of letters received from Major General Greene and Baron Steuben, which will give you the latest account of the situation of things with us and in North Carolina. I observe a late resolve of Congress, for furnishing a number of arms to the southern states; and I lately wrote you on the subject of ammunition and cartridge-paper. How much of this State, the enemy t

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LETTER LI.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 31, 1781

LETTER LI.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, March 31, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Richmond, March 31, 1781. Sir, The letters and papers accompanying this, will inform your Excellency of the arrival of a British flag vessel with clothing, refreshments, money, &amp;c. for their prisoners under the Convention of Saratoga. The gentlemen conducting them have, on supposition that the prisoners, or a part of them, still remained in this State, applied to me by letters, copies of which I transmit your Excellency, for leave to allow wat

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LETTER LII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, April 7, 1781

LETTER LII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, April 7, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Richmond, April 7, 1781. Sir, Hearing that our arms from Rhode Island have arrived at Philadelphia, I have begged the favor of our Delegates to send them on in wagons immediately, and, for the conveyance of my letter, have taken the liberty of setting the Continental line of expresses in motion, which I hope our distress for arms will justify, though the errand be not purely Continental. I have nothing from General Greene later than the 27th of March;

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LETTER LIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, April 18, 1781

LETTER LIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, April 18, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. In Council, April 18, 1781. Sir, I was honored, yesterday, with your Excellency’s favor enclosing the resolutions of Congress of the 8th instant, for removing stores and provisions from the counties of Accomack and Northampton. We have there no military stores, except a few muskets in the hands of the militia. There are some collections of forage and provisions belonging to the Continent, and some to the State, and the country there, generally, furnis

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LETTER LIV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, April 23,1781

LETTER LIV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, April 23,1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON Richmond, April 23,1781. Sir, On the 18th instant, the enemy came from Portsmouth up James river, in considerable force, though their numbers are not yet precisely known to us. They landed at Burwell’s Ferry, below Williamsburg, and also a short distance above the mouth of Chickahominy. This latter circumstance obliged Colonel Innis, who commanded a body of militia, stationed on that side the river to cover the country from depredation, to retire upwards, les

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LETTER LV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 9, 1781

LETTER LV.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 9, 1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Richmond, May 9, 1781. Sir, Since the last letter which I had the honor of addressing to your Excellency, the military movements in this State, except a very late one, have scarcely merited communication. The enemy, after leaving Williamsburg, came directly up James river and landed at City Point, being the point of land on the southern side of the confluence of Appomatox and James rivers. They marched up to Petersburg, where they were received by Baron Steu

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LETTER LVI.—TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, May 10, 1781

LETTER LVI.—TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, May 10, 1781

TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS. In Council, May 10, 1781. Gentlemen, A small affair has taken place between the British commanding officer in this state, General Phillips, and the Executive, of which, as he may endeavor to get rid of it through the medium of Congress, I think it necessary previously to apprise you. General Scott obtained permission from the Commandant at Charleston, for vessels with necessary supplies to go from hence to them, but instead of sending the original, sent onl

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LETTER LVII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 28,1781

LETTER LVII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 28,1781

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON. Charlottesville, May 28,1781. Sir, I make no doubt you will have heard, before this shall have the honor of being presented to your Excellency, of the junction of Lord Cornwallis with the force at Petersburg under Arnold, who had succeeded to the command on the death of Major General Phillips. I am now advised that they have evacuated Petersburg, joined at Westover a reinforcement of two thousand men just arrived from New York, crossed James river, and on th

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LETTER, LVIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, April 16, 1784

LETTER, LVIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, April 16, 1784

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON. Annapolis, April 16, 1784. Dear Sir, I received your favor of April the 8th, by Colonel Harrison, The subject of it is interesting, and, so far as you have stood connected with it, has been matter of anxiety to me; because, whatever may be the ultimate fate of the institution of the Cincinnati, as, in its course, it draws to it some degree of disapprobation, I have wished to see you standing on ground separated from it, and that the character which will be handed to future

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LETTER LIX.—TO COLONEL URIAH FORREST, October 20, 1784

LETTER LIX.—TO COLONEL URIAH FORREST, October 20, 1784

TO COLONEL URIAH FORREST. Paris, Cul-de-Sac Tetebout, October 20, 1784. Sir, I received yesterday your favor of the 8th instant, and this morning went to Auteuil and Passy, to consult with Mr. Adams and Dr. Franklin on the subject of it. We conferred together, and think it is a case in which we could not interpose (were there as yet cause for interposition) without express instructions from Congress. It is, however, our private opinion, which we give as individuals, only, that Mr. McLanahan, whi

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LETTER LX.—TO JOHN JAY, May 11, 1785

LETTER LX.—TO JOHN JAY, May 11, 1785

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, May 11, 1785. I was honored on the 2nd instant with the receipt of your favor of March the 15th, enclosing the resolution of Congress of the 10th of the same month, appointing me their Minister Plenipotentiary at this court, and also of your second letter of March 22nd, covering the commission and letter of credence for that appointment. I beg permission through you, Sir, to testify to Congress my gratitude for this new mark of their favor, and my assurances of endeavoring to

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LETTER LXI.—TO GENERAL CHASTELLUX, June 7,1785

LETTER LXI.—TO GENERAL CHASTELLUX, June 7,1785

TO GENERAL CHASTELLUX. Paris, June 7,1785. Dear Sir, I have been honored with the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, and am to thank you, as I do sincerely, for the partiality with which you receive the copy of the Notes on my country. As I can answer for the facts therein reported on my own observation, and have admitted none on the report of others, which were not supported by evidence sufficient to command my own assent, I am not afraid that you should make any extracts you please for

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LETTER LXII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 15, 1785

LETTER LXII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 15, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Passy, June 15, 1785. Sir, Among the instructions given to the ministers of the United States for treating with foreign powers, was one of the 11th of May, 1784, relative to an individual of the name of John Baptist Picquet. It contains an acknowledgement, on the part of Congress, of his merits and sufferings by friendly services rendered to great numbers of American seamen carried prisoners into Lisbon, and refers to us the delivering him these acknowledgements in honorable terms

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LETTER LXIII.—TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, June 16, 1785

LETTER LXIII.—TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, June 16, 1785

TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA. Paris, June 16, 1785. Sir, I had the honor of receiving, the day before yesterday, the resolution of Council, of March the 10th, and your letter of March the 30th, and shall, with great pleasure, unite my endeavors with those of the Marquis de la Fayette and Mr. Barclay, for the purpose of procuring the arms desired. Nothing can be more wise than this determination to arm our people, as it is impossible to say when our neighbors may think proper to give them exercise

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LETTER LXIV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, June 17, 1785

LETTER LXIV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, June 17, 1785

TO COLONEL MONROE. Paris, June 17, 1785. Dear Sir, I received three days ago your favor of April the 12th. You therein speak of a former letter to me, but it has not come to hand, nor any other of later date than the 14th of December. My last to you was of the 11th of May, by Mr. Adams, who went in the packet of that month. These conveyances are now becoming deranged. We have had expectations of their coming to Havre, which would infinitely facilitate the communication between Paris and Congress

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LETTER LXV.—TO CHARLES THOMSON, June 21, 1785

LETTER LXV.—TO CHARLES THOMSON, June 21, 1785

TO CHARLES THOMSON. Paris, June 21, 1785. Dear Sir, Your favor of March the 6th has come duly to hand. You therein acknowledge the receipt of mine of November the 11th; at that time you could not have received my last, of February the 8th. At present there is so little new in politics, literature, or the arts, that I write rather to prove to you my desire of nourishing your correspondence than of being able to give you any thing interesting at this time. The political world is almost lulled to s

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LETTER LXVI.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, June 22, 1785

LETTER LXVI.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, June 22, 1785

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Paris, June 22, 1785. Sir, Your letter of April the 4th came to my hands on the 16th of that month, and was acknowledged by mine of May the 3rd. That which you did me the honor to write me on the 5th of April, never came to hand until the 19th of May, upwards of a month after the one of the day before. I have hopes of sending the present by a Mr. Jarvis, who went from hence to Holland some time ago. About this date, I suppose him to be at Brussels, and that from thence he

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LETTER LXVII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 23, 1785

LETTER LXVII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 23, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, June 23, 1785. Dear Sir, My last to you was of the 2nd instant, since which I have received yours of the 3rd and 7th. I informed you in mine of the substance of our letter to Baron Thulemeyer: last night came to hand his acknowledgment of the receipt of it. He accedes to the method proposed for signing, and has forwarded our despatch to the King. I enclose you a copy of our letter to Mr. Jay, to go by the packet of this month. It contains a statement of our proceedings sinc

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LETTER LXVIII.—TO COLONEL MONROE, July 5, 1785

LETTER LXVIII.—TO COLONEL MONROE, July 5, 1785

TO COLONEL MONROE. Paris, July 5, 1785. Dear Sir, I wrote you, by Mr. Adams, May the 11th, and by Mr. Otto, June the 17th. The latter acknowledged the receipt of yours of April the 12th, which is the only one come to hand of later date than December the 14th. Little has occurred since my last. Peace seems to show herself under a more decided form. The Emperor is now on a journey to Italy, and the two Dutch Plenipotentiaries have set out for Vienna; there to make an apology for their State having

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LETTER LXIX.—TO MRS. SPROWLE, July 5,1785

LETTER LXIX.—TO MRS. SPROWLE, July 5,1785

TO MRS. SPROWLE. Paris, July 5,1785. Madam, Your letter of the 21st of June, has come safely to hand. That which you had done me the honor of writing before, has not yet been received. It having gone by Dr. Witherspoon to America, which I had left before his return to it, the delay is easily accounted for. I wish you may be rightly informed that the property of Mr. Sprowle is yet unsold. It was advertised so long ago, as to found a presumption that the sale has taken place. In any event, you may

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LETTER LXX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 7, 1785

LETTER LXX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 7, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, July 7, 1785. Dear Sir, This will accompany a joint letter enclosing the draft of a treaty? and my private letter of June 23rd, which has waited so long for a private conveyance. We daily expect from the Baron Thulemeyer the French column for our treaty with his sovereign. In the mean while, two copies are preparing with the English column, which Dr. Franklin wishes to sign before his departure, which will be within four or five days. The French, when received, will be inse

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LETTER LXXI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, July 10, 1785

LETTER LXXI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, July 10, 1785

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON. Paris, July 10, 1785. Dear Sir, Mr. Houdon would much sooner have had the honor of attending you, but for a spell of sickness, which long induced us to despair of his recovery, and from which he is but recently recovered. He comes now, for the purpose of lending the aid of his art to transmit you to posterity. He is without rivalship in it, being employed from all parts of Europe in whatever is capital. He has had a difficulty to withdraw himself from an order of the Empre

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LETTER LXXII.—TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, July 11, 1785

LETTER LXXII.—TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, July 11, 1785

TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA. Paris, July 11, 1785. Sir, Mr. Houdon’s long and desperate illness has retarded, till now, his departure for Virginia. We had hoped, from our first conversations with him, that it would be easy to make our terms, and that the cost of the statue and expense of sending him, would be but about a thousand guineas. But when we came to settle this precisely, he thought himself obliged to ask vastly more insomuch, that, at one moment, we thought our treaty at an end. But un

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LETTER LXXIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, July 12, 1785

LETTER LXXIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, July 12, 1785

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. (Private.) Paris, July 12, 1785. Dear Sir, I was honored, two days ago, with yours of May the 16th, and thank you for the intelligence it contained, much of which was new to me. It was the only letter I received by this packet, except one from Mr. Hopkinson, on philosophical subjects. I generally write about a dozen by every packet, and receive sometimes one, sometimes two, and sometimes ne’er a one. You are right in supposing all letters opened which come either th

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LETTER LXXIV.—TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, July 12,1785

LETTER LXXIV.—TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, July 12,1785

TO THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS. Paris, July 12,1785. Gentlemen, In consequence of the orders of the legislative and executive bodies of Virginia, I have engaged Monsieur Houdon to make the statue of General Washington. For this purpose it is necessary for him to see the General. He therefore goes with Doctor Franklin, and will have the honor of delivering you this himself. As his journey is at the expense of the State, according to our contract, I will pray you to favor him with your patr

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LETTER LXXV.—TO JOHN JAY, July 12,1785

LETTER LXXV.—TO JOHN JAY, July 12,1785

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, July 12,1785. Sir, My last letter to you was dated the 17th of June. The present serves to cover some papers put into my hands by Captain Paul Jones. They respect an ancient matter, which is shortly this. While Captain Jones was hovering on the coast of England, in the year 1779, a British pilot, John Jackson by name, came on board him, supposing him to be British. Captain Jones found it convenient to detain him as a pilot, and, in the action with the Serapis, which ensued, t

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LETTER LXXVI.—TO MONSIEUR BRIET, July 13, 1785

LETTER LXXVI.—TO MONSIEUR BRIET, July 13, 1785

Paris, July 13, 1785. Sir, I am glad to hear that the Council have ordered restitution of the merchandise seized at L’Orient, contrary to the freedom of the place. When a court of justice has taken cognizance of a complaint, and has given restitution of the principal subject, if it refuses some of the accessories, we are to presume that some circumstance of evidence appeared to them, unknown to us, and which rendered its refusal just and proper. So, in the present case, if any circumstances in t

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LETTER LXXVII.—TO MESSRS. FRENCH AND NEPHEW, July 13,1785

LETTER LXXVII.—TO MESSRS. FRENCH AND NEPHEW, July 13,1785

TO MESSRS. FRENCH AND NEPHEW. Paris, July 13,1785. Gentlemen, I had the honor of receiving your letter of June the 21st, enclosing one from Mr. Alexander of June the 17th, and a copy of his application to Monsieur de Calonne. I am very sensible that no trade can be on a more desperate footing than that of tobacco, in this country; and that our merchants must abandon the French markets, if they are not permitted to sell the productions they bring, on such terms as will enable them to purchase rea

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LETTER LXXVIII.—TO DR. STILES, July 17,1785

LETTER LXXVIII.—TO DR. STILES, July 17,1785

Sir, Paris, July 17,1785. I have long deferred doing myself the honor of writing to you, wishing for an opportunity to accompany my letter with a copy of the BibliothÃ¨que Physico-oeconomique , a book published here lately in four small volumes, and which gives an account of all the improvements in the arts which have been made for some years past. I flatter myself you will find in it many things agreeable and useful. I accompany it with the volumes of the Connoissance des Terns for the years 17

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LETTER LXXIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 28, 1785

LETTER LXXIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 28, 1785

Paris, July 28, 1785. Dear Sir, Your favors of Jury the 16th and 18th came to hand the same day on which I had received Baron Thulemeyer’s, enclosing the ultimate draught for the treaty. As this draught, which was in French, was to be copied into the two instruments which Dr. Franklin had signed, it is finished this day only. Mr. Short sets out immediately. I have put into his hands a letter of instructions how to conduct himself, which I have signed, leaving a space above for your signature. Th

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LETTER LXXX.—TO HOGENDORP, July 29, 1785

LETTER LXXX.—TO HOGENDORP, July 29, 1785

TO HOGENDORP. Paris, July 29, 1785. Dear Sir, By an American gentleman who went to the Hague, about a month ago, I sent you a copy of my Notes on Virginia. Having since that received some copies of the revisal of our laws, of which you had desired one, I now send it to you. I congratulate you sincerely on the prospect of your country’s being freed from the menace of war, which, however just, is always expensive and calamitous, and sometimes unsuccessful. Congress, having made a very considerable

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LETTER LXXXI.—TO MESSRS. N. AND J. VAN STAPHORST, July 30, 1785

LETTER LXXXI.—TO MESSRS. N. AND J. VAN STAPHORST, July 30, 1785

Paris, July 30, 1785. Gentlemen, I received yesterday your favor of the 25th. Supposing that the funds, which are the object of your inquiry, are those which constitute what we call our domestic debt, it is my opinion that they are absolutely secure: I have no doubt at all but that they will be paid, with their interest at six per cent. But I cannot say that they are as secure and solid as the funds which constitute our foreign debt: because no man in America ever entertained a doubt that our fo

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LETTER LXXXII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 31, 1785

LETTER LXXXII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 31, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, July 31, 1785. Dear Sir, I was honored yesterday with yours of the 24th instant. When the first article of our instructions of May 7th, 1784, was under debate in Congress, it was proposed that neither party should make the other pay, in their ports, greater duties, than they paid in the ports of the other. One objection to this was, its impracticability; another, that it would put it out of our power to lay such duties on alien importation as might encourage importation by

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LETTER LXXXIII.—TO M. DE CASTRIES, August 3,1785

LETTER LXXXIII.—TO M. DE CASTRIES, August 3,1785

TO M. DE CASTRIES. Paris, August 3,1785. Sir, The enclosed copy of a letter from Captain John Paul Jones, on the subject on which your Excellency did me the honor to write me, on the day of July, will inform you that there is still occasion to be troublesome to you. A Mr. Puchilburg, a merchant of L’Orient, who seems to have kept himself unknown till money was to be received, now presents powers to receive it, signed by the American officers and crews: and this produces a hesitation in the perso

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LETTER LXXXIV.—TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 3,1785

LETTER LXXXIV.—TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 3,1785

TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES. Paris, August 3,1785. Sir, I received yesterday your favor of the 29th, and have written on the subject of it to the MarÃ©chal de Castries this morning. You shall have an answer as soon as I receive one. Will you be so good as to make an inquiry into all the circumstances relative to Peyrouse’s expedition, which seem to ascertain his destination. Particularly what number of men, and of what conditions and vocations, had he on board? What animals, their species and num

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LETTER LXXXV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 6, 1785

LETTER LXXXV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 6, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, August 6, 1785. Dear Sir, I now enclose you a draught of a treaty for the Barbary States, together with the notes Dr. Franklin left me. I have retained a press copy of this draught, so that by referring to any article, line, and word, in it, you can propose amendments and send them by the post, without any body’s being able to make much of the main subject. I shall be glad to receive any alterations you may think necessary, as soon as convenient, that this matter may be in

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LETTER LXXXVI.—TO DR. PRICE, August 7,1785

LETTER LXXXVI.—TO DR. PRICE, August 7,1785

TO DR. PRICE. Paris, August 7,1785. Sir, Your favor of July the 2nd came duly to hand. The concern you therein express as to the effect of your pamphlet in America, induces me to trouble you with some observations on that subject. From my acquaintance with that country, I think I am able to judge, with some degree of certainty, of the manner in which it will have been received. Southward of the Chesapeake it will find but few readers concurring with it in sentiment, on the subject of slavery. Fr

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LETTER LXXXVII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 10,1785

LETTER LXXXVII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 10,1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, August 10,1785. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 4th instant came to hand yesterday. I now enclose you the two ArrÃªts against the importation of foreign manufactures into this kingdom. The cause of the balance against this country in favor of England, as well as its amount, is not agreed on. No doubt, the rage for English manufactures must be a principal cause. The speculators in exchange say, also, that those of the circumjacent countries, who have a balance in their favor aga

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LETTER LXXXVIII.—TO MRS. SPROWLE, August 10, 1785

LETTER LXXXVIII.—TO MRS. SPROWLE, August 10, 1785

TO MRS. SPROWLE. Paris, August 10, 1785. Madam, In your letter of June the 21st, you asked my opinion whether yourself or your son might venture to go to Virginia, to claim your possessions there? I had the honor of writing you, on the 5th of July, that you might safely go there; that your person would be sacredly safe, and free from insult. I expressed my hopes, too, that the Assembly of Virginia would, in the end, adopt the just and useful measure of restoring property unsold, and the price of

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LETTER LXXXIX.—TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 13, 1785

LETTER LXXXIX.—TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 13, 1785

TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES. Paris, August 13, 1785. Sir, Supposing you may be anxious to hear from hence, though there should be nothing interesting to communicate, I write by Mr. Cairnes merely to inform you, that I have, as yet, received no answer from the Marechal de Castries. I am in daily expectation of one. Should it not be received soon, I shall urge it again, which I wish to avoid however, if possible; because I think it better to await with patience a favorable decision, than by becomin

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LETTER XC.—TO MESSRS. BUCHANAN AND HAY, August 13, 1785

LETTER XC.—TO MESSRS. BUCHANAN AND HAY, August 13, 1785

TO MESSRS. BUCHANAN AND HAY. Gentlemen, Your favor of March the 20th came to hand the 14th of June, and the next day I wrote to you, acknowledging the receipt, and apprizing you, that between that date and the 1st of August, it would be impossible to procure, and get to your hands, the drafts you desired. I did hope, indeed, to have had them prepared before this, but it will yet be some time before they will be in readiness. I flatter myself, however, they will give you satisfaction when you rec

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LETTER XCI.—TO JOHN JAY, August 14, 1785

LETTER XCI.—TO JOHN JAY, August 14, 1785

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, August 14, 1785. Sir, I was honored, on the 22nd ultimo, with the receipt of your letter of June the 15th; and delivered the letter therein enclosed, from the President of Congress to the King. I took an opportunity of asking the Count de Vergennes, whether the Chevalier Luzerne proposed to return to America. He answered me that he did; and that he was here, for a time only, to arrange his private affairs. Of course, this stopped my proceeding further in compliance with the h

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LETTER XCII.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, August 15, 1785

LETTER XCII.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, August 15, 1785

TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES. Paris, August 15, 1785. Sir, In the conversation which I had the honor of having with your Excellency, a few days ago, on the importance of placing, at this time, the commerce between France and America on the best footing possible, among other objects of this commerce, that of tobacco was mentioned, as susceptible of greater encouragement and advantage to the two nations. Always distrusting what I say in a language I speak so imperfectly, I will beg your permission to

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LETTER XCIII.—TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 17, 1785

LETTER XCIII.—TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 17, 1785

TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES. Sir, Paris, August 17, 1785. Mine of the 13th informed you that I had written to the M. de Castries on the subject of Puchilberg’s interference. Yesterday I received his answer dated the 12th. In that, he says that he is informed by the Ordonnateur , that he has not been able to get an authentic roll of the crew of the Alliance, and that, in the probable case of there having been some French subjects among them, it will be just that you should give security to repay t

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LETTER XCIV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, August 18, 1785

LETTER XCIV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, August 18, 1785

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Pads, August 18, 1785. Dear Sir, My last to you was of June the 22nd, with a postscript of July the 14th. Yours of June the 27th came to hand the 23rd of July, and that of July the 28th came to hand the 10th instant. The papers enclosed in the last shall be communicated to Mr. Adams. I see with extreme satisfaction and gratitude, the friendly interposition of the court of Spain with the Emperor of Morocco, on the subject of the brig Betsy, and I am persuaded it will produc

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LETTER XCV.—TO PETER CARR—Advice to a young man, Aug. 19, 1785

LETTER XCV.—TO PETER CARR—Advice to a young man, Aug. 19, 1785

TO PETER CARR. Paris, August 19, 1785. Dear Peter, I received, by Mr. Mazzei, your letter of April the 20th. I am much mortified to hear that you have lost so much time; and that when you arrived in Williamsburg, you were not at all advanced from what you were when you left Monticello. Time now begins to be precious to you. Every day you lose, will retard a day your entrance on that public stage whereon you may begin to be useful to yourself. However, the way to repair the loss is to improve the

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LETTER XCVI.—TO JOHN PAGE, August 20 1785

LETTER XCVI.—TO JOHN PAGE, August 20 1785

TO JOHN PAGE. Paris, August 20 1785. Dear Page, I received your friendly letter of April the 28th, by Mr. Mazzei, on the 22nd of July. That of the month before, by Monsieur La Croix, has not come to hand. This correspondence is grateful to some of my warmest feelings, as the friendships of my youth are those which adhere closest to me, and in which I most confide. My principal happiness is now in the retrospect of life. I thank you for your notes of your operations on the Pennsylvania boundary.

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LETTER XCVII.—TO JOHN JAY, August 23, 1785

LETTER XCVII.—TO JOHN JAY, August 23, 1785

TO JOHN JAY. (Private.) Paris, August 23, 1785. Dear Sir, I shall sometimes ask your permission to write you letters, not official, but private. The present is of this kind, and is occasioned by the question proposed in yours of June the 14th; ‘Whether it would be useful to us, to carry all our own productions, or none?’ Were we perfectly free to decide this question, I should reason as follows. We have now lands enough to employ an infinite number of people in their cultivation. Cultivators of

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LETTER XCVIII.—TO COLONEL MONROE, August 28, 1735

LETTER XCVIII.—TO COLONEL MONROE, August 28, 1735

Paris, August 28, 1735. Dear Sir, I wrote you on the 5th of July by Mr. Franklin, and on the 12th of the same month by Monsieur Houdon. Since that date, yours of June the 16th, by Mr. Mazzei, has been received. Every thing looks like peace here. The settlement between the Emperor and Dutch is not yet published, but it is believed to be agreed on. Nothing is done, as yet, between him and the Porte. He is much wounded by the confederation of several of the Germanic body, at the head of which is th

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LETTER XCIX.—TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 29,1785

LETTER XCIX.—TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES, August 29,1785

TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES. Paris, August 29,1785. Sir, I received this moment a letter from the Marechal de Castries, of which the enclosed is a copy. Having engaged to him to solicit orders for the payment of any part of this money due to French subjects to be made here, and moreover engaged that, in the mean time, I will order payment, should any such claimants offer themselves; I pray you to furnish me with all the evidence you can, as to what French subjects may be entitled to any part of t

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LETTER C.—TO JOHN JAY, August 30,1785

LETTER C.—TO JOHN JAY, August 30,1785

Paris, August 30,1785. I had the honor of writing to you on the 14th instant, by a Mr. Cannon of Connecticut, who was to sail in the packet. Since that date yours of July the 13th has come to hand. The times for the sailing of the packets being somewhat deranged, I avail myself of a conveyance for the present, by the Mr. Fitzhugbs of Virginia, who expect to land at Philadelphia. I enclose you a correspondence which has taken place between the Marechal de Castries, minister of the Marine, and mys

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LETTER CI.—TO JAMES MADISON, September 1,1785

LETTER CI.—TO JAMES MADISON, September 1,1785

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, September 1,1785. Dear Sir, My last to you by Monsieur de Doradour, was dated May the 11th. Since that, I have received yours of January the 22nd with six copies of the revisal, and that of April the 27th by Mr. Mazzei. All is quiet here. The Emperor and Dutch have certainly agreed, though they have not published their agreement. Most of his schemes in Germany must be postponed, if they are not prevented by the confederacy of many of the Germanic body, at the head of whi

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LETTER CII.—TO MESSRS. DUMAS AND SHORT, September 1, 1785

LETTER CII.—TO MESSRS. DUMAS AND SHORT, September 1, 1785

TO MESSRS. DUMAS AND SHORT. Paris, September 1, 1785. Gentlemen, I have been duly honored with the receipt of your separate letters of August 23rd, and should sooner have returned an answer, but that as you had written also to Mr. Adams, I thought it possible I might receive his sentiments on the subject, in time for the post. Not thinking it proper to lose the occasion of the post, I have concluded to communicate to you my separate sentiments, which you will of course pay attention to, only so

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LETTER CIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 4, 1785

LETTER CIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 4, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, September 4, 1785. Dear Sir, On receipt of your favors of August the 18th and 23rd, I conferred with Mr. Barclay on the measures necessary to be taken to set our treaty with the piratical States into motion, through his agency. Supposing that we should begin with the Emperor of Morocco, a letter to the Emperor and instructions to Mr. Barclay, seemed necessary. I have therefore sketched such outlines for these, as appear to me to be proper. You will be so good as to detract,

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LETTER CIV.—TO DAVID HARTLEY, September 5, 1785

LETTER CIV.—TO DAVID HARTLEY, September 5, 1785

TO DAVID HARTLEY. Paris, September 5, 1785. Dear Sir, Your favor of April the 15th happened to be put into my hands at the same time with a large parcel of letters from America, which contained a variety of intelligence. It was then put where I usually place my unanswered letters; and I, from time to time, put off acknowledging the receipt of it, till I should be able to furnish you American intelligence worth communicating. A favorable opportunity, by a courier, of writing to you occurring this

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LETTER CV.—TO BARON GEISMER, September 6, 1785

LETTER CV.—TO BARON GEISMER, September 6, 1785

TO BARON GEISMER. Paris, September 6, 1785. Dear Sir, Your letter of March the 28th, which I received about a month after its date, gave me a very real pleasure, as it assured me of an existence which I valued, and of which I had been led to doubt. You are now too distant from America, to be much interested in what passes there. From the London gazettes, and the papers copying them, you are led to suppose that all there is anarchy, discontent, and civil war. Nothing, however, is less true. There

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LETTER CVI.—TO JOHN LANGDON, September 11, 1785

LETTER CVI.—TO JOHN LANGDON, September 11, 1785

TO JOHN LANGDON. Paris, September 11, 1785. Your Captain Yeaton being here, furnishes me an opportunity of paying the tribute of my congratulations on your appointment to the government of your State, which I do sincerely. He gives me the grateful intelligence of your health, and that of Mrs. Langdon. Anxious to promote your service, and believing he could do it by getting himself naturalized here, and authorized to command your vessel he came from Havre to Paris. But on making the best inquirie

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LETTER CVII.—LISTER ASQUITH, September 14, 1785

LETTER CVII.—LISTER ASQUITH, September 14, 1785

TO LISTER ASQUITH. Paris, September 14, 1785. Sir, Several of your letters have been received, and we have been occupied in endeavors to have you discharged: but these have been ineffectual. If our information be right, you are mistaken in supposing you are already condemned. The Farmers General tell us, you are to be tried at Brest, and this trial may perhaps be a month hence. From that court you may appeal to the Parliament of Rennes, and from that to the King in Council. They say, that from t

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LETTER CVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 19, 1785

LETTER CVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 19, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, September 19, 1785. Dear Sir, Lambe has arrived. He brings new full powers to us from Congress, to appoint persons to negotiate with the Barbary States; but we are to sign the treaties. Lambe has not even a recommendation from them to us, but it seems clear that he would be approved by them. I told him of Mr. Barclay’s appointment to Morocco, and proposed Algiers to him. He agrees. A small alteration in the form of our despatches will be necessary, and, of course, another c

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LETTER CIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, September 20, 1785

LETTER CIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, September 20, 1785

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, September 20, 1785. Dear Sir, By Mr. Fitzhugh, you will receive my letter of the first instant. He is still here, and gives me an opportunity of again addressing you much sooner than I should have done, but for the discovery of a great piece of inattention. In that letter I send you a detail of the cost of your books, and desire you to keep the amount in your hands, as if I had forgot that a part of it was in fact your own, as being a balance of what I had remained in yo

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LETTER CX.—TO EDMUND RANDOLPH, September 20,1785

LETTER CX.—TO EDMUND RANDOLPH, September 20,1785

TO EDMUND RANDOLPH. Paris, September 20,1785. Dear Sir, Being in your debt for ten volumes of Buffon, I have endeavored to find something that would be agreeable to you to receive, in return. I therefore send you, by way of Havre, a dictionary of law, natural and municipal, in thirteen volumes 4to, called Le Code de l’HumanitÃ© . It is published by Felice, but written by him and several other authors of established reputation. It is an excellent work. I do not mean to say, that it answers fully

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LETTER CXI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 24, 1785

LETTER CXI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 24, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, September 24, 1785. Dear Sir, I have received your favor of the 18th, enclosing your compliments on your presentation. The sentiments you therein expressed, were such as were entertained in America till the commercial proclamation, and such as would again return, were a rational conduct to be adopted by Great Britain. I think, therefore, you by no means compromitted yourself or our country, nor expressed more than it would be our interest to encourage, if they were disposed

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LETTER CXII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 24,1785

LETTER CXII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 24,1785

Paris, September 24,1785. Dear Sir, My letter of September the 19th, written the morning after Mr. Lambe’s arrival here, will inform you of that circumstance. I transmit you herewith, copies of the papers he brought to us on the subject of the Barbary treaties. You will see by them, that Congress have adopted the very plan which we were proposing to pursue. It will now go on with less danger of objection from the other parties. The receipt of these new papers, therefore, has rendered necessary n

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LETTER CXIII.—TO F. HOPKINSON, September 25, 1785

LETTER CXIII.—TO F. HOPKINSON, September 25, 1785

TO F. HOPKINSON. Paris, September 25, 1785. Dear Sir, My last to you was of the 6th of July. Since that, I have received yours of July the 23rd. I do not altogether despair of making something of your method of quilling, though, as yet, the prospect is not favorable. I applaud much your perseverance in improving this instrument, and benefiting mankind almost in spite of their teeth. I mentioned to Piccini the improvement with which I am entrusted. He plays on the piano-forte, and therefore did n

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LETTER CXIV.—TO LISTER ASQUITH, September 26,1785

LETTER CXIV.—TO LISTER ASQUITH, September 26,1785

TO LISTER ASQUITH. Paris, September 26,1785. Sir, I have received your letter of September the 19th, with your log-book and other papers. I now wait for the letter from your lawyer, as, till I know the real nature and state of your process, it is impossible for me to judge what can be done for you here. As soon as I receive them, you shall hear from me. In the mean time, I supposed it would be a comfort to you to know that your papers had come safe to hand, and that I shall be attentive to do wh

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LETTER CXV.—TO R. IZARD, September 26,1783

LETTER CXV.—TO R. IZARD, September 26,1783

TO R. IZARD. Paris, September 26,1783. Dear Sir, I received, a few days ago, your favor of the 10th of June, and am to thank you for the trouble you have given yourself, to procure me information on the subject of the commerce of your State. I pray you, also, to take the trouble of expressing my acknowledgments to the Governor and Chamber of Commerce, as well as to Mr. Hall, for the very precise details on this subject, with which they have been pleased to honor me. Your letter of last January,

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LETTER CXVI.—TO RICHARD O’BRYAN, September 29, 1785

LETTER CXVI.—TO RICHARD O’BRYAN, September 29, 1785

TO RICHARD O’BRYAN. Paris, September 29, 1785. Sir, I have received your letter, and shall exert myself for you. Be assured of hearing from me soon: but say nothing to any body, except what may be necessary to comfort your companions. I add no more, because the fate of this letter is uncertain. I am, Sir, your very humble servant,...

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LETTER CXVII.—TO MR. BELLINI, September 30,1785

LETTER CXVII.—TO MR. BELLINI, September 30,1785

TO MR. BELLINI. Paris, September 30,1785. Dear Sir, Your estimable favor, covering a letter to Mr. Mazzei, came to hand on the 26th instant. The letter to Mr. Mazzei was put into his hands in the same moment, as he happened to be present. I leave to him to convey to you all his complaints, as it will be more agreeable to me to express to you the satisfaction I received, on being informed of your perfect health. Though I could not receive the same pleasing news of Mrs. Bellini, yet the philosophy

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LETTER CXVIII.—JAMES MADISON, October 2, 1785

LETTER CXVIII.—JAMES MADISON, October 2, 1785

JAMES MADISON, of William and Mary College. Paris, October 2, 1785. I have duly received your favor of April the 10th, by Mr. Mazzei. You therein speak of a new method of raising water by steam, which you suppose will come into general use. I know of no new method of that kind, and suppose (as you say that the account you have received of it is very imperfect) that some person has represented to you, as new, a fire-engine erected at Paris, and which supplies the greater part of the town with wat

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LETTER CXIX.—TO DR. FRANKLIN, October 5,1785

LETTER CXIX.—TO DR. FRANKLIN, October 5,1785

TO DR. FRANKLIN. Paris, October 5,1785. Dear Sir, A vessel sailing from Havre to Philadelphia, furnishes the Messrs. Fitzhughs with a passage to that place. To them, therefore, I confide a number of letters and packets which I have received for you from sundry quarters, and which, I doubt not, they will deliver safe. Among these is one from M. Du Plessis. On receipt of your letter, in answer to the one I had written you, on the subject of his memorial, I sent to M. La Motte, M. Chaumont, and whe

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LETTER CXX.—TO SAMUEL OSGOOD, October 5, 1785

LETTER CXX.—TO SAMUEL OSGOOD, October 5, 1785

TO SAMUEL OSGOOD. Paris, October 5, 1785. Dear Sir, It was with very sincere pleasure I heard of your appointment to the board of treasury, as well from the hope that it might not be disagreeable to yourself, as from the confidence that your administration would be wise. I heartily wish the States may, by their contributions, enable you to re-establish a credit, which cannot be lower than at present, to exist at all. This is partly owing to their real deficiencies, and partly to the lies propaga

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LETTER CXXI.—TO JOHN JAY, October 6, 1785

LETTER CXXI.—TO JOHN JAY, October 6, 1785

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, October 6, 1785. Sir, My letter of August the 30th acknowledged the receipt of yours of July the 13th. Since that, I have received your letter of August the 13th, enclosing a correspondence between the Marquis de la Fayette and Monsieur de Calonne, and another of the same date, enclosing the papers in Fortin’s case. I immediately wrote to M. Limozin, at Havre, desiring he would send me a state of the case, and inform me what were the difficulties which suspended its decision.

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LETTER CXXII.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, October 11, 1785

LETTER CXXII.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, October 11, 1785

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY. Paris, October 11, 1785. Dear Sir, I received, last night, the letter signed by yourself and the other gentlemen, delegates of Massachusetts and Virginia, recommending Mr. Sayre for the Barbary negotiations. As that was the first moment of its suggestion to me, you will perceive by my letter of this day, to Mr Jay, that the business was already established in other hands, as your letter came at the same time with the papers actually signed by Mr. Adams, for Messrs. Barclay and

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LETTER CXXIII.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, October 11, 1785

LETTER CXXIII.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, October 11, 1785

TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES. Paris, October 11, 1785. Sir, I have the honor of enclosing to your Excellency, a report of the voyage of an American ship, the first which has gone to China. The circumstance which induces Congress to direct this communication, is the very friendly conduct of the consul of his Majesty at Macao, and of the commanders and other officers of the French vessels in those seas. It has been with singular satisfaction, that Congress have seen these added to the many other proo

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LETTER CXXIV.—TO JOHN JAY, October 11,1785

LETTER CXXIV.—TO JOHN JAY, October 11,1785

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, October 11,1785. Sir, In my letter of August the 14th, I had the honor of expressing to you the uneasiness I felt at the delay of the instructions on the subject of the Barbary treaties, of which Mr.. Lambe was the bearer, and of informing you that I had proposed to Mr. Adams, that if he did not arrive either in the French or English packets, then expected, we should send some person to negotiate these treaties. As he did not arrive in those packets, and I found Mr. Barclay w

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LETTER CXXV.—TO MESSRS. VAN STAPHORST, October 12, 1785

LETTER CXXV.—TO MESSRS. VAN STAPHORST, October 12, 1785

TO MESSRS. VAN STAPHORST. Paris, October 12, 1785. Gentlemen, The receipt of your favor, of September the 19th, should not have been so long unacknowledged, but that I have been peculiarly and very closely engaged ever since it came to hand. With respect to the expediency of the arrangement you propose to make with Mr. Parker, I must observe to you, that it would be altogether out of my province to give an official opinion, for your direction. These transactions appertain altogether to the commi

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LETTER CXXVI.—TO MONSIEUR DESBORDES, October 12,1785

LETTER CXXVI.—TO MONSIEUR DESBORDES, October 12,1785

TO MONSIEUR DESBORDES. Paris, October 12,1785. Sir, There are, in the prison of St. Pol de LÃ©on, six or seven citizens of the United States of America, charged with having attempted a contraband of tobacco, but, as they say themselves, forced into that port by stress of weather. I believe that they are innocent. Their situation is described to me to be as deplorable, as should be that of men found guilty of the worst of crimes. They are in close jail, allowed three sous a day only, and unable t

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LETTER CXXVII.—TO HOGENDORP, October 13,1785

LETTER CXXVII.—TO HOGENDORP, October 13,1785

TO HOGENDORP. Paris, October 13,1785. Dear Sir, Having been much engaged lately, I have been unable sooner to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of September the 8th. What you are pleased to say on the subject of my Notes, is more than they deserve. The condition in which you first saw them, would prove to you how hastily they had been originally written; as you may remember the numerous insertions I had made in them, from time to time, when I could find a moment for turning to them from othe

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LETTER CXXVIII.—TO J. BANNISTER, JUNIOR, October 15,1785

LETTER CXXVIII.—TO J. BANNISTER, JUNIOR, October 15,1785

TO J. BANNISTER, JUNIOR. Paris, October 15,1785. Dear Sir, I should sooner have answered the paragraph in your letter, of September the 19th, respecting the best seminary for the education of youth, in Europe, but that it was necessary for me to make inquiries on the subject. The result of these has been, to consider the competition as resting between Geneva and Rome. They are equally cheap, and probably are equal in the course of education pursued. The advantage of Geneva is, that students acqu

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LETTER CXXIX.—TO MR. CARMICHAEL, October 18, 1785

LETTER CXXIX.—TO MR. CARMICHAEL, October 18, 1785

TO MR. CARMICHAEL. Paris, October 18, 1785. Your favor of the 29th of September came safely to hand: the constant expectation of the departure of the persons whom I formerly gave you reason to expect, has prevented my writing, as it has done yours. They will probably leave this in a week, but their route will be circuitous and attended with delays. Between the middle and last of November, they may be with you. By them, you will receive a cipher, by which you may communicate with Mr. Adams and my

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LETTER CXXX.—TO MESSRS. VAN STAPHORSTS, October 25,1785

LETTER CXXX.—TO MESSRS. VAN STAPHORSTS, October 25,1785

TO MESSRS. VAN STAPHORSTS. Paris, October 25,1785. Gentlemen, I received yesterday your favor of the 20th instant. In order to give you the information you desire, on the subject of the liquidated debts of the United States, and the comparative footing on which they stand, I must observe to you, that the first and great division of our federal debt, is, into 1. foreign; and 2. domestic. The foreign debt comprehends, 1. the loan from the government of Spain; 2. the loans from the government of Fr

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LETTER CXXXI.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, November 4, 1785

LETTER CXXXI.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, November 4, 1785

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Paris, November 4, 1785. Dear Sir, I had the honor of writing you on the 18th of October, and again on the 25th of the same month. Both letters, being to pass through the post-offices, were confined to particular subjects. The first of them acknowledged the receipt of yours of September the 29th. At length a confidential opportunity arrives for conveying to you a cipher; it will be handed you by the bearer, Mr, Lambe. Copies of it are in the hands of Mr. Adams, at London,

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LETTER CXXXII.—TO RICHARD O’BRYAN, November 4, 1785

LETTER CXXXII.—TO RICHARD O’BRYAN, November 4, 1785

TO RICHARD O’BRYAN. Paris, November 4, 1785. Sir, I wrote you a short letter on the 29th of September, acknowledging the receipt of yours of August the 24th, from Algiers, and promising that you should hear further from me soon. Mr. Adams, the American minister at London, and myself, have agreed to authorize the bearer hereof, Mr. Lambe, to treat for your redemption, and that of your companions taken in American vessels, and, if it can be obtained for sums within our power, we shall have the mon

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LETTER CXXXIII.—TO W. W. SEWARD, November 12,1785

LETTER CXXXIII.—TO W. W. SEWARD, November 12,1785

TO W. W. SEWARD. Paris, November 12,1785. I received the honor of your letter, of the 25th ult., written by desire of the associated company of Irish merchants, in London, and return you thanks for the kind congratulations you express therein. The freedom of commerce between Ireland and America is undoubtedly very interesting to both countries. If fair play be given to the natural advantages of Ireland, she must come in for a distinguished share of that commerce. She is entitled to it, from the

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LETTER CXXXIV.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, November 14,1785

LETTER CXXXIV.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, November 14,1785

TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES. Paris, November 14,1785. Sir, I take the liberty of troubling your Excellency on behalf of six citizens of the United States, who have been for some time confined in the prison of St. Pol de LÃ©on, and of referring for particulars to the enclosed state of their case. Some of the material facts therein mentioned, are founded on the bill of sale for the vessel, her clearance from Baltimore, and her log-book. The originals of the two last, and a copy of the first, are in

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LETTER CXXXV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, November 19, 1785

LETTER CXXXV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, November 19, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, November 19, 1785. Dear Sir, I wrote to you on the 11th of October, by Mr. Preston, and again on the 18th of the same month, by post. Since that, yours of September the 25th, by Mr. Boylston, of October the 24th, November the 1st, and November the 4th, have come safe to hand. I will take up their several subjects in order. Boylston’s object was, first, to dispose of a cargo of spermaceti oil, which he brought to Havre. A secondary one, was to obtain a contract for future su

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LETTER CXXXVI.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, November 20, 1785

LETTER CXXXVI.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, November 20, 1785

TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES. Paris, November 20, 1785. Sir, I found here, on my return from Fontainebleau, the letter of October the 30th, which your Excellency did me the honor there of informing me had been addressed to me at this place; and I shall avail myself of the first occasion of transmitting it to Congress, who will receive, with great pleasure; these new assurances of the friendly sentiments, which his Majesty is pleased to continue towards the United States. I am equally persuaded they

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LETTER CXXXVII.—TO LISTER ASQUITH, November 23, 1785

LETTER CXXXVII.—TO LISTER ASQUITH, November 23, 1785

TO LISTER ASQUITH. Paris, November 23, 1785. Sir, I have received your letter of the 14th instant. It was not till the 8th of this month, that I could obtain information from any quarter, of the particular court in which your prosecution was instituted, and the ground on which it was founded. I then received it through the hands of Monsieur Desbordes, at Brest. I have sent to the Count de Vergennes a statement of your case, of which the enclosed is a copy. I wish you would read it over, and if t

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LETTER CXXXVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, November 27, 1785

LETTER CXXXVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, November 27, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, November 27, 1785. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 5th came to hand yesterday, and Colonel Smith and Colonel Humphreys (by whom you will receive one of the 19th from me) being to set out to-morrow, I hasten to answer it. I sincerely rejoice that Portugal is stepping forward in the business of treaty, and that there is a probability that we may at length do something under our commissions, which may produce a solid benefit to our constituents. I as much rejoice, that it is not t

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LETTER CXXXIX.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, December 4,1785

LETTER CXXXIX.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, December 4,1785

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS. Paris, December 4,1785. Dear Sir, I enclose you a letter from Gatteaux, observing that there will be an anachronism, if, in making a medal to commemorate the victory of Saratoga, he puts on General Gates the insignia of the Cincinnati, which did not exist at that date. I wrote him, in answer, that I thought so too, but that you had the direction of the business; that you were now in London; that I would write to you, and probably should have an answer within a fortnight; an

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LETTER CXL.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 10, 1785

LETTER CXL.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 10, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS, Paris, December 10, 1785. On the arrival of Mr. Boylston, I carried him to the Marquis de la Fayette, who received from him communications of his object. This was to get a remission of the duties on his cargo of oil, and he was willing to propose a future contract. I suggested however to the Marquis, when we were alone, that instead of wasting our efforts on individual applications, we had better take up the subject on general ground, and whatever could be obtained, let it be comm

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LETTER CXLI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 11, 1785

LETTER CXLI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 11, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, December 11, 1785. Dear Sir, Baron Polnitz not going off till to-day enables me to add some information which I received from Mr. Barclay this morning. You know the immense amount of Beaumarchais’ accounts with the United States, and that Mr. Barclay was authorized to settle them. Beaumarchais had pertinaciously insisted on settling them with Congress. Probably he received from them a denial: for just as Mr. Barclay was about to set out on the journey we destined him, Beaum

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LETTER CXLII.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, December 21, 1785

LETTER CXLII.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, December 21, 1785

TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES. Paris, December 21, 1785. Sir, I have received this moment a letter, of which I have the honor to enclose your Excellency a copy. It is on the case of Asquith and others, citizens of the United States, in whose behalf I had taken the liberty of asking your interference. I understand by this letter, that they have been condemned to lose their vessel and cargo, and to pay six thousand livres and the costs of the prosecution before the 25th instant, or to go to the galley

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LETTER CXLIII.—TO THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA, December 22, 1785

LETTER CXLIII.—TO THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA, December 22, 1785

TO THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA. Paris, December 22, 1785. The death of the late General Oglethorpe, who had considerable possessions in Georgia, has given rise, as we understand, to questions whether these possessions have become the property of the State, or have been transferred by his will to his widow, or descended on the nearest heir capable in law of taking them. In the latter case, the Chevalier de Mezieres, a subject of France, stands foremost, as being made capable of the inheritance by the

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LETTER CXLIV.—TO THE GEORGIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, Dec. 22, 1785

LETTER CXLIV.—TO THE GEORGIA DELEGATES IN CONGRESS, Dec. 22, 1785

Paris, December 22, 1785. Gentlemen, By my despatch to Mr. Jay which accompanies this, you will perceive that the claims of the Chevalier de Mezieres, nephew to the late General Oglethorpe, to his possessions within your State, have attracted the attention of the ministry here; and that considering them as protected by their treaty with us, they have viewed as derogatory of that, the doubts which have been expressed on the subject. I have thought it best to present to them those claims in the le

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LETTER CXLV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 27, 1785

LETTER CXLV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 27, 1785

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, December 27, 1785. Dear Sir, Your favors of the 13th and 20th were put into my hands today. This will be delivered to you by Mr. Dalrymple, secretary to the legation of Mr. Crawford. I do not know whether you were acquainted with him here. He is a young man of learning and candor, and exhibits a phenomenon I never before met with, that is, a republican born on the north side of the Tweed. You have been consulted in the case of the Chevalier de Mezieres, nephew to General Og

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LETTER CXLVI.—TO JOHN JAY, January 2,1786

LETTER CXLVI.—TO JOHN JAY, January 2,1786

TO JOHN JAY. Sir, Paris, January 2,1786 Several conferences and letters having passed between the Count de Vergennes and myself, on the subject of the commerce of this country with the United States, I think them sufficiently interesting to be communicated to Congress. They are stated in the form of a report, and are herein enclosed. The length of this despatch, perhaps, needs apology. Yet I have not been able to abridge it, without omitting circumstances which I thought Congress would rather ch

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LETTER CXLVII.—TO T. HOPKINSON, January 3, 1786

LETTER CXLVII.—TO T. HOPKINSON, January 3, 1786

TO T. HOPKINSON. Paris, January 3, 1786. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 25th of September. Since that I have received yours of October the 25th, enclosing a duplicate of the last invented tongue for the harpsichord. The letter enclosing another of them, and accompanied by newspapers, which you mention in that of October the 25th, has never come to hand. I will embrace the first opportunity of sending you the crayons. Perhaps they may come with this, which I think to deliver to Mr. Bingham, wh

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LETTER CXLVIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, January 4, 1786

LETTER CXLVIII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, January 4, 1786

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON. Paris, January 4, 1786. Dear Sir, I have been honored with your letter of September the 26th, which was delivered me by Mr. Houdon, who is safely returned. He has brought with him the mould of the face only, having left the other parts of his work with his workmen to come by some other conveyance. Doctor Franklin, who was joined with me in the superintendence of this just monument, having left us before what is called the costume of the statue was decided on, I cannot so w

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LETTER CXLIX.—TO A. CARY, January 7, 1786

LETTER CXLIX.—TO A. CARY, January 7, 1786

Paris, January 7, 1786. Dear Sir, The very few of my countrymen who happen to be punctual, will find their punctuality a misfortune to them. Of this I shall give you a proof by the present application, which I should not make to you, if I did not know you to be superior to the torpidity of our climate. In my conversations with the Count de Buffon on the subjects of Natural History, I find him absolutely unacquainted with our elk and our deer. He has hitherto believed that our deer never had horn

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LETTER CL.—TO MAJOR GENERAL GREENE, January 12, 1786

LETTER CL.—TO MAJOR GENERAL GREENE, January 12, 1786

TO MAJOR GENERAL GREENE. Paris, January 12, 1786. Dear Sir, Your favor of June the 1st did not come to hand till the 3rd of September. I immediately made inquiries on the subject of the frigate you had authorized your relation to sell to this government, and I found that he had long before that sold her to government, and sold her very well, as I understood. I noted the price on the back of your letter, which I have since unfortunately mislaid, so that I cannot at this moment state to you the pr

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LETTER CLI.—TO LISTER ASQUITH, January 13, 1786

LETTER CLI.—TO LISTER ASQUITH, January 13, 1786

TO LISTER ASQUITH. Paris, January 13, 1786. Sir, I have duly received your letter of the 2nd instant. The delays, which have attended your enlargement, have been much beyond my expectation. The reason I have not written to you for some time, has been the constant expectation of receiving an order for your discharge. I have not received it however. I went to Versailles three days ago, and made fresh applications on the subject. I received assurances which give me reason to hope that the order for

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RE QUESTIONS FOR ECONOMIE POLITIQUE ET DIPLOMATIQUE

RE QUESTIONS FOR ECONOMIE POLITIQUE ET DIPLOMATIQUE

1. What has led Congress to determine that the concurrence of seven votes is requisite in questions, which by the Confederation are submitted to the decision of a majority of the United States in Congress assembled? The ninth article of Confederation, section sixth, evidently establishes three orders of questions in Congress. 1. The greater ones which relate to making peace or war, alliances, coinage, requisitions for money, raising military force, or appointing its commander-in-chief. 2. The le

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ARTICLE BY JEFFERSON: ‘Etats Unis,’ FOR THE EncyclopÃ©die MÃ©thodique

ARTICLE BY JEFFERSON: ‘Etats Unis,’ FOR THE EncyclopÃ©die MÃ©thodique

Page 8. The malefactors sent to America were not sufficient in number to merit enumeration, as one class out of three, which peopled America. It was at a late period of their history, that this practice began. I have no book by me, which enables me to point out the date of its commencement. But I do not think the whole number sent would amount to two thousand, and being principally men, eaten up with disease, they married seldom and propagated little. I do not suppose that themselves and their d

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LETTER CLII.—TO MR. RITTENHOUSE, January 25,1786

LETTER CLII.—TO MR. RITTENHOUSE, January 25,1786

TO MR. RITTENHOUSE. Paris, January 25,1786. Dear Sir, Your favor of September the 28th came to hand a few days ago. I thank you for the details on the subject of the southern and western lines. There remains thereon, one article, however, which I will still beg you to inform me of; viz. how far is the western boundary beyond the meridian of Pittsburg? This information is necessary, to enable me to trace that boundary in my map. I shall be much gratified, also, with a communication of your observ

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LETTER CLIII.—TO A. STEWART, January 25, 1786

LETTER CLIII.—TO A. STEWART, January 25, 1786

TO A. STEWART. Paris, January 25, 1786. I have received your favor of the 17th of October, which, though you mention it as the third you have written me, is the first that has come to hand. I sincerely thank you for the communications it contains. Nothing is so grateful to me, at this distance, as details, both great and small, of what is passing in my own country. Of the latter, we receive little here, because they either escape my correspondents, or are thought unworthy of notice. This, howeve

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LETTER CLIV.—TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY, January 26, 1786

LETTER CLIV.—TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY, January 26, 1786

TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY. Paris, January 26, 1786. Gentlemen, I have been duly honored by the receipt of your letter of December the 6th, and am to thank you for the communications it contained on the state of our funds and expectations here. Your idea, that these communications, occasionally, may be useful to the United States, is certainly just, as I am frequently obliged to explain our prospects of paying interest, &amp;c. which I should better do with fuller information. If y

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LETTER CLV.—TO MESSRS. BUCHANAN AND HAY, January 26, 1786

LETTER CLV.—TO MESSRS. BUCHANAN AND HAY, January 26, 1786

TO MESSRS. BUCHANAN AND HAY. Paris, January 26, 1786. Gentlemen, I had the honor of writing to you on the receipt of your orders to procure draughts for the public buildings, and again on the 13th of August. In the execution of these orders, two methods of proceeding presented themselves to my mind. The one was, to leave to some architect to draw an external according to his fancy, in which way, experience shows, that about once in a thousand times a pleasing form is hit upon; the other was, to

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LETTER CLVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, February 7, 1786

LETTER CLVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, February 7, 1786

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, February 7, 1786. Dear Sir, I am honored with yours of January the 19th. Mine of January the 12th, had not, I suppose, at that time got to your hands, as the receipt of it is unacknowledged. I shall be anxious till I receive your answer to it. I was perfectly satisfied before I received your letter, that your opinion had been misunderstood or misrepresented in the case of the Chevalier de Mezieres. Your letter, however, will enable me to say so with authority. It is proper

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LETTER CLVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 8, 1786

LETTER CLVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 8, 1786

Paris, February 8, 1786. Dear Sir, My last letters were of the 1st and 20th of September, and the 28th of October. Yours, unacknowledged, are of August the 20th, October the 3rd, and November the 15th. I take this, the first safe opportunity, of enclosing to you the bills of lading for your books, and two others for your namesake of Williamsburg, and for the attorney, which I will pray you to forward. I thank you for the communication of the remonstrance against the assessment. Mazzei, who is no

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LETTER CLVIII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, February 9, 1786

LETTER CLVIII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, February 9, 1786

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Paris, February 9, 1786. Dear Sir, The Mr. John Ledyard, who proposes to undertake the journey through the northern parts of Asia and America, is a citizen of Connecticut, one of the United States of America. He accompanied Captain Cook in his last voyage to the northwestern parts of America, and rendered himself useful to that officer, on some occasions, by a spirit of enterprise which has distinguished his whole life. He has genius, and education better than the c

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LETTER CLIX.—TO MONSIEUR HILLIARD d’AUBERTEUIL, Feb. 20, 1786

LETTER CLIX.—TO MONSIEUR HILLIARD d’AUBERTEUIL, Feb. 20, 1786

TO MONSIEUR HILLIARD d’AUBERTEUIL. Paris, February 20, 1786. Sir, I have been honored with your letter, and the books which accompanied it, for which I return you my hearty thanks. America cannot but be flattered with the choice of the subject, on which you are at present employing your pen. The memory of the American Revolution will be immortal, and will immortalize those who record it. The reward is encouraging, and will justify all those pains, which a rigorous investigation of facts will ren

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LETTER CLX.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, February 28,1786

LETTER CLX.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, February 28,1786

TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES. Paris, February 28,1786. Circumstances of public duty calling me suddenly to London, I take the liberty of mentioning it to your Excellency, and of asking a few minutes’ audience of you, at as early a day and hour as will be convenient to you, and that you will be so good as to indicate them to me. I would wish to leave Paris about Friday or Saturday, and suppose that my stay in London will be of about three weeks. I shall be happy to be the bearer of any commands your

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LETTER CLXI.—TO MONSIEUR DE REYNEVAL, March 8, 1786

LETTER CLXI.—TO MONSIEUR DE REYNEVAL, March 8, 1786

TO MONSIEUR DE REYNEVAL. Paris, March 8, 1786. Sir, His Excellency, Count de Vergennes, having been pleased to say that he would give orders at Calais, for the admission of certain articles which I wish to bring with me from England, I have thought it best to give a description of them, before my departure. They will be as follows: 1. A set of table furniture, consisting of China, silver, and plated ware, distributed into three or four boxes or canteens, for the convenience of removing them. 2.

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LETTER CLXII.—TO JOHN JAY, March 12, 1786

LETTER CLXII.—TO JOHN JAY, March 12, 1786

TO JOHN JAY. London, March 12, 1786. Sir. The date of a letter from London will doubtless be as unexpected to you as it was unforeseen by myself, a few days ago. On the 27th of the last month, Colonel Smith arrived in Paris, with a letter from Mr. Adams, informing me that there was at this place a minister from Tripoli, having general powers to enter into treaties on behalf of his State, and with whom it was possible we might do something, under our commission to that power: and that he gave rea

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LETTER CLXIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 14, 1786

LETTER CLXIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 14, 1786

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS. London, March 14, 1786. Dear Sir, I have been honoured with your letter, in which you mention to me your intention of returning to America in the April packet. It is with sincere concern that I meet this event, as it deprives me not only of your aid in the office in which we have been joined, but also of your society, which has been to me a source of the greatest satisfaction. I think myself bound to return you my thanks for it, and, at the same time, to bear testimony, tha

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[NOTE A.]—TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.

[NOTE A.]—TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.

Kaskaskias, Illinois, April 29,1779. Dear Sir, A few days ago, I received certain intelligence of William Morris, my express to you, being killed near the falls of Ohio, news truly disagreeable to me, as I fear many of my letters will fall into the hands of the enemy, at Detroit, although some of them, as I learn, were found in the woods torn in pieces. I do not doubt but before the receipt of this, you will have heard of my late success against Governor Hamilton, at post St. Vincenne. That gent

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IN COUNCIL, June 18, 1779

IN COUNCIL, June 18, 1779

The board proceeded to the consideration of the letters of Colonel Clarke, and other papers relating to Henry Hamilton, Esq. who has acted for some years past as Lieutenant Governor of the settlement at and about Detroit, and commandant of the British garrison there, under Sir Guy Carleton, as Governor in chief; Philip Dejean, justice of the peace for Detroit, and William Lamothe, captain of volunteers, prisoners of war, taken in the county of Illinois. They find, that Governor Hamilton has exec

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[NOTE B]—IN COUNCIL, September 29, 1779.

[NOTE B]—IN COUNCIL, September 29, 1779.

The board having been, at no time, unmindful of the circumstances attending the confinement of Lieutenant Governor Hamilton, Captain Lamothe, and Philip Dejean, which the personal cruelties of those men, as well as the general conduct of the enemy, had constrained them to advise: wishing, and willing to expect, that their sufferings may lead them to the practice of humanity, should any future turn of fortune, in their favor, submit to their discretion the fate of their fellow creatures; that it

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[NOTE C]—IN COUNCIL, October 8, 1779.

[NOTE C]—IN COUNCIL, October 8, 1779.

The Governor is advised to take proper and effectual measures for knowing, from time to time, the situation and treatment of our prisoners by the enemy, and to extend to theirs, with us a like treatment, in every circumstance; and, also, to order to a proper station, the prison-ship fitted up on recommendation from Congress from the reception and confinement of such prisoners of war, as shall be sent to it....

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[NOTE D.]—FEMALE CONTRIBUTIONS, IN AID OF THE WAR, probably in 1780

[NOTE D.]—FEMALE CONTRIBUTIONS, IN AID OF THE WAR, probably in 1780

Female Contributions, in aid of the War, probably in 1780. Mrs. Sarah Gary, of Scotchtown, a watch-chain, cost Â£7 sterling. Mrs.——— Ambler, five gold rings. Mrs. Rebecca Ambler, three gold rings. Mrs.————— Nicholas, a diamond drop. Mrs. Griffin, of Dover, ten half joes. Mrs. Gilmer, five guineas. Mrs. Anne Ramsay (for Fairfax), one half joe, three guineas, three pistereens, one bit. Do. for do. paper money, bundle No. 1, twenty thousand dollars, No. 2, twenty-seven thousand dollars, No. 3, fift

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[NOTE E.]—FROM LORD CORNWALLIS

[NOTE E.]—FROM LORD CORNWALLIS

Lord Cornwallis’s Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Nisbet Balfour, Commander at Ninety Six. I have the happiness to inform you, that on Wednesday the 16th instant, I totally defeated General Gates’s army. One thousand were killed and wounded, about eight hundred taken prisoners. We are in possession of eight pieces of brass cannon, all they had in the field, all their ammunition wagons, a great number of arms, and one hundred and thirty baggage wagons: in short, there never was a more complete victo

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[NOTE F.]—TO LORD CORNWALLIS

[NOTE F.]—TO LORD CORNWALLIS

TO LORD CORNWALLIS. Portsmouth, Virginia, November 4, 1780. My Lord, I have been here near a week, establishing a post. I wrote to you to Charleston, and by another messenger, by land. I cannot hear, for a certainty, where you are: I wait your orders. The bearer is to be handsomely rewarded, if he brings me any note or mark from your Lordship. A. L....

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LETTER I.—TO RICHARD HENRY LEE, April 22, 1786

LETTER I.—TO RICHARD HENRY LEE, April 22, 1786

TO RICHARD HENRY LEE. London, April 22, 1786. Dear Sir, In your letter of October the 29th, you desired me to send you one of the new lamps. I tried at every probable place in Paris, and could not get a tolerable one. I have been glad of it since I came here, as I find them much better made here. I now deliver one, with this letter, into the hands of Mr. Fulwar Skipwith, a merchant from Virginia, settled here, who promises to send it to you, with one for Mr. C. Thomson. Of this be pleased to acc

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LETTER II.—TO CHARLES THOMSON, April 22, 1786

LETTER II.—TO CHARLES THOMSON, April 22, 1786

TO CHARLES THOMSON. London, April 22, 1786. Dear Sir, In one of your former letters, you expressed a wish to have one of the newly invented lamps. I find them made here much better than at Paris, and take the liberty of asking your acceptance of one, which will accompany this letter. It is now found, that any tolerable oil may be used in them. The spermaceti oil is best, of the cheap kinds. I could write you volumes on the improvements which I find made, and making here, in the arts. One deserve

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LETTER III.—TO JOHN JAY, April 23, 1786

LETTER III.—TO JOHN JAY, April 23, 1786

TO JOHN JAY. London, April 23, 1786. Sir, In my letter of March the 12th, I had the honor of explaining to you the motives which had brought me to this place. A joint letter from Mr. Adams and myself, sent by the last packet, informed you of the result of our conferences with the Tripoline minister. The conferences with the minister of Portugal have, been drawn to a greater length than I expected. However, every thing is now agreed, and the treaty will be ready for signature the day after to-mor

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LETTER IV.—TO JOHN JAY, April 23, 1786

LETTER IV.—TO JOHN JAY, April 23, 1786

TO JOHN JAY. London, April 23, 1786. Sir, In another letter of this day, I stated to you what had passed with public characters since my arrival here. Conversations with private individuals, I thought it best not to mingle with the contents of that letter. Yet, as some have taken place, which relate to matters within our instructions, and with persons whose opinions deserve to have some weight, I will take the liberty of stating them. In a conversation with an ancient and respectable merchant of

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LETTER V.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 25, 1786

LETTER V.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 25, 1786

TO JAMES MADISON. London, April 25, 1786. Dear Sir, Some of the objects of the joint commission, with which we were honored by Congress, called me to this place about six weeks ago. To-morrow I set out on my return to Paris. With this nation nothing is done; and it is now decided, that they intend to do nothing with us. I wrote you, in a former letter, on the subject of a Mr. Paradise, who owns an estate in Virginia in right of his wife, and who has a considerable sum due to him in our loan offi

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LETTER VI.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, May 3, 1786

LETTER VI.—TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, May 3, 1786

TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES. Paris, May 3, 1786. Sir, After begging leave to present my respects to your Excellency, on my return to this place, I take the liberty of offering to your attention some papers, which I found on my arrival here, written by sundry merchants of L’Orient and others, some of whom are citizens of the United States, and all of them concerned in the trade between the two countries. This has been carried on by an exchange of the manufactures and produce of this country, for th

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LETTER VII.—TO JOHN PAGE, May 4, 1786

LETTER VII.—TO JOHN PAGE, May 4, 1786

TO JOHN PAGE. Paris, May 4, 1786. Dear Sir, Your two favors of March the 15th and August the 23, 1785, by Monsieur de la Croix, came to hand on the 15th of November. His return gives me an opportunity of sending you a copy of the Nautical Almanacs for 1786, 7, 8, 9. There is no late and interesting publication here, or I would send it by the same conveyance. With these almanacs, I pack a copy of some Notes I wrote for Monsieur de Marbois, in the year 1781, of which I had a few printed here. They

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LETTER VIII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL

LETTER VIII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Paris, May 5, 1786. A visit of two months to England has been the cause of your not hearing from me during that period. Your letters of February the 3rd, to Mr. Adams and myself, and of February the 4th, to me, had come to hand before my departure. While I was in London, Mr. Adams received the letters giving information of Mr. Lambe’s arrival at Algiers. In London, we had conferences with a Tripoline ambassador, now at that court, named Abdrahaman. He asked us thirty thous

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LETTER IX.—TO MR. DUMAS, May 6, 1789

LETTER IX.—TO MR. DUMAS, May 6, 1789

TO MR. DUMAS. Paris, May 6, 1789. Sir, Having been absent in England, for some time past, your favors of February the 27th, March the 28th, and April the 11th, have not been acknowledged so soon as they should have been. I am obliged to you, for assisting to make me known to the Rhingrave de Salm and the Marquis de la Coste, whose reputations render an acquaintance with them desirable. I have not yet seen either: but expect that honor from the Rhingrave very soon. Your letters to Mr. Jay and Mr.

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LETTER X.—TO WILLIAM DRAYTON, May 6, 1786

LETTER X.—TO WILLIAM DRAYTON, May 6, 1786

TO WILLIAM DRAYTON. Paris, May 6, 1786. Your favor of November the 23rd came duly to hand. A call to England, soon after its receipt, has prevented my acknowledging it so soon as I should have done. I am very sensible of the honor done me by the South Carolina society for promoting and improving agriculture and other rural concerns, when they were pleased to elect me to be of their body: and I beg leave, through you, Sir, to convey to them my grateful thanks for this favor. They will find in me,

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LETTER XI.—TO W. T. FRANKLIN, May 7, 1786

LETTER XI.—TO W. T. FRANKLIN, May 7, 1786

TO W. T. FRANKLIN. Paris, May 7, 1786. Dear Sir, On my return from a two months’ visit to England, I found here your favor of January the 18th. This contains the latest intelligence I have from America. Your effects not being then arrived, gives me anxiety for them, as I think they went in a vessel, which sailed from Havre the 11th of November. In this vessel, went also the two Mr. Fitzhughs of Virginia, with the Prussian treaty, our papers relative to the Barbary States, with the despatches for

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LETTER XII.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, May 7, 1786

LETTER XII.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, May 7, 1786

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY. My last to you was of the 11th of October. Soon after that, your favor of the 12th of September came to hand. My acknowledgment of this is made later than it should have been, by my trip to England. Your long silence I ascribe to a more pleasing cause, that of devoting your spare time to one more capable of filling it with happiness, and to whom, as well as to yourself, I wish all those precious blessings which this change of condition is calculated to give you. My public lett

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LETTER XIII.—TO JAMES ROSS, May 8, 1786

LETTER XIII.—TO JAMES ROSS, May 8, 1786

TO JAMES ROSS. Paris, May 8, 1786. Dear Sir, I have duly received your favor of October the 22nd, and am much gratified by the communications therein made. It has given me details, which do not enter into the views of my ordinary correspondents, and which are very entertaining. I experience great satisfaction at seeing my country proceed to facilitate the intercommunications of its several parts, by opening rivers, canals, and roads. How much more rational is this disposal of public money, than

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LETTER XIV.—TO T. PLEASANTS, May 8,1786

LETTER XIV.—TO T. PLEASANTS, May 8,1786

TO T. PLEASANTS. Paris, May 8,1786. Dear Sir, At the time of the receipt of your favor of October the 24th, the contract between the Farmers General and Mr. Morris, for tobacco, was concluded, and in a course of execution. There was no room, therefore, to offer the proposals which accompanied your letter. I was, moreover, engaged in endeavors to have the monopoly, in the purchase of this article, in this country, suppressed. My hopes on that subject are not desperate, but neither are they flatte

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LETTER XV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, May 10,1786

LETTER XV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, May 10,1786

TO COLONEL MONROE. Paris, May 10,1786. My last to you was of January the 27th. Since that, I have received yours of January the 19th. Information from other quarters gives me reason to suspect you have in negotiation a very important change in your situation. You will carry into its execution all my wishes for your happiness. I hope it will not detach you from a settlement in your own country. I had even entertained hopes of your settling in my neighborhood: but these were determined by your des

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LETTER XVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, May 11, 1786

LETTER XVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, May 11, 1786

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, May 11, 1786. Dear Sir, I do myself the honor of enclosing to you, letters which came to hand last night, from Mr. Lambe, Mr. Carmichael, and Mr. Barclay. By these you will perceive, that our peace is not to be purchased at Algiers but at a price far beyond our powers. What that would be, indeed, Mr. Lambe does not say, nor probably does he know. But as he knew our ultimatum, we are to suppose from his letter, that it would be a price infinitely beyond that. A reference to

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LETTER XVII.—TO LISTER ASQUITH, May 22, 1786

LETTER XVII.—TO LISTER ASQUITH, May 22, 1786

TO LISTER ASQUITH. Paris, May 22, 1786. Sir, When I left this place for England, I had no suspicion that any thing more would be necessary on my part for your liberation. Being but lately returned, I could not sooner acknowledge the receipt of your letters of April the 21st and May the 1st. I this day write to M. Desbordes, to pay the charges necessary for your enlargement, to furnish you with a guinea apiece, and to take your draft on Mr. Grand for those sums, and the others which he has furnis

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LETTER XVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, May 23, 1786

LETTER XVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, May 23, 1786

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, May 23, 1786. Letters received both from Madrid and Algiers, while I was in London, having suggested that treaties with the States of Barbary would be much facilitated by a previous one with the Ottoman Porte, it was agreed between Mr. Adams and myself, that on my return, I should consult on this subject the Count de Vergennes, whose long residence at Constantinople rendered him the best judge of its expediency. Various circumstances have put it out of my power to consult him

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LETTER XIX.—TO MR. CARMICHAEL, June 20, 1786

LETTER XIX.—TO MR. CARMICHAEL, June 20, 1786

TO MR. CARMICHAEL. Paris, June 20, 1786. Dear Sir, My last to you was of the 5th of May, by Baron Waltersdorff. Since that I have been honored with yours of April the 13th, and May the 16th and 18th. The present covers letters to Mr. Lambe and Mr. Randall, informing them that the demands of Algiers for the ransom of our prisoners and also for peace, are so infinitely beyond our instructions, that we must refer the matter back to Congress, and therefore praying them to come on immediately. I will

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LETTER XX.—TO MR. LAMBE, June 20,1786

LETTER XX.—TO MR. LAMBE, June 20,1786

TO MR. LAMBE. Sir, Paris, June 20,1786. Having communicated to Mr. Adams the information received, at different times, from yourself, from Mr. Randall, and Mr. Carmichael, we find that the sum likely to be demanded by Algiers for the ransom of our prisoners, as well as for peace, is so infinitely beyond our powers, and the expectations of Congress, that it has become our duty to refer the whole matter back to them. Whether they will choose to buy a peace, to force one, or to do nothing, will res

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LETTER XXI..—TO MONSIEUR DE REYNEVAL, June 25, 1786

LETTER XXI..—TO MONSIEUR DE REYNEVAL, June 25, 1786

TO MONSIEUR DE REYNEVAL. Paris, June 25, 1786. I have received letters from two citizens of the United States, of the names of Geary and Arnold, informing me, that having for some time past exercised commerce in London, and having failed, they were obliged to leave that country; that they came over to Dunkirk, and from thence to Brest, where, one of them having changed his name, the more effectually to elude the search of his creditors, they were both imprisoned by order of the commandant; wheth

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LETTER XXII.—TO THE PREVOT DES MARCHANDS, September 27, 1786

LETTER XXII.—TO THE PREVOT DES MARCHANDS, September 27, 1786

TO THE PREVOT DES MARCHANDS ET ECHEVINS DE PARIS. Paris, September 27, 1786. Gentlemen, The commonwealth of Virginia, in gratitude for the services of Major General the Marquis de la Fayette, have determined to erect his bust in their Capital. Desirous to place a like monument of his worth, and of their sense of it, in the country to which they are indebted for his birth, they have hoped that the city of Paris will consent to become the depository of this second testimony of their gratitude. Bei

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LETTER XXIII.—TO COLONEL MONROE, July 9, 1786

LETTER XXIII.—TO COLONEL MONROE, July 9, 1786

TO COLONEL MONROE. Paris, July 9, 1786. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 10th of May; since which your favor of May the 11th has come to hand. The political world enjoys great quiet here. The King of Prussia is still living, but like the snuff of a candle, which sometimes seems out, and then blazes up again. Some think that his death will not produce any immediate effect in Europe. His kingdom like a machine, will go on for some time with the winding up he has given it. The King’s visit to Cher

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LETTER XXIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 11, 1786

LETTER XXIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 11, 1786

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, July 11, 1786. Dear Sir, Our instructions relative to the Barbary States having required us to proceed by way of negotiation to obtain their peace, it became our duty to do this to the best of our power. Whatever might be our private opinions, they were to be suppressed, and the line marked out to us was to be followed. It has been so, honestly and zealously. It was, therefore, never material for us to consult together on the best plan of conduct towards these States. I ack

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LETTER XXV.—TO JOHN JAY, August 11, 1786

LETTER XXV.—TO JOHN JAY, August 11, 1786

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, August 11, 1786. Sir, Since the date of my last, which was of July the 8th, I have been honored with the receipt of yours of June the 16th. I am to thank you, on the part of the minister of Geneva, for the intelligence it contained on the subject of Gallatin, whose relations will be relieved by the receipt of it. The enclosed intelligence, relative to the instructions of the court of London to Sir Guy Carleton, came to me through the Count de la Touche and Marquis de la Fayet

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LETTER XXVI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, August 11, 1786

LETTER XXVI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, August 11, 1786

TO COLONEL MONROE. Paris, August 11, 1786. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 9th of July; and since that, have received yours of the 16th of June, with the interesting intelligence it contained. I was entirely in the dark as to the progress of that negotiation, and concur entirely in the views you have taken of it The difficulty on which it hangs, is a sine qua non with us. It would be to deceive them and ourselves, to suppose that an amity can be preserved, while this right is withheld. Such a

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LETTER XXVII.—TO MR. WYTHE, August 13,1786

LETTER XXVII.—TO MR. WYTHE, August 13,1786

TO MR. WYTHE. Paris, August 13,1786. Dear Sir Your favors of January the 10th and February the 10th, came to hand on the 20th and 23rd of May. I availed myself of the first opportunity which occurred, by a gentleman going to England, of sending to Mr. Joddrel a copy of the Notes on our country! with a line informing him, that it was you who had emboldened me to take that liberty. Madison, no doubt, informed you of the reason why I had sent only a single copy to Virginia. Being assured by him, th

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LETTER XXVIII.—TO MRS. COSWAY, October 12, 1786

LETTER XXVIII.—TO MRS. COSWAY, October 12, 1786

Paris, October 12, 1786. My Dear Madam, Having performed the last sad office of handing you into your carriage, at the pavillion de St. Denis, and seen the wheels get actually into motion, I turned on my heel and walked, more dead than alive, to the opposite door, where my own was awaiting me. Mr. Danquerville was missing. He was sought for, found, and dragged down stairs. We were crammed into the carriage, like recruits for the Bastille, and not having soul enough to give orders to the coachman

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LETTER XXIX.—TO MRS. COSWAY, October 13, 1786

LETTER XXIX.—TO MRS. COSWAY, October 13, 1786

TO MRS. COSWAY. Paris, October 13, 1786. My Dear Madam, Just as I had sealed the enclosed, I received a letter of a good length, dated Antwerp, with your name at the bottom. I prepared myself for a feast. I read two or three sentences: looked again at the signature, to see if I had not mistaken it. It was visibly yours. Read a sentence or two more. Diable! Spelt your name distinctly. There was not a letter of it omitted. Began to read again. In fine, after reading a little, and examining the sig

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LETTER XXX.—M. LE ROY DE L’ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES, November 13, 1786

LETTER XXX.—M. LE ROY DE L’ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES, November 13, 1786

M. LE ROY DE L’ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES. Paris, November 13, 1786. Sir, I received the honor of yours of September the 18th, a day or two after the accident of a dislocated wrist had disabled me from writing. I have waited thus long in constant hope of recovering its use. But finding that this hope walks before me like my shadow, I can no longer oppose the desire and duty of answering your polite and learned letter. I therefore employ my left hand in the office of scribe, which it performs indeed s

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LETTER XXXI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 14, 1786

LETTER XXXI.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, November 14, 1786

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON. Paris, November 14, 1786. Sir, The house of Le Coulteux, which for some centuries has been the wealthiest of this place, has it in contemplation to establish a great company for the fur trade. They propose that partners interested one half in the establishment, should be American citizens, born and residing in the United States. Yet if I understood them rightly, they expect that the half of the company which resides here, should make the greatest part, or perhaps the whole

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LETTER XXXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 16, 1786

LETTER XXXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 16, 1786

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, December 16, 1786. Dear Sir, After a very long silence, I am at length able to write to you. An unlucky dislocation of my right wrist has disabled me from using that hand, three months. I now begin to use it a little, but with great pain; so that this letter must be taken up at such intervals as the state of my hand will permit, and will probably be the work of some days. Though the joint seems to be well set, the swelling does not abate, nor the use of it return. I am n

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LETTER XXXIII.—TO CHARLES THOMSON, December 17,1780

LETTER XXXIII.—TO CHARLES THOMSON, December 17,1780

TO CHARLES THOMSON. Paris, December 17,1780. Dear Sir, A dislocation of my right wrist has for three months past disabled me from writing, except with my left hand, which was too slow and awkward to be employed often. I begin to have so much use of my wrist as to be able to write, but it is slowly, and in pain. I take the first moment I can, however, to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of April the 6th, July the 8th and 30th. In one of these, you say you have not been able to learn, wheth

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LETTER XXXIV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, December 18, 1786

LETTER XXXIV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, December 18, 1786

TO COLONEL MONROE. Paris, December 18, 1786. Your letters of August the 19th and October the 12th have come duly to hand. My last to you was of the 11th of August. Soon after that date I got my right wrist dislocated, which has till now deprived me of the use of that hand; and even now I can use it but slowly, and with pain. The revisal of the Congressional intelligence contained in your letters, makes me regret the loss of it on your departure. I feel, too, the want of a person there to whose d

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LETTER XXXV.—TO MR. CARMICHAEL, December 26,1786

LETTER XXXV.—TO MR. CARMICHAEL, December 26,1786

TO MR. CARMICHAEL. Paris, December 26,1786. A note from me of the 22nd of September apprized you it would be some time before I should be able to answer your letters. I did not then expect it would have been so long. I enclose herein a resolution of Congress recalling Mr. Lambe, which I will beg the favor of you to have delivered him. I have written to Mr. Adams on the subject of directing him to settle with Mr. Barclay, and attend his answer. In the mean time, I am not without hopes Mr. Barclay

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LETTER XXXVI.—TO MR. VAUGHAN, December 29, 1786

LETTER XXXVI.—TO MR. VAUGHAN, December 29, 1786

TO MR. VAUGHAN. Paris, December 29, 1786. Sir, When I had the honor of seeing you in London, you were so kind as to permit me to trouble you, sometimes with my letters, and particularly on the subject of mathematical or philosophical instruments. Such a correspondence will be too agreeable to me, and at the same time too useful, not to avail myself of your permission. It has been an opinion pretty generally received among philosophers, that the atmosphere of America is more humid than that of Eu

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LETTER XXXVII.—TO JOHN JAY, December 31, 1786

LETTER XXXVII.—TO JOHN JAY, December 31, 1786

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, December 31, 1786 Sir, I had the honor of addressing you on the 12th of the last month; since which your favor of October the 12th has been received, enclosing a copy of the resolution of Congress for recalling Mr. Lambe. My letter by Mr. Randall informed you, that we had put an end to his powers, and required him to repair to Congress. I lately received a letter from him, dated Alicant, October the 10th, of which I have the honor to enclose you a copy: by which you will perc

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LETTER XXXVIII.—TO SAMUEL OSGOOD, January 5, 1787

LETTER XXXVIII.—TO SAMUEL OSGOOD, January 5, 1787

TO SAMUEL OSGOOD. Paris, January 5, 1787. Dear Sir, I am desired to forward to you the enclosed queries, and to ask the favor of you to give such an answer to them, as may not give you too much trouble. Those which stand foremost on the paper, can be addressed only to your complaisance; but the last may possibly be interesting to your department, and to the United States. I mean those which suggest the possibility of borrowing money in Europe, the principal of which shall be ultimately payable i

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LETTER XXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, January 9, 1787

LETTER XXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, January 9, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, January 9, 1787. Sir, My last, of December the 31st, acknowledged the receipt of yours of October the 12th, as the present does those of October the 3rd, 9th, and 27th, together with the resolution of Congress of October the 16th, on the claim of Schweighaeuser. I will proceed in this business on the return of Mr. Barclay, who being fully acquainted with all the circumstances, will be enabled to give me that information, the want of which might lead me to do wrong on the one

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LETTER XL.—TO JOHN ADAMS, January 11, 1787

LETTER XL.—TO JOHN ADAMS, January 11, 1787

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, January 11, 1787. Dear Sir, Mr. Jay, in his last letter to me, observes they hear nothing further of the treaty with Portugal. I have taken the liberty of telling him that I will write to you on the subject, and that he may expect to hear from you on it, by the present conveyance. The Chevalier del Pinto being at London, I presume he has, or can inform you why it is delayed on their part. I will thank you also for the information he shall give you. There is here an order of

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LETTER XLI.—TO MONSIEUR LE DUC D’HARCOURT, January 14, 1787

LETTER XLI.—TO MONSIEUR LE DUC D’HARCOURT, January 14, 1787

TO MONSIEUR LE DUC D’HARCOURT, GOUVERNEUR DU DAUPHIN. Paris, January 14, 1787. Sir, In the conversation with which you were pleased to honor me a few days ago, on the enfranchisement of the port of Honfleur, I took the liberty of observing, that I was not instructed by my constituents to make any proposition on that subject. That it would be agreeable to them, however, I must suppose, because it will offer the following advantages. 1. It is a convenient entrepôt for furnishing us with the manufa

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LETTER XLII.—TO MONSIEUR DE CREVE-COEUR, January 15,1787

LETTER XLII.—TO MONSIEUR DE CREVE-COEUR, January 15,1787

TO MONSIEUR DE CREVE-COEUR. Paris, January 15,1787. Dear Sir, I see by the Journal of this morning, that they are robbing us of another of our inventions, to give it to the English. The writer, indeed, only admits them to have revived what he thinks was known to the Greeks, that is, the making the circumference of a wheel of one single piece. The farmers in New Jersey were the first who practised it, and they practised it commonly. Dr. Franklin, in one of his trips to London, mentioned this prac

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LETTER XLIII.—TO COLONEL EDWARD CARRINGTON, January 16, 1787

LETTER XLIII.—TO COLONEL EDWARD CARRINGTON, January 16, 1787

TO COLONEL EDWARD CARRINGTON. Paris, January 16, 1787. Uncertain whether you might be at New York at the moment of Colonel Franks’ arrival, I have enclosed my private letters for Virginia, under cover to our delegation in general, which, otherwise, I would have taken the liberty to enclose particularly to you, as best acquainted with the situation of the persons to whom they are addressed. Should this find you at New York, I will still ask your attention to them. In my letter to Mr. Jay, I have

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LETTER XLIV—TO JAMES MADISON, January 30, 1787 *

LETTER XLIV—TO JAMES MADISON, January 30, 1787 *

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, January 30, 1787. Dear Sir, My last to you was of the 16th of December; since which I have received yours of November the 25th and December the 4th, which afforded me, as your letters always do, a treat on matters public, individual and economical. I am impatient to learn your sentiments on the late troubles in the Eastern States. So far as I have yet seen, they do not appear to threaten serious consequences. Those States have suffered by the stoppage of the channels of

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LETTER XLV.—TO JOHN JAY, February 1, 1787

LETTER XLV.—TO JOHN JAY, February 1, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Sir, Paris, February 1, 1787. My last letters were of the 31st of December and 9th of January; since which last date, I have been honored with yours of December the 13th and 14th. I shall pay immediate attention to your instructions relative to the South Carolina frigate. I had the honor of informing you of an improvement in the art of coining, made here by one Drost, and of sending you, by Colonel Franks, a specimen of his execution in gold and silver. I expected to have sent also

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LETTER XLVI.—TO MRS. BINGHAM, February 7, 1787

LETTER XLVI.—TO MRS. BINGHAM, February 7, 1787

TO MRS. BINGHAM. Paris, February 7, 1787. I know, Madam, that the twelve-month is not yet expired; but it will be, nearly, before this will have the honor of being put into your hands. You are then engaged to tell me, truly and honestly, whether you do not find the tranquil pleasures of America, preferable to the empty bustle of Paris. For to what does that bustle tend? At eleven o’clock, it is day, chez madame , the curtains are drawn. Propped on bolsters and pillows, and her head scratched int

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LETTER XLVII.—TO GOVERNOR RANDOLPH, February 7, 1787

LETTER XLVII.—TO GOVERNOR RANDOLPH, February 7, 1787

I have the honor of enclosing to your Excellency a report of the proceedings on the inauguration of the bust of the Marquis de la Fayette, in this city. This has been attended with a considerable, but a necessary delay. The principle that the King is the sole fountain of honor in this country, opposed a barrier to our desires, which threatened to be insurmountable. No instance of a similar proposition from a foreign power, had occurred in their history. The admitting it in this case, is a singul

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LETTER XLVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, February 8, 1787

LETTER XLVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, February 8, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, February 8, 1787. Sir, The packet being to sail the day after to-morrow, I have awaited the last possible moment of writing by her, in hopes I might be able to announce some favorable change in the situation of the Count de Vergennes. But none has occurred, and in the mean time he has become weaker by the continuance of his illness. Though not desperately ill, he is dangerously so. The Comptroller General, M. de Calonne, has been very ill also, but he is getting well. These c

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LETTER XLIX.—TO MR. DUMAS, February 9, 1787

LETTER XLIX.—TO MR. DUMAS, February 9, 1787

TO MR. DUMAS. Paris, February 9, 1787. My last to you was dated December the 25th; since which I have been honored with your several favors of December the 29th, January the 5th, 9th, and 23rd. I thought that your affairs could not be more interesting than they have been for a considerable time. Yet in the present moment they are become more so, by the apparent withdrawing of so considerable a personage in the drama, as the King of Prussia. To increase this interest, another person, whose import

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LETTER L.—TO JOHN JAY, February 14, 1787

LETTER L.—TO JOHN JAY, February 14, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, February 14, 1787. Sir, In the letter of the 8th instant, which I had the honor of writing you, I informed you that the Count de Vergennes was dangerously ill. He died yesterday morning, and the Count de Montmorin is appointed his successor. Your personal knowledge of this gentleman renders it unnecessary for me to say any thing of him. Mr. Morris, during his office, being authorized to have the medals and swords executed, which had been ordered by Congress, he authorized Col

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LETTER LI.—TO JOHN JAY, February 23, 1787

LETTER LI.—TO JOHN JAY, February 23, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, February 23, 1787. Sir, The Assemblée des Notables being an event in the history of this country which excites notice, I have supposed it would not be disagreeable to you to learn its immediate objects, though no way connected with our interests. The Assembly met yesterday: the King, in a short but affectionate speech, informed them of his wish to consult with them on the plans he had digested, and on the general good of his people, and his desire to imitate the head of his f

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LETTER LII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, February 28, 1787

LETTER LII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, February 28, 1787

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Paris, February 28, 1787. Dear Sir, I am just now in the moment of my departure. Monsieur de Montmorin having given us audience at Paris yesterday, I missed the opportunity of seeing you once more. I am extremely pleased with his modesty, the simplicity of his manners, and his dispositions towards us. I promise myself a great deal of satisfaction in doing business with him. I hope he will not give ear to any unfriendly suggestions. I flatter myself I shall hear from

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LETTER LIII.—TO MADAME LA COMTESSE DE TESSE, March 20, 1787

LETTER LIII.—TO MADAME LA COMTESSE DE TESSE, March 20, 1787

TO MADAME LA COMTESSE DE TESSE. Nismes, March 20, 1787. Here I am, Madam, gazing whole hours at the Maison Quarrée , like a lover at his mistress. The stocking-weavers and silk-spinners around it, consider me as a hypochondriac Englishman, about to write with a pistol the last chapter of his history. This is the second time I have been in love since I left Paris. The first was with a Diana at the Chateau de Lay-Epinaye in Beaujolois, a delicious morsel of sculpture, by M. A. Slodtz. This, you wi

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LETTER LIV.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, April 11, 1787

LETTER LIV.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, April 11, 1787

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Nice, April 11, 1787. Your head, my dear friend, is full of Notable things; and being better employed, therefore, I do not expect letters from you. I am constantly roving about to see what I have never seen before, and shall never see again. In the great cities, I go to see what travellers think alone worthy of being seen; but I make a job of it, and generally gulp it all down in a day. On the other hand, I am never satiated with rambling through the fields and farm

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LETTER LV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 12, 1787

LETTER LV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 12, 1787

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Nice, April 12, 1787, Dear Sir, At Marseilles, they told me I should encounter the rice fields of Piedmont soon after crossing the Alps. Here they tell me there are none nearer than Vercelli and Novara, which is carrying me almost to Milan. I fear that this circumstance will occasion me a greater delay than I had calculated on. However, I am embarked in the project, and shall go through with it. To-morrow, I set out on my passage over the Alps, being to pursue it ninety-three m

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LETTER LVI.—TO JOHN JAY, May 4, 1787

LETTER LVI.—TO JOHN JAY, May 4, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Marseilles, May 4, 1787. Sir, I had the honor of receiving at Aix, your letter of February the 9th, and immediately wrote to the Count de Montmorin, explaining the delay of the answer of Congress to the King’s letter, and desired Mr. Short to deliver that answer, with my letter, to Monsieur de Montmorin, which he informs me he has accordingly done. My absence prevented my noting to you, in the first moment, the revolution which has taken place at Paris, in the department of finance,

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LETTER LVII.—TO M. GUIDE, May 6, 1787

LETTER LVII.—TO M. GUIDE, May 6, 1787

TO M. GUIDE. Marseilles, May 6, 1787. Sir, A desire of seeing a commerce commenced between the dominions of his Majesty, the King of Sardinia, and the United States of America, and a direct exchange of their respective productions, without passing through a third nation, led me into the conversation which I had the honor of having with you on that subject, and afterwards with Monsieur Tallon at Turin, to whom I promised that I would explain to you, in writing, the substance of what passed betwee

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MEMORANDA TAKEN ON A JOURNEY FROM PARIS IN 1787

MEMORANDA TAKEN ON A JOURNEY FROM PARIS IN 1787

Memoranda taken on a Journey from Paris into the Southern Parts of France, and Northern of Italy, in the year 1787 . CHAMPAGNE. March 3. Sens to Vermanton . The face of the country is in large hills, not too steep for the plough, somewhat resembling the Elk hill and Beaver-dam hills of Virginia. The soil is generally a rich mulatto loam, with a mixture of coarse sand, and some loose stone. The plains of the Yonne are of the same color. The plains are in corn, the hills in vineyard, but the wine

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LETTER LVIII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, June 14, 1787

LETTER LVIII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, June 14, 1787

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Paris, June 14, 1787. Dear Sir, Having got back to Paris three days ago, I resume immediately the correspondence with which you have been pleased to honor me. I wish I could have begun it with more agreeable information than that furnished me by Mr. Grand, that the funds of the United States here are exhausted, and himself considerably in advance; and by the board of treasury at New York, that they have no immediate prospect of furnishing us supplies. We are thus left to s

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LETTER LIX.—TO J. BANNISTER, JUNIOR, June 19, 1787

LETTER LIX.—TO J. BANNISTER, JUNIOR, June 19, 1787

TO J. BANNISTER, JUNIOR. Paris, June 19, 1787. I have received your favor of April the 23d, from New York, and am sorry to find you have had a relapse. Time and temperance, however, will cure you; to which add exercise. I hope you have long ago had a happy meeting with your friends, with whom a few hours would be to me an ineffable feast. The face of Europe appears a little turbid, but all will subside. The Empress has endeavored to bully the Turk, who laughed at her, and she is going back. The

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LETTER LX.—TO JAMES MADISON, June 20, 1787*

LETTER LX.—TO JAMES MADISON, June 20, 1787*

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, June 20, 1787. I wrote you last on the 30th of January, with a Postscript of February the 5th. Having set out the last day of that month to try the waters of Aix, and been journeying since, till the 10th instant, I have been unable to continue my correspondence with you. In the mean time, I have received your several favors of February the 15th, March the 18th and 19th, and April the 23d. The last arrived here about the 25th of May, while those of March the 18th and 19th

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LETTER LXI.—TO JOHN JAY, June 21,1787

LETTER LXI.—TO JOHN JAY, June 21,1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, June 21,1787. Sir, I had the honor of addressing you in a letter of May the 4th, from Marseilles, which was to have gone by the last packet. Bat it arrived a few hours too late for that conveyance, and has been committed to a private one, passing through England, with a promise that it should go through no post-office. I was desirous, while at the sea-ports, to obtain a list of the American vessels which have come to them since the peace, in order to estimate their comparativ

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LETTER LXII.—TO MADAME DE CORNY, June 30,1787

LETTER LXII.—TO MADAME DE CORNY, June 30,1787

TO MADAME DE CORNY. Paris, June 30,1787. On my return to Paris, it was among my first attentions to go to the rue Chaussée d’Antin, No. 17, and inquire after my friends whom I had left there. I was told they were in England. And how do you like England, Madam? I know your taste for the works of art gives you little disposition to Anglomania. Their mechanics certainly exceed all others in some lines. But be just to your own nation. They have not patience, it is true, to set rubbing a piece of ste

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LETTER LXIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 1, 1787

LETTER LXIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 1, 1787

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, July 1, 1787. Dear Sir, I returned about three weeks ago from a very useless voyage; useless, I mean, as to the object which first suggested it, that of trying the effect of the mineral waters of Aix, in Provence, on my hand. I tried these, because recommended among six or eight others as equally beneficial, and because they would place me at the beginning of a tour to the seaports of Marseilles, Bordeaux, Nantes, and L’Orient, which I had long meditated, in hopes that a kn

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LETTER LXIV.—TO DAVID HARTLEY, July 2,1787

LETTER LXIV.—TO DAVID HARTLEY, July 2,1787

Paris, July 2,1787. I received lately your favor of April the 23d, on my return from a journey of three or four months; and am always happy in an occasion of recalling myself to your memory. The most interesting intelligence from America, is that respecting the late insurrection in Massachusetts. The cause of this has not been developed to me to my perfect satisfaction. The most probable is, that those individuals were of the imprudent number of those who have involved themselves in debt beyond

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LETTER LXV.—TO B. VAUGHAN, July 2, 1787

LETTER LXV.—TO B. VAUGHAN, July 2, 1787

TO B. VAUGHAN. Paris, July 2, 1787. Your favor of February the 16th came to my hands in the moment I was setting out on a tour through the southern parts of France and northern of Italy, from which I am but just now returned. I avail myself of the earliest moment to acknowledge its receipt, and to thank you for the box of magnets which I found here. Though I do not know certainly by or from whom they come, I presume they came by Colonel Smith, who was here in my absence, and from Messrs. Nairne

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LETTER LXVI.—TO M. L’ABBE MORELLET, July 2, 1787

LETTER LXVI.—TO M. L’ABBE MORELLET, July 2, 1787

TO M. L’ABBE MORELLET. I am sorry, my Dear Sir, that your interest should be affected by the ill behavior of Barrois. But when you consider the facts, you will be sensible that I could not have indulged his indolence further, without increasing the injury to a more punctual workman. Stockdale, of London, had asked leave to print my Notes. I agreed to it; and promised he should have the plate of the map as soon as it should be corrected, and the copies struck off for you and myself. He thereupon

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OBSERVATIONS ON THE LETTER OF MONSIEUR DE CALONNE

OBSERVATIONS ON THE LETTER OF MONSIEUR DE CALONNE

Observations on the Letter of Monsieur de Calonne to Monsieur Jefferson, dated, Fontainbleau, October 22, 1786. A committee was appointed, in the course of the last year, to take a view of the subjects of commerce which might be brought from the United States of America, in exchange for those of France, and to consider what advantages and facilities might be offered to encourage that commerce. The letter of Monsieur de Calonne was founded on their report. It was conclusive as to the articles on

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LETTER LXVII.—TO T. M. RANDOLPH, JUNIOR, July 6, 1787

LETTER LXVII.—TO T. M. RANDOLPH, JUNIOR, July 6, 1787

TO T. M. RANDOLPH, JUNIOR. Paris, July 6, 1787. Dear Sir, Your favor of April the 14th came here during my absence on a journey through the southern parts of France and northern of Italy, from which I am but lately returned. This cause alone, has prevented your receiving a more early answer to it. I am glad to find, that among the various branches of science presenting themselves to your mind, you have fixed on that of politics as your principal pursuit. Your country will derive from this a more

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LETTER LXVIII.—TO STEPHEN CATHALAN, JUNIOR, July 21,1787

LETTER LXVIII.—TO STEPHEN CATHALAN, JUNIOR, July 21,1787

Paris, July 21,1787. Sir, I received your favor of May the 9th, just as I was stepping into the barge on my departure from Cette; which prevented my answering it from that place. On my arrival here, I thought I would avail myself of the opportunity of paying your balance, to make a little acquaintance with Sir John Lambert. One or two unsuccessful attempts to find him at home, with the intermediate procrastinations well known to men of business, prevented my seeing him till yesterday, and have l

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LETTER LXIX.—TO THE DELEGATES OF RHODE ISLAND, July 22,1787

LETTER LXIX.—TO THE DELEGATES OF RHODE ISLAND, July 22,1787

TO THE DELEGATES OF RHODE ISLAND. Paris, July 22,1787. Gentlemen, I was honored, in the month of January last, with a letter from the honorable the Delegates of Rhode Island in Congress, enclosing a letter from the corporation of Rhode Island College to his Most Christian Majesty, and some other papers. I was then in the hurry of a preparation for a journey into the south of France, and therefore unable, at that moment, to make the inquiries which the object of the letter rendered necessary. As

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LETTER LXX.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, July 23, 1787

LETTER LXX.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, July 23, 1787

Paris, July 23, 1787. Sir, I had the honor, a few days ago, of putting into the hands of your Excellency, some observations on the other articles of American produce, brought into the ports of this country. That of our tobaccos, from the particular form of their administration here, and their importance to the King’s revenues, has been placed on a separate line, and considered separately. I will now ask permission to bring that subject under your consideration. The mutual extension of their comm

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LETTER LXXI.—TO MR. SKIPWITH, July 28, 1787

LETTER LXXI.—TO MR. SKIPWITH, July 28, 1787

TO MR. SKIPWITH. Paris, July 28, 1787. Dear Sir, A long journey has prevented me from writing to any of my friends for some time past. This was undertaken with a view to benefit a dislocated and ill-set wrist, by the mineral waters of Aix, in Provence. Finding this hope vain, I was led from other views to cross the Alps as far as Turin, Milan, Genoa; to follow the Mediterranean as far as Cette, the canal of Languedoc, the Garonne, &amp;c, to Paris. A most pleasing journey it proved; arts and

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LETTER LXXII.—TO J. W. EPPES, July 28,1787

LETTER LXXII.—TO J. W. EPPES, July 28,1787

TO J. W. EPPES. Paris, July 28,1787. Dear Jack, The letter which you were so kind as to write to me the 22nd of May, 1786, was not delivered to me till the 3rd of May, 1787, when it found me in the neighborhood of Marseilles. Before that time you must have taken your degree, as mentioned in your letter. Those public testimonies which are earned by merit, and not by solicitation, may always be accepted without the imputation of vanity. Of this nature is the degree which your masters proposed to c

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LETTER LXXIII.—TO A. DONALD, July 28, 1787

LETTER LXXIII.—TO A. DONALD, July 28, 1787

TO A. DONALD. Paris, July 28, 1787. Dear Sir, I received with infinite satisfaction your letter of the 1st of March: it was the first information I had of your being in America. There is no person whom I shall see again with more cordial joy, whenever it shall be my lot to return to my native country; nor any one whose prosperity, in the mean time, will be more interesting to me. I find as I grow older, that I set a higher value on the intimacies of my youth, and am more afflicted by whatever lo

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LETTER LXXIV.—TO WILLIAM DRAYTON, July 30, 1787

LETTER LXXIV.—TO WILLIAM DRAYTON, July 30, 1787

TO WILLIAM DRAYTON. Paris, July 30, 1787. Sir, Having observed that the consumption of rice in this country, and particularly in this capital, was very great, I thought it my duty to inform myself from what markets they draw their supplies, in what proportion from ours, and whether it might not be practicable to increase that proportion. This city being little concerned in foreign commerce, it is difficult to obtain information on particular branches of it in the detail. I addressed myself to th

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LETTER LXXV.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 2, 1787

LETTER LXXV.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 2, 1787

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, August 2, 1787. Dear Sir, My last was of June the 20th. Yours, received since that date, are of May the 15th, and June the 6th. In mine, I acknowledged the receipt of the paccan nuts which came sealed up. I have reason to believe those in the box have arrived at L’Orient. By the Mary, Captain Howland, lately sailed from Havre to New York, I shipped three boxes of books, one marked J. M. for yourself, one marked B. F. for Dr. Franklin, and one marked W. H. for William Hay

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LETTER LXXVI.—TO THOMAS BARCLAY, August 3, 1787

LETTER LXXVI.—TO THOMAS BARCLAY, August 3, 1787

TO THOMAS BARCLAY. Paris, August 3, 1787, Dear Sir, I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your several favors of June the 29th, and July the 6th and 8th. I am of opinion that the affair of Geraud and Roland in Holland, had better be committed to Mr. Dumas in Holland, as lawsuits must always be attended to by some person on the spot. For the same reason, I think that of La Vayse and Puchilberg should be managed by the agent at L’Orient, and Gruel’s by the agent at Nantes. I shall always be ready

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LETTER LXXVII.—TO E. CARRINGTON, August 4,1787

LETTER LXXVII.—TO E. CARRINGTON, August 4,1787

TO E. CARRINGTON. Paris, August 4,1787. Dear Sir, Since mine of the 16th of January, I have been honored by your favors of April the 24th and June the 9th. I am happy to find that the States have come so generally into the scheme of the federal convention, from which, I am sure, we shall see wise propositions. I confess, I do not go as far in the reforms thought necessary, as some of my correspondents in America; but if the convention should adopt such propositions, I shall suppose them necessar

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LETTER LXXVIII.—TO DR. CURRIE, August 4, 1787

LETTER LXXVIII.—TO DR. CURRIE, August 4, 1787

TO DR. CURRIE. Paris, August 4, 1787. I am favored with your letter of May the 2nd, and most cordially sympathize in your late immense losses. It is a situation in which a man needs the aid of all his wisdom and philosophy. But as it is better to turn from the contemplation of our misfortunes, to the resources we possess for extricating ourselves, you will, of course, have found solace in your vigor of mind, health of body, talents, habits of business, in the consideration that you have time yet

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LETTER LXXIX.—TO MR. HAWKINS, August 4, 1787

LETTER LXXIX.—TO MR. HAWKINS, August 4, 1787

TO MR. HAWKINS. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of March the 8th and June the 9th, and to give you many thanks for the trouble you have taken with the dionæa muscipula . I have not yet heard any thing of them, which makes me fear they have perished by the way. I believe the most effectual means of conveying them hither will be by the seed. I must add my thanks too for the vocabularies. This is an object I mean to pursue, as I am persuaded that the only method of investigating th

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LETTER LXXX.—TO COLONEL MONROE, August 5, 1787

LETTER LXXX.—TO COLONEL MONROE, August 5, 1787

TO COLONEL MONROE. Paris, August 5, 1787. A journey of between three and four months, into the southern parts of France and northern of Italy, has prevented my writing to you. In the mean time, you have changed your ground, and engaged in different occupations, so that I know not whether the news of this side the water will even amuse you. However, it is all I have for you. The storm which seemed to be raised suddenly in Brabant, will probably blow over. The Emperor, on his return to Vienna, pre

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LETTER LXXXI.—TO JOHN JAY, August 6,1787

LETTER LXXXI.—TO JOHN JAY, August 6,1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, August 6,1787. The last letter I had the honor of addressing you was dated June the 21st. I have now that of enclosing you a letter from the Swedish ambassador, praying that inquiry may be made for a vessel of his nation, piratically carried off, and measures taken relative to the vessel, cargo, and crew. Also a letter from William Russell and others, citizens of America, concerned in trade to the island of Guadaloupe, addressed to the Marechal de Castries, and complaining of

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LETTER LXXXII.—TO JOHN CHURCHMAN, August 8, 1787

LETTER LXXXII.—TO JOHN CHURCHMAN, August 8, 1787

TO JOHN CHURCHMAN. Paris, August 8, 1787. Sir, I have duly received your favor of June the 6th, and immediately communicated its contents to a member of the Academy. He told me that they had received the other copy of your memorial, which you mention to have sent through another channel; that your ideas were not conveyed so explicitly, as to enable them to decide finally on their merit, but that they had made an entry in their journals, to preserve to you the claim of the original idea. As far a

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LETTER LXXXIII.—TO MONSIEUR L HOMMANDE, August 9, 1787

LETTER LXXXIII.—TO MONSIEUR L HOMMANDE, August 9, 1787

TO MONSIEUR L HOMMANDE. Paris, August 9, 1787. At the time you honored me with your letter of May the 31st, I was not returned from a journey I had taken into Italy. This circumstance, with the mass of business which had accumulated during my absence, must apologize for the delay of my answer. Every discovery, which multiplies the subsistence of man, must be a matter of joy to every friend to humanity. As such, I learn with great satisfaction, that you have found the means of preserving flour mo

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LETTER LXXXIV.—TO PETER CARR, August 10, 1787

LETTER LXXXIV.—TO PETER CARR, August 10, 1787

TO PETER CARR. Paris, August 10, 1787. Dear Peter, I have received your two letters of December the 30th and April the 18th, and am very happy to find by them, as well as by letters from Mr. Wythe, that you have been so fortunate as to attract his notice and good will: I am sure you will find this to have been one of the most fortunate events of your life, as I have ever been sensible it was of mine. I enclose you a sketch of the sciences to which I would wish you to apply, in such order as Mr.

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LETTER LXXXV.—TO DR. GILMER, August 11, 1787

LETTER LXXXV.—TO DR. GILMER, August 11, 1787

TO DR. GILMER. Paris, August 11, 1787. Dear Doctor, Your letter of January the 9th, 1787, came safely to hand in the month of June last. Unluckily you forgot to sign it, and your hand-writing is so Protean, that one cannot be sure it is yours. To increase the causes of incertitude, it was dated Pen-Park, a name which I only know, as the seat of John Harmer. The hand-writing, too, being somewhat in his style, made me ascribe it hastily to him, indorse it with his name, and let it lie in my bundle

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LETTER LXXXVI.—TO JOSEPH JONES, August 14, 1787

LETTER LXXXVI.—TO JOSEPH JONES, August 14, 1787

TO JOSEPH JONES. Paris, August 14, 1787. Dear Sir, I have never yet thanked you, but with the heart, for the act of Assembly confirming the agreement with Maryland, the pamphlet, and papers, I received from you a twelvemonth ago. Very soon after their receipt, I got my right wrist dislocated, which prevented me long from writing, and as soon as that was able to bear it, I took a long journey, from which I am but lately returned. I am anxious to hear what our federal convention recommends, and wh

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LETTER LXXXVII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, August 14, 1787

LETTER LXXXVII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, August 14, 1787

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON. Paris, August 14, 1787. Dear Sir, I was happy to find, by the letter of August the 1st, 1786, which you did me the honor to write to me, that the modern dress for your statue, would meet your approbation. I found it strongly the sentiment of West, Copely, Trumbull, and Brown, in London; after which it would be ridiculous to add, that it was my own. I think a modern in an antique dress, as just an object of ridicule, as a Hercules or Marius with a periwig and chapeau bras.

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LETTER LXXXVIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, August 14, 1787

LETTER LXXXVIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, August 14, 1787

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS. Paris, August 14, 1787. Dear Sir, I remember when you left us, it was with a promise to supply all the defects of correspondence in our friends, of which we complained, and which you had felt in common with us. Yet I have received but one letter from you, which was dated June the 5th, 1786, and I answered it August the 14th, 1786. Dropping that, however, and beginning a new account, I will observe to you, that wonderful improvements are making here in various lines. In arch

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LETTER LXXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, August 15, 1787

LETTER LXXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, August 15, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Sir, Paris, August 15, 1787. An American gentleman leaving Paris this afternoon, to go by the way of L’Orient to Boston, furnishes me the rare occasion of a conveyance, other than the packet, sure and quick. My letter by the packet informed you of the bed of justice, for enregistering the stamp tax and land tax. The parliament, on their return came to an Arrêtée (a resolution) which, besides protesting against the enregistering, as done by force, laid the foundation for an Arrêt de

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LETTER XC.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 30, 1787

LETTER XC.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 30, 1787

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, August 30, 1787. Dear Sir, Since your favor of July the 10th, mine have been of July the 17th, 23rd, and 28th. The last enclosed a bill of exchange from Mr. Grand, on Tessier, for £46. 17s. 10d. sterling, to answer General Sullivan’s bill for that sum. I hope it got safe to hand, though I have been anxious about it, as it went by post, and my letters through that channel sometimes miscarry. From the separation of the Notables to the present moment, has been perhaps the most

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LETTER XCI.—TO MR. WYTHE, September 16,1787

LETTER XCI.—TO MR. WYTHE, September 16,1787

TO MR. WYTHE. Paris, September 16,1787. Dear Sir, I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of December the 13th and 22nd, 1786, and of January, 1787. These should not have been so long unanswered, but that they arrived during my absence on a journey of between three and four months, through the southern parts of France and northern of Italy. In the latter country, my time allowed me to go no further than Turin, Milan, and Genoa: consequently, I scarcely got into classical ground. I too

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LETTER XCII.—TO JOHN JAY, September 19, 1787

LETTER XCII.—TO JOHN JAY, September 19, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Sir, Paris, September 19, 1787. My last letters to you were of the 6th and 15th of August; since which, I have been honored with yours of July the 24th, acknowledging the receipt of mine of the 14th and 23d of February. I am anxious to hear you have received that also of May the 4th, written from Marseilles. According to the desires of Congress, expressed in their vote confirming the appointments of Francisco Giuseppa and Girolamo Chiappi, their agents in Morocco, I have written let

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LETTER XCIII.—TO CHARLES THOMSON, September 20, 1787

LETTER XCIII.—TO CHARLES THOMSON, September 20, 1787

TO CHARLES THOMSON. Paris, September 20, 1787. Dear Sir, Your favor of April the 28th did not come to my hands till the 1st instant. Unfortunately, the boxes of plants, which were a day too late to come by the April packet, missed the packet of June the 10th also, and only came by that of July the 25th. They are not yet arrived at Paris, but I expect them daily. I am sensible of your kind attention to them, and that as you were leaving New York, you took the course which bade fair to be the best

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LETTER XCIV.—TO JOHN JAY, September 22,1787

LETTER XCIV.—TO JOHN JAY, September 22,1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, September 22,1787. Sir, The letters of which the inclosed are copies, are this moment received, and as there is a possibility that they may reach Havre before the packet sails, I have the honor of enclosing them to you. They contain a promise of reducing the duties on tar, pitch, and turpentine, and that the government will interest itself with the city of Rouen, to reduce the local duty on potash. By this you will perceive, that we are getting on a little in this business, t

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LETTER XCV.—TO JOHN JAY, September 22, 1787

LETTER XCV.—TO JOHN JAY, September 22, 1787

Paris, September 22, 1787. When I had the honor of addressing you this morning, intelligence was handing about, which I did not think well enough authenticated to communicate to you. As it is now ascertained, I avail myself of the chance that another post may yet reach Havre, before the departure of the packet. This will depend on the wind, which has for some days been unfavorable. I must premise that this court, about ten days ago, declared, by their Chargé des Affaires in Holland, that if the

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LETTER XCVI.—TO MR. CARNES, September 22, 1787

LETTER XCVI.—TO MR. CARNES, September 22, 1787

TO MR. CARNES. I am honored by your favor of the 17th instant. A war between France and England does not necessarily engage America in it; and I think she will be disposed rather to avail herself of the advantages of a neutral power. By the former usage of nations, the goods of a friend were safe, though taken in an enemy bottom, and those of an enemy were lawful prize, though found in a free bottom. But in our treaties with France, &amp;c. we have established the simpler rule, that a free b

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LETTER XCVII.—TO JOHN JAY, September 24, 1787

LETTER XCVII.—TO JOHN JAY, September 24, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, September 24, 1787. The times are now so critical, that every day brings something new and important, not known the day before. Observing the wind still unfavorable, I am in hopes the packet may not sail to-morrow, and that this letter may be at Havre in time for that conveyance. Mr. Eden has waited on Count Montmorin to inform him, officially, that England must consider its convention with France, relative to the giving notice of its naval armaments, as at an end, and that t

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LETTER XCVIII,—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 28, 1787

LETTER XCVIII,—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 28, 1787

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, September 28, 1787. Dear Sir, I received your favor by Mr. Cutting, and thank you sincerely for the copy of your book. The departure of a packet-boat, which always gives me full employment for some time before, has only permitted me to look into it a little. I judge of it from the first volume, which I thought formed to do a great deal of good. The first principle of a good government, is certainly a distribution of its powers into executive, judiciary, and legislative, and

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LETTER XCIX.—TO COLONEL SMITH, September 28,1787

LETTER XCIX.—TO COLONEL SMITH, September 28,1787

TO COLONEL SMITH. Paris, September 28,1787. Dear Sir, I have duly received your favor by Mr. Cutting. I had before had a transient acquaintance with him, and knew him to be sensible. Your recommendation is always a new merit. I really think, and had taken the liberty some time ago of hinting to Congress, that they would do well to have a diplomatic character at Lisbon. There is no country whose commerce is more interesting to us. I wish Congress would correspond to the wishes of that court, in s

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LETTER C.—TO MONSIEUR LE COMTE DE BUFFON, October 3, 1787

LETTER C.—TO MONSIEUR LE COMTE DE BUFFON, October 3, 1787

TO MONSIEUR LE COMTE DE BUFFON. Paris, October 3, 1787. Sir, I had the honor of informing you, some time ago, that I had written to some of my friends in America, desiring they would send me such of the spoils of the moose, caribou, elk, and deer, as might throw light on that class of animals; but more particularly, to send me the complete skeleton, skin, and horns of the moose, in such condition as that the skin might be sewed up and stuffed, on its arrival here. I am happy to be able to presen

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LETTER CI.—TO MR. DUMAS, October 4,1787

LETTER CI.—TO MR. DUMAS, October 4,1787

TO MR. DUMAS. Paris, October 4,1787. I received your favor of the 23rd of September two days ago. That of the 28th and 29th was put in my hands this morning. I immediately waited on the ambassadors, ordinary and extraordinary, of the United Netherlands, and also on the envoy of Prussia, and asked their good offices to have an efficacious protection extended to your person, your family, and your effects, observing, that the United States know no party, but are the friends and allies of the United

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LETTER CII.—TO JOHN JAY, October 8, 1787

LETTER CII.—TO JOHN JAY, October 8, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, October 8, 1787. I had the honor of writing you on the 19th of September, twice on the 22nd, and again on the 24th. The two first went by the packet, the third by a vessel bound to Philadelphia. I have not yet learned by what occasion the last went. In these several letters, I communicated to you the occurrences of Europe, as far as they were then known. Notwithstanding the advantage which the Emperor seemed to have gained over his subjects of Brabant, by the military arrange

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LETTER CIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, October 8, 1787

LETTER CIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, October 8, 1787

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, October 8, 1787. Dear Sir, The bearer hereof, the Count de Moustier, successor to Monsieur de la Luzerne, would, from his office, need no letter of introduction to you or to any body. Yet I take the liberty of recommending him to you, to shorten those formal approaches, which the same office would otherwise expose him to, in making your acquaintance. He is a great enemy to formality, etiquette, ostentation, and luxury. He goes with the best dispositions to cultivate soci

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LETTER CIV.—TO JOHN JAY, October 8, 1787

LETTER CIV.—TO JOHN JAY, October 8, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. (Private.) Paris, October 8, 1787. The Count de Moustier, Minister Plenipotentiary from the court of Versailles to the United States, will have the honor of delivering you this. The connection of your offices will necessarily connect you in acquaintance; but I beg leave to present him to you, on account of his personal as well as his public character. You will find him open, communicative, candid, simple in his manners, and a declared enemy to ostentation and luxury. He goes with a

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LETTER CV.—TO MONSIEUR LE COMTE DE MOUSTIER, October 9,1787

LETTER CV.—TO MONSIEUR LE COMTE DE MOUSTIER, October 9,1787

TO MONSIEUR LE COMTE DE MOUSTIER. Paris, October 9,1787. Mr. Jefferson has the honor of presenting his respects to Monsieur le Comte de Moustier, and of taking leave of him by letter, which he is prevented doing in person, by an unexpected visit to Versailles to-day. He will hope to have the pleasure of sometimes hearing from him, and will take the liberty occasionally, of troubling him with a letter. He considers the Count de Moustier as forming with himself the two end Blinks of that chain whi

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LETTER CVI.—TO MADAME DE BREHAN, October 9, 1787

LETTER CVI.—TO MADAME DE BREHAN, October 9, 1787

TO MADAME DE BREHAN. Paris, October 9, 1787. Persuaded, Madam, that visits at this moment must be troublesome I beg you to accept my adieus, in this form. Be assured, that no one mingles with them more regret at separating from you. I will ask your permission to inquire of you by letter sometimes, how our country agrees with your health and your expectations, and will hope to hear it from yourself. The imitation of European manners, which you will find in our towns, will, I fear, be little pleas

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LETTER CVII.—TO MR. DUMAS, October 14, 1787

LETTER CVII.—TO MR. DUMAS, October 14, 1787

TO MR. DUMAS. Paris, October 14, 1787. Sir, I have duly received your favors of October the 23rd and 26th. With respect to the mission you suggest, in the former, no powers are lodged in the hands of Mr. Adams and myself. Congress commissioned Mr. Adams, Doctor Franklin, and myself, to treat with the Emperor on the subjects of amity and commerce: at the same time, they gave us the commission to Prussia, with which you are acquainted. We proposed treating through the Imperial ambassador here. It

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LETTER CVIII.—TO MADAME DE CORNY, October 18, 1787

LETTER CVIII.—TO MADAME DE CORNY, October 18, 1787

TO MADAME DE CORNY. Paris, October 18, 1787. I now have the honor, Madam, to send you the Memoire of M. de Calonne. Do not injure yourself by hurrying its perusal. Only, when you shall have read it at your ease, be so good as to send it back, that it may be returned to the Duke of Dorset. You will read it with pleasure. It has carried comfort to my heart, because it must do the same to the King and the nation. Though it does not prove M. de Calonne to be more innocent than his predecessors, it s

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LETTER CIX.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, October 23, 1787

LETTER CIX.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, October 23, 1787

TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN. Paris, October 23, 1787. Sir, I take the liberty of troubling your Excellency on the subject of the Arrêt , which has lately appeared, for prohibiting the importation of whale-oils and spermaceti, the produce of foreign fisheries. This prohibition, being expressed in general terms, seems to exclude the whale-oils of the United States of America, as well as of the nations of Europe. The uniform disposition, however, which his Majesty and his ministers have shown to prom

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LETTER CX.—TO JOHN JAY, November 3, 1787

LETTER CX.—TO JOHN JAY, November 3, 1787

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, November 3, 1787. Sir, My last letters to you were of the 8th and 27th of October. In the former? I mentioned to you the declaration of this country, that they would interpose with force, if the Prussian troops entered Holland; the entry of those troops into Holland; the declaration of England, that if France did oppose force, they would consider it as an act of war; the naval armaments on both sides; the nomination of the Bailli de Suffrein as Generalissimo on the ocean; and

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LETTER CXI.—TO JOHN JAY, November 3, 1787

LETTER CXI.—TO JOHN JAY, November 3, 1787

(Private.) Paris, November 3, 1787. Dear Sir, I shall take the liberty of confiding sometimes to a private letter, such details of the small history of the court or cabinet, as may be worthy of being known, and yet not proper to be publicly communicated. I doubt whether the administration is yet in a permanent form. The Count de Montmorin and Baron de Breteuil are, I believe, firm enough in their places. It was doubted whether they would wait for the Count de la Luzerne, if the war had taken pla

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LETTER CXII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, November 6, 1787

LETTER CXII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, November 6, 1787

Sir, Paris, November 6, 1787. I take the liberty of asking your Excellency’s perusal of the enclosed case of an American hostage, confined in the prisons of Dunkirk. His continuance there seems to be useless, and yet endless. Not knowing how far the government can interfere for his relief, as it is a case wherein private property is concerned, I do not presume to ask his liberation absolutely: but I will solicit from your Excellency such measures in his behalf, as the laws and usages of the coun

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LETTER CXIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, November 13, 1787

LETTER CXIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, November 13, 1787

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, November 13, 1787. Dear Sir, This will be delivered you by young Mr. Rutledge. Your knowledge of his father will introduce him to your notice. He merits it, moreover, on his own account. I am now to acknowledge your favors of October the 8th and 26th. That of August the 25th was duly received, nor can I recollect by what accident I was prevented from acknowledging it in mine of September the 28th. It has been the source of my subsistence hitherto, and must continue to be so

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LETTER CXIV.—TO COLONEL SMITH, November 13, 1787

LETTER CXIV.—TO COLONEL SMITH, November 13, 1787

TO COLONEL SMITH. Paris, November 13, 1787. Sir, I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of October the 4th, 8th, and 26th. In the last, you apologize for your letters of introduction to Americans coming here. It is so far from needing apology on your part, that it calls for thanks on mine. I endeavor to show civilities to all the Americans who come here, and who will give me opportunities of doing it: and it is a matter of comfort to know, from a good quarter, what they are, and how

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LETTER CXV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, December 11, 1787

LETTER CXV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, December 11, 1787

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Paris, December 11, 1787. Dear Sir, I am later in acknowledging the receipt of your favors of October the 15th, and November the 5th and 15th, because we have been long expecting a packet, which I hoped would bring communications worth detailing to you; and she arrived only a few days ago, after a very long passage indeed. I am very sorry you have not been able to make out the cipher of my letter of September the 25th, because it contained things which I wished you to know

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LETTER CXVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS

LETTER CXVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, December 12, 1787. Dear Sir, In the month of July, I received from Fiseaux &amp; Co. of Amsterdam, a letter notifying me that the principal of their loan to the United States would become due the first day of January. I answered them that I had neither powers nor information on the subject, but would transmit their letter to the board of treasury. I did so, by the packet which sailed from Havre, August the 10th. The earliest answer possible would have been by the packet

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LETTER CXVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 20, 1787

LETTER CXVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 20, 1787

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, December 20, 1787. My last to you was of October the 8th, by the Count de Moustier. Yours of July the 18th, September the 6th, and October the 24th, were successively received, yesterday, the day before, and three or four days before that. I have only had time to read the letters; the printed papers communicated with them, however interesting, being obliged to lie over till I finish my despatches for the packet, which despatches must go from hence the day after to-morrow

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LETTER CXVIII.—TO E. CARRINGTON, December 21, 1787

LETTER CXVIII.—TO E. CARRINGTON, December 21, 1787

TO E. CARRINGTON Paris, December 21, 1787. Dear Sir, I have just received your two favors of October the 23rd and November the 10th. I am much obliged to you for your hints in the Danish business. They are the only information I have on that subject, except the resolution of Congress, and warn me of a rock on which I should most certainly have split. The vote plainly points out an agent, only leaving it to my discretion to substitute another. My judgment concurs with that of Congress as to his f

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LETTER CXIX.—TO MONSIEUR LIMOZIN, December 22, 1787

LETTER CXIX.—TO MONSIEUR LIMOZIN, December 22, 1787

TO MONSIEUR LIMOZIN. Paris, December 22, 1787. Sir, I have the honor now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 18th and 19th of November, and two of the 18th of the present month. I did not write to you immediately on the receipt of the two first, because the observation they contained were to be acted on here. I was much obliged to you for them, as I have been frequently before for others, and you will find that I have profited by them in the Arrêt which is to come out for the regula

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LETTER CXX.—TO JOHN JAY, December 31, 1787

LETTER CXX.—TO JOHN JAY, December 31, 1787

Paris, December 31, 1787. Since the receipt of the letter of Monsieur de Calonne, of October the 22nd, 1786, I have several times had the honor of mentioning to you, that I was endeavoring to get the substance of that letter reduced into an Arrêt , which, instead of being revocable by a single letter of a Comptroller General, would require an Arrêt to repeal or alter it, and of course must be discussed in full Council, and so give time to prevent it. This has been pressed as much as it could be

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LETTER CXXI.—TO MONSIEUR LAMBERT, January 3, 1788

LETTER CXXI.—TO MONSIEUR LAMBERT, January 3, 1788

TO MONSIEUR LAMBERT. Paris, January 3, 1788. Sir, I am honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 29th of December, enclosing the Arrêt on the commerce between France and the United States. I availed myself of the occasion of a vessel sailing this day from Havre for New York, to forward it to Congress. They will receive with singular satisfaction, this new testimony of his Majesty’s friendship for the United States, of his dispositions to promote their interest, and to strengthen the bands whi

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LETTER CXXII.—TO LE COMTE BERNSTORFF, January 21, 1788

LETTER CXXII.—TO LE COMTE BERNSTORFF, January 21, 1788

TO LE COMTE BERNSTORFF, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen . Paris, January 21, 1788. I am instructed by the United States of America, in Congress assembled, to bring again under the consideration of his Majesty, the King of Denmark, and of his ministers, the case of the three prizes taken from the English during the late war, by an American squadron under the command of Commodore Paul Jones, put into Bergen in distress, there rescued from our possession by orders from the court of Denmark,

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LETTER CXXIII.—TO WILLIAM RUTLEDGE, February 2, 1788

LETTER CXXIII.—TO WILLIAM RUTLEDGE, February 2, 1788

TO WILLIAM RUTLEDGE. Paris, February 2, 1788. Dear Sir, I should have sooner answered your favor of January the 2nd, but that we have expected for some time, to see you here. I beg you not to think of the trifle I furnished you with, nor to propose to return it, till you shall have that sum more than you know what to do with. And on every other occasion of difficulty, I hope you will make use of me freely. I presume you will now remain at London, to see the trial of Hastings. Without suffering y

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LETTER CXXIV.—TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY, Feb. 7, 1788

LETTER CXXIV.—TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY, Feb. 7, 1788

TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY. Paris, February 7, 1788. Gentlemen, Your favors of November the 10th and 13th, and December the 5th, have been duly received. Commodore Jones left this place for Copenhagen, the 5th instant, to carry into execution the resolution of Congress, of October the 25th. Whatever monies that court shall be willing to allow, shall be remitted to your bankers, either in Amsterdam or Paris, as shall be found most beneficial, allowing previously to be withdrawn Commodor

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LETTER CXXV.—TO DOCTOR PRICE, February 7, 1788

LETTER CXXV.—TO DOCTOR PRICE, February 7, 1788

TO DOCTOR PRICE. Paris, February 7, 1788. Dear Sir, It is rendering mutual service to men of virtue and understanding, to make them acquainted with one another. I need no other apology for presenting to your notice the bearer hereof, Mr. Barlow. I know you were among the first who read the “Vision of Columbus,” while yet in manuscript: and think the sentiments I heard you express of that poem, will induce you to be pleased with the acquaintance of their author. He comes to pass a few days only a

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LETTER CXXVI.—TO A. DONALD, February.7, 1788

LETTER CXXVI.—TO A. DONALD, February.7, 1788

Paris, February.7, 1788. I received duly your friendly letter of November the 12th. By this time, you will have seen published by Congress, the new regulations obtained from this court, in favor of our commerce. You will observe, that the arrangement relative to tobacco is a continuation of the order of Berni for five years, only leaving the price to be settled between the buyer and seller. You will see too, that all contracts for tobacco are forbidden, till it arrives in France. Of course, your

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LETTER CXXVII.—TO M. WARVILLE, February 12, 1888

LETTER CXXVII.—TO M. WARVILLE, February 12, 1888

Paris, February 12, 1888. Sir, I am very sensible of the honor you propose to me, of becoming a member of the society for the abolition of the slave-trade. You know that nobody wishes more ardently, to see an abolition, not only of the trade, but of the condition of slavery: and certainly nobody will be more willing to encounter every sacrifice for that object. But the influence and information of the friends to this proposition in France will be far above the need of my association. I am here a

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LETTER CXXVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, March 2, 1788

LETTER CXXVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, March 2, 1788

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, March 2, 1788.—Sunday. Dear Sir, I received this day, a letter from Mrs. Adams, of the 26th ultimo, informing me you would set out on the 29th for the Hague. Our affairs at Amsterdam press on my mind like a mountain. I have no information to go on, but that of Willincks and Van Staphorsts, and according to that, something seems necessary to be done. I am so anxious to confer with you on this subject, and to see you and them together, and get some effectual arrangement made

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LETTER CXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, March 16, 1788

LETTER CXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, March 16, 1788

TO JOHN JAY. Amsterdam, March 16, 1788. Sir, In a letter of the 13th instant, which I had the honor of addressing you from this place, I mentioned in general terms, the object of my journey hither, and that I should enter into more particular details, by the confidential conveyance which would occur through Mr. Adams and Colonel Smith. The board of treasury had, in the month of December, informed me and our bankers here, that it would be impossible for them to make any remittances to Europe for

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LETTER CXXX.—TO MR. DUMAS, March 29, 1788

LETTER CXXX.—TO MR. DUMAS, March 29, 1788

TO MR. DUMAS. Amsterdam, March 29, 1788. Sir, I have now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 14th, 18th, and 23rd instant. I would have preferred doing it in person, but the season, and the desire of seeing what I have not yet seen, invite me to take the route of the Rhine. I shall leave this place to-morrow morning, and probably not reach Paris till the latter end of April. In the moment we were to have conferred on the subject of paying the arrears due to you, a letter of the 20th

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LETTER CXXXI.—TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY, March 29, 1788

LETTER CXXXI.—TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY, March 29, 1788

TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY. Gentlemen, I cannot close my letter, without some observations on the transfer of our domestic debt to foreigners. This circumstance, and the failure to pay off Fiseaux’ loan, were the sole causes of the stagnation of our late loan. For otherwise our credit would have stood on more hopeful grounds than heretofore. There was a condition in the last loan, that, the lenders furnishing one third of the money, the remaining two thirds of the bonds should remain e

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LETTER CXXXII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 2, 1788

LETTER CXXXII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 2, 1788

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON. Paris, May 2, 1788. Dear Sir, I am honored with your Excellency’s letter by the last packet, and thank you for the information it contains on the communication between the Cayahoga and Big Beaver. I have ever considered the opening a canal between those two water courses, as the most important work in that line, which the state of Virginia could undertake. If will infallibly turn through the Potomac all the commerce of Lake Erie, and the country west of that, except what m

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LETTER CXXXIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 3,1788

LETTER CXXXIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 3,1788

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, May 3,1788. Dear Sir, Mine of February the 6th acknowledged the receipt of yours of December the 9th and 20th; since that, those of February the 19th and 20th have come to hand. The present will be delivered you by Mr. Warville, whom you will find truly estimable, and a great enthusiast for liberty. His writings will have shown you this. For public news, I must refer you to my letters to Mr. Jay. Those I wrote to him from Amsterdam will have informed you of my journey th

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LETTER CXXXIV.—TO JOHN JAY, May 4, 1788

LETTER CXXXIV.—TO JOHN JAY, May 4, 1788

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, May 4, 1788. Sir, I had the honor of addressing you in two letters of the 13th and 16th of March from Amsterdam, and have since received Mr. Ramson’s of February the 20th. I staid at Amsterdam about ten or twelve days after the departure of Mr. Adams, in hopes of seeing the million of the last year filled up. This, however, could not be accomplished on the spot. But the prospect was so good as to have dissipated all fears; and since my return here, I learn (not officially fro

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LETTER CXXXV.—TO THE COUNT DE MOUSTIER, May 17, 1788

LETTER CXXXV.—TO THE COUNT DE MOUSTIER, May 17, 1788

TO THE COUNT DE MOUSTIER. Paris, May 17, 1788. Dear Sir, I have at length an opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your favors of February, and March the 14th, and congratulating you on your resurrection from the dead, among whom you had been confidently entombed by the news-dealers of Paris. I am sorry that your first impressions have been disturbed by matters of etiquette, where surely they should least have been expected to occur. These disputes are the most insusceptible of determinati

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LETTER CXXXVI.—TO JOHN JAY, May 23,1788

LETTER CXXXVI.—TO JOHN JAY, May 23,1788

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, May 23,1788. Sir, When I wrote my letter of the 4th instant, I had no reason to doubt that a packet would have sailed on the 10th, according to the established order. The passengers had all, except one, gone down to Havre in this expectation. However, none has sailed, and perhaps none will sail, as I think the suppression of the packets is one of the economies in contemplation. An American merchant, concerned in the commerce of the whale-oil, proposed to government to despatc

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LETTER CXXXVII.—TO JOHN BROWN, May 26,1788

LETTER CXXXVII.—TO JOHN BROWN, May 26,1788

TO JOHN BROWN. Paris, May 26,1788. Dear Sir, It was with great pleasure I saw your name on the roll of Delegates, but I did not know you had actually come onto New-York, till Mr. Paradise informed me of it. Your removal from Carolina to Kentucky was not an indifferent event to me. I wish to see that country in the hands of people well disposed, who know the value of the connection between that and the maritime States, and who wish to cultivate it. I consider their happiness as bound up together,

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LETTER CXXXVIII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, May 27, 1788

LETTER CXXXVIII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, May 27, 1788

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Paris, May 27, 1788. Your favors of April the 14th and 29th, and May the 8th, have lately come to hand. That of January the 29th, by M. de Moinedo, had been left here during my absence on a journey to Amsterdam. That gentleman had gone, as I presume, before my return, from my being unable to learn any thing of him. With respect to the Isthmus of Panama, I am assured by Burgoine (who would not chose to be named, however), that a survey was made, that a canal appeared very p

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LETTER CXXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, May 27, 1788

LETTER CXXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, May 27, 1788

TO JOHN JAY. (Private.) Paris, May 27, 1788. Dear Sir, The change which is likely to take place in the form of our government, seems to render it proper, that, during the existence of the present government, an article should be mentioned which concerns me personally. Uncertain, however, how far Congress may have decided to do business when so near the close of their administration; less capable than those on the spot of foreseeing the character of the new government; and not fully confiding in

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LETTER CXL.*—TO JAMES MADISON, May 28, 1788

LETTER CXL.*—TO JAMES MADISON, May 28, 1788

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, May 28, 1788. The enclosed letter for Mr. Jay, being of a private nature. I have thought it better to put it under your cover, lest it might be opened by some of his clerks, in the case of his absence. But I enclose a press copy of it for yourself, as you will perceive the subject of it referred to you, as well as to him. I ask your aid in it so far as you think right, and to have done what you think right. If you will now be so good as to cast your eye over the copy enc

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LETTER CXLI.—TO PETER CARU, May 23, 1788

LETTER CXLI.—TO PETER CARU, May 23, 1788

TO PETER CARU. Paris, May 23, 1788. Dear Peter, The preceding letter [* For the letter referred to, see ante, LXXIV.] was written at its date, and I supposed you in possession of it, when your letters of December the 10th, 1787, and March the 18th, 1788, told me otherwise. Still I supposed it on its way to you, when a few days ago, having occasion to look among some papers in the drawer, where my letters are usually put away, till an opportunity of sending them occurs, I found that this letter h

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LETTER CXLII.—TO THE COMTE DE BERNSTORFF, June 19, 1788

LETTER CXLII.—TO THE COMTE DE BERNSTORFF, June 19, 1788

TO THE COMTE DE BERNSTORFF. Paris, June 19, 1788. I had the honor of addressing your Excellency, by Admiral Paul Jones, on the 21st of January, on the subject of the prizes taken under his command during the late war, and sent into Bergen. I communicated at the same time a copy of the powers which the Congress of the United States of America had been pleased to confide to me therein, having previously shown the original to the Baron de Blome, Envoy Extraordinary of his Majesty, the King of Denma

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LETTER CXLIII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, June 20, 1788

LETTER CXLIII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, June 20, 1788

TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN. Paris, June 20, 1788. Sir, Having had the honor of mentioning to your Excellency the wish of Congress, that certain changes should be made in the articles for a consular convention, which had been sent to them, I have now that, conformably to the desire you expressed, of giving a general idea of the alterations to be proposed. The fourth article gives to the consuls the immunities of the law of nations. It has been understood, however, that the laws of France do not ad

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LETTER CXLIV.—TO DOCTOR GORDON, July 16, 1788

LETTER CXLIV.—TO DOCTOR GORDON, July 16, 1788

Paris, July 16, 1788. Sir, In your favor of the 8th instant, you mentioned that you had written to me in February last. This letter never came to hand. That of April the 24th came here during my absence on a journey through Holland and Germany; and my having been obliged to devote the first moments after my return to some very pressing matters, must be my apology for not having been able to write to you till now. As soon as I knew that it would be agreeable to you to have such a disposal of your

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LETTER CXLV.—TO JAMES MADISON, July 19, 1788

LETTER CXLV.—TO JAMES MADISON, July 19, 1788

TO JAMES MADISON, of William and Mary College . Paris, July 19, 1788. Dear Sir, My last letter to you was of the 13th of August last. As you seem willing to accept of the crumbs of science on which we are subsisting here, it is with pleasure I continue to hand them on to you, in proportion as they are dealt out. Herschel’s volcano in the moon you have doubtless heard of, and placed among the other vagaries of a head, which seems not organized for sound induction. The wildness of the theories hit

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LETTER CXLVI.—TO E. RUTLEDGE, July 18, 1788

LETTER CXLVI.—TO E. RUTLEDGE, July 18, 1788

TO E. RUTLEDGE. Paris, July 18, 1788. Dear Sir, Messrs. Berard were to have given me particular accounts of the proceeds of the shipments of rice made to them. But they have failed. I fear, from what they mention, that the price has been less advantageous than usual; which is unlucky, as it falls the first essay. If on the whole, however, you get as much as you would have done by a sale on the spot, it should encourage other adventures, because the price at Havre or Rouen is commonly higher, and

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LETTER CXLVII.—TO MR. BELLINI, July 25,1788

LETTER CXLVII.—TO MR. BELLINI, July 25,1788

TO MR. BELLINI. Paris, July 25,1788. Dear Sir, Though I have written to you seldom, you are often the object of my thoughts, and always of my affection. The truth is, that the circumstances with which I am surrounded, offer little worth detailing to you. You are too wise to feel an interest in the squabbles, in which the pride, the dissipations, and the tyranny of kings, keep this hemisphere constantly embroiled. Science, indeed, finds some aliment here, and you are one of her sons. But this I h

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LETTER CXLVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, July 31, 1788

LETTER CXLVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, July 31, 1788

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, July 31, 1788. My last letters to you were of the 3rd and the 25th of May. Yours from Orange, of April the 22nd, came to hand on the 10th instant. My letter to Mr. Jay containing all the public news that is well authenticated, I will not repeat it here, but add some details in the smaller way, which you may be glad to know. The disgrace of the Marquis de la Fayette, which, at any other period of their history, would have had the worst consequences for him, will, on the c

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LETTER CXLIX.—TO JOHN JAY, August 3, 1788

LETTER CXLIX.—TO JOHN JAY, August 3, 1788

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, August 3, 1788. Sir, My last letters to you were of the 4th and 23d of May, with a Postscript of the 27th. Since that, I have been honored with yours of April the 24th, May the 16th, and June the 9th. The most remarkable internal occurrences since my last are these. The Noblesse of Bretagne, who had received with so much warmth the late innovations in the government, assembled, and drew up a memorial to the King, and chose twelve members of their body to come and present it.

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LETTER CL.—TO COLONEL MONROE, August 9, 1788

LETTER CL.—TO COLONEL MONROE, August 9, 1788

TO COLONEL MONROE. Paris, August 9, 1788. Dear Sir, Since my last to you, I have to thank your for your favors of July the 27th, 1787, and April the 10th, 1788, and the details they contained; and in return, will give you now the leading circumstances of this continent. This nation is at present under great internal agitation. The authority of the crown on one part, and that of the parliaments on the other, are fairly at issue. Good men take part with neither, but have raised an opposition, the

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LETTER CLI.—TO MONSIEUR DE CREVE-COEUR, August 9, 1788

LETTER CLI.—TO MONSIEUR DE CREVE-COEUR, August 9, 1788

TO MONSIEUR DE CREVE-COEUR. While our second revolution is just brought to a happy end with you, yours here is but cleverly under way. For some days I was really melancholy with the apprehension, that arms would be appealed to, and the opposition crushed in its first efforts. But things seem now to wear a better aspect. While the opposition keeps at its highest wholesome point, government, unwilling to draw the sword, is not forced to do it. The contest here is exactly what it was in Holland: a

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LETTER CLII.—TO JOHN JAY, August 10, 1788

LETTER CLII.—TO JOHN JAY, August 10, 1788

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, August 10, 1788. Sir, I have waited till the last moment of Mrs. Barclay’s departure, to write you the occurrences since my letter of the 3rd instant. We have received the Swedish account of an engagement between their fleet and the Russian, on the Baltic, wherein they say they took one, and burned another Russian vessel, with the loss of one on their side, and that the victory remained with them. They say, at the same time, that their fleet returned into port, and the Russia

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LETTER CLIII.—TO JOHN JAY, August 11, 1788

LETTER CLIII.—TO JOHN JAY, August 11, 1788

Paris, August 11, 1788. In my letter of the last night, written in the moment of Mrs. Barclay’s departure, I had the honor of mentioning to you, that it was now pretty certain that the States General would be assembled in the next year, and probably in the month of May. This morning an Arrêt is published, announcing that their meeting is fixed on the first day of May next, of which I enclose you a copy by post, in hopes it will get to Bordeaux in time for Mrs. Barclay. This Arrêt ought to have a

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LETTER CLIV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, August 12, 1788

LETTER CLIV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, August 12, 1788

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Paris, August 12, 1788. Dear Sir, Since my last to you, I have been honored with yours of the 18th and 29th of May, and 5th of June. My latest American intelligence is of the 24th of June, when nine certainly, and probably ten States, had accepted the new constitution, and there was no doubt of the eleventh (North Carolina), because there was no opposition there. In New York, two thirds of the State were against it, and certainly if they had been called to the decision, in

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LETTER CLV.—TO M. CATHALAN, August 13,1788

LETTER CLV.—TO M. CATHALAN, August 13,1788

TO M. CATHALAN. Paris, August 13,1788. Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your two favors, of June, and July the 11th, and to thank you for the political intelligence they contained, which is always interesting to me. I will ask a continuance of them, and especially that you inform me, from time to time, of the movements in the ports of Marseilles and Toulon, which may seem to indicate peace or war. These are the most certain presages possible; and being conveyed to me from all the ports,

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LETTER CLVI.—TO JOHN JAY, August 20,1788

LETTER CLVI.—TO JOHN JAY, August 20,1788

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, August 20,1788. Sir, I had the honor to write to you on the 3rd, 10th, and 11th instant, with a postscript of the 12th; all of which went by Mrs. Barclay. Since that date, we have received an account of a third victory obtained by the Russians over the Turks, on the Black Sea, in which the Prince of Nassau, with his galleys, destroyed two frigates, three smaller vessels, and six galleys. The Turkish power on that sea is represented, by their enemies, as now annihilated. There

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LETTER CLVII.—TO MR. CUTTING, August 23, 1788

LETTER CLVII.—TO MR. CUTTING, August 23, 1788

TO MR. CUTTING. Paris, August 23, 1788. Dear Sir, I have duly received your favors of the 3rd, 8th, 14th, and 15th instant, and have now the honor of enclosing you a letter of introduction to Doctor Ramsay. I think a certainty that England and France must enter into the war, was a great inducement to the ministry here to suspend the portion of public payments, which they have lately suspended. By this operation, they secure two hundred and three millions of livres, or eight millions and a half o

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LETTER CLVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, September 3, 1788

LETTER CLVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, September 3, 1788

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, September 3, 1788. Sir, By Mrs. Barclay I had the honor of sending you letters of the 3rd, 10th, and 11th of August; since which, I wrote you of the 20th of the same month, by a casual conveyance, as is the present. In my letter of the 20th, I informed you of the act of public bankruptcy which had taken place here. The effect of this would have been a forced loan of about one hundred and eighty millions of livres, in the course of the present and ensuing year. But it did not

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LETTER CLIX.—TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY, Sep. 6, 1788

LETTER CLIX.—TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY, Sep. 6, 1788

TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY. Paris, September 6, 1788. Gentlemen, Your favor of July the 3rd came to hand some days ago, and that of July the 22nd in the afternoon of yesterday. Knowing that a Mr. Vannet was to leave Paris this morning to go to Virginia in a vessel bound from Havre to Potomac, I have engaged him to receive the papers which are the subject of those letters, to take care of them from thence to Havre, and on the voyage; and when he shall have arrived in Potomac, instead of

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LETTER CLX.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN,

LETTER CLX.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN,

TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN. Paris, September 11, 1788. Sir, In the course of the last war, the house of Schweighaeuser and Dobree of Nantes, and Puchilberg of L’Orient, presented to Dr. Franklin a demand against the United States of America. He, being acquainted with the circumstances of the demand, and knowing it to be unfounded, refused to pay it. They thereupon procured seizure, by judiciary authority, of certain arms and other military stores which we had purchased in this country, and had de

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LETTER CLXI.—TO M. DE REYNEVAL, September 16, 1788

LETTER CLXI.—TO M. DE REYNEVAL, September 16, 1788

TO M. DE REYNEVAL. Paris, September 16, 1788. I have the honor now to enclose you my observations on the alteration proposed in the consular convention. There remain only three articles of those heretofore in question between us, to which I am unable to agree; that is to say, the second, proposing still to retain personal immunities for the consuls, and others attached to their office; the eighth, proposing that the navigation code of each nation shall be established in the territories of the ot

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LETTER CLXII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA ROUERIE, September 16,1788

LETTER CLXII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA ROUERIE, September 16,1788

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA ROUERIE. Paris, September 16,1788. Sir, On receiving the first letters which you did me the honor to write to me on the arrears due to you from the United States, I informed you that I had nothing to do in the money department; that the subject of your letters belonged altogether to the treasury board, and to Mr. Grand, their banker here, to the former of whom I forwarded your letters. As I felt an anxiety, however, that the foreign officers should be paid, I took the libert

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LETTER CLXIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, September 20, 1788

LETTER CLXIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, September 20, 1788

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Paris, September 20, 1788. Dear Sir, The evening of your departure, a letter came by the way of London and New York, addressed to you, and probably from Virginia. I think you wished your American letters to remain here; I shall therefore keep it. The passport now enclosed came the day after your departure; so also did a mass of American letters for me, as low down as August the 10th. I shall give you their substance. The convention of Virginia annexed to their ratification of t

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LETTER CLXIV.—TO JOHN JAY, September 24,1788

LETTER CLXIV.—TO JOHN JAY, September 24,1788

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, September 24,1788. Sir, Understanding that the vessel is not yet sailed from Havre, which is to carry my letters of the 3rd and 5th instant, I am in hopes you will receive the present with them. The Russian accounts of their victories on the Black Sea must have been greatly exaggerated. According to these, the Captain Pacha’s fleet was annihilated; yet themselves have lately brought him on the stage again, with fifteen ships of the line, in order to obtain another victory ove

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LETTER CLXV.—TO M. DE REYNEVAL, October 1, 1788

LETTER CLXV.—TO M. DE REYNEVAL, October 1, 1788

TO M. DE REYNEVAL. Paris, October 1, 1788 I have now the honor of enclosing to you a copy of the letter of September the 16th, which I had that of writing to his Excellency the Count de Montmorin, with the papers therein referred to, and of soliciting the order I have asked for. The originals were sent at the date before mentioned. Notwithstanding the refusal of the houses of Schweighaeuser and Dobree, and of Puchilberg, to settle their claim against the United States by arbitration, as I propos

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LETTER CLXVI.—TO MR. CUTTING, October 2, 1788

LETTER CLXVI.—TO MR. CUTTING, October 2, 1788

Paris, October 2, 1788. Dear Sir, I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 16th and 23rd ultimo and to thank you for the intelligence they conveyed. That respecting the case of the interrogatories in Pennsylvania, ought to make noise. So evident a heresy in the common law ought not to be tolerated on the authority of two or three civilians, who happened, unfortunately, to make authority in the courts of England. I hold it essential, in America, to forbid that any English decisio

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LETTER CLXVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, November 18, 1788

LETTER CLXVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, November 18, 1788

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, November 18, 1788. Dear Sir, My last to you was of the 31st of July; since which, I have received yours of July the 24th, August the 10th, and 23rd. The first part of this long silence in me was occasioned by a knowledge that you were absent from New York; the latter part, by a want of opportunity, which has been longer than usual. Mr. Shippen being just arrived here, and to set out to-morrow for London, I avail myself of that channel of conveyance. Mr. Carrington was so

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LETTER CLXIX.—TO A. DONALD, November 18,1788

LETTER CLXIX.—TO A. DONALD, November 18,1788

TO A. DONALD. Paris, November 18,1788. Often solicited by persons on this side the water, to inquire for their friends in America, about whose fate they are uncertain, I can only hand on their requests to my friends in America. The enclosed letter from, the Chevalier de Sigougne desires some inquiry after his brother, whom he supposes to have settled at Todd’s Bridge. As this is within your reach, I must refer the request to your humanity, and beg of you, if you can hear of him, you will be so g

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LETTER CLXX.—TO JOHN JAY, November 19, 1788

LETTER CLXX.—TO JOHN JAY, November 19, 1788

TO JOHN JAY. Sir, Paris, November 19, 1788. Since my letter of September the 5th, wherein I acknowledged Mr. Remsen’s favor of July the 25th, I have written those of September the 24th, and of the 14th instant. This last will accompany the present, both going by the way of London, for want of a direct opportunity; but they go by a private hand. No late event worth notice has taken place between the Turks and Austrians. The former continue in the territories of the latter, with all the appearance

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LETTER CLXXI.—TO JOHN JAY, November 29, 1788

LETTER CLXXI.—TO JOHN JAY, November 29, 1788

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, November 29, 1788. Sir, In the hurry of making up my letter of the 19th instant, I omitted the enclosed printed paper, on the subject of whale-oil. That omission is now supplied by another conveyance, by the way of London. The explanatory Arrêt is not yet come out. I still take for granted, it will pass, though there be an opposition to it in the Council. In the mean time, orders are given to receive our oils which may arrive. The apprehension of a want of corn has induced th

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LETTER, CLXXII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 4, 1788

LETTER, CLXXII.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 4, 1788

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON. Paris, December 4, 1788. Your favor of August the 31st came to hand yesterday; and a confidential conveyance offering, by the way of London, I avail myself of it, to acknowledge the receipt. I have seen, with infinite pleasure, our new constitution accepted by eleven States, not rejected by the twelfth; and that the thirteenth happens to be a state of the least importance. It is true, that the minorities in most of the accepting States have been very respectable; so much s

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LETTER CLXXIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 5, 1788

LETTER CLXXIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 5, 1788

TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, December 5, 1788. Dear Sir, I had the pleasure of writing to you on the 2nd of August, and of adding a Postscript of August the 6th. You recollect well the Arrêt of December the 29th, 1787, in favor of our commerce, and which, among other things, gave free admission to our whale-oil, under a duty of about two louis a ton. In consequence of the English treaty, their oils flowed in, and over-stocked the market. The light duty they were liable to under the treaty, still lessen

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LETTER CLXXIV.—TO MR. SHORT, December 8, 1788

LETTER CLXXIV.—TO MR. SHORT, December 8, 1788

TO MR. SHORT. Paris, December 8, 1788. My last to you was of the 21st of November, addressed to Milan, poste restante , according to the desire expressed through Mrs. Paradise. I have lately received yours of the 19th of November, and sincerely felicitate you on your recovery. I wish you may have suffered this to be sufficiently established before you set out on your journey. The present letter will probably reach you amidst the classical enjoyments of Rome. I feel myself kindle at the reflectio

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LETTER CLXXV.—TO DOCTOR GILMER, December 16, 1788

LETTER CLXXV.—TO DOCTOR GILMER, December 16, 1788

TO DOCTOR GILMER. Paife, December 16, 1788. Dear Doctor, Your last letter of December the 23rd was unlucky, like the former one, in arriving while I was absent on a call of public business in Holland. I was discouraged from answering the law part of it on my return, because I foresaw such a length of time between the date of that and receipt of the answer, as would give it the air of a prescription after the death of the patient. I hope the whole affair is settled, and that you are established i

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LETTER CLXXVI.—TO THOMAS PAINE, December 23,1788

LETTER CLXXVI.—TO THOMAS PAINE, December 23,1788

TO THOMAS PAINE. Paris, December 23,1788. Dear Sir, It is true that I received very long ago your favors of September the 9th and 15th, and that I have been in daily intention of answering them, fully and confidentially; but you know such a correspondence between you and me cannot pass through the post, nor even by the couriers of ambassadors. The French packet-boats being discontinued, I am now obliged to watch opportunities by Americans going to London, to write my letters to America. Hence it

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LETTER CLXXVII.—TO JOHN JAY, January 11, 1789

LETTER CLXXVII.—TO JOHN JAY, January 11, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, January 11, 1789. Sir, My last letters were of the 14th, 19th, and 29th of November, by the way of London. The present will go the same way, through a private channel. All military operations in Europe seem to have been stopped, by the excessive severity of the weather. In this country, it is unparalleled in so early a part of the winter, and in duration, having continued since the middle of November, during which time it has been as low as nine degrees below nought, that is

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LETTER CLXXVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 12, 1789

LETTER CLXXVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 12, 1789

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, January 12, 1789. Dear Sir, My last to you was of the 18th of November; since which, I have received yours of the 21st of September, and October the 8th, with the pamphlet on the Mohicon language, for which, receive my thanks. I endeavor to collect all the vocabularies I can of the American Indians, as of those of Asia, persuaded, that if they ever had a common parentage, it will appear in their languages. I was pleased to see the vote of Congress, of September the 16th,

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LETTER CLXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, January 14, 1789

LETTER CLXXIX.—TO JOHN JAY, January 14, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Sir, Paris, January 14, 1789. In my letter of the 11th, I have said nothing of the Arrêt explanatory of that of September the 28th, on the subject of whale-oils, which my letter of November the 19th gave you reason to expect. Though this explanatory Arrêt has been passed so long ago as the 7th of December, it has not been possible for me to obtain an authentic copy of it, till last night. I now enclose that to you, with a copy of a letter to me from Mr. Necker, on the subject. The r

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LETTER CLXXX.—TO MADAME NECKER, January 24, 1789

LETTER CLXXX.—TO MADAME NECKER, January 24, 1789

TO MADAME NECKER. Paris, January 24, 1789. I have received, Madam, with a great deal of sensibility, the letter of the 22nd instant, with which you were pleased to honor me on the claims of Monsieur Klein against the United States; and immediately endeavored to inform myself of their foundation, by an examination of the journals of Congress. Congress consisting of many persons, can only speak by the organ of their records. If they have any engagements, they are to be found there. If not found th

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LETTER CLXXXI.—TO JOHN JAY, February 1, 1789

LETTER CLXXXI.—TO JOHN JAY, February 1, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, February 1, 1789. Sir, My last letters have been of the 11th, 14th, and 21st of January. The present conveyance being through the post to Havre, from whence a vessel is to sail for New York, I avail myself of it, principally to send you the newspapers. That of Leyden of the 24th, contains a note of the Chargé des Affaires of France, at Warsaw, which is interesting. It shows a concert between France and Russia; it is a prognostication that Russia will interfere in the affairs

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LETTER CLXXXII.—TO JOHN JAY, February 4, 1789

LETTER CLXXXII.—TO JOHN JAY, February 4, 1789

Paris, February 4, 1789. Your favor of November the 25th, by Gouverneur Morris, is duly received. I must beg you to take the trouble of deciphering yourself what follows, and to communicate it to nobody but the President, at least for the present. We had before understood, through different channels, that the conduct of the Count de Moustier was politically and morally offensive. It was delicate for me to speak on the subject to the Count de Montmorin. The invaluable mediation of our friend, the

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LETTER CLXXXIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, February 9,1789

LETTER CLXXXIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, February 9,1789

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Paris, February 9,1789. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 22nd of January, on which day I received yours of December the 31st, and since that, the other of January the 14th. We have now received news from America down to the middle of December. They had then had no cold weather. All things relative to our new constitution were going on well. Federal senators are; New Hampshire, President Langdon and Bartlett. Massachusetts, Strong and Dalton. Connecticut, Dr. Johnson and Ellswo

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LETTER CLXXXIV.—TO M. DE VILLEDEUIL, February 10, 1789

LETTER CLXXXIV.—TO M. DE VILLEDEUIL, February 10, 1789

TO M. DE VILLEDEUIL. Paris, February 10, 1789. Sir, I take the liberty of troubling your Excellency with the following case, which I understand to be within your department. Mr. Jay, secretary for Foreign Affairs, to the United States of America, having occasion to send me despatches of great importance, and by a courier express, confided them to a Mr. Nesbitt, who offered himself in that character. He has delivered them safely: but, in the moment of delivering them, explained to me his situatio

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LETTER CLXXXV.—TO MR. CARNES, February 15,1789

LETTER CLXXXV.—TO MR. CARNES, February 15,1789

TO MR. CARNES. Paris, February 15,1789. I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of January the 23rd, and February the 9th and 10th. Your departure for America so soon, puzzles me as to the finishing the affair of Schweighaeuser and Dobree, in which I could have reposed myself on you. It remains, that I ask you to recommend some person who may be perfectly relied on, in that business. In fact, it is probably the only one I shall have occasion to trouble them with before my own departur

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LETTER CLXXXVI.—TO DR. BANCROFT, March 2, 1789

LETTER CLXXXVI.—TO DR. BANCROFT, March 2, 1789

TO DR. BANCROFT. Paris, March 2, 1789 Dear Sir, I have just received a letter of January the 31st from Admiral Paul Jones, at Petersburg, which charging me with the execution of some commissions, and these requiring money, he tells me you will answer my drafts, to the amount of four or five thousand livres, on his account. Be so good as to inform me whether you will pay such drafts. A Monsieur Foulloy, who has been connected with Deane, lately offered me for sale two volumes of Deane’s letter bo

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LETTER CLXXXVII.—TO M. DE MALESHERBES, March 11, 1789

LETTER CLXXXVII.—TO M. DE MALESHERBES, March 11, 1789

TO M. DE MALESHERBES. Sir, Paris, March 11, 1789. Your zeal to promote the general good of mankind, by an interchange of useful things, and particularly in the line of agriculture, and the weight which your rank and station would give to your interposition, induce me to ask it, for the purpose of obtaining one of the species of rice which grows in Cochin-China on high lands, and which needs no other watering than the ordinary rains. The sun and soil of Carolina are sufficiently powerful to insur

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LETTER CLXXXVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, March 12, 1789

LETTER CLXXXVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, March 12, 1789

Paris, March 12, 1789. I had the honor of addressing you, on the 1st instant, through the post. I write the present, uncertain whether Mr. Nesbitt, the bearer of your last, will be the bearer of this, or whether it may not have to wait some other private occasion. They have reestablished their packet-boats here, indeed; but they are to go from Bordeaux, which, being between four and five hundred miles from hence, is too far to send a courier with any letters but on the most extraordinary occasio

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LETTER CLXXXIX.—TO F. HOPKINSON, March 13, 1789

LETTER CLXXXIX.—TO F. HOPKINSON, March 13, 1789

TO F. HOPKINSON. Paris, March 13, 1789. Dear Sir, Since my last, which was of December the 21st, yours of December the 9th and 21st are received. Accept my thanks for the papers and pamphlets which accompanied them, and mine and my daughters for the book of songs. I will not tell you how much they have pleased us, nor how well the last of them merits praise for its pathos, but relate a fact only, which is, that while my elder daughter was playing it on the harpsichord, I happened to look towards

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LETTER CXC.—TO MADAME DE BREHAN, March 14, 1789

LETTER CXC.—TO MADAME DE BREHAN, March 14, 1789

TO MADAME DE BREHAN. Paris, March 14, 1789. Dear Madam, I had the honor of writing to you on the 15th of February; soon after which, I had that of receiving your favor of December the 29th. I have a thousand questions to ask you about your journey to the Indian treaty, how you like their persons, their manners, their costumes, cuisine, &amp;c. But this I must defer till I can do it personally in New York, where I hope to see you for a moment in the summer, and to take your commands for Franc

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LETTER CXCI.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 15, 1789

LETTER CXCI.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 15, 1789

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, March 15, 1789. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 12th of January; since which I have received yours of October the 17th, December the 8th and 12th. That of October the 17th came to hand only February the 23rd. How it happened to be four months on the way, I cannot tell, as I never knew by what hand it came. Looking over my letter of January the 12th, I remark an error of the word ‘probable’ instead of’ improbable,’ which, doubtless, however, you had been able to correct

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LETTER, CXCII.—TO THOMAS PAINE, March 17,1789

LETTER, CXCII.—TO THOMAS PAINE, March 17,1789

Paris, March 17,1789. Dear Sir, My last letter to you extended from December the 23rd to January the 11th. A confidential opportunity now arising, I can acknowledge the receipt of yours of January the 15th, at the date of which you could not have received mine. You knew, long ago, that the meeting of the States is to be at Versailles, on the 27th of April. This country is entirely occupied in its elections, which go on quietly and well. The Duke d’Orleans is elected for Villers Cotterets. The Pr

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LETTER CXIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 18, 1789

LETTER CXIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 18, 1789

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS. Paris, March 18, 1789. Dear Sir, Your favor of November the 29th, 1788, came to hand the last month. How it happened that mine of August, 1787, was fourteen months on its way, is inconceivable. I do not recollect by what conveyance I sent it. I had concluded, however, either that it had miscarried, or that you had become indolent, as most of our countrymen are, in matters of correspondence. The change in this country since you left it, is such as you can form no idea of. Th

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LETTER CXCIV.—TO DOCTOR WILLARD, March 24, 1789

LETTER CXCIV.—TO DOCTOR WILLARD, March 24, 1789

TO DOCTOR WILLARD. Paris, March 24, 1789. Sir, I have been lately honored with your letter of September the 24th, 1788, accompanied by a diploma for a Doctorate of Laws, which the University of Harvard has been pleased to confer on me. Conscious how little I merit it, I am the more sensible of their goodness and indulgence to a stranger, who has had no means ef serving or making himself known to them. I beg you to return them my grateful thanks, and to assure them that this notice from so eminen

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LETTER CXCV.—TO J. SARSFIELD, April 3, 1789

LETTER CXCV.—TO J. SARSFIELD, April 3, 1789

TO J. SARSFIELD. Paris, April 3, 1789. Sir, I could not name to you the day of my departure from Paris, because I do not know it. I have not yet received my congé , though I hope to receive it soon, and to leave this some time in May, so that I may be back before the winter. Impost is a duty paid on any imported article, in the moment of its importation, and of course, it is collected in the sea-ports only. Excise is a duty on any article, whether imported or raised at home, and paid in the hand

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LETTER CXCVI.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, May 6,1789

LETTER CXCVI.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, May 6,1789

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Paris, May 6,1789. My Dear Friend, As it becomes more and more possible that the Noblesse will go wrong, I become uneasy for you. Your principles are decidedly with the Tiers-Etat , and your instructions against them. A complaisance to the latter on some occasions, and an adherence to the former on others, may give an appearance of trimming between the two parties, which may lose you both. You will, in the end, go over wholly to the Tiers-Etat , because it will be i

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LETTER CXCVII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, May 8, 1789

LETTER CXCVII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, May 8, 1789

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Paris, May 8, 1789. Dear Sir, Your favor of January the 26th, to March the 27th, is duly received, and I thank you for the interesting papers it contained. The answer of Don Ulloa, however, on the subject of the canal through the American isthmus, was not among them, though mentioned to be so. If you have omitted it through accident, I shall thank you for it at some future occasion, as I wish much to understand that subject thoroughly. Our American information comes down t

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LETTER CXCVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, May 9, 1789

LETTER CXCVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, May 9, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, May 9, 1789. Sir, Since my letter of March the 1st, by the way of Havre, and those of March the 12th and 15th, by the way of London, no opportunity of writing has occurred, till the present to London. There are no symptoms of accommodation between the Turks and two empires, nor between Russia and Sweden. The Emperor was, on the 16th of the last month, expected to die, certainly; he was, however, a little better when the last news came away, so that hopes were entertained of h

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LETTER CXCIX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 10, 1780

LETTER CXCIX.—TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, May 10, 1780

TO GENERAL WASHINGTON. Paris, May 10, 1780, Sir, I am now to acknowledge, the honor of your two letters of November the 27th and February the 13th, both of which have come to hand since my last to you of December the 4th and 5th. The details you are so good as to give me on the subject of the navigation of the waters of the Potomac and Ohio, are very pleasing to me, as I consider the union of those two rivers, as among the strongest Blinks of connection between the eastern and western sides of o

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LETTER CC.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 11,1789

LETTER CC.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 11,1789

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, May 11,1789. Dear Sir, My last to you was of the 15th of March. I am now in hourly expectation of receiving my leave of absence. The delay of it a little longer will endanger the throwing my return into the winter, the very idea of which is horror itself to me. I am in hopes this is the last letter I shall have the pleasure of writing you before my departure. The madness of the King of England has gone off, but left him in a state of imbecility and melancholy. They talk

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LETTER CCI.—TO MONSIEUR DE PONTIERE, May 17, 1789

LETTER CCI.—TO MONSIEUR DE PONTIERE, May 17, 1789

TO MONSIEUR DE PONTIERE. Paris, May 17, 1789. Sir, I am honored with your letter of the 6th instant, and am sincerely sorry that you should experience inconveniences for the want of the arrearages due to you from the United States. I have never ceased to take every measure, which could promise to procure to the foreign officers the payment of these arrears. At present the matter stands thus. Congress have agreed to borrow a sum of money in Holland, to enable them to pay the individual demands in

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LETTER CCII.—TO MR. VAUGHAN, May 17, 1789

LETTER CCII.—TO MR. VAUGHAN, May 17, 1789

TO MR. VAUGHAN. Dear Sir, I am to acknowledge, all together, the receipt of your favors of March the 17th, 26th, and May the 7th, and to return you abundant thanks for your attention to the article of dry rice, and the parcel of seeds you sent me. This is interesting, because, even should it not take place of the wet rice, in South Carolina, it will enable us to cultivate this grain in Virginia, where we have not lands disposed for the wet rice. The collection of the works of Monsieur de Poivre

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LETTER CCIII.—TO THOMAS PAINE, May 19,1789

LETTER CCIII.—TO THOMAS PAINE, May 19,1789

Paris, May 19,1789. Your favors of February the 16th to April the 13th, and of May the 3rd and 10th, are received; and the two last are sent to Mr. Leroy, who will communicate them to the Academy. You know that the States General have met, and probably have seen the speeches at the opening of them. The three orders sit in distinct chambers. The great question, whether they shall vote by orders or persons can never be surmounted amicably. It has not yet been proposed in form; but the votes which

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LETTER CCIV.—TO MONSIEUR DE ST. ETIENNE, June 3, 1789

LETTER CCIV.—TO MONSIEUR DE ST. ETIENNE, June 3, 1789

TO MONSIEUR DE ST. ETIENNE. Paris, June 3, 1789. Sir, After you quitted us yesterday evening, we continued our conversation (Monsieur de la Fayette, Mr. Short, and myself) on the subject of the difficulties which environ you. The desirable object being to secure the good which the King has offered, and to avoid the ill which seems to threaten, an idea was suggested, which appearing to make an impression on Monsieur de la Fayette, I was encouraged to pursue it on my return to Paris, to put it int

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LETTER CCV.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, June 12, 1789

LETTER CCV.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, June 12, 1789

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Paris, June 12, 1789. My Dear Sir, As I may not be able to get at you at Versailles, I write this to deliver it myself at your door. With respect to the utility or inutility of your minority’s joining the Commons, I am unable to form an opinion for myself. I know too little of the subject to see what may be its consequences. I never knew an instance of the English parliament’s undertaking to relieve the poor by a distribution of bread in time of scarcity. In fact, t

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LETTER CCVI.—TO JOHN JAY, June 17, 1789

LETTER CCVI.—TO JOHN JAY, June 17, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Sir Paris, June 17, 1789. I had the honor of addressing you on the 9th and 12th of May, by the way of London. This goes through the same channel to the care of Mr. Trumbull. Having received no letter from you of later date than the 25th of November, I am apprehensive that there may have been miscarriages, and the more so, as I learn, through another channel, that you have particularly answered mine of November the 19th. The death of the Grand Seignior, which has happened, renders th

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LETTER CCVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, June 18, 1789

LETTER CCVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, June 18, 1789

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, June 18, 1789. Sir, My last to you was of May the 11th. Yours of March the 29th came to hand ten days ago; and about two days ago, I received a cover of your hand-writing, under which were a New York paper of May the 4th, and a letter from Mr. Page to Mazzei. There being no letter from you, makes me hope there is one on the way, which will inform me of my congé . I have never received Mr. Jay’s answer to my public letter of November the 19th, which you mention him to hav

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LETTER CCVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, June 24,1789

LETTER CCVIII.—TO JOHN JAY, June 24,1789

TO JOHN JAY. Sir, Paris, June 24,1789. My letter of the 17th and 18th instant gave you the progress of the States General to the 17th, when the Tiers had declared the illegality of all the existing taxes, and their discontinuance from the end of their present session. The next day, being a jour de fete , could furnish no indication of the impression that vote was likely to make on the government. On the 19th, a Council was held at Marly, in the afternoon. It was there proposed, that the King sho

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LETTER CCIX.—TO JOHN JAY, June 29, 1789

LETTER CCIX.—TO JOHN JAY, June 29, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, June 29, 1789. Sir, My letter of the 25th gave you the transactions of the States General to the afternoon of that day. On the next, the Archbishop of Paris joined the Tiers , as did some others of the Clergy and Noblesse . On the 27th, the question of the St. Domingo deputation came on, and it was decided that it should be received. I have before mentioned to you the ferment into which the proceedings at the seance royale of the 23rd had thrown the people. The soldiery also

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LETTER CCX.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 6, 1789

LETTER CCX.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 6, 1789

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Paris, July 6, 1789. Dear Sir, I never made an offer to any body to have corn or flour brought here from America: no such idea ever entered my head. Mr. Necker desired me to give information in America, that there would be a want of flour. I did so in a letter to Mr. Jay, which he published with my name to it, for the encouragement of the merchants. Those here, who have named me on this subject, must have mistaken me for Mr. Parker. I have heard him say, he offered

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LETTER CCXI.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 7,1789

LETTER CCXI.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 7,1789

Paris, July 7,1789. Your letter of yesterday gave me the first information that Monsieur de Mirabeau had suggested to the honorable the Assembly of the Nation, that I had made an offer to Mr. Necker to obtain from America a quantity of corn or flour, which had been refused. I know not how Monsieur de Mirabeau has been led into this error. I never in my life made any proposition to Mr. Necker on the subject: I never said I had made such a proposition. Some time last autumn, Mr. Necker did me the

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LETTER CCXII.—TO MR. NECKER, July 8, 1789

LETTER CCXII.—TO MR. NECKER, July 8, 1789

TO MR. NECKER. Paris, July 8, 1789 Sir, I have the honor to enclose you a copy of my letter to Monsieur de la Fayette. When I called on him yesterday, he had already spoken to Monsieur de Mirabeau, who acknowledged he had been in an error in what he had advanced in the Assembly of the Nation, as to the proposition supposed to have been made by me to your Excellency, and undertook to declare his error, when the subject should be resumed by the Assembly, to whom my letter to the Marquis de la Faye

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LETTER CCXIII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, July 8, 1789

LETTER CCXIII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, July 8, 1789

TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN. Paris, July 8, 1789. My hotel having been lately robbed for the third time, I take the liberty of uniting my wish with that of the inhabitants of this quarter, that it might coincide with the arrangements of police, to extend to us the protection of a guard. While the Douane remained here, no accident of that kind happened, but since their removal, other houses in the neighborhood have been robbed as well as mine. Perhaps it may lessen the difficulties of this request,

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LETTER CCXIV.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 9, 1789

LETTER CCXIV.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 9, 1789

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Paris, July 9, 1789. Dear Sir, Having been curious to form some estimate of the quantity of corn and flour which have been supplied to France this year, I applied to a person in the Farms to know upon what quantities the premium had been paid. He could not give me information, but as to the Atlantic ports, into which there have been imported from the United States, from March to May inclusive, forty-four thousand one hundred and sixteen quintals of corn, twelve thou

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LETTER CCXV.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 10, 1789

LETTER CCXV.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 10, 1789

Paris, July 10, 1789. The acknowledgment by Monsieur de Mirabeau to the National Assembly, that he had been in an error as to the offer he supposed me to have made, and the reading to them my letter, seem to be all that was requisite for any just purpose. As I was unwilling my name should be used to injure the minister, I am also unwilling it should be used to injure Monsieur de Mirabeau. I learn that his enemies in Paris are framing scandalous versions of my letter. I think, therefore, with you

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LETTER CCXVI.—TO THOMAS PAINE, July 11, 1789

LETTER CCXVI.—TO THOMAS PAINE, July 11, 1789

TO THOMAS PAINE. Paris, July 11, 1789. Since my last, which was of May the 19th, I have received yours of June the 17th and 18th. I am struck with the idea of the geometrical wheel-barrow, and will beg of you a farther account, if it can be obtained. I have no news yet of my congé . Though you have doubtless heard most of the proceedings of the States General since my last, I will take up the narration where that left it, that you may be able to separate the true from the false accounts you have

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LETTER I.—TO JOHN JAY, July 19, 1789

LETTER I.—TO JOHN JAY, July 19, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, July 19, 1789. Dear Sir, I am become very uneasy, lest you should have adopted some channel for the conveyance of your letters to me, which is unfaithful. I have none from you of later date than November the 25th, 1788, and of consequence, no acknowledgment of the receipt of any of mine, since that of August the 11th, 1788. Since that period, I have written to you of the following dates. 1788. August the 20th, September the 3rd, 5th, 24th, November the 14th, 19th, 29th. 1789.

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LETTER II.—TO M. L’ABBE ARNOND, July 19, 1789

LETTER II.—TO M. L’ABBE ARNOND, July 19, 1789

TO M. L’ABBE ARNOND. Paris, July 19, 1789. Dear Sir, The annexed is a catalogue of all the books I recollect, on the subject of juries. With respect to the value of this institution, I must make a general observation. We think, in America, that it is necessary to introduce the people into every department of government, as far as they are capable of exercising it: and that this is the only way to insure a long continued and honest administration of its powers. 1. They are not qualified to exerci

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LETTER III.—TO JOHN JAY, July 23, 1789

LETTER III.—TO JOHN JAY, July 23, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, July 23, 1789. SIR, The bearer of my letters (a servant of Mr. Morris) not going off till to-day, I am enabled to add to their contents. The spirit of tumult seemed to have subsided, when, yesterday, it was excited again, by a particular incident. Monsieur Foulon, one of the obnoxious ministry, who, as well as his brethren, had absconded, was taken in the country, and, as is said, by his own tenants, and brought to Paris. Great efforts were exerted by popular characters, to s

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LETTER IV.—TO JOHN JAY, July 29, 1789

LETTER IV.—TO JOHN JAY, July 29, 1789

Paris, July 29, 1789. Sir, I have written you lately, on the 24th of June, with a postscript of the 25th; on the 29th of the same month; the 19th of July, with a postscript of the 21st; and again on the 23rd. Yesterday I received yours of the 9th of March, by the way of Holland. Mr. Necker has accepted his appointment, and will arrive today from Switzerland, where he had taken refuge. No other ministers have been named since my last. It is thought that Mr. Necker will choose his own associates.

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LETTER V.—TO JOHN JAY, August 5, 1789

LETTER V.—TO JOHN JAY, August 5, 1789

Paris, August 5, 1789. I wrote you on the 19th of the last month, with a postscript of the 21st; and again on the 23rd and 29th. Those letters went by private conveyances. This goes by the London post. Since my last, some small and momentary tumults have taken place in this city, in one of which a few of the rioters were killed by the city militia. No more popular executions have taken place. The capture of the Baron de Besenval, commandant of the Swiss troops, as he was flying to Switzerland, a

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LETTER VI.—TO MR. CARMICHAEL, August 9, 1789

LETTER VI.—TO MR. CARMICHAEL, August 9, 1789

TO MR. CARMICHAEL. Paris, August 9, 1789. Dear Sir, Since your last of March the 27th, I have only written that of May the 3th. The cause of this long silence, on both parts has been the expectation I communicated to you of embarking for America. In fact, I have expected permission for this, every hour since the month of March, and therefore always thought that by putting off writing to you a few days, my letter, while it should communicate the occurrences of the day, might be a letter of adieu.

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LETTER VII.—TO JOHN JAY, August 12, 1789

LETTER VII.—TO JOHN JAY, August 12, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, August 12, 1789. Sir, I wrote you on the 19th, 23rd, 29th of the last, and 5th of the present month. The last occasions not having admitted the forwarding to you the public papers, I avail myself of the present, by a gentleman going to London, to furnish you with them to the present date. It is the only use I can prudently make of the conveyance. I shall, therefore, only observe, that the National Assembly has been entirely occupied since my last, in developing the particular

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LETTER VIII.—TO COLONEL GOUVION, August 15,1789

LETTER VIII.—TO COLONEL GOUVION, August 15,1789

TO COLONEL GOUVION. Paris, August 15,1789. I have the pleasure to inform you, that money is now deposited in the hands of Messrs. Grand and company, for paying the arrears of interest due to the foreign officers who served in the American army. I will beg the favor of you to notify thereof as many of them as you find convenient; and if you can furnish the addresses of any others to Messrs. Grand and company, they will undertake to give notice to them. The delays which have attended the completio

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LETTER IX.—TO JOHN JAY, August 27, 1789

LETTER IX.—TO JOHN JAY, August 27, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, August 27, 1789. I am honored with your favor of June the 19th, informing me that permission is given me to make a short visit to my native country, for which indulgence I beg leave to return my thanks to the President, and to yourself, Sir, for the expedition with which you were so good as to forward it, after it was obtained. Being advised that October is the best month of the autumn for a passage to America, I shall wish to sail about the first of that month and as I have

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LETTER X.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 28,1789

LETTER X.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 28,1789

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, August 28,1789. Dear Sir, My last to you was of July the 22nd. Since that, I have received yours of May the 27th, June 13th and 30th. The tranquillity of the city has not been disturbed since my last. Dissensions between the French and Swiss guards occasioned some private combats, in which five or six were killed. These dissensions are made up. The want of bread for some days past has greatly endangered the peace of the city. Some get a little, some none at all. The poor

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LETTER XI.—TO JAMES MADISON, September 6, 1789

LETTER XI.—TO JAMES MADISON, September 6, 1789

TO JAMES MADISON. Paris, September 6, 1789. Dear Sir, I sit down to write to you, without knowing by what occasion I shall send my letter. I do it, because a subject comes into my head, which I wrould wish to develope[sp.] a little more than is practicable in the hurry of the moment of making up general despatches. The question, whether one generation of men has a right to bind another, seems never to have been started either on this, or our side of the water. Yet it is a question of such conseq

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LETTER XII.—TO DR. GEM

LETTER XII.—TO DR. GEM

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO DR. GEM. The hurry in which I wrote my letter to Mr. Madison, which is in your hands, occasioned an inattention to the difference between generations succeeding each other at fixed epochs, and generations renewed daily and hourly. It is true that in the former case, the generation when at twenty-one years of age, may contract a debt for thirty-four yours, because a majority of them will live so long. But a generation consisting of all ages, and which legislates by all its mem

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LETTER XIII.—TO GENERAL KNOX, September 12,1789

LETTER XIII.—TO GENERAL KNOX, September 12,1789

TO GENERAL KNOX. Paris, September 12,1789. Sir, In a letter which I had the honor of writing to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, some three or four years ago, I informed him that a workman here had undertaken by the help of moulds and other means, to make all the parts of the musket so exactly alike, as that, mixed together promiscuously, any one part should serve equally for every musket. He had then succeeded as to the lock both of the officer’s fusil and the soldier’s musket. From a promisc

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LETTER XIV.—TO E. RUTLEDGE, September 18, 1789

LETTER XIV.—TO E. RUTLEDGE, September 18, 1789

TO E. RUTLEDGE. Paris, September 18, 1789. Dear Sir, I have duly received your favor by Mr. Cutting, enclosing the paper from Doctor Trumbull, for which I am very thankful. The conjecture that inhabitants may have been carried from the coast of Africa to that of America, by the trade winds, is possible enough; and its probability would be greatly strengthened by ascertaining a similarity of language, which I consider as the strongest of all proofs of consanguinity among nations. Still a question

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LETTER XV.—TO JOHN JAY, September 19, 1789

LETTER XV.—TO JOHN JAY, September 19, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Paris, September 19, 1789. Sir, I had the honor of addressing you on the 30th of the last month. Since that, I have taken the liberty of consigning to you a box of officers’ muskets, containing half a dozen, made by the person and on the plan which I mentioned to you in a letter which I cannot turn to at this moment, but I think it was of the year 1785. A more particular account of them you will find in the enclosed copy of a letter which I have written to General Knox. The box is m

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LETTER XVI.—TO MR. NECKER, September 26,1789

LETTER XVI.—TO MR. NECKER, September 26,1789

TO MR. NECKER. Paris, September 26,1789. Sir, I had the honor of waiting on you at Versailles, the day before yesterday, in order to present my respects on my departure to America. I was unlucky in the moment, as it was one in which you were gone out. I wished to have put into your hands, at the same time, the enclosed state of the British northern fishery for the years 1788 and 1789, by which you will see that they have lost in one year, one third of that fishery, the effect, almost solely, of

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LETTER XVII.—TO JOHN JAY, September 30, 1789

LETTER XVII.—TO JOHN JAY, September 30, 1789

TO JOHN JAY. Havre, September 30, 1789. Dear Sir, No convenient ship having offered from any port of France, I have engaged one from London to take me up at Cowes, and am so far on my way thither. She will land me at Norfolk, and as I do not know any service that would be rendered by my repairing immediately to New York, I propose, in order to economize time, to go directly to my own house, get through the business which calls me there, and then repair to New York, where I shall be ready to re-e

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LETTER XVIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, December 15,1789

LETTER XVIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, December 15,1789

TO THE PRESIDENT. Chesterfield, December 15,1789. Sir, I have received at this place the honor of your letters of October the 13th and November the 30th, and am truly flattered by your nomination of me to the very dignified office of Secretary of State; for which permit me here to return you my humble thanks. Could any circumstance seduce me to overlook the disproportion between its duties and my talents, it would be the encouragement of your choice. But when I contemplate the extent of that off

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LETTER XIX.—TO HENRY LAURENS, ESQUIRE, March 31, 1790

LETTER XIX.—TO HENRY LAURENS, ESQUIRE, March 31, 1790

TO HENRY LAURENS, ESQUIRE. New York, March 31, 1790. Encroachments being made on the eastern limits of the United States, by settlers under the British government, pretending that it is the western and not the eastern river of the bay of Passamaquoddy, which was designated by the name of St. Croix in the treaty of peace with that nation, I have to beg the favor of you to communicate any facts which your memory or papers may enable you to recollect, and which may indicate the true river, the comm

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LETTER XX.—TO MR. VANDERKEMP, March 31, 1799

LETTER XX.—TO MR. VANDERKEMP, March 31, 1799

TO MR. VANDERKEMP. New York, March 31, 1799. The letter has been duly received which you addressed to th© President of the United States, praying his interference with the government of the United Netherlands, on the subject of property you left there on coming to America. I have it in charge to inform you that the United States have at present no minister at the Hague, and consequently no channel through which they could express their concern for your interests. However willing, too, we are to

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LETTER XXI.—TO GEORGE JOY, March 31, 1790

LETTER XXI.—TO GEORGE JOY, March 31, 1790

TO GEORGE JOY. New York, March 31, 1790. I have considered your application for sea-letters for the ship Eliza, and examined into the precedents which you supposed might influence the determination. The resolution of Congress, which imposes this duty on the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, provides expressly, ‘that it be made to appear to him by oath or affirmation, or by such other evidence as shall by him be deemed satisfactory, that the vessel is commanded by officers, citizens of the United St

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LETTER XXII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, April 6, 1790

LETTER XXII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, April 6, 1790

TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN. New York, April 6, 1790. The President of the United States having thought proper to assign to me other functions than those of their Minister Plenipotentiary near the King, I have the honor of addressing to your Excellency my letters of recall, and of beseeching you to be so good as to present them, with the homage of my respectful adieus, to his Majesty. It is with great satisfaction that I find myself authorized to conclude, as I had begun my mission, with assurance

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LETTER XXIII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, April 6,1790

LETTER XXIII.—TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN, April 6,1790

New York, April 6,1790. The President of the United States having been pleased, in the month of June last, to give me leave of absence for some time from the court of France, and to appoint Mr. William Short chargé des affaires for the United States during my absence, and having since thought proper to call me to the office of Secretary of State, comprehending that of Foreign Affairs, I have now the honor of requesting you to give credence to whatever Mr. Short shall say to you on my part. He kn

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LETTER XXIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 6, 1790

LETTER XXIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 6, 1790

TO WILLIAM SHORT. New York, April 6, 1790. My last to you was of March the 28th. Since that, yours of the 2nd and 6th of January have come to hand, together with the ratification of the consular convention. I send you herewith a letter from the President to the King, notifying my recall, with a letter of leave to Monsieur de Montmorin, and another of credence for you to the same, all of which you will be pleased to deliver to him. Copies of them are enclosed for your information. We are extremel

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LETTER XXV.—TO THE COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA, April 11, 1790

LETTER XXV.—TO THE COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA, April 11, 1790

TO THE COUNT DE FLORIDA BLANCA. New York, April 11, 1790. Sir, The President of the United States having thought proper to name Mr. William Carmichael their chargé des affaires , near his Catholic Majesty, I have now the honor of announcing the same to your Excellency, and of praying you to give credence to whatever he shall say to you on my part. He knows the concern our republic takes in the interest and prosperity of Spain, our strong desire to cultivate its friendship, and to deserve it by a

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LETTER XXVI.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, April 11, 1789

LETTER XXVI.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, April 11, 1789

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. New York, April 11, 1789. A vessel being about sail from this port for Cadiz, I avail myself of it to inform you, that under the appointment of the President of the United States, I have entered on the duties of Secretary of State, comprehending the department of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Jay’s letter of October the 2nd acknowledged the receipt of the last of yours which have come to hand. Since that date he wrote you on the 7th of December, enclosing a letter for Mr. Chiappe.

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LETTER XXVII.—TO MR. GRAND, April 23, 1790

LETTER XXVII.—TO MR. GRAND, April 23, 1790

TO MR. GRAND. New York, April 23, 1790. Dear Sir, You may remember that we were together at the Hôtel de la Monnoye, to see Mr. Drost strike coins in his new manner, and that you were so kind as to speak with him afterwards on the subject of his coming to America. We are now in a condition to establish a mint, and should be desirous of engaging him in it. I suppose him to be at present in the service of Watt and Bolton, the latter of whom you may remember to have been present with us at the Monn

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LETTER XXVIII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA LUZERNE, April 30,1790

LETTER XXVIII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA LUZERNE, April 30,1790

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA LUZERNE. New York, April 30,1790. Sir, When in the course of your legation to the United States, your affairs rendered it necessary that you should absent yourself a while from that station, we flattered ourselves with the hope that that absence was not final. It turned out, in event, that the interests of your sovereign called for your talents and the exercise of your functions, in another quarter. You were pleased to announce this to the former Congress through their Secre

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LETTER XXIX.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 30, 1790

LETTER XXIX.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 30, 1790

TO WILLIAM SHORT. New York, April 30, 1790. Dear Sir, My last letter to you was of the 6th instant, acknowledging the receipt of your favors of the 2nd and 6th of January. Since that, Mr. Jay has put into my hands yours of the 12th of January, and I have received your note of February the 10th, accompanying some newspapers. Mine of the 6th covered the President’s letter to the King for my recall, and my letters of leave for myself and of credence to you, for the Count de Montmorin, with copies o

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LETTER XXX.—TO MR. DUMAS, June 23, 1790

LETTER XXX.—TO MR. DUMAS, June 23, 1790

TO MR. DUMAS. New York, June 23, 1790. Dear Sir, I arrived at this place the letter[sp.] end of March, and undertook the office to which the President had been pleased to appoint me, of Secretary of State, which comprehends that of Foreign Affairs. Before I had got through the most pressing matters which had been accumulating, a long illness came upon me, and put it out of my power for many weeks to acknowledge the receipt of your letters. We are much pleased to learn the credit of our paper at

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LETTER XXXI.—TO MR. DUMAS, July 13,1790

LETTER XXXI.—TO MR. DUMAS, July 13,1790

New York, July 13,1790. Sir, I wrote you last on the 23rd of June, since which I have received yours of March the 24th to the 30th. Congress are still engaged in their funding bills. The foreign debts did not admit of any difference of opinion. They were settled by a single and unanimous vote: but the domestic debt requiring modifications and settlements, these produce great difference of opinion, and consequently retard the passage of the funding bill. The States had individually contracted con

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LETTER XXXII—TO WILLIAM SHORT, July 26, 1790

LETTER XXXII—TO WILLIAM SHORT, July 26, 1790

TO WILLIAM SHORT. New York, July 26, 1790. Dear Sir, My public letters to you have been of the 28th of March, the 6th and 30th of April. Yours, which remain to be acknowledged, are of March the 9th, 17th, 29th, April the 4th, 12th, 23rd, and May the 1st; being from No. 21 to 28, inclusive, except No. 23, which had come to hand before. I will state to you the dates of all your letters received by me, with the times they have been received, and length of their passage. You will perceive that they

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LETTER XXXIII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, August 2, 1790

LETTER XXXIII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, August 2, 1790

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. New York, August 2, 1790. Dear Sir, This letter will be delivered to you by Colonel Humphreys, whose character is so well known to you as to need no recommendations from me. The present appearances of war between our two neighbors Spain, and England, cannot but excite all our attention. The part we are to act is uncertain, and will be difficult. The unsettled state of our dispute with Spain may give a turn to it, very different from what we would wish. As it is important t

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LETTER XXXIV.—TO M. DE PINTO, August 7, 1790

LETTER XXXIV.—TO M. DE PINTO, August 7, 1790

TO M. DE PINTO. New York, August 7, 1790. Sir, Under cover of the acquaintance I had the honor of contracting with you, during the negotiations we transacted together in London, I take the liberty of addressing you the present letter. The friendly dispositions you were then pleased to express towards this country, which were sincerely and reciprocally felt on my part towards yours, flatter me with the hope you will assist in maturing a subject for their common good. As yet, we have not the infor

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LETTER XXXV.—TO JOSHUA JOHNSON, August 7,1790

LETTER XXXV.—TO JOSHUA JOHNSON, August 7,1790

TO JOSHUA JOHNSON. New York, August 7,1790. Sir, The President of the United States, desirous of availing his country of the talents of its best citizens in their respective lines, has thought proper to nominate you consul for the United States, at the port of London. The extent of our commercial and political connections with that country, marks the importance of the trust he confides to you, and the more, as we have no diplomatic character at that court. I shall say more to you in a future let

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LETTER XXXVI.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 10,1790

LETTER XXXVI.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 10,1790

TO WILLIAM SHORT. New York, August 10,1790. Dear Sir, This letter, with the very confidential papers it encloses, will be delivered to you by Mr. Barrett with his own hands. If there be no war between Spain and England, they need be known to yourself alone. But if that war be began, or whenever it shall begin, we wish you to communicate them to the Marquis de la Fayette, on whose assistance we know we can count in matters which interest both our countries. He and you will consider how far the co

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LETTER XXXVII.—TO COLONEL DAVID HUMPHREYS, August 11, 1790

LETTER XXXVII.—TO COLONEL DAVID HUMPHREYS, August 11, 1790

TO COLONEL DAVID HUMPHREYS. New York, August 11, 1790. Sir, The President having thought proper to confide several special matters in Europe to your care, it will be expedient that you take your passage in the first convenient vessel bound to the port of London. When there, you will be pleased to deliver to Mr. G. Morris and to Mr. Johnson, the letters and papers you will have in charge for them, to communicate to us from thence any interesting public intelligence you may be able to obtain, and

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LETTER XXXVIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, August 12, 1790

LETTER XXXVIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, August 12, 1790

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. New York, August 12, 1790. Dear Sir, Your letter of May the 29th to the President of the United States has been duly received. You have placed their proposition of exchanging a minister on proper ground. It must certainly come from them, and come in unequivocal form. With those who respect their own dignity so much, ours must not be counted at nought. On their own proposal, formally, to exchange a minister, we sent them one. They have taken no notice of that, and talk of ag

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LETTER XXXIX.—TO GOVERNOR HANCOCK, August 24, 1790

LETTER XXXIX.—TO GOVERNOR HANCOCK, August 24, 1790

TO GOVERNOR HANCOCK. New York, August 24, 1790. Sir, The representatives of the United States have been pleased to refer to me the representation from the General Court of Massachusetts, on the subject of the whale and cod fisheries, which had been transmitted by your Excellency, with an instruction to examine the matter thereof, and report my opinion thereupon to the next session of Congress. To prepare such a report as may convey to them the information necessary to lead to an adequate remedy,

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LETTER XL.—TO SYLVANUS BOURNE, August 25, 1790

LETTER XL.—TO SYLVANUS BOURNE, August 25, 1790

TO SYLVANUS BOURNE, Consul at Hispaniola . New York, August 25, 1790. I enclose you herein sundry papers containing a representation from Messrs. Updike and Earle of Providence, who complain that their sloop Nancy was seized in the island of Hispaniola, and though without foundation, as her acquittal proved, yet they were subjected to the payment of very heavy expenses. It is to be observed, that in no country does government pay the costs of a defendant in any prosecution, and that often, thoug

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LETTER XLI.—CIRCULAR TO THE CONSULS, August 26, 1790

LETTER XLI.—CIRCULAR TO THE CONSULS, August 26, 1790

Circular to the Consuls and Vice-Consuls of the United States . New York, August 26, 1790. I expected ere this, to have been able to send you an act of Congress prescribing some special duties and regulations for the exercise of the consular offices of the United States: but Congress not having been able to mature the act sufficiently, it lies over to the next session. In the mean while, I beg leave to draw your attention to some matters of information, which it is interesting to receive. I must

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LETTER XLII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 26, 1790

LETTER XLII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 26, 1790

TO WILLIAM SHORT. New York, August 26, 1790. Dear. Sir, My last letters to you have been of the 26th of July, and 10th instant. Yours of May the 16th, No. 31, has come to hand. I enclose you sundry papers, by which you will perceive, that the expression in the eleventh article of our treaty of amity and commerce with France, viz. ‘that the subjects of the United States shall not be reputed Aubaines in France , and consequently shall be exempted from the Droit d’Aubaine , or other similar duty, u

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LETTER XLIII.—TO M. LA FOREST, August 30, 1790

LETTER XLIII.—TO M. LA FOREST, August 30, 1790

TO M. LA FOREST, Consul of France , New York, August 30, 1790. Sir, I asked the favor of the Secretary of the Treasury to consider the fourth article of the consular convention, and to let me know whether he should conclude that Consuls not exercising commerce, were exempt from paying duties on things imported for their own use. I furnished him no explanation whatever, of what had passed on the subject at the time of forming the convention, because I thought it should be decided on the words of

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LETTER XLIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 31,1790

LETTER XLIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 31,1790

TO WILLIAM SHORT. New York, August 31,1790. Dear Sir, Since writing my letter of the 26th, it has been decided to commit to your care the transaction of very important money matters at Amsterdam. It is thought necessary that you should go there immediately, and remain there about three months, to possess yourself of the ground. The Secretary of the Treasury will detail to you the particulars requisite there. With respect to our affairs at Paris, we trust, in your absence, to the friendship of th

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LETTER XLV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, December 17, 1790

LETTER XLV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, December 17, 1790

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, December 17, 1790. Since mine to you of August the 12th, yours of July the 3rd, August the 16th, and September the 18th, have come to hand. They suffice to remove all doubts which might have been entertained as to the real intentions of the British cabinet, on the several matters confided to you. The view of government in troubling you with this business, was, either to remove from between the two nations all causes of difference, by a fair and friendly adjust

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LETTER XLVI.—TO JOSHUA JOHNSON, December 17, 1790

LETTER XLVI.—TO JOSHUA JOHNSON, December 17, 1790

Philadelphia, December 17, 1790. Sir, Though not yet informed of your receipt of my letter, covering your commission as Consul for the United States in the port of London, yet knowing that the ship has arrived by which it went, I take for granted the letter and commission have gone safe to hand, and that you have been called into the frequent exercise of your office for the relief of our seamen, upon whom such multiplied acts of violence have been committed in England, by press-gangs, pretending

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LETTER XLVII.—TO JOSHUA JOHNSON, December 23, 1790

LETTER XLVII.—TO JOSHUA JOHNSON, December 23, 1790

Philadelphia, December 23, 1790. Dear Sir, The vexations of our seamen, and their sufferings under the press-gangs of England, have become so serious, as to oblige our government to take serious notice of it. The particular case has been selected where the insult to the United States has been the most barefaced, the most deliberately intentional, and the proof the most complete. The enclosed letter to you is on that subject, and has been written on the supposition that you would show the origina

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LETTER XLVIII.—TO CHARLES HELLSTEDT, February 14,1791

LETTER XLVIII.—TO CHARLES HELLSTEDT, February 14,1791

Philadelphia, February 14,1791. Sir, I now return you the papers you were pleased to put into my hands, when you expressed to me your dissatisfaction that our court of admiralty had taken cognizance of a complaint of some Swedish sailors against their captain for cruelty. If there was error in this proceeding, the law allows an appeal from that to the Supreme Court; but the appeal must be made in the forms of the law, which have nothing difficult in them. You were certainly free to conduct the a

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LETTER XLIX.—TO M. DE PINTO, February 21,1791

LETTER XLIX.—TO M. DE PINTO, February 21,1791

TO M. DE PINTO. Philadelphia, February 21,1791. Sir, I have duly received the letter of November the 30th, which your Excellency did me the honor to write, informing me that her Most Faithful Majesty had appointed Mr. Freire her minister resident with us, and stating the difficulty of meeting us in the exchange of a chargé des affaires , the grade proposed on our part. It is foreseen that a departure from our system in this instance will materially affect our arrangements with other nations; but

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LETTER L.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, March 8,1791

LETTER L.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, March 8,1791

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Philadelphia, March 8,1791. Dear Sir, A conveyance offering by which we can send large packets, you will receive herewith the following articles. 1. The newspapers. 2. The acts of the second session of Congress. 3. A report on the fisheries of the United States. It is thought that this contains matter which may be usefully communicated. I am persuaded the better this subject is understood in France, the more they will see their interest in favoring our fisheries. 4. A letter fr

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LETTER LI.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, March 8, 1791

LETTER LI.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, March 8, 1791

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF FRANCE. Philadelphia, March 8, 1791. Sir, I have it in charge from the President of the United States of America, to communicate to the National Assembly of France, the peculiar sensibility of Congress to the tribute paid to the memory of Benjamin Franklin, by the enlightened and free representatives of a great nation, in their decree of the 11th of June, 1790. That the loss of such a citizen should be lamented by us, among whom he lived, whom he so l

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LETTER LII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, March 12, 1791

LETTER LII.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, March 12, 1791

Philadelphia, March 12, 1791, I enclose you a statement of the case of Joseph St. Marie, a citizen of the United States of America, whose clerk, Mr. Swimmer, was, in the latter part of the year 1787, seized on the eastern side of the Mississippi, in latitude 34° 40’, together with his goods, of the value of nineteen hundred and eighty dollars, by a party of Spanish soldiers. They justified themselves under the order of a Mr. Valliere, their officer, who avowed authority from the Governor of New

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LETTER LIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, March 12,1791

LETTER LIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, March 12,1791

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Philadelphia, March 12,1791. Dear Sir, The enclosed papers will explain to you a case which imminently endangers the peace of the United States with Spain. It is not indeed of recent date, but it has been recently laid before government, and is of so bold a feature, as to render dangerous to our rights a further acquiescence in their suspension. The middle ground held by France between us and Spain, both in friendship and interest, requires that we should communicate with her w

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LETTER LIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, March 15, 1791

LETTER LIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, March 15, 1791

Philadelphia, March 15, 1791. In mine of January the 23rd, I acknowledged the receipt of your letters from No. 29 to 48 inclusive, except 31, 44, 45, 46. Since that, I have received Nos. 45 and 50, the former in three months and seven days, the latter in two months and seventeen days, by the English packet, which had an uncommonly long passage. Nos. 31, 44, 46,47, 48, 49, are still missing. They have probably come through merchant vessels and merchants, who will let them lie on their counters tw

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LETTER LV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, March 17,1791

LETTER LV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, March 17,1791

Philadelphia, March 17,1791. Sir, The term of the first Congress having expired on the 3rd instant, they separated on that day, much important business being necessarily postponed. New elections have taken place for the most part, and very few changes made. This is one of many proofs, that the proceedings of the new government have given general satisfaction. Some acts, indeed, have produced local discontents; but these can never be avoided. The new Congress will meet on the 4th Monday of Octobe

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LETTER LVI.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, March 19, 1791

LETTER LVI.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, March 19, 1791

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Philadelphia, March 19, 1791. Dear Sir, Your letter of November the 6th, No. 46, by Mr. Osmont came to hand yesterday, and I have just time before the departure of Mr. Terrasson, the bearer of my letter of the 15th instant, and despatches accompanying it, to acknowledge the receipt, and inform you that it has been laid before the President. On consideration of the circumstances stated in the second page of your letter, he is of opinion, that it is expedient to press at this mom

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LETTER LVII.—TO MR. OTTO, March 29, 1791

LETTER LVII.—TO MR. OTTO, March 29, 1791

TO MR. OTTO. Philadelphia, March 29, 1791. Sir, The note of December the 13th, which you did me the honor to address to me, on the acts of Congress of the 20th of July, 1789, and 1790, fixing the tonnage payable by foreign vessels arriving from a foreign port, without excepting those of France, has been submitted to the government of the United States. They consider the conduct of his Most Christian Majesty, in making this the subject of fair discussion and explanation, as a new proof of his jus

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LETTER—FROM THE PRESIDENT, April 4, 1791

LETTER—FROM THE PRESIDENT, April 4, 1791

Thomas Jefferson presents his respects to the Vice-President of the United States, and has the honor to enclose him the copy of a letter from the President, just now received. April 8, 1791. [The annexed is the letter referred to.] Mount Vernon, April 4, 1791. Gentlemen, As the public service may require that communications should be made to me, during my absence from the seat of government, by the most direct conveyances, and as, in the event of any very extraordinary occurrence, it will be nec

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LETTER LVIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, April 11, 1791

LETTER LVIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, April 11, 1791

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS. Philadelphia, April 11, 1791. Dear Sir, I wrote you March the 15th, with postscripts of the 18th and 19th. Since that, yours of January the 3rd, No. 10, January the 15th, No. 11, from Madrid, February the 6th, No. 12, and February the 12th, No. 13, from Lisbon, have been received. They covered a letter from Mr. Carmichael, the only one we have from him of later date than May, 1789. You know that my letter to him, of which you were the bearer, took notice of the intermission

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LETTER LIX.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, April 11,1791

LETTER LIX.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, April 11,1791

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Philadelphia, April 11,1791. Sir, I wrote you on the 12th of March, and again on the 17th of the same month; since which, I have received your favor of January the 24th, wherein you refer to copies of two letters, also to a paper, No. 1, supposed to be enclosed in that letter; but there was nothing enclosed. You speak particularly of several other letters formerly forwarded, but not a single one was ever received of later date than May the 6th, 1789; and this of January th

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LETTER LX.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 25, 1791

LETTER LX.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 25, 1791

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Philadelphia, April 25, 1791. Dear Sir, My late letters to you have been of the 8th, 12th, 15th, and 19th of March; yours received and acknowledged, are as follows, ****** I consider the consular convention as securing clearly our right to appoint Consuls in the French colonies. The words ‘ Etats du roi ’ unquestionably extend to all his dominions. If they had been merely synonymous with ‘ la France ,’ why was the alteration made? When I proposed that alteration, I explained my

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LETTER LXI.—TO MR. OTTO, May 7, 1791

LETTER LXI.—TO MR. OTTO, May 7, 1791

TO MR. OTTO. Philadelphia, May 7, 1791. Sir, I have now the honor to return you the propositions of Messrs. Schweizer, Jeanneret, and Company, which have been submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury. He does not think they can be acceded to on the part of the United States. The greater premium demanded than what we now pay, the change of the place of payment, the change of the bankers whom we have always employed, for others unknown to us, the danger of risking our credit by putting such a ma

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LETTER LXII.—TO THE ATTORNEY OF THE DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, May 7,1791

LETTER LXII.—TO THE ATTORNEY OF THE DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, May 7,1791

TO THE ATTORNEY OF THE DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY. Philadelphia, May 7,1791. A certain James O’Fallon is, as we are informed, undertaking to raise, organize, and commission an army, of his own authority, and independent of that of the government, the object of which is, to go and possess themselves of lands which have never yet been granted by any authority, which the government admits to be legal, and with an avowed design to hold them by force against any power, foreign or domestic. As this will ine

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LETTER LXIII.—TO THOMAS BARCLAY, May 13,1791

LETTER LXIII.—TO THOMAS BARCLAY, May 13,1791

TO THOMAS BARCLAY. Philadelphia, May 13,1791. You are appointed by the President of the United States, to go to the court of Morocco for the purpose of obtaining from the new Emperor, a recognition of our treaty with his father. As it is thought best that you should go in some definite character, that of Consul has been adopted, and you consequently receive a commission as Consul for the United States, in the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco, which, having been issued during the recess of the

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LETTER LXIV.—TO FULWAR SKIPWITH, May 13,1791

LETTER LXIV.—TO FULWAR SKIPWITH, May 13,1791

TO FULWAR SKIPWITH. Philadelphia, May 13,1791. Sir, You will readily conceive, that the union of domestic with the foreign affairs under the department of State, brings on the head of this department such incessant calls, not admitting delay, as oblige him to postpone whatever will bear postponing: hence, though it is important that I should continue to receive, from time to time, regular information from you of whatever occurs within your notice, interesting to the United States, yet it is not

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LETTER LXV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, May 16, 1791

LETTER LXV.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, May 16, 1791

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Philadelphia, May 16, 1791. Sir, Mr. Swanwick informs me, that the house of Morris, Willing, and Swanwick have suffered a very considerable loss in the port of St. Andero, by an abuse of office, in having a cargo of corn thrown overboard, as being bad, when it was in fact perfectly good. I know that in some countries of Europe it is often difficult to obtain justice against persons protected by court favor. In this, as in all other instances where our citizens shall have o

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LETTER LXVI.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, July 13,1791

LETTER LXVI.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, July 13,1791

Philadelphia, July 13,1791. Mr. Barclay having been detained longer than was expected, you will receive this as well as my letter of May the 13th, from him. Since the date of that, I have received your No. 15, March the 31st, No. 16, April the 8th, No. 17, April the 30th, No. 18, May the 3rd, and No. 20, May the 21st. You are not unacquainted with the situation of our captives at Algiers. Measures were taken, and were long depending, for their redemption. During the time of their dependence, we

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LETTER LXVII.—TO M. VAN BERKEL, July 14,1791

LETTER LXVII.—TO M. VAN BERKEL, July 14,1791

TO M. VAN BERKEL. Philadelphia, July 14,1791. Sir, I take the liberty of troubling you with the perusal of the enclosed papers from Mr. Shaw, Consul for the United States in the East Indies; wherein you will observe, he complains of a prohibition from the government of Batavia, to American ships, by name, to have any trade in that port, while such trade was permitted to other nations. I do not hesitate to presume, that something has been misunderstood in this case. My presumption is founded on t

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LETTER LXVIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, July 26,1791

LETTER LXVIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, July 26,1791

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, July 26,1791. Dear Sir, Your favors of February the 26th and March the 16th have been duly received. The conferences which you held last with the British minister needed no apology. At the time of writing my letter desiring that communications with them might cease, it was supposed possible that some might take place before it would be received. They proved to be such as not to vary the opinion formed, and, indeed, the result of the whole is what was to have b

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LETTER LXIX.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, July 28,1791

LETTER LXIX.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, July 28,1791

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Philadelphia, July 28,1791. Dear Sir, Since my last I have received letters from you as follows: Mine to you unacknowledged, were of March the 8th, 12th, 15th, 19th, April the 25th, and May the 10th. Your two last letters mention the length of time you have been without intelligence, having then received mine of January the 23rd only. You will perceive by the above, that six letters of a later date were on their way to you. The receipt of these, with the newspapers, journals, l

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LETTER LXX.—TO THE PRESIDENT, July 30,1791

LETTER LXX.—TO THE PRESIDENT, July 30,1791

Philadelphia, July 30,1791. Sir, I have the honor to enclose, for your perusal, a letter which I have prepared for Mr. Short. The ill humor into which the French colonies are getting, and the little dependence on the troops sent thither, may produce a hesitation in the National Assembly as to the conditions they will impose in their constitution. In a moment of hesitation, small matters may influence their decision. They may see the impolicy of insisting on particular conditions, which, operatin

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LETTER LXXI.—TO GENERAL KNOX, August 10, 1791

LETTER LXXI.—TO GENERAL KNOX, August 10, 1791

TO GENERAL KNOX. Philadelphia, August 10, 1791. Dear Sir, I have now the honor to return you the petition of Mr. Moultrie on behalf of the South Carolina Yazoo company. Without noticing that some of the highest functions of sovereignty are assumed in the very papers which he annexes as his justification, I am of opinion that government should firmly maintain this ground; that the Indians have a right to the occupation of their lands, independent of the States within whose chartered lines they ha

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LETTER LXXII.—TO THE MINISTER OF FRANCE, August 12, 1791

LETTER LXXII.—TO THE MINISTER OF FRANCE, August 12, 1791

The Secretary of State has the honor to inform the Minister of France, that the President will receive his letters of credence today, at half after two; that this will be done in a room of private audience, without any ceremony whatever, or other person present than the Secretary of State, this being the usage which will be observed. As the Secretary of State will be with the President before that hour on business, the Minister will find him there. August 12,1791....

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LETTER LXXIII.—TO SYLVANUS BOURNE, August 14,1791

LETTER LXXIII.—TO SYLVANUS BOURNE, August 14,1791

TO SYLVANUS BOURNE. Philadelphia, August 14,1791. Sir, My letter of May the 13th acknowledged the receipt of yours of November the 30th. Since writing that, I have received yours of April the 29th and June the 30th, addressed to myself, and of July the 14th, to Mr. Remsen. As none of these acknowledge mine of May the 13th, I now enclose you a duplicate of it, fearing the first has miscarried. In this, you will find the sentiments of our government on the subject of your recognition. Subsequent c

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LETTER LXXIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 29, 1791

LETTER LXXIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 29, 1791

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Philadelphia, August 29, 1791. Dear Sir, I am to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 67, June the 6th, No. 68, June the 10th, No. 69, June the 22nd, No. 70, June the 26th, No. 71, June the 29th; the three last by the British packet. My last to you was of July the 28th, by a vessel bound to Havre. This goes to the same port, because accompanied by newspapers. It will be the last I shall write you these two months, as I am to set out for Virginia the next week. I now enclose you

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LETTER LXXV.—TO M. LA MOTTE, August 30, 1791

LETTER LXXV.—TO M. LA MOTTE, August 30, 1791

TO M. LA MOTTE. Philadelphia, August 30, 1791. Sir, I am now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of February the 9th, March the 25th, and April the 24th; as also of the several packages of wine, carriages, &amp;c. which came safe to hand, and for your care of which be pleased to accept my thanks. I am sensible of the difficulties to which our Consuls are exposed by the applications of sailors, calling themselves Americans. Though the difference of dialect between the Irish and Scotch,

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LETTER LXXVI.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, August 30, 1791

LETTER LXXVI.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, August 30, 1791

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, August 30, 1791. Dear Sir, My letter of July the 26th covered my first of exchange for a thousand dollars, and though that went by so sure an opportunity as to leave little doubt of its receipt, yet, for greater security, I enclose a second. The tranquillity of our country leaves us nothing to relate, which may interest a mind surrounded by such buoyant scenes as yours. No matter; I will still tell you the charming though homespun news, that our crops of wheat

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LETTER LXXVII.—TO MONSIEUR DE TERNANT, September 1, 1791

LETTER LXXVII.—TO MONSIEUR DE TERNANT, September 1, 1791

TO MONSIEUR DE TERNANT, Minister Plenipotentiary of France . Philadelphia, September 1, 1791. Sir, I have communicated to the President what passed between us the other day, on the subject of the payments made to France by the United States in the assignats of that country, since they have lost their par with gold and silver; and after conferences, by his instruction, with the Secretary of the Treasury, I am authorized to assure you, that the government of the United States have no idea of payin

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LETTER LXXVIII.—TO T. NEWTON, September 8, 1791

LETTER LXXVIII.—TO T. NEWTON, September 8, 1791

TO T. NEWTON. Georgetown, September 8, 1791. Dear Sir, I was in the moment of my departure from Philadelphia, for Virginia, when I received your favor, inquiring how far the law of nations is to govern in proceedings respecting foreign consuls. The law of nations does not of itself extend to consuls at all. They are not of the diplomatic class of characters, to which alone that law extends of right. Convention, indeed, may give it to them, and sometimes has done so; but in that case, the convent

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LETTER LXXIX.—TO MR. HAMMOND, October 26,1791

LETTER LXXIX.—TO MR. HAMMOND, October 26,1791

Mr. Jefferson has the honor of presenting his compliments to Mr. Hammond, of expressing his regrets that he happened to be from home when Mr. Hammond did him the honor of calling on him, and was equally unlucky in not finding him at home when he waited on him on Monday. Being informed by Mr. Bond, that Mr. Hammond is charged with a public mission to the government of the United States, relative to which some previous explanations might be proper, Mr. Jefferson has the honor to assure Mr. Hammond

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LETTER LXXX.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, November 6, 1791

LETTER LXXX.—TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, November 6, 1791

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL. Philadelphia, November 6, 1791. Sir, My last letter to you was of the 24th of August. A gentleman going from hence to Cadiz will be the bearer of this, and of the newspapers to the present date, and will take care that the letter be got safe to you, if the papers cannot. Mr. Mangnal, at length tired out with his useless solicitations at this office, to obtain redress from the court of Spain for the loss of the Dover Cutter, has laid the matter before Congress, and the Sena

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LETTER LXXXI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, November 6, 1791

LETTER LXXXI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, November 6, 1791

November 6, 1791. Sir, I have the honor to enclose you the draught of a letter to Governor Pinckney, and to observe, that I suppose it to be proper that there should, on fit occasions, be a direct correspondence between the President of the United States and the Governors of the States; and that it will probably be grateful to them to receive from the President, answers to the letters they address to him. The correspondence with them on ordinary business may still be kept up by the Secretary of

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LETTER LXXXII.—TO MAJOR THOMAS PINCKNEY, November 6, 1791

LETTER LXXXII.—TO MAJOR THOMAS PINCKNEY, November 6, 1791

TO MAJOR THOMAS PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, November 6, 1791. The mission of a Minister Plenipotentiary to the court of London being now to take place, the President of the United States is desirous of availing the public of your services in that office. I have it in charge, therefore, from him, to ask whether it will be agreeable that he should nominate you for that purpose to the Senate. We know that higher motives will alone influence your mind in the acceptance of this charge. Yet it is proper,

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LETTER LXXXIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, November 7, 1791

LETTER LXXXIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, November 7, 1791

TO THE PRESIDENT. Philadelphia, November 7, 1791. I have duly considered the letter you were pleased to refer to me, of the 18th of August, from his Excellency Governor Pinckney to yourself, together with the draught of one proposed to be written by him to the Governor of Florida, claiming the re-delivery of certain fugitives from justice, who have been received in that country. The inconveniences of such a receptacle for debtors and malefactors in the neighborhood of the southern States, are ob

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LETTER LXXXIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, November 24, 1791

LETTER LXXXIV.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, November 24, 1791

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Philadelphia, November 24, 1791. Dear Sir, My last to you was of August the 29th, acknowledging the receipt of your Nos. 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, and informing you I was about setting out to Virginia, and should not again write to you till my return. Only one vessel has sailed from hence to Havre since my return, and my notice of her departure was so short, that I could not avail myself of it. Your Nos. 72, 73, 74, 75, 78, came here during my absence, and 79, 80, were received Octob

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LETTER LXXXV.—TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, December 5,1791

LETTER LXXXV.—TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, December 5,1791

TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. Philadelphia, December 5,1791. Dear Sir, The enclosed memorial from the British minister, on the case of Thomas Pagan, containing a complaint of injustice in the dispensations of law by the courts of Massachusetts to a British subject, the President approves of my referring it to you, to report thereon your opinion of the proceedings, and whether any thing, and what, can or ought to be done by the government in consequence thereof. [ The Memorial of the British minister

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LETTER LXXXVI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, December 5, 1791

LETTER LXXXVI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, December 5, 1791

TO MR. HAMMOND, Minister Plenipotentiary of Great Britain , Philadelphia, December 5, 1791. Sir, Your favor of November the 30th remains still unanswered, because the clerks are employed in copying some documents on the subject of the treaty of peace, which I wish to exhibit to you with the answer. In the mean time, as to that part of your letter which respects matters of commerce, the fear of misunderstanding it induces me to mention my sense of it, and to ask if it be right. Where you are plea

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LETTER LXXXVII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, December 12, 1791

LETTER LXXXVII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, December 12, 1791

Philadelphia, December 12, 1791. I take the liberty of enclosing you an extract of a letter from a respectable character, giving information of a Mr. Bowles, lately come from England into the Creek country, endeavoring to excite that nation of Indians to war against the United States, and pretending to be employed by the government of England. We have other testimony of these his pretensions, and that he carries them much farther than is here stated. We have too much confidence in the justice an

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LETTER LXXXVIII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, December 13, 1791

LETTER LXXXVIII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, December 13, 1791

Philadelphia, December 13, 1791. I have laid before the President of the United States the letters of November the 30th and December the 6th, with which you honored me, and in consequence thereof and particularly of that part of your letter of December the 6th, where you say that you are fully authorized to enter into a negotiation for the purpose of arranging the commercial intercourse between the two countries, I have the honor to inform you, that I am ready to receive a communication of your

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LETTER LXXXIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT, December 23, 1791

LETTER LXXXIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT, December 23, 1791

TO THE PRESIDENT. Philadelphia, December 23, 1791. As the conditions of our commerce with the French and British dominions are important, and a moment seems to be approaching when it may be useful that both should be accurately understood, I have thrown a representation of them into the form of a table, showing at one view how the principal articles, interesting to our agriculture and navigation, stand in the European and American dominions of these two powers. As to so much of it as respects Fr

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LETTER XC.—TO THE PRESIDENT, January 4, 1792

LETTER XC.—TO THE PRESIDENT, January 4, 1792

TO THE PRESIDENT. Philadelphia, January 4, 1792, Sir, Having been in conversation to-day with Monsieur Payan, one of the St. Domingo deputies, I took occasion to inquire of him the footing on which our commerce there stands at present, and particularly whether the colonial Arrêt of 1789, permitting a free importation of our flour till 1793, was still in force. He answered, that that Arrêt was revoked in France on the clamors of the merchants there; and with a like permission to carry flour to th

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LETTER XCI.—TO THOMAS PINCKNEY, January 17, 1792

LETTER XCI.—TO THOMAS PINCKNEY, January 17, 1792

TO THOMAS PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, January 17, 1792. Your favors of November the 29th, 30th, and December the 1st, came duly to hand, and gave sincere pleasure, by announcing your disposition to accept the appointment to London. The nominations to Paris and the Hague having been detained till yours could be made, they were all immediately sent in to the Senate, to wit, yourself for London, Mr. G. Morris for Paris, Mr. Short for the Hague. Some members of the Senate, apprehending they had a right

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LETTER XCII.—TO WILLINKS, VAN STAPHORSTS, AND HUBARD, Jan. 23,1792

LETTER XCII.—TO WILLINKS, VAN STAPHORSTS, AND HUBARD, Jan. 23,1792

TO MESSRS. WILLINKS, VAN STAPHORSTS, AND HUBARD. Philadelphia, January 23,1792. Gentlemen, On the 19th of March last, I had the honor to enclose you a bill for ninety-nine thousand florins, drawn on yourselves by the Treasurer of the United States, in favor of the Secretary of State, and I desired you to raise an account with the Secretary of State, and pass that bill to his credit in the account. In my letter of May the 14th, I enclosed you a duplicate of the same bill, and informed you that th

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LETTER XCIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, January 23, 1792

LETTER XCIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, January 23, 1792

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Philadelphia, January 23, 1792. Dear Sir, I have the pleasure to inform you, that the President of the United States has appointed you Minister Resident for the United. States, at the Hague, which was approved by the Senate on the 16th instant. This new mark of the President’s confidence will be the more pleasing to you, as it imports an approbation of your former conduct, whereon be pleased to accept my congratulations. You will receive herewith, a letter from myself to Monsie

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LETTER XCIV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, January 23, 1792

LETTER XCIV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, January 23, 1792

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, January 23, 1792. Dear Sir, I have the pleasure to inform you, that the President of the United States has appointed you Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States, at the court of France, which was approved by the Senate on the 12th instant; on which be pleased to accept my congratulations. You will receive herewith your commission, a letter of credence for the King, sealed, and a copy of it open for your own satisfaction, as also a cipher, to be used on

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LETTER XCV.—TO MR. HAMMOND, February 2, 1792

LETTER XCV.—TO MR. HAMMOND, February 2, 1792

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, February 2, 1792. Sir, On the receipt of your letter of the 14th of December, I communicated it to the President of the United States, and under the sanction of his authority, the principal members of the executive department made it their duty to make known in conversations generally, the explicit disclaimer, in the name of your court, which you had been pleased to give us, that the government of Canada had supported or encouraged the hostilities of our Indian neig

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LETTER XCVI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, February 25, 1792

LETTER XCVI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, February 25, 1792

Philadelphia, February 25, 1792. I have now the honor to enclose you the answer of the Attorney General to a letter I wrote him on the subject of yours of the 18th instant. It appears that the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States are open to the application of Mr. Pagan for a writ of error to revise his case. This writ is to be granted, indeed, or refused, at the discretion of the judge; but the discretion of the judge is governed by the rules of law: if these be in favor of Mr. Paga

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LETTER XCVII.—TO MESSRS. JOHNSON, CARROL, AND STEWART, March 6, 1792

LETTER XCVII.—TO MESSRS. JOHNSON, CARROL, AND STEWART, March 6, 1792

TO MESSRS. JOHNSON, CARROL, AND STEWART. Philadelphia, March 6, 1792, Gentlemen, It having been found impracticable to employ Major L’Enfant about the federal city, in that degree of subordination which was lawful and proper, he has been notified that his services are at an end. It is now proper that he should receive the reward of his past services; and the wish that he should have no just cause of discontent, suggests that it should be liberal. The President thinks of two thousand five hundred

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LETTER XCVIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS,

LETTER XCVIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS,

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, March 10, 1792. Dear Sir, My letter of January the 23rd, put under cover to Mr. Johnson in London, and sent by a passenger in the British packet of February, will have conveyed to you your appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, at the court of France. By the Pennsylvania, Captain Harding, bound to Havre de Grace, and plying pretty regularly between this place and that, you will receive the present letter, with the laws of the United Stat

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LETTER XCIX.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, March 18, 1792

LETTER XCIX.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, March 18, 1792

TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT. Philadelphia, March 18, 1792. Gentlemen, The President having thought proper to appoint you joint commissioners plenipotentiary, on the part of the United States, to treat with the court of Madrid on the subjects of the navigation of the Mississippi, arrangements on our limits, and commerce, you will herewith receive your commission; as also observations on these several subjects, reported to the President and approved by him, which will therefore serve as instru

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LETTER C.—TO COLONEL PICKERING, March 28, 1792

LETTER C.—TO COLONEL PICKERING, March 28, 1792

TO COLONEL PICKERING. Philadelphia, March 28, 1792. Sir, The President has desired me to confer with you on the proposition I made the other day, of endeavoring to move the posts at the rate of one hundred miles a day. It is believed to be practicable here, because it is practised in every other country. The difference of expense alone appeared to produce doubts with you on the subject. If you have no engagement for dinner to-day, and will do me the favor to come and dine with me, we will be ent

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LETTER CI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, March 31, 1792

LETTER CI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, March 31, 1792

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, March 31, 1792. I received yesterday your favor of the day before, and immediately laid it before the President of the United States. I have it in charge from him to express to you the perfect satisfaction which these assurances on the part of your court have given him, that Bowles, who is the subject of them, is an unauthorized impostor. The promptitude of their disavowal of what their candor had forbidden him to credit, is a new proof of their friendly disposition

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LETTER CII.—TO GOVERNOR PINCKNEY, April 1, 1792

LETTER CII.—TO GOVERNOR PINCKNEY, April 1, 1792

TO GOVERNOR PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, April 1, 1792. Your letter of January the 8th to the President of the United States having been referred to me, I have given the subject of it as mature consideration as I am able. Two neighboring and free governments, with laws equally mild and just, would find no difficulty in forming a convention for the interchange of fugitive criminals. Nor would two neighboring despotic governments, with laws of equal severity. The latter wish that no door should be open

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LETTER CIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, April 9, 1792

LETTER CIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, April 9, 1792

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS. Philadelphia, April 9, 1792. Dear Sir, My last to you were of the 29th of November and the 13th of December. I have now to acknowledge the receipt of your Nos. 34 to 44, inclusive. The river here and at New York having remained longer blocked with ice than has been usual, has occasioned a longer interval than usual between my letters. I have particularly to acknowledge, that Mr. Barclay’s receipt of drafts from you on our bankers in Holland for thirty-two thousand one hundr

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LETTER CIV.—TO MR. HAMMOND, April 12, 1792

LETTER CIV.—TO MR. HAMMOND, April 12, 1792

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, April 12, 1792. Sir, I am this moment favored with the letter you did me the honor of writing yesterday, covering the extract of a British statute forbidding the admission of foreign vessels into any ports of the British dominions, with goods or commodities of the growth, production, or manufacture of America. The effect of this appears to me so extensive, as to induce a doubt whether I understand rightly the determination to enforce it, which you notify, and to obl

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LETTER CV.—TO MR. HAMMOND, April 13,1792

LETTER CV.—TO MR. HAMMOND, April 13,1792

The Secretary of State presents his compliments to Mr. Hammond, and encloses him the draught of a letter to the President of the United States, which he has prepared to accompany Mr. Hammond’s communication of the 11th and letter of the 12th. The whole will probably be laid by the President before the legislature, and perhaps communicated to the public, in order to let the merchants know that they need not suspend their shipments, but to the islands of Jersey and Guernsey. Before sending the let

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LETTER CVI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, April 13, 1792

LETTER CVI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, April 13, 1792

TO THE PRESIDENT. Philadelphia, April 13, 1792, Sir, I have the honor to lay before you a communication from Mr. Hammond, Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty, covering a clause of a statute of that country relative to its commerce with this, and notifying a determination to carry it into execution henceforward. Conceiving that the determination announced could not be really meant as extensively as the words import, I asked and received an explanation from the minister, as expressed

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LETTER CVII.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, April 24, 1792

LETTER CVII.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, April 24, 1792

TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT. Philadelphia, April 24, 1792. Gentlemen, My letter of March the 18th conveyed to you full powers for treating with Spain on the subjects therein expressed. Since that, our attention has been drawn to the case of fugitive debtors and criminals, whereon it is always well that coterminous States should understand one another, as far as their ideas on the rightful powers of government can be made to go together. Where they separate, the cases may be left unprovided f

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LETTER CVIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, April 28,1792

LETTER CVIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, April 28,1792

Philadelphia, April 28,1792; Dear Sir, My last letter to you was of the 10th of March. The preceding one of January the 23rd had conveyed to you your appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary to the court of France. The present will, I hope, find you there. I now enclose you the correspondence between the Secretary of the Treasury and Minister of France, on the subject of the monies furnished to the distressed of their colonies. You will perceive that the Minister chose to leave the adjustment of

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LETTER CIX.—CIRCULAR TO THE AMERICAN CONSULS, May 31, 1792

LETTER CIX.—CIRCULAR TO THE AMERICAN CONSULS, May 31, 1792

CIRCULAR TO THE AMERICAN CONSULS. Philadelphia, May 31, 1792. Sir, Congress having closed their session on the 8th instant, I have now the honor to forward you a copy of the laws passed thereat. One of these, chapter twenty-four, will require your particular attention, as it contains such regulations relative to the consular office, as it has been thought proper to establish legislatively. With respect to the security required by the sixth section I would prefer persons residing within the Unite

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LETTER CX.—TO JOHN PAUL JONES, June 1, 1792

LETTER CX.—TO JOHN PAUL JONES, June 1, 1792

TO JOHN PAUL JONES. Philadelphia, June 1, 1792. Sir, The President of the United States having thought proper to appoint you commissioner for treating with the Dey and government of Algiers, on the subjects of peace and ransom of our captives, I have the honor to enclose you the commissions, of which Mr. Thomas Pinckney, now on his way to London as our Minister Plenipotentiary there, will be the bearer. Supposing that there exists a disposition to thwart our negotiations with the Algerines, and

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LETTER CXI.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, June 11, 1792

LETTER CXI.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, June 11, 1792

TO MR. PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, June 11, 1792. Dear Sir, I have already had the honor of delivering to you your commission as Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the court of London, and have now that of enclosing your letter of credence to the King, sealed, and a copy of it open for your own information. Mr. Adams, your predecessor, seemed to understand, on his being presented to that court, that a letter was expected for the Queen also. You will be pleased to inform yourself whethe

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LETTER CXII.—TO THOMAS PINCKNEY, June 11, 1792

LETTER CXII.—TO THOMAS PINCKNEY, June 11, 1792

TO THOMAS PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, June 11, 1792. Sir, The letter I have addressed to Admiral Jones, of which you have had the perusal, has informed you of the mission with which the President has thought proper to charge him at Algiers, and how far your agency is desired for conveying to him the several papers, for receiving and paying his drafts to the amount therein permitted, by re-drawing yourself on our bankers in Amsterdam, who are instructed to honor your bills, and by acting as a channel

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LETTER CXIII.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, June 14, 1792

LETTER CXIII.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, June 14, 1792

TO MR. PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, June 14, 1792. The United States being now about to establish a mint, it becomes necessary to ask your assistance in procuring persons to carry on some parts of it; and to enable you to give it, you must be apprized of some facts. Congress, some time ago, authorized the President to take measures for procuring some artists from any place where they were to be had. It was known that a Mr. Drost, a Swiss, had made an improvement in the method of coining, and some spe

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LETTER CXIV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, June 16, 1792

LETTER CXIV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, June 16, 1792

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, June 16, 1792. Dear Sir, My last to you was of March the 28th. Yours of April the 6th and 10th came to hand three days ago. With respect to the particular objects of commerce susceptible of being placed on a better footing, on which you ask my ideas, they will show themselves by the enclosed table of the situation of our commerce with France and England. That with France is stated as it stood at the time I left that country, when the only objects whereon chang

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LETTER CXV.—TO MR. VAN BERCKEL, July 2,1792

LETTER CXV.—TO MR. VAN BERCKEL, July 2,1792

TO MR. VAN BERCKEL. Philadelphia, July 2,1792. Sir, It was with extreme concern that I learned from your letter of June the 25th, that a violation of the protection, due to you as the representative of your nation had been committed, by an officer of this State entering your house and serving therein a process on one of your servants. There could be no question but that this was a breach of privilege; the only one was, how it was to be punished. To ascertain this, I referred your letter to the A

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LETTER CXVI.—TO MR. PALESKE, August 19,1792

LETTER CXVI.—TO MR. PALESKE, August 19,1792

TO MR. PALESKE. Monticello, August 19,1792. I have received at this place your favor of the 9th instant, wherein you request, that agreeably to the treaty of commerce between the United States and his Prussian Majesty, his Consul General be acknowledged as belonging to a most favored nation; that the privileges and immunities due to a Consul General of the most favored nation be granted to his Consul General, and that commissioners be appointed to regulate, by particular convention the functions

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LETTER CXVII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, August 19, 1792

LETTER CXVII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, August 19, 1792

TO THE PRESIDENT. Monticello, August 19, 1792. I was yesterday honored with yours of the 13th instant, covering the Governor of Vermont’s of July the 16th. I presume it can not now be long before I shall receive his answer to the two letters I wrote him from Philadelphia on the same subject. I now enclose letters received by yesterday’s post from Mr. Hammond, Mr. William Knox, and Mr. Paleske, with answers to the two latter. Should these meet your approbation, you will be so good as to seal and

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LETTER CXVIII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, September 27,1792

LETTER CXVIII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, September 27,1792

TO M. DE TERNANT. Philadelphia, September 27,1792. Your letter of the 2d instant, informing me that the legislative body, on the proposition of the King of the French, had declared war against the King of Hungary and Bohemia, has been duly received, and laid before the President of the United States: and I am authorized to convey to you the expression of the sincere concern we feel, on learning that the French nation, to whose friendship and interests we have the strongest attachments, are now t

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LETTER CXIX.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, October 12,1792

LETTER CXIX.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, October 12,1792

TO MR. PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, October 12,1792. Dear Sir, Your favor of August the 7th came to hand on the 6th instant, and gave me the first certain information of your safe arrival. Mr. Otto, being about to sail for London, furnishes me with an opportunity of sending the newspapers for yourself and Mr Barclay, and I avail myself of it, chiefly for this purpose, as my late return from Virginia and the vacation of Congress furnish little new and important for your information. With respect to th

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LETTER CXX.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, October 14,1792

LETTER CXX.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, October 14,1792

TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT. Philadelphia, October 14,1792. Gentlemen, Since my letters of March the 18th and April the 24th (which have been retarded so unfortunately), another subject of conference-and convention with Spain has occurred. You know that the frontiers of her provinces, as well as of our States, are inhabited by Indians holding justly the right of occupation, and leaving to Spain and to us only the claim of excluding other nations from among them, and of becoming ourselves the

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LETTER CXXI.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, October 15, 1792

LETTER CXXI.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, October 15, 1792

Philadelphia, October 15, 1792. Sir, I have received your favor of July the 10th, No. 4, but no other number preceding or subsequent. I fear, therefore, that some miscarriage has taken place. The present goes to Bordeaux under cover to Mr. Fenwick, who I hope will be able to give it a safe conveyance to you. I observe that you say in your letter, that ‘the marine department is to treat with you for supplies to St. Domingo.’ I presume you mean ‘supplies of money,’ and not that our government is t

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LETTER CXXII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, October 16,1792

LETTER CXXII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, October 16,1792

TO M. DE TERNANT. Philadelphia, October 16,1792. I am to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, proposing a stipulation for the abolition of the practice of privateering in times of war. The benevolence of this proposition is worthy of the nation from which it comes, and our sentiments on it have been declared in the treaty to which you are pleased to refer, as well as in some others which have been proposed. There are in those treaties some other principles which would proba

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LETTER CXXIII.—TO MESSRS. VIAR AND JAUDENES, November 1, 1792

LETTER CXXIII.—TO MESSRS. VIAR AND JAUDENES, November 1, 1792

TO MESSRS. VIAR AND JAUDENES, Commissioners of Spain Philadelphia, November 1, 1792. Gentlemen, I have now to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of October the 29th, which I have duly laid before the President of the United States: and in answer thereto, I cannot but observe that some parts of its contents were truly unexpected. On what foundation it can be supposed that we have menaced the Creek nation with destruction during the present autumn, or at any other time, is entirely inconceivabl

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LETTER CXXIV.—TO THE PRESIDENT, November 2,1792

LETTER CXXIV.—TO THE PRESIDENT, November 2,1792

TO THE PRESIDENT. Philadelphia, November 2,1792. Sir, The letter of October the 29th, from Messrs. Viar and Jaudenes, not expressing the principle on which their government interests itself between the United States and the Creeks, I thought it of importance to have it ascertained. I therefore called on those Gentlemen, and entered into explanations with them. They assured me, in our conversation, that supposing all question of boundary to be out of the case, they did not imagine their governmen

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LETTER CXXV.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, November 3, 1792

LETTER CXXV.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, November 3, 1792

TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT. Philadelphia, November 3, 1792. Gentlemen, I wrote you on the 14th of last month; since which some other incidents and documents have occurred, bearing relation to the subject of that letter. I therefore now enclose you a duplicate of that letter. Copy of a letter from the Governor of Georgia, with the deposition it covered of a Mr. Hull, and an original passport signed by Olivier, wherein he styles himself Commissary for his Catholic Majesty with the Creeks. Cop

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LETTER CXXVI.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, November 7, 1792

LETTER CXXVI.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, November 7, 1792

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, November 7, 1792. Dear Sir, My last to you was of the 15th of October; since which I have received your Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7. Though mine went by a conveyance directly to Bordeaux, and may therefore probably get safe to you, yet I think it proper, lest it should miscarry, to repeat to you the following paragraph from it. I am perfectly sensible that your situation must, ere this reaches you, have been delicate and difficult; and though the occasion is probabl

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LETTER CXXVII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, November 20, 1792

LETTER CXXVII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, November 20, 1792

TO M. DE TERNANT. Philadelphia, November 20, 1792. Sir, Your letter on the subject of further supplies to the colony of St. Domingo has been duly received and considered. When the distresses of that colony first broke forth, we thought we could not better evidence our friendship to that and to the mother country also, than to step in to its relief, on your application, without waiting a formal authorization from the National Assembly. As the case was unforeseen, so it was unprovided for on their

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LETTER CXXVIII.—TO MR. RUTHERFORD, December 25, 1792

LETTER CXXVIII.—TO MR. RUTHERFORD, December 25, 1792

TO MR. RUTHERFORD. Philadelphia, December 25, 1792. I have considered with all the attention which the shortness of the time would permit, the two motions which you were pleased to put into my hands yesterday afternoon, on the subject of weights and measures, now under reference to a committee of the Senate, and will take the liberty of making a few observations thereon. The first, I presume, is intended as a basis for the adoption of that alternative of the report on measures and weights, which

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LETTER CXXIX.—TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, January 2, 1793

LETTER CXXIX.—TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, January 2, 1793

TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Philadelphia, January 2, 1793. Sir, According to the resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 31st of December, delivered to me yesterday, I have the honor to lay before you a list of the several persons employed in my office, with the salaries allowed to each, as follows: Dollars. George Taylor, jr. (of New York), chief clerk, his salary fixed by law,................................................. 800 Jacob Blackwell (of New York), cle

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LETTER CXXX.—CIRCULAR TO THE MINISTERS, February 13, 1793

LETTER CXXX.—CIRCULAR TO THE MINISTERS, February 13, 1793

Circular to the Ministers of France, the United Netherlands Great Britain, &amp;c. Philadelphia, February 13, 1793. Sir, The House of Representatives having referred to me, to report to them the nature and extent of the privileges and restrictions on the commerce of the United States with foreign nations, I have accordingly prepared a report on that subject. Being particularly anxious that it may be exact in matters of fact, I take the liberty of putting into your hands, privately and inform

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LETTER CXXXI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, February 16, 1793

LETTER CXXXI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, February 16, 1793

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, February 16, 1793. I have duly received your letter of yesterday, with the statement of the duties payable on articles imported into Great Britain The object of the report, from which I had communicated some extracts to you, not requiring a minute detail of the several duties on every article, in every country, I had presented both articles and duties in groups, and in general terms, conveying information sufficiently accurate for the object. And I have the satisfac

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LETTER CXXXII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, February 17, 1793

LETTER CXXXII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, February 17, 1793

TO M. DE TERNANT. Philadelphia, February 17, 1793. Sir, I have duly received your letter of yesterday, and am sensible of your favor in furnishing me with your observations on the statement of the commerce between our two nations, of which I shall avail myself for the good of both. The omission of our participation with your vessels, in the exclusive transportation of our tobacco, was merely that of the copy, as it was expressed in the original draught where the same circumstance respecting our

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LETTER CXXXIII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, February 20, 1793

LETTER CXXXIII.—TO M. DE TERNANT, February 20, 1793

Philadelphia, February 20, 1793. I have laid before the President of the United States your notification of the 17th instant, in the name of the Provisory Executive Council charged with the administration of your government, that the French nation has constituted itself into a republic. The President receives with great satisfaction this attention of the Executive Council, and the desire they have manifested of making known to us the resolution entered into by the National Convention, even befor

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LETTER CXXXIV.—TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, February 20, 1793

LETTER CXXXIV.—TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, February 20, 1793

TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives, about the close of the session before the last, referred to me the report of a committee on a message from the President of the United States, of the 14th of February, 1791, with directions to report to Congress the nature and extent of the privileges and restrictions of the commercial intercourse of the United States with foreign nations, and measures for its improvement. The report was accordingly prepared during the

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LETTER CXXXV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, March 12,1793

LETTER CXXXV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, March 12,1793

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, March 12,1793. Dear Sir, Your Nos. 8 to 13, inclusive, have been duly received. I am sensible that your situation must have been difficult during the transition from the late form of government to the re-establishment of some other legitimate authority, and that you may have been at a loss to determine with whom business might be done. Nevertheless, when principles are well understood, their application is less embarrassing. We surely cannot deny to any nation

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LETTER CXXXVI.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, March 15, 1793

LETTER CXXXVI.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, March 15, 1793

Philadelphia, March 15, 1793. Dear Sir, The President has seen with satisfaction, that the Ministers of the United States in Europe, while they have avoided an useless commitment of their nation on the subject of the Marquis de la Fayette, have nevertheless shown themselves attentive to his situation. The interest which the President himself, and our citizens in general, take in the welfare of this gentleman, is great and sincere, and will entirely justify all prudent efforts to serve him. I am

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LETTER CXXXVII.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, March 16, 1793

LETTER CXXXVII.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, March 16, 1793

TO MR. PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, March 16, 1793. I wrote you on the 30th of December, and again a short letter on the 1st of January, since which I have received yours of October the 2nd and 5th, November the 6th and 9th, and December the 13th, 14th, 15th. I now enclose you the Treasurer’s second of exchange for twenty-four thousand seven hundred and fifty guilders, to be employed in the purchase of copper for the mint, from Sweden, or wherever else it can be got on the best terms; the first of ex

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LETTER CXXXVIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 21, 1793

LETTER CXXXVIII.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 21, 1793

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS. Philadelphia, March 21, 1793. Sir, The death of Admiral Paul Jones first, and afterwards of Mr. Barclay, to whom the mission to Algiers, explained in the enclosed papers, was successively confided, have led the President to desire you to undertake the execution of it in person. These papers, being copies of what had been delivered to them, will serve as your guide. But Mr. Barclay having been also charged with a mission to Morocco, it will be necessary to give you some trou

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LETTER CXXXIX.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 22, 1793

LETTER CXXXIX.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, March 22, 1793

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS. Philadelphia, March 22, 1793. Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letters from No. 60 to 67, inclusive. You cannot be too vigilant against any such treaty as that mentioned in No. 60, which by giving the exclusive supply of wheat to Naples, would altogether debar the United States from it. This would bear so hard on us, that not only an exclusion of their wines from the United States ought to be expected on their part, but every other measure which might ope

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LETTER CXL.*—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, March 23, 1793

LETTER CXL.*—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, March 23, 1793

TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT. Philadelphia, March 23, 1793. Gentlemen, It is intimated to us in such a way as to attract our attention, that France means to send a strong force early this spring to offer independence to the Spanish American colonies, beginning with those on the Mississippi; and that she will not object to the receiving those on the east side into our confederation. Interesting considerations require, that we should keep ourselves free to act in this case according to circumst

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LETTER CXLI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, April 18, 1793

LETTER CXLI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, April 18, 1793

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, April 18, 1793. Sir, I have now the honor to enclose you the answer of the Attorney General to my letter covering yours of March the 12th, on the case of Hooper and Pagan, wherein he has stated the proceedings of Pagan for obtaining a writ of error from the Supreme Court of the United States, for revisal of the judgment of the inferior court pronounced against him; and, also, his opinion on the merits of the question, had the writ of error been procured, and the mer

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LETTER CXLII.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, April 20, 1793

LETTER CXLII.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, April 20, 1793

TO MR. PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, April 20, 1793. Dear Sir, In a postscript to my letter of the 12th, I acknowledged the receipt of yours of January the 3rd; since which, those of January the 30th and February the 5th have been received by the William Penn. With respect to our negotiation with Mr. Hammond, it is exactly in the state in which it was when you left America, not one single word having been received in reply to my general answer, of which you had a copy. He says, he waits for instructio

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LETTER CXLIII.—CIRCULAR TO MORRIS, PINCKNEY, AND SHORT, April 26,1793

LETTER CXLIII.—CIRCULAR TO MORRIS, PINCKNEY, AND SHORT, April 26,1793

CIRCULAR TO MESSRS. MORRIS, PINCKNEY, AND SHORT. Philadelphia, April 26,1793. Sir, The public papers giving us reason to believe that the war is becoming nearly general in Europe, and that it has already involved nations with which we are in daily habits of commerce and friendship, the President has thought it proper to issue the proclamation of which I enclose you a copy, in order to mark out to our citizens the line of conduct they are to pursue. That this intimation, however, might not work t

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LETTER CXLIV.—TO M. DE TERNANT, April 27,1793

LETTER CXLIV.—TO M. DE TERNANT, April 27,1793

TO M. DE TERNANT. Philadelphia, April 27,1793. Your letter of the 13th instant, asking monies to answer the expenses and salaries of the consular offices of France, has been duly laid before the President, and his directions thereon taken. I have in consequence to observe to you, that before the new government of France had time to attend to things on this side the Atlantic, and to provide a deposite of money for the purposes here, there appeared a degree of necessity that we, as the friends and

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LETTER CXLV.—TO M. DE TERNANT, May 3,1793

LETTER CXLV.—TO M. DE TERNANT, May 3,1793

TO M. DE TERNANT. Philadelphia, May 3,1793. Sir, The Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty has represented to the government of the United States, that on the 25th of April last, the British ship Grange, while lying at anchor in the bay of the Delaware, within the territory and jurisdiction of the United States, was taken possession of by the Embuscade, a frigate of the French republic, has been brought to this port, where she is now detained as prize and the crew as prisoners, and h

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LETTER CXLVI.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, May 7, 1793

LETTER CXLVI.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, May 7, 1793

TO MR. PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, May 7, 1793. Dear Sir, Since my letter of April the 16th, yours have been received of March the 12th, 12th, 13th, 13th, and 19th. Before the receipt of these, one of which covered the form of your passports, it had been determined here, that passports should be issued in our own ports only, as well to secure us against those collusions which would be fraudulent towards our friends, and would, introduce a competition injurious to our own vessels, as to induce these

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LETTER CXLVII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, May 15, 1793

LETTER CXLVII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, May 15, 1793

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, May 15, 1793. Sir, Your several memorials of the 8th instant have been laid before the President, as had been that of the 2nd, as soon as received. They have been considered with all the attention and the impartiality, which a firm determination to do what is equal and right between all the belligerent powers could inspire. In one of these, you communicate, on the information of the British Consul at Charleston, that the Consul of France at the same place had condem

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LETTER CXLVIII.*—TO M. DE TERNANT, May 15, 1793

LETTER CXLVIII.*—TO M. DE TERNANT, May 15, 1793

TO M. DE TERNANT. Philadelphia, May 15, 1793. Sir, Having received several memorials from the British Minister on subjects arising out of the present war, I take the liberty of enclosing them to you, and shall add an explanation of the determinations of the government thereon. These will serve to indicate the principles on which it is meant to proceed; and which are to be applied, with impartiality, to the proceedings of both parties. They will form, therefore, as far as they go, a rule of actio

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LETTER CXLIX.—TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, May 21,1793

LETTER CXLIX.—TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, May 21,1793

TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA. Philadelphia, May 21,1793. Sir, I have been duly honored with your favor of May the 8th, covering the letter of Mr. Newton, and that of May the 13th, with the letter of the British Consul at Norfolk and the information of Henry Tucker, all of which have been laid before the President. The putting the several harbors of the United States into a state of defence, having never yet been the subject of deliberation and decision with the legislature, and consequently, the

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LETTER CL.—TO MR. VAN BERCKEL, May 29,1793

LETTER CL.—TO MR. VAN BERCKEL, May 29,1793

Philadelphia, May 29,1793. I am favored with your note of the 22nd instant, stating that under circumstances of invasion and urgent danger, their High Mightinesses, the States General of the United Netherlands, had found it necessary to lay an embargo on all vessels in their ports, and that an American ship, the Hope, being involved in this general order, the master had claimed an exemption under the eighth article of our treaty, which it had been necessary to refuse him. I have laid this note b

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LETTER CLI.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, May 31, 1793

LETTER CLI.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, May 31, 1793

TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT. Philadelphia, May 31, 1793. Gentlemen, In my letters of October the 14th and November the 3rd, 1792, I communicated to you papers and observations on the conduct of the Spanish officers on our southwestern frontier, and particularly of the Baron de Carondelet, the Governor of New Orleans. These made it evident that he had industriously excited the southern Indians to war against us, and had furnished them with arms and ammunition in abundance, for that express pu

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LETTER CLII.—TO MR. GENET, June 5,1793

LETTER CLII.—TO MR. GENET, June 5,1793

TO MR. GENET, Minister Plenipotentiary of France . Philadelphia, June 5,1793. Sir, In my letter of May the 15th, to M. de Ternant, your predecessor, after stating the answer which had been given to the several memorials of the British Minister, of May the 8th, it was observed that a part still remained unanswered of that which respected the fitting out armed vessels in Charleston, to cruise against nations with whom we are at peace. In a conversation which I had afterwards the honor of holding w

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LETTER CLIII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, June 5, 1793

LETTER CLIII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, June 5, 1793

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, June 5, 1793. Sir, In the letter which I had the honor of writing you on the 15th of May, in answer to your several memorials of the 8th of that month, I mentioned that the President reserved for further consideration, a part of the one which related to the equipment of two privateers in the port of Charleston. The part alluded to was that wherein you express your confidence that the executive government of the United States would pursue measures for repressing such

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LETTER CLIV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, June 13, 1793

LETTER CLIV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, June 13, 1793

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, June 13, 1793, Dear Sir, It has long since been observed, that of the three millions of livres given by the court of France to aid us in the commencement of our revolution, one million was unaccounted for by the hands into which it was paid. The date of the payment is fixed to have been the 10th of June, 1776, but to whom it was paid has never been known. Suspicions are, that it was to Beaumarchais; and that with this very money he purchased the supplies furni

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LETTERS—RE THE LOST MILLION, June 10, 1793

LETTERS—RE THE LOST MILLION, June 10, 1793

Treasury Department, June 10, 1793. Sir, The comptroller of the Treasury has reported to me, that ‘on examining the subsisting contracts between the United States and the government of France and the Farmers General, and a comparison thereof with the foreign accounts and documents transmitted to the Treasury, the following facts appear. That previous to the treaty of February, 1778, the sum of three millions of livres had been advanced by the government of France to the agents of the United Stat

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LETTER CLV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, June 13, 1793

LETTER CLV.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, June 13, 1793

Philadelphia, June 13, 1793. Dear Sir, The insulated state in which France is placed with respect to almost all the world, by the present war, has cut off all means of addressing letters to you through other countries. I embrace the present occasion by a private individual going to France directly, to mention, that since the date of my last public letter, which was April the 24th, and which covered the President’s proclamation of April, I have received your Nos. 17 to 24. M. de Ternary notified

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LETTER CLVI.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, June 14, 1793

LETTER CLVI.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, June 14, 1793

TO MR. PINCKNEY. Philadelphia, June 14, 1793. My last letters to you have been of the 7th of May and 4th instant. Since the last date, yours of April the 15th has come to hand. I enclose you several memorials and letters which have passed between the executive and the ministers of France and England. These will develope to you the principles on which we are proceeding between the belligerent powers. The decisions being founded in what is conceived to be rigorous justice, give dissatisfaction to

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LETTER CLVII.—TO MR. GENET, June 17, X

LETTER CLVII.—TO MR. GENET, June 17, X

TO MR. GENET. Philadelphia, June 17, 1793. Sir, I shall now have the honor of answering your letter of the 1st instant, and so much of that of the 14th (both of which have been laid before the President) as relates to a vessel armed in the port of New York and about to depart from thence, but stopped by order of the government. And here I beg leave to premise, that the case supposed in your letter, of a vessel arming for her own defence, and to repel unjust aggressions, is not that in question,

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LETTER CLVIII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, June 19, 1793

LETTER CLVIII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, June 19, 1793

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, June 19, 1793. Sir, I had the honor to address you a letter on the 29th of May was twelvemonth, on the articles still unexecuted of the treaty of peace between the two nations. The subject was extensive and important, and therefore rendered a certain degree of delay in the reply to be expected. But it has now become such as naturally to generate disquietude. The interest we have in the western posts, the blood and treasure which their detention costs us daily, canno

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LETTER CLIX.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, June 30, 1793

LETTER CLIX.—TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, June 30, 1793

TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT. Philadelphia, June 30, 1793. Gentlemen, I have received from Messrs. Viar and Jaudenes, the representatives of Spain at this place, a letter, which, whether considered in itself, or as the sequel of several others, conveys to us very disagreeable prospects of the temper and views of their court towards us. If this letter is a faithful expression of that temper, we presume it to be the effect of egregious misrepresentations by their agents in America. Revising our

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LETTER CLX.—TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, July 18,1793

LETTER CLX.—TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, July 18,1793

To the Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States . Philadelphia, July 18,1793. Gentlemen, The war which has taken place among the powers of Europe, produces frequent transactions within our ports and limits, on which questions arise of considerable difficulty, and of greater importance to the peace of the United States. These questions depend for their solution on the construction of our treaties, on the laws of nature and nations, and on the laws of the land; and are of

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LETTER CLXI.—TO MR. GENET, July 24,1793

LETTER CLXI.—TO MR. GENET, July 24,1793

TO MR. GENET. Philadelphia, July 24,1793. Sir, Your favor of the 9th instant, covering the information of Silvat Ducamp, Pierre Nouvel, Chouquet de Savarence, Gaston de Nogère, and G. Blustier, that being on their passage from the French West Indies to the United States, on board merchant vessels of the United States with slaves and merchandise, of their property, these vessels were stopped by British armed vessels and their property taken out as lawful prize, has been received. I believe it can

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LETTER CLXII.—TO MR. GENET, August 7, 1793

LETTER CLXII.—TO MR. GENET, August 7, 1793

TO MR. GENET. Philadelphia, August 7, 1793. Sir, In a letter of June the 5th, I had the honor to inform you that the President, after reconsidering, at your request, the case of vessels armed within our ports to commit hostilities on nations at peace with the United States, had finally determined that it could not be admitted, and desired that all those which had been so armed should depart from our ports. It being understood afterwards, that these vessels either still remained in our ports, or

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LETTER CLXIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, August 16,1793

LETTER CLXIII.—TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, August 16,1793

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. Philadelphia, August 16,1793. Sir, In my letter of January the 13th, I enclosed to you copies of several letters which had passed between Mr. Ternant, Mr. Genet, and myself, on the occurrences to which the present war had given rise within our ports. The object of this communication was to enable you to explain the principles on which our government was conducting itself towards the belligerent parties; principles which might not in all cases be satisfactory to all, but wer

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LETTER CLXIV.—CIRCULAR TO THE MERCHANTS OF THE U.S., August 23, 1793

LETTER CLXIV.—CIRCULAR TO THE MERCHANTS OF THE U.S., August 23, 1793

CIRCULAR TO THE MERCHANTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Philadelphia, August 23, 1793, Gentlemen, Complaint having been made to the government of the United States, of some instances of unjustifiable vexation and spoliation committed on our merchant vessels by the privateers of the powers at war, and it being possible that other instances may have happened of which no information has been given to the government, I have it in charge from the President to assure the merchants of the United States, concer

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LETTER CLXV.—TO MR. GORE, September 2, 1793

LETTER CLXV.—TO MR. GORE, September 2, 1793

TO MR. GORE. Philadelphia, September 2, 1793. Sir, The President is informed through the channel of a letter from yourself to Mr. Lear, that M. Duplaine, Consul of France at Boston, has lately, with an armed force, seized and rescued a vessel from the officer of a court of justice, by process from which she was under arrest in his custody: and that he has in like manner, with an armed force, opposed and prevented the officer, charged with process from a court against another vessel, from serving

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LETTER CLXVI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, September 5, 1793

LETTER CLXVI.—TO MR. HAMMOND, September 5, 1793

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, September 5, 1793. I am honored with yours of August the 30th. Mine of the 7th of that month assured you that measures were taking for excluding from all further asylum in our ports, vessels armed in them to cruise on nations with which we are at peace, and for the restoration of the prizes, the Lovely Lass, Prince William Henry, and the Jane of Dublin and that should the measures for restitution fail in their effect, the President considers it as incumbent on the U

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LETTER CLXVII.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, September 7,1793

LETTER CLXVII.—TO MR. PINCKNEY, September 7,1793

Philadelphia, September 7,1793. Sir, We have received, through a channel which cannot be considered as authentic, the copy of a paper, styled ‘Additional instructions to the commanders of his Majesty’s ships of war and privateers, &amp;c.’ dated at St. James’s, June 8, 1793. If this paper be authentic, I have little doubt but that you will have taken measures to forward it to me. But as your communication of it may miscarry, and time in the meanwhile be lost, it has been thought better that

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LETTER CLXVIII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, September 9, 1793

LETTER CLXVIII.—TO MR. HAMMOND, September 9, 1793

TO MR. HAMMOND. Philadelphia, September 9, 1793. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two memorials of the 4th and 6th instant, which have been duly laid before the President of the United States. You cannot be uninformed of the circumstances which have occasioned the French squadron now in New York to seek asylum in the ports of the United States. Driven from those where they were on duty, by the superiority of the adverse party in the civil war which has so unhappily afflic

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LETTER CLXIX.—TO MR. GENET, September 9, 1793

LETTER CLXIX.—TO MR. GENET, September 9, 1793

TO MR. GENET. Philadelphia, September 9, 1793. Sir, In my letter of June the 25th, on the subject of the ship William, and generally of vessels suggested to be taken within the limits of the protection of the United States by the armed vessels of your nation, I undertook to assure you it would be more agreeable to the President, that such vessels should be detained under the orders of yourself or the Consul of France, than by a military guard, until the government of the United States should be

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LETTER CLXX.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, September 11, 1793

LETTER CLXX.—TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS, September 11, 1793

TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS. Philadelphia, September 11, 1793. Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge yours of May the 19th and 29th, and July 20th; being Nos. 72, 73, and 76. It is long since I wrote to you, because I know you must be where you could not receive my letters: and perhaps it may be some time before I write to you again, on account of a contagious and mortal fever which has arisen here, and is driving us all away. It is called a yellow fever, but is like nothing known or read of by the physician

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LETTER CLXXI.—TO MR. GENET, October 3, 1793

LETTER CLXXI.—TO MR. GENET, October 3, 1793

TO MR. GENET. Monticello, October 3, 1793. Sir, In a former letter which I had the honor of writing you, I mentioned that information had been received that M. Duplaine, Vice-Consul of France, at Boston, had been charged with an opposition to the laws of the land, of such a character, as, if true, would render it the duty of the President immediately to revoke the Exequatur, whereby he is permitted to exercise the functions of Vice-Consul in these United States. The fact has been since inquired

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LETTER CLXXII.—TO MR. GENET, November 8,1793

LETTER CLXXII.—TO MR. GENET, November 8,1793

Germantown, November 8,1793. I have now to acknowledge and answer your letter of September the 13th, wherein you desire that we may define the extent of the line of territorial protection on the coasts of the United States, observing that governments and jurisconsults have different views on this subject. It is certain, that heretofore, they have been much divided in opinion, as to the distance from their sea-coast to which they might reasonably claim a right of prohibiting the commitment of hos

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LETTER CLXXIII.—TO MR. GENET, November 22, 1793

LETTER CLXXIII.—TO MR. GENET, November 22, 1793

TO MR. GENET. Germantown, November 22, 1793. Sir, In my letter of October the 2nd, I took the liberty of noticing to you, that the commission of Consul to M. Dannery, ought to have been addressed to the President of the United States. He being the only channel of communication between this country and foreign nations, it is from him alone that foreign nations, or their agents, are to learn what is or has been the will of the nation, and whatever he communicates as such, they have a right and are

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LETTER CLXXIV.—TO MR. GENET, December 9, 1793

LETTER CLXXIV.—TO MR. GENET, December 9, 1793

Philadelphia, December 9, 1793. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, which has been duly laid before the President. We are very far from admitting your principle, that the government on either side has no other right, on the presentation of a consular commission, than to certify, that having examined it, they find it according to rule. The governments of both nations have a right, and that of yours has exercised it as to us, of considering the character of the per

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LETTER CLXXV.—TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE U.S., December 18, 1793

LETTER CLXXV.—TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE U.S., December 18, 1793

TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES. Philadelphia, December 18, 1793. Sir, The Minister Plenipotentiary of France has enclosed to me a copy of a letter of the 16th instant, which he addressed to you, stating that some libellous publications had been made against him by Mr. Jay, Chief Justice of the United States, and Mr. King, one of the Senators for the State of New York, and desiring that they might be prosecuted. This letter has been laid before the President, according to the reques

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LETTER CLXXVI.—TO E. RANDOLPH, February 3, 1794

LETTER CLXXVI.—TO E. RANDOLPH, February 3, 1794

Monticello, February 3, 1794. Dear Sir, I have to thank you for the transmission of the letters from General Gates, La Motte, and Hauterive. I perceive by the latter, that the partisans of the one or the other principle (perhaps of both) have thought my name a convenient cover for declarations of their own sentiments. What those are to which Hauterive alludes, I know not, having never seen a newspaper since I left Philadelphia (except those of Richmond), and no circumstances authorize him to exp

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LETTER CLXXVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 3, 1794

LETTER CLXXVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 3, 1794

Monticello, April 3, 1794. Dear Sir, Our post having ceased to ride ever since the inoculation began in Richmond, till now, I received three days ago, and all together, your friendly favors of March the 2nd, 9th, 12th, 14th, and Colonel Monroe’s of March the 3rd and 16th. I have been particularly gratified by the receipt of the papers containing yours and Smith’s discussion of your regulating propositions. These debates had not been seen here but in a very short and mutilated form. I am at no lo

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LETTER CLXXVIII.—TO TENCH COXE, May 1,1794

LETTER CLXXVIII.—TO TENCH COXE, May 1,1794

Monticello, May 1,1794. Your several favors of February the 22nd, 27th, and March the 16th, which had been accumulating in Richmond during the prevalence of the small pox in that place, were lately brought to me, on the permission given the post to resume his communication. I am particularly to thank you for your favor in forwarding the Bee. Your letters give a comfortable view of French affairs, and later events seem to confirm it. Over the foreign powers I am convinced they will triumph comple

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LETTER CLXXIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT, May 14, 1794

LETTER CLXXIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT, May 14, 1794

TO THE PRESIDENT. Monticello, May 14, 1794. I am honored with your favor of April the 24th, and received at the same time Mr. Bertrand’s agricultural prospectus. Though he mentions my having seen him at a particular place, yet I remember nothing of it, and observing that he intimates an application for lands in America, I conceive his letter meant for me as Secretary of State, and therefore I now send it to the Secretary of State. He has given only the heads of his demonstrations, so that nothin

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LETTER CLXXX.—TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, September 7, 1794

LETTER CLXXX.—TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, September 7, 1794

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. Monticello, September 7, 1794. Your favor of August the 28th finds me in bed under a paroxysm of the rheumatism which has now kept me for ten days in constant torment, and presents no hope of abatement. But the express and the nature of the case requiring immediate answer, I write to you in this situation. No circumstances, my Dear Sir, will ever more tempt me to engage in any thing public. I thought myself perfectly fixed in this determination when I left Philadelphia

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LETTER CLXXXI.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 28, 1794

LETTER CLXXXI.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 28, 1794

TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, December 28, 1794. I have kept Mr. Jay’s letter a post or two, with an intention of considering attentively the observations it contains: but I have really now so little stomach for any thing of that kind, that I have not resolution enough even to endeavor to understand the observations. I therefore return the letter, not to delay your answer to it, and beg you in answering for yourself, to assure him of my respects and thankful acceptance of Chalmers’ Treaties, whi

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LETTER CLXXXII.—TO M. D’IVERNOIS, February 6,1795

LETTER CLXXXII.—TO M. D’IVERNOIS, February 6,1795

Monticello, February 6,1795. Dear Sir, Your several favors on the affairs of Geneva found me here, in the month of December last. It is now more than a year that I have withdrawn myself from public affairs, which I never liked in my life, but was drawn into by emergencies which threatened our country with slavery, but ended in establishing it free. I have returned, with infinite appetite, to the enjoyment of my farm, my family, and my books, and had determined to meddle in nothing beyond their l

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LETTER CLXXXIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 27, 1795

LETTER CLXXXIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 27, 1795

TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, April 27, 1795. Your letter of March the 23rd came to hand the 7th of April, and notwithstanding the urgent reasons for answering a part of it immediately, yet as it mentioned that you would leave Philadelphia within a few days, I feared that the answer might pass you on the road. A letter from Philadelphia by the last post having announced to me your leaving that place the day preceding its date, I am in hopes this will find you in Orange. In mine, to which yours o

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LETTER CLXXXIV.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, April 27, 1795

LETTER CLXXXIV.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, April 27, 1795

TO WILLIAM B. GILES. Monticello, April 27, 1795, Your favor of the 16th came to hand by the last post. I sincerely congratulate you on the great prosperities of our two first allies, the French and Dutch. If I could but see them now at peace with the rest of their continent, I should have little doubt of dining with Pichegru in London, next autumn; for I believe I should be tempted to leave my clover for a while, to go and hail the dawn of liberty and republicanism in that island. I shall be ren

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LETTER CLXXXV.—TO MANN PAGE, August 30, 1795

LETTER CLXXXV.—TO MANN PAGE, August 30, 1795

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO MANN PAGE. Monticello, August 30, 1795. It was not in my power to attend at Fedricksburg according to the kind invitation in your letter, and in that of Mr. Ogilvie. The heat of the weather, the business of the farm, to which I have made myself necessary, forbade it; and to give one round reason for all, maturè sanus , I have laid up my Rosinante in his stall, before his unfitness for the road shall expose him faltering to the world. But why did not I answer you in time? Beca

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LETTER CLXXXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON

LETTER CLXXXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, September 21,1795. I received, about three weeks ago, a box containing six dozen volumes, of two hundred and eighty-three pages, 12mo. with a letter from Lambert, Beckley’s clerk, that they came from Mr. Beckley, and were to be divided between yourself, J. Walker, and myself. I have sent two dozen to J. Walker, and shall be glad of a conveyance for yours. In the mean time, I send you by post, the title-page, table of contents, and one of the pieces,

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LETTER CLXXXVII.—TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE, November 30, 1795

LETTER CLXXXVII.—TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE, November 30, 1795

TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE. Monticello, November 30, 1795, My Dear Sir, I received your favor of October the 12th by your son, who has been kind enough to visit me here, and from whose visit I have received all that pleasure which I do from whatever comes from you, and especially from a subject so deservedly dear to you. He found me in a retirement I doat on, living like an antediluvian patriarch among my children and grandchildren, and tilling my soil. As he had lately come from Philadelphia, Boston, &

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LETTER CLXXXVIII.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, December 31, 1795

LETTER CLXXXVIII.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, December 31, 1795

TO WILLIAM B. GILES. Monticello, December 31, 1795. Dear Sir, Your favors of December the 15th and 20th came to hand by the last post. I am well pleased with the manner in which your House have testified their sense of the treaty: while their refusal to pass the original clause of the reported answer proved their condemnation of it, the contrivance to let it disappear silently respected appearances in favor of the President, who errs as other men do, but errs with integrity. Randolph seems to ha

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LETTER CLXXXIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 6, 1796

LETTER CLXXXIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 6, 1796

TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, March 6, 1796. Dear Sir, I wrote you February the 21st, since which I have received yours of the same day. Indeed, mine of that date related only to a single article in yours of January the 31st and February the 7th. I do not at all wonder at the condition in which the finances of the United States are found. Hamilton’s object from the beginning, was to throw them into forms which should be utterly undecipherable. I ever said he did not understand their condition hi

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LETTER CXC.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, March 19,1796.

LETTER CXC.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, March 19,1796.

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO WILLIAM B. GILES. I know not when I have received greater satisfaction than on reading the speech of Dr. Leib, in the Pennsylvania Assembly. He calls himself a new member. I congratulate honest republicanism on such an acquisition, and promise myself much from a career which begins on such elevated ground. We are in suspense here to see the fate and effect of Mr. Pitt’s bill against democratic societies. I wish extremely to get at the true history of this effort to suppress f

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LETTER CXCI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, March 21, 1796

LETTER CXCI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, March 21, 1796

Monticello, March 21, 1796. Dear Sir, I wrote you on the 2nd instant, and now take the liberty of troubling you, in order to have the enclosed letter to M. Gautier safely handed to him. I will thank you for information that it gets safely to hand, as it is of considerable importance to him, to the United States, to the State of Virginia, and to myself, by conveying to him the final arrangement of the accounts of Grand and company with all those parties. The British treaty has been formally, at l

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LETTER CXCII.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 27,1796

LETTER CXCII.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 27,1796

Monticello, March 27,1796. I am much pleased with Mr. Gallatin’s speech in Bache’s paper of March the 14th. It is worthy of being printed at the end of the Federalist, as the only rational commentary on the part of the constitution to which it relates. Not that there may not be objections, and difficult ones, to it, and which I shall be glad to see his answers to; but if they are never answered, they are more easily to be gulped down than those which lie to the doctrines of his opponents, which

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LETTER CXCIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 19, 1796

LETTER CXCIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 19, 1796

Monticello, April 19, 1796. Yours of the 4th instant came to hand the day before yesterday. I have turned to the Conventional history, and enclose you an exact copy of what is there on the subject you mentioned. I have also turned to my own papers, and send you some things extracted from them, which show that the recollection of the President has not been accurate, when he supposed his own opinion to have been uniformly that declared in his answer of March the 30th. The records of the Senate wil

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LETTER CXCIV.*—TO P. MAZZEI, April 24, 1796

LETTER CXCIV.*—TO P. MAZZEI, April 24, 1796

TO P. MAZZEI. Monticello, April 24, 1796. Mr Dear Friend, [* The first part of this letter is on private business, and is therefore omitted.] The aspect of our politics has wonderfully changed since you left us. In place of that noble love of liberty and republican government which carried us triumphantly through the war, an Anglican monarchical and aristocratical party has sprung up, whose avowed object is to draw over us the substance, as they have already done the forms, of the British govern

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LETTER CXCV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, June 12, 1796

LETTER CXCV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, June 12, 1796

TO COLONEL MONROE. Monticello, June 12, 1796. Dear Sir, Congress have risen. You will have seen by their proceedings the truth of what I always observed to you, that one man outweighs them all in influence over the people, who have supported his judgment against their own and that of their representatives. Republicanism must lie on its oars, resign the vessel to its pilot, and themselves to the course he thinks best for them. I had always conjectured, from such facts as I could get hold of, that

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LETTER CXCVI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, June 19, 1796

LETTER CXCVI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, June 19, 1796

TO THE PRESIDENT. Monticello, June 19, 1796. In Bache’s Aurora of the 9th instant, which came here by the last post, a paper appears, which having been confided, as I presume, to but few hands, makes it truly wonderful how it should have got there. I cannot be satisfied as to my own part, till I relieve my mind by declaring, and I attest every thing sacred and honorable to the declaration, that it has got there neither through me nor the paper confided to me. This has never been from under my ow

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LETTER CXCVII.—TO M. DE LA FAYETTE, June 19, 1796

LETTER CXCVII.—TO M. DE LA FAYETTE, June 19, 1796

Monticello, June 19, 1796. Dear Sir, The inquiries of Congress were the first intimation which reached my retirement of your being in this country, and from M. Volney, now with me, I first learned where you are. I avail myself of the earliest moments of this information, to express to you the satisfaction with which I learn that you are in the land of safety, where you will meet in every person the friend of your worthy father and family. Among these I beg leave to mingle my own assurances of si

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LETTER CXCVIII.—TO JONATHAN WILLIAMS, July 3,1796

LETTER CXCVIII.—TO JONATHAN WILLIAMS, July 3,1796

TO JONATHAN WILLIAMS. Monticello, July 3,1796. I take shame to myself for having so long left unanswered your valuable favor on the subject of the mountains. But in truth, I am become lazy as to every thing except agriculture. The preparations for harvest, and the length of the harvest itself, which is not yet finished, would have excused the delay however, at all times and under all dispositions. I examined, with great satisfaction, your barometrical estimate of the heights of our mountains; an

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LETTER CXCIX.—TO COLONEL MONROE, July 10, 1796

LETTER CXCIX.—TO COLONEL MONROE, July 10, 1796

TO COLONEL MONROE. Monticello, July 10, 1796. Dear Sir, The campaign of Congress has closed. Though the Anglomen have in the end got their treaty through, and so far have triumphed over the cause of republicanism, yet it has been to them a dear-bought victory. It has given the most radical shock to their party which it has ever received: and, there is no doubt, they would be glad to be replaced on the ground they possessed the instant before Jay’s nomination extraordinary. They see that nothing

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LETTER CC.—TO JAMES MADISON

LETTER CC.—TO JAMES MADISON

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, December 17, 1796. Your favor of the 5th came to hand last night. The first wish of my heart was, that you should have been proposed for the administration of the government. On your declining it, I wish any body rather than myself: and there is nothing I so anxiously hope, as that my name may come out either second or third. These would be indifferent to me; as the last would leave me at home the whole year, and the other, two thirds of it. I have

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LETTER CCI.—TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE, December 27, 1796

LETTER CCI.—TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE, December 27, 1796

Monticello, December 27, 1796. Mr Dear Sir, You have seen my name lately tacked to so much of eulogy and of abuse, that I dare say you hardly thought it meant your old acquaintance of ‘76. In truth, I did not know myself under the pens either of my friends or foes. It is unfortunate for our peace that unmerited abuse wounds, while unmerited praise has not the power to heal. These are hard wages for the services of all the active and healthy years of one’s life. I had retired after five and twent

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LETTER CCII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 28,1796

LETTER CCII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 28,1796

Statement, from memory, of a Letter I wrote to John Adams; copy omitted to be retained . Dear Sir, The public, and the public papers, have been much occupied lately in placing us in a point of opposition to each other. I confidently trust we have felt less of it ourselves. In the retired canton where I live, we know little of what is passing. Our last information from Philadelphia is of the 16th instant. At that date, the issue of the late election seems not to have been known as a matter of fac

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LETTER CCIII.—to James Madison, January 1, 1797

LETTER CCIII.—to James Madison, January 1, 1797

Statement, from memory, of a Letter I wrote to James Madison; copy omitted to be retained . Yours of December the 19th is safely received. I never entertained a doubt of the event of the election. I knew that the eastern troops were trained in the schools of their town-meetings, to sacrifice little differences of opinion to the solid advantages of operating in phalanx, and that the more free and moral agency of the other States would fully supply their deficiency. I had no expectation, indeed, t

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LETTER CCIV.—TO MR. VOLNEY, January 8, 1797

LETTER CCIV.—TO MR. VOLNEY, January 8, 1797

TO MR. VOLNEY. Monticello, January 8, 1797. I received yesterday your two favors of December the 26th and 29th. Your impatience to receive your valise and its key was natural: and it is we who have been to blame; Mr. Randolph, for not taking information of the vessel and address to which your valise was committed, and myself, for having waited till I heard of your being again immerged into the land of newspapers before forwarded your key. However, as you have at length got them safe, I claim abs

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LETTER CCV.—TO HENRY TAZEWELL, January 16, 1797

LETTER CCV.—TO HENRY TAZEWELL, January 16, 1797

TO HENRY TAZEWELL. Monticello, January 16, 1797. Dear Sir, As far as the public papers are to be credited, I may suppose that the choice of Vice-President has fallen on me. On this hypothesis I trouble you, and only pray, if it be wrong, that you will consider this letter as not written. I believe it belongs to the Senate to notify the Vice-President of his election. I recollect to have heard, that on the first election of President and Vice-President, gentlemen of considerable office were sent

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LETTER CCVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 16, 1797

LETTER CCVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 16, 1797

The several accidents of the winter, ice, floods, rains, prevented the Orange post from coming to Charlottesville the last post-day, so that we have nothing from Philadelphia the last week. I see however, by the Richmond papers, a probability that the choice of Vice-President has fallen on me. I have written the enclosed letter therefore to Mr. Tazewell, as a private friend, and have left it open for your perusal. It will explain its own object, and I pray you and Mr. Tazewell to decide in your

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LETTER CCVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 22, 1797

LETTER CCVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 22, 1797

TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, January 22, 1797. Yours of the 8th came to hand yesterday. I was not aware of any necessity of going on to Philadelphia immediately, yet I had determined to do it as a mark of respect to the public, and to do away the doubts which have spread, that I should consider the second office as beneath my acceptance. The journey, indeed, for the month of February, is a tremendous undertaking for me, who have not been seven miles from home since my re-settlement. I will see

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LETTER CCVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 30, 1797

LETTER CCVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 30, 1797

Monticello, January 30, 1797. Yours of the 18th came to hand yesterday. I am very thankful for the discretion you have exercised over the letter. That has happened to be the case, which I knew to be possible, that the honest expression of my feelings towards Mr. Adams might be rendered mal-apropos from circumstances existing, and known at the seat of government, but not known by me in my retired situation. Mr. Adams and myself were cordial friends from the beginning of the revolution. Since our

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LETTER CCIX.—TO JAMES SULLIVAN, February 9, 1797

LETTER CCIX.—TO JAMES SULLIVAN, February 9, 1797

TO JAMES SULLIVAN. Monticello, February 9, 1797. Dear Sir, I have many acknowledgments to make for the friendly anxiety you are pleased to express in your letter of January the 12th, for my undertaking the office to which I have been elected. The idea that I would accept the office of President, but not that of Vice-President of the United States, had not its origin with me. I never thought of questioning the free exercise of the right of my fellow-citizens, to marshal those whom they call into

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LETTER CCX.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, May 13, 1797

LETTER CCX.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, May 13, 1797

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY. Philadelphia, May 13, 1797. My Dear Friend, Your favor of the 4th instant came to hand yesterday. That of the 4th of April, with the one for Monroe, has never been received. The first, of March the 27th, did not reach me till April the 21st, when I was within a few days of setting out for this place, and I put off acknowledging it till I should come here. I entirely commend your dispositions towards Mr. Adams; knowing his worth as intimately and esteeming it as much as any one

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LETTER CCXI.—TO GENERAL GATES, May 30,1797

LETTER CCXI.—TO GENERAL GATES, May 30,1797

TO GENERAL GATES. Philadelphia, May 30,1797. Dear General, I thank you for the pamphlet of Erskine enclosed in your favor of the 9th instant, and still more for the evidence which your letter affords me of the health of your mind, and I hope of your body also. Erskine has been reprinted here, and has done good. It has refreshed the memory of those who had been willing to forget how the war between France and England had been produced; and who, aping St. James’s, called it a defensive war on the

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LETTER CCXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, June 1, 1797

LETTER CCXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, June 1, 1797

TO JAMES MADISON. Philadelphia, June 1, 1797. Dear Sir, I wrote you on the 18th of May. The address of the Senate was soon after that. The first draught was responsive to the speech, and higher toned. Mr. Henry arrived the day it was reported; the addressers had not yet their strength around them. They listened therefore to his objections, recommitted the papers, added him and Tazewell to the committee, and it was reported with considerable alterations; but one great attack was made on it, which

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LETTER CCXIII.—TO COLONEL BURR, June 17,1797

LETTER CCXIII.—TO COLONEL BURR, June 17,1797

TO COLONEL BURR. Philadelphia, June 17,1797. Dear Sir, The newspapers give, so minutely what is passing in Congress, that nothing of detail can be wanting for your information. Perhaps, however, some general view of our situation and prospects, since you left us, may not be unacceptable. At any rate, it will give me an opportunity of recalling myself to your memory, and of evidencing my esteem for you. You well know how strong a character of division had been impressed on the Senate by the Briti

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LETTER CCXIV.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, June 21, 1797

LETTER CCXIV.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, June 21, 1797

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY. Philadelphia, June 21, 1797. My Dear Friend, It was with infinite joy to me, that you were yesterday announced to the Senate, as Envoy Extraordinary, jointly with General Pinckney and Mr. Marshall, to the French republic. It gave me certain assurances that there would be a preponderance in the mission, sincerely disposed to be at peace with the French government and nation. Peace is undoubtedly at present the first object of our nation. Interest and honor are also national con

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LETTER CCXV.—TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE, June 24, 1797

LETTER CCXV.—TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE, June 24, 1797

TO EDWARD RUTLEDGE. Philadelphia, June 24, 1797. My Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge your two favors of May the 4th and 19th, and to thank you for your attentions to the commissions for the pease and oranges, which I learn have arrived in Virginia. Your draft I hope will soon follow on Mr. John Barnes, merchant here, who, as I before advised you, is directed to answer it. When Congress first met, the assemblage of facts presented in the President’s speech, with the multiplied accounts of spoliati

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LETTER, CCXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 3, 1797

LETTER, CCXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 3, 1797

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, August 3, 1797. I scribbled you a line on the 24th ultimo: it missed of the post, and so went by a private hand. I perceive from yours by Mr. Bringhurst, that you had not received it. In fact, it was only an earnest exhortation to come here with Monroe, which I still hope you will do. In the mean time, I enclose you a letter from him, and wish your opinion on its principal subject. The variety of other topics the day I was with you, kept out of sigh

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LETTER CCXVII.—TO COLONEL ARTHUR CAMPBELL, September 1, 1797

LETTER CCXVII.—TO COLONEL ARTHUR CAMPBELL, September 1, 1797

TO COLONEL ARTHUR CAMPBELL. Monticello, September 1, 1797. Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of July the 4th, and to recognise in it the sentiments you have ever held, and worthy of the day on which it is dated. It is true that a party has risen up among us, or rather has come among us, which is endeavoring to separate us from all friendly connection with France, to unite our destinies with those of Great Britian, and to assimilate our government to theirs. Our lenity in

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LETTER CCXVIII.—TO JAMES MONROE, September 7, 1797

LETTER CCXVIII.—TO JAMES MONROE, September 7, 1797

Monticello, September 7, 1797. The doubt which you suggest as to our jurisdiction over the case of the Grand Jury vs. Cabell had occurred to me, and naturally occurs on first view of the question. But I knew, that to send the petition to the House of Representatives in Congress, would make bad worse; that a majority of that House would pass a vote of approbation. On examination of the question, too, it appeared to me that we could maintain the authority of our own government over it. A right of

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LETTER CCXIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 3, 1798

LETTER CCXIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 3, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON. Philadelphia, January 3, 1798 Dear Sir, Your favor of the 25th came to hand yesterday. I shall observe your direction with respect to the post-day. I have spoken with the Deputy Postmaster-General on the subject of our Fredericksburg post. He never knew before that the Fredericksburg printer had taken the contract of the rider. He will be glad, if either in your neighborhood or ours, some good person will undertake to ride from April next. The price given this year is three hun

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LETTER CCXX.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 25, 1798

LETTER CCXX.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 25, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON. Philadelphia, January 25, 1798. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 2nd instant, on which day I received yours of December the 25th. I have not resumed my pen, because there has really been nothing worth writing about, but what you would see in the newspapers. There is, as yet, no certainty what will be the aspect of our affairs with France. Either the Envoys have not written to the government, or their communications are hushed up. This last is suspected, because so many arrival

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LETTER CCXXI.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 8, 1798

LETTER CCXXI.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 8, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON. Philadelphia, February 8, 1798. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 25th ultimo; since which yours of the 21st has been received. Bache had put five hundred copies of Monroe’s book on board a vessel, which was stopped by the early and unexpected freezing of the river. He tried in vain to get them carried by fifties at a time, by the stage. The river is now open here, the vessels are falling down, and if they can get through the ice below, the one with Bache’s packet will soon be

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LETTER CCXXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 15, 1798

LETTER CCXXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 15, 1798

Philadelphia, February 15, 1798. I wrote you last on the 8th. We have still not a word from our Envoys. This long silence (if they have been silent) proves things are not going on very roughly. If they have not been silent, it proves their information, if made public, would check the disposition to arm. I had flattered myself, from the progress of the public sentiment against arming, that the same progress had taken place in the legislature. But I am assured by those who have better opportunitie

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LETTER CCXXIII.—TO GENERAL GATES, February 21, 1798

LETTER CCXXIII.—TO GENERAL GATES, February 21, 1798

TO GENERAL GATES. Philadelphia, February 21, 1798. Dear General, I received duly your welcome favor of the 15th, and had an opportunity of immediately delivering the one it enclosed to General Kosciusko. I see him often, and with great pleasure mixed with commiseration. He is as pure a son of liberty as I have ever known, and of that liberty which is to go to all, and not to the few or the rich alone. We are here under great anxiety to hear from our Envoys. I agree with you that some of our merc

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LETTER CCXXIV.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 22, 1798

LETTER CCXXIV.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 22, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON. Philadelphia, February 22, 1798. Dear Sir, Yours of the 12th is received. I wrote you last on the 15th, but the letter getting misplaced, will only go by this post. We still hear nothing from our Envoys. Whether the executive hear, we know not. But if war were to be apprehended, it is impossible our Envoys should not find means of putting us on our guard, or that the executive should hold back their information. No news, therefore, is good news. The countervailing act, which I

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LETTER CCXXV.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 2, 1798

LETTER CCXXV.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 2, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON. Philadelphia, March 2, 1798. Dear Sir, I wrote to you last on the 22nd ultimo; since which I have received yours without date, but probably of April the 18th or 19th. An arrival to the eastward brings us some news, which you will see detailed in the papers. The new partition of Europe is sketched, but how far authentic we know not. It has some probability in its favor. The French appear busy in their preparations for the invasion of England; nor is there any appearance of movem

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LETTER CCXXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 15, 1798

LETTER CCXXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 15, 1798

Philadelphia, March 15, 1798. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 2nd instant. Yours of the 4th is now at hand. The public papers will give you the news of Europe. The French decree making the vessel friendly or enemy, according to the hands by which the cargo was manufactured, has produced a great sensation among the merchants here. Its operation is not yet perhaps well understood; but probably it will put our shipping out of competition, because British bottoms, which can come under convoy, will

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LETTER CCXXVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 21, 1798

LETTER CCXXVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 21, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON. Philadelphia, March 21, 1798. I wrote you last on the 15th; since that, yours of the 12th has been received. Since that, too, a great change has taken place in the appearance of our political atmosphere. The merchants, as before, continue, a respectable part of them, to wish to avoid arming. The French decree operated on them as a sedative, producing more alarm than resentment: on the Representatives, differently. It excited indignation highly in the war party, though I do not

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LETTER CCXXVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 29, 1798

LETTER CCXXVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 29, 1798

Philadelphia, March 29, 1798. I wrote you last on the 21st. Yours of the 12th, therein acknowledged, is the last received. The measure I suggested in mine, of adjourning for consultation with their constituents, was not brought forward; but on Tuesday three resolutions were moved, which you will see in the public papers. They were offered in committee to prevent their being suppressed by the previous question, and in the committee on the state of the Union, to put it out of their power, by the r

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LETTER CCXXIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 5, 1798

LETTER CCXXIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 5, 1798

Philadelphia, April 5, 1798. I wrote you last on the 29th ultimo; since which I have no letter from you. These acknowledgments regularly made and attended to will show whether any of my letters are intercepted, and the impression of my seal on wax (which shall be constant hereafter) will discover whether they are opened by the way. The nature of some of my communications furnishes ground of inquietude for their safe conveyance. The bill for the federal buildings labors hard in Senate, though, to

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LETTER CCXXX.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 6, 1798

LETTER CCXXX.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 6, 1798

Philadelphia, April 6, 1798. So much of the communications from our Envoys has got abroad, and so partially, that there can now be no ground for reconsideration with the Senate. I may therefore, consistently with duty do what every member of the body is doing. Still, I would rather you would use the communication with reserve till you see the whole papers. The first impressions from them are very disagreeable and confused. Reflection, however, and analysis resolve them into this. Mr. Adams’s spe

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LETTER CCXXXI.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 12, 1798

LETTER CCXXXI.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 12, 1798

Philadelphia, April 12, 1798. Dear Sir, I wrote you two letters on the 5th and 6th instant; since which I have received yours of the 2nd. I send you, in a separate package, the instructions to our Envoys and their communications. You will find that my representation of their contents from memory, was substantially just. The public mind appears still in a state of astonishment. There never was a moment in which the aid of an able pen was so important to place things in their just attitude. On thi

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LETTER CCXXXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 26, 1798

LETTER CCXXXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, April 26, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON, Philadelphia, April 26, 1798. Dear Sir, The bill for the naval armament (twelve vessels) passed by a majority of about four to three in the House of Representatives: all restrictions on the objects for which the vessels should be used were struck out. The bill for establishing a department of Secretary of the Navy was tried yesterday, on its passage to the third reading, and prevailed by forty-seven against forty-one. It will be read the third time to-day. The provisional army

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LETTER CCXXXIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 3, 1798

LETTER CCXXXIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 3, 1798

Philadelphia, May 3, 1798. I wrote you last on the 26th; since which yours of the 22nd of April has been received, acknowledging mine of the 12th; so that all appear to have been received to that date. The spirit kindled up in the towns is wonderful. These and New Jersey are pouring in their addresses, offering life and fortune. Even these addresses are not the worst things. For indiscreet declarations and expressions of passion may be pardoned to a multitude acting from the impulse of the momen

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LETTER CCXXXIV.—TO JAMES LEWIS, JUNIOR, May 9, 1798

LETTER CCXXXIV.—TO JAMES LEWIS, JUNIOR, May 9, 1798

Philadelphia, May 9, 1798. Dear Sir, I am much obliged by your friendly letter of the 4th instant. As soon as I saw the first of Mr. Martin’s letters, I turned to the newspapers of the day, and found Logan’s speech, as translated by a common Indian interpreter. The version I had used, had been made by General Gibson. Finding from Mr. Martin’s style, that his object was not merely truth, but to gratify party passions, I never read another of his letters. I determined to do my duty by searching in

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LETTER CCXXXV.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 31, 1798

LETTER CCXXXV.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 31, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON. Philadelphia, May 31, 1798. I wrote you last on the 24th; since which yours of the 20th has been received. I must begin by correcting two errors in my last. It was false arithmetic to say, that two measures therein mentioned to have been carried by majorities of eleven, would have failed if the fourteen absentees (wherein a majority of six is ours) had been present. Six coming over from the other side would have turned the scale, and this was the idea floating in my mind, which

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LETTER CCXXXVI.—TO JOHN TAYLOR, June 1, 1798

LETTER CCXXXVI.—TO JOHN TAYLOR, June 1, 1798

Philadelphia, June 1, 1798. Mr. New showed me your letter on the subject of the patent, which gave me an opportunity of observing what you said as to the effect, with you, of public proceedings, and that it was not unwise now to estimate the separate mass of Virginia and North Carolina, with a view to their separate existence. It is true that we are completely under the saddle of Massachusetts and Connecticut, and that they ride us very hard, cruelly insulting our feelings, as well as exhausting

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LETTER CCXXXVII.—TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, June 1, 1798

LETTER CCXXXVII.—TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, June 1, 1798

TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO. Dear Sir, Mr. Volney’s departure for France gives me an opportunity of writing to you. I was happy in observing, for many days after your departure, that our winds were favorable for you. I hope, therefore, you quickly passed the cruising grounds on our coast, and have safely arrived at the term of your journey. Your departure is not yet known, or even suspected.* Niemsevioz was much affected. He is now at the federal city. He desired me to have some things taken care of fo

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LETTER CCXXXVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, June 21, 1798

LETTER CCXXXVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, June 21, 1798

Philadelphia, June 21, 1798. Yours of the 10th instant is received. I expected mine of the 14th would have been my last from hence, as I had proposed to set out on the 20th; but on the morning of the 19th, we heard of the arrival of Marshall at New York, and I concluded to stay and see whether that circumstance would produce any new projects. No doubt he there received more than hints from Hamilton as to the tone required to be assumed. Yet I apprehend he is not hot enough for his friends. Livin

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LETTER CCXXXIX.—TO SAMUEL SMITH, August 22, 1798

LETTER CCXXXIX.—TO SAMUEL SMITH, August 22, 1798

TO SAMUEL SMITH. Monticello, August 22, 1798. Dear Sir, Your favor of August the 4th came to hand by our last post, together with the ‘extract of a letter from a gentleman of Philadelphia, dated July the 10th,’ cut from a newspaper, stating some facts which respect me. I shall notice these facts. The writer says, that ‘the day after the last despatches were communicated to Congress, Bache, Leib, &amp;c, and a Dr. Reynolds, were closeted with me.’ If the receipt of visits in my public room, t

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LETTER CCXL.—TO A. H. ROWAN, September 26, 1798

LETTER CCXL.—TO A. H. ROWAN, September 26, 1798

Monticello, September 26, 1798. Sir, To avoid the suspicions and curiosity of the post-office, which would have been excited by seeing your name and mine on the back of a letter, I have delayed acknowledging the receipt of your favor of July last, till an occasion to write to an inhabitant of Wilmington gives me an opportunity of putting my letter under cover to him. The system of alarm and jealousy which has been so powerfully played off in England, has been mimicked here, not entirely without

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LETTER CCXLI.—TO STEPHENS THOMPSON MASON, October 11, 1798

LETTER CCXLI.—TO STEPHENS THOMPSON MASON, October 11, 1798

Monticello, October 11, 1798. Dear Sir, I have to thank you for your favor of July the 6th, from Philadelphia. I did not immediately acknowledge it, because I knew you would have come away. The X. Y. Z. fever has considerably abated through the country, as I am informed, and the alien and sedition laws are working hard. I fancy that some of the State legislatures will take strong ground on this occasion. For my own part, I consider those laws as merely an experiment on the American mind, to see

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LETTER CCXLII.—TO JOHN TAYLOR, November 26, 1798

LETTER CCXLII.—TO JOHN TAYLOR, November 26, 1798

Monticello, November 26, 1798, We formerly had a debtor and creditor account of letters on farming: but the high price of tobacco, which is likely to continue for some short time, has tempted me to go entirely into that culture, and in the mean time, my farming schemes are in abeyance, and my farming fields at nurse against the time of my resuming them. But I owe you a political letter. Yet the infidelities of the post-office and the circumstances of the times are against my writing fully and fr

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LETTER CCXLIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 3, 1799

LETTER CCXLIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 3, 1799

Philadelphia, January 3, 1799. I have suffered the post hour to come so nearly on me, that I must huddle over what I have more than appears in the public papers. I arrived here on Christmas day, not a single bill or other article of business having yet been brought into Senate. The President’s speech, so unlike himself in point of moderation, is supposed to have been written by the military conclave, and particularly Hamilton. When the Senate gratuitously hint Logan to him, you see him in his re

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LETTER CCXLIV.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 16, 1799

LETTER CCXLIV.—TO JAMES MADISON, January 16, 1799

Philadelphia, January 16, 1799. The forgery lately attempted to be played off by Mr. H. on the House of Representatives, of a pretended memorial presented by Logan to the French government, has been so palpably exposed, as to have thrown ridicule on the whole of the clamors they endeavored to raise as to that transaction. Still, however, their majority will pass the bill. The real views in the importance they have given to Logan’s enterprise are mistaken by nobody. Mr. Gerry’s communications rel

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LETTER CCXLV.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY

LETTER CCXLV.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY

Philadelphia, January 26, 1799. Mr Dear Sir, Your favor of November the 12th was safely delivered to me by Mr. Binney; but not till December the 28th, as I arrived here only three days before that date. It was received with great satisfaction. Our very long intimacy as fellow-laborers in the same cause, the recent expressions of mutual confidence which had preceded your mission, the interesting course which that had taken, and particularly and personally as it regarded yourself, made me anxious

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LETTER CCXLVI.—TO EDMUND PENDLETON, January 29, 1799

LETTER CCXLVI.—TO EDMUND PENDLETON, January 29, 1799

Philadelphia, January 29, 1799. Dear Sir, Your patriarchal address to your country is running through all the republican papers, and has a very great effect on the people. It is short, simple, and presents things in a view they readily comprehend. The character and circumstances too of the writer leave them without doubts of his motives. If, like the patriarch of old, you had but one blessing to give us, I should have wished it directed to a particular object. But I hope you have one for this al

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LETTER CCXLVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 5, 1799

LETTER CCXLVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 5, 1799

Philadelphia, February 5, 1799. I wrote you last on the 30th of January; since which yours of the 25th has been received. ********* The bill for continuing the suspension of intercourse with France and her dependencies, is still before the Senate, but will pass by a very great vote. An attack is made on what is called the Toussaint’s clause, the object of which, as is charged by the one party and admitted by the other, is to facilitate the separation of the island from France. The clause will pa

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LETTER CCXLVIII.—TO EDMUND PENDLETON, February 14, 1799

LETTER CCXLVIII.—TO EDMUND PENDLETON, February 14, 1799

Philadelphia, February 14, 1799. Dear Sir, I wrote you a petition on the 29th of January. I know the extent of this trespass on your tranquillity, and how indiscreet it would have been under any other circumstances. But the fate of this country, whether it shall be irretrievably plunged into a form of government rejected by the makers of the constitution, or shall get back to the true principles of that instrument, depends on the turn which things may take within a short period of time ensuing t

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LETTER CCXLIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 19, 1799

LETTER CCXLIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 19, 1799

Philadelphia, February 19, 1799. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 11th; yesterday the bill for the eventual army of thirty regiments (thirty thousand) and seventy-five thousand volunteers, passed the Senate. By an amendment, the President was authorized to use the volunteers for every purpose for which he can use militia, so that the militia are rendered completely useless. The friends of the bill acknowledge that the volunteers are a militia, and agreed that they might properly be called the ‘

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LETTER CCL.—TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, February 21, 1799

LETTER CCL.—TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, February 21, 1799

TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO. Philadelphia, February 21, 1799. My Dear Friend, On politics I must write sparingly, lest it should fall into the hands of persons who do not love either you or me. The wonderful irritation produced in the minds of our citizens by the X. Y. Z. story, has in a great measure subsided. They begin to suspect and to see it coolly in its true light. Mr. Gerry’s communications, with other information, prove to them that France is sincere in her wishes for reconciliation; and a rec

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LETTER CCLI.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 26, 1799

LETTER CCLI.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 26, 1799

Philadelphia, February 26, 1799. Dear Sir, My last to you was of the 19th; it acknowledged yours of the 8th. In mine I informed you of the nomination of Murray. There is evidence that the letter of Talleyrand was known to one of the Secretaries, therefore probably to all; the nomination, however, is declared by one of them to have been kept secret from them all. He added, that he was glad of it, as, had they been consulted, the advice would have been against making the nomination. To the rest of

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LETTER CCLII.—TO T. LOMAX, March 12, 1799

LETTER CCLII.—TO T. LOMAX, March 12, 1799

Monticello, March 12, 1799. Your welcome favor of last month came to my hands in Philadelphia. So long a time has elapsed since we have been separated by events, that it was like a letter from the dead, and recalled to my memory very dear recollections. My subsequent journey through life has offered nothing which, in comparison with those, is not cheerless and dreary. It is a rich comfort sometimes to look back on them. I take the liberty of enclosing a letter to Mr. Baylor, open, because I soli

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LETTER CCLIII.—TO EDMUND RANDOLPH, August 18, 1799

LETTER CCLIII.—TO EDMUND RANDOLPH, August 18, 1799

TO EDMUND RANDOLPH. Monticello, August 18, 1799 I received only two days ago your favor of the 12th, and as it was on the eve of the return of our post, it was not possible to make so prompt a despatch of the answer. Of all the doctrines which have ever been broached by the federal government, the novel one, of the common law being in force and cognizable as an existing law in their courts, is to me the most formidable. All their other assumptions of ungiven powers have been in the detail. The b

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LETTER CCLIV.—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, September 5, 1799

LETTER CCLIV.—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, September 5, 1799

TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS. Monticello, September 5, 1799. Yours of August the 30th came duly to hand. It was with great regret we gave up the hope of seeing you here, but, could not but consider the obstacle as legitimate. I had written to Mr. Madison, as I had before informed you, and had stated to him some general ideas for consideration and consultation when we should meet. I thought something essentially necessary to be said, in order to avoid the inference of acquiescence; that a resolution or

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LETTER CCLV.—TO JAMES MADISON, November 22, 1799

LETTER CCLV.—TO JAMES MADISON, November 22, 1799

Monticello, November 22, 1799. I have never answered your letter by Mr. Polk, because I expected to have paid you a visit. This has been prevented by various causes, till yesterday. That being the day fixed for the departure of my daughter Eppes, my horses were ready for me to have set out to see you: an accident postponed her departure to this day, and my visit also. But Colonel Monroe dined with me yesterday, and on my asking his commands for you, he entered into the subject of the visit and d

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LETTER CCLVI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, January 12, 1800

LETTER CCLVI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, January 12, 1800

TO COLONEL MONROE. Philadelphia, January 12, 1800. Yours of January the 4th was received last night. I had then no opportunity of communicating to you confidentially information of the state of opinions here; but I learn to-night that two Mr. Randolphs will set out to-morrow morning for Richmond. If I can get this into their hands I shall send it; otherwise it may wait longer. On the subject of an election by a general ticket or by districts, most persons here seem to have made up their minds. A

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LETTER CCLVII.—TO SAMUEL ADAMS

LETTER CCLVII.—TO SAMUEL ADAMS

TO SAMUEL ADAMS. Philadelphia, February 26,1800. Mr. Erving delivered me your favor of January the 31st, and I thank you for making me acquainted with him. You will always do me a favor in giving me an opportunity of knowing gentlemen as estimable in their principles and talents, as I find Mr. Erving to be. I have not yet seen Mr. Winthrop. A letter from you, my respectable friend, after three and twenty years of separation, has given me a pleasure I cannot express. It recalls to my mind the anx

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LETTER CCLVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 4, 1800

LETTER CCLVIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, March 4, 1800

TO JAMES MADISON. Philadelphia, March 4, 1800. I have never written to you since my arrival here, for reasons which were explained. Yours of December the 29th, January the 4th, 9th, 12th, 18th, and February the 14th, have therefore remained unacknowledged. I have at different times enclosed to you such papers as seemed interesting. To-day I forward Bingham’s amendment to the election bill formerly enclosed to you, Mr. Pinckney’s proposed amendment to the constitution, and the report of the Ways

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LETTER CCLIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 12, 1800

LETTER CCLIX.—TO JAMES MADISON, May 12, 1800

Philadelphia, May 12, 1800. Dear Sir, Congress will rise to-day or to-morrow. Mr. Nicholas proposing to call on you, you will get from him the Congressional news. On the whole, the federalists have not been able to carry a single strong measure in the lower House the whole session. When they met, it was believed they had a majority of twenty; but many of these were new and moderate men, and soon saw the true character of the party to which they had been well disposed while at a distance. The tid

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LETTER CCLX.—TO GIDEON GRANGER, August 13, 1800

LETTER CCLX.—TO GIDEON GRANGER, August 13, 1800

Monticello, August 13, 1800. I received with great pleasure your favor of June the 4th, and am much comforted by the appearance of a change of opinion in your State; for though we may obtain, and I believe shall obtain a majority in the legislature of the United States, attached to the preservation of the federal constitution according to its obvious principles, and those on which it was known to be received; attached equally to the preservation to the States of those rights unquestionably remai

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LETTER CCLXI.—TO URIAH M’GREGORY, August 13, 1800

LETTER CCLXI.—TO URIAH M’GREGORY, August 13, 1800

Monticello, August 13, 1800. Sir, Your favor of July the 19th has been received, and received with the tribute of respect due to a person, who, unurged by motives of personal friendship or acquaintance, and unaided by particular information, will so far exercise his justice as to advert to the proofs of approbation given a public character by his own State and by the United States, and weigh them in the scale against the fatherless calumnies he hears uttered against him. These public acts are kn

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LETTER CCLXII.—TO DOCTOR RUSH, September 23, 1800

LETTER CCLXII.—TO DOCTOR RUSH, September 23, 1800

Monticello, September 23, 1800. Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of August the 22nd, and to congratulate you on the healthiness of your city. Still Baltimore, Norfolk, and Providence admonish us that we are not clear of our new scourge. When great evils happen, I am in the habit of looking out for what good may arise from them as consolations to us, and Providence has in fact so established the order of things, as that most evils are the means of producing some good. The

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LETTER, CCLXIII.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, December 14, 1800

LETTER, CCLXIII.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, December 14, 1800

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Washington, December 14, 1800. Dear Sir, Your former communications on the subject of the steam-engine, I took the liberty of laying before the American Philosophical Society, by whom they will be printed in their volume of the present year. I have heard of the discovery of some large bones, supposed to be of the mammoth, at about thirty or forty miles distance from you: and among the bones found, are said to be some which we have never yet been able to procure. The firs

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LETTER CCLXIV.—TO COLONEL BURR, December 15,1800

LETTER CCLXIV.—TO COLONEL BURR, December 15,1800

Washington, December 15,1800. Although we have not official information of the votes for President and Vice-President, and cannot have until the first week in February, yet the state of the votes is given on such evidence, as satisfies both parties that the two republican candidates stand highest. From South Carolina we have not even heard of the actual vote; but we have learned who were appointed electors, and with sufficient certainty how they would vote. It is said they would withdraw from yo

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LETTER CCLXV.—TO JUDGE BRECKENRIDGE, December 18,1800

LETTER CCLXV.—TO JUDGE BRECKENRIDGE, December 18,1800

TO JUDGE BRECKENRIDGE. Washington, December 18,1800. I received, while at home, the letter you were so kind as to write me. The employments of the country have such irresistible attractions for me, that while I am at home I am not very punctual in acknowledging the letters of my friends. Having no refuge here from my room and writing-table, it is my regular season for fetching up the lee-way of my correspondence. Before you receive this, you will have understood that the State of South Carolina

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LETTER CCLXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 19,1800

LETTER CCLXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 19,1800

Washington, December 19,1800. Mrs. Brown’s departure for Virginia enables me to write confidentially what I could not have ventured by the post at this prying season. The election in South Carolina has in some measure decided the great contest. Though as yet we do not know the actual votes of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Vermont, yet we believe the votes to be on the whole, J. seventy-three, B. seventy-three, A. sixty-five, P. sixty-four. Rhode Island withdrew one from P. There is a possibility that

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LETTER CCLXVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 26, 1800

LETTER CCLXVII.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 26, 1800

TO JAMES MADISON. Washington, December 26, 1800. All the votes have now come in, except of Vermont and Kentucky, and there is no doubt that the result is a perfect parity between the two republican characters. The federalists appear determined to prevent an election, and to pass a bill giving the government to Mr. Jay, appointed Chief Justice, or to Marshall as Secretary of State. Yet I am rather of opinion that Maryland and Jersey will give the seven republican majorities. The French treaty wil

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LETTER CCLXVIII.—TO COLONEL BURR, February 1, 1801

LETTER CCLXVIII.—TO COLONEL BURR, February 1, 1801

Washington, February 1, 1801. It was to be expected that the enemy would endeavor to sow tares between us, that they might divide us and our friends. Every consideration satisfies me you will be on your guard against this, as I assure you I am strongly. I hear of one stratagem so imposing and so base, that it is proper I should notice it to you. Mr. Munford, who is here, says he saw at New York before he left it, an original letter of mine to Judge Breckenridge, in which are sentiments highly in

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LETTER CCLXIX.—TO GOVERNOR M’KEAN, February 2, 1801

LETTER CCLXIX.—TO GOVERNOR M’KEAN, February 2, 1801

TO GOVERNOR M’KEAN. Washington, February 2, 1801. I have long waited for an opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of December the 15th, as well as that by Dr. Mendenhall. None occurring, I shall either deliver the present to General Muhlenburg or put it under cover to Dr. Wistar, to whom I happen to be writing, to be sent to your house in Philadelphia, or forwarded confidentially to Lancaster. The event of the election is still in dubio. A strong portion in the House of Representa

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LETTER CCLXX.—TO TENCH COXE, February 11,1801

LETTER CCLXX.—TO TENCH COXE, February 11,1801

Washington, February 11,1801. Your favor of January the 25th came to hand some days ago, and yesterday a gentleman put into my hand, at the door of the Senate chamber, the volume of the American Museum for 1798. As no letter accompanied it, I took it for granted it was to bring under my eye some of its contents. I have gone over it with satisfaction. This is the morning of the election by the House of Representatives. For some time past a single individual had declared he would by his vote make

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LETTER CCLXXI.—TO JAMES MONROE, February 15, 1801

LETTER CCLXXI.—TO JAMES MONROE, February 15, 1801

Washington, February 15, 1801. I have received several letters from you which have not been acknowledged. By the post I dare not, and one or two confidential opportunities have passed me by surprise. I have regretted it the less, because I know you could be more safely and fully informed by others. Mr. Tyler, the bearer of this, will give you a great deal more information personally than can be done by letter. Four days of balloting have produced not a single change of a vote. Yet it is confiden

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LETTER CCLXXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 18,1801

LETTER CCLXXII.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 18,1801

TO JAMES MADISON. Washington, February 18,1801. Notwithstanding the suspected infidelity of the post, I must hazard this communication. The minority of the House of Representatives, after seeing the impossibility of electing Burr, the certainty that a legislative usurpation would be resisted by arms, and a recourse to a convention to re-organize and amend the government, held a consultation on this dilemma, whether it would be better for them to come over in a body and go with the tide of the ti

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LETTER CCLXXIII.—TO JOHN DICKINSON, March 6, 1801

LETTER CCLXXIII.—TO JOHN DICKINSON, March 6, 1801

TO JOHN DICKINSON. Washington, March 6, 1801. No pleasure can exceed that which I received from reading your letter of the 21st ultimo. It was like the joy we expect in the mansions of the blessed, when received with the embraces of our forefathers, we shall be welcomed with their blessing as having done our part not unworthily of them. The storm through which we have passed, has been tremendous indeed. The tough sides of our Argosie have been thoroughly tried. Her strength has stood the waves i

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LETTER CCLXXIV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, March 7, 1801

LETTER CCLXXIV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, March 7, 1801

Washington, March 7, 1801. I had written the enclosed letter to Mrs. Trist, and was just proceeding to begin one to you, when your favor of the 6th was put into my hands. I thank you sincerely for it, and consider the views of it so sound, that I have communicated it to my coadjutors as one of our important evidences of the public sentiment, according to which we must shape our course. I suspect, partly from this, but more from a letter of J. Taylor’s which has been put into my hands, that an in

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LETTER CCLXXV.—TO GOVERNOR M’KEAN, March 9, 1801

LETTER CCLXXV.—TO GOVERNOR M’KEAN, March 9, 1801

TO GOVERNOR M’KEAN. Washington, March 9, 1801. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of February the 20th, and to thank you for your congratulations on the event of the election. Had it terminated in the elevation of Mr. Burr every republican would, I am sure, have acquiesced in a moment; because, however it might have been variant from the intentions of the voters, yet it would have been agreeable to the constitution. No man would more cheerfully have submitted than myself, because I

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LETTER CCLXXVI.—TO JOEL BARLOW, March 14, 1801

LETTER CCLXXVI.—TO JOEL BARLOW, March 14, 1801

Washington, March 14, 1801. Not having my papers here, it is not in my power to acknowledge the receipt of your letters by their dates, but T am pretty certain I have received two in the course of the last twelve months, one of them covering your excellent second letter. Nothing can be sounder than the principles it inculcates, and I am not without hopes they will make their way. You have understood that the revolutionary movements in Europe had, by industry and artifice, been wrought into objec

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LETTER CCLXXVII.—TO THOMAS PAINE, March 18, 1801

LETTER CCLXXVII.—TO THOMAS PAINE, March 18, 1801

TO THOMAS PAINE. Washington, March 18, 1801, Your letters of October the 1st, 4th, 6th, and 16th, came duly to hand, and the papers which they covered were, according to your permission, published in the newspapers and in a pamphlet, and under your own name. These papers contain precisely our principles, and I hope they will be generally recognised here. Determined as we are to avoid, if possible, wasting the energies of our people in war and destruction, we shall avoid implicating ourselves wit

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LETTER CCLXXVIII.—TO M. DE REYNEVAL, March 20, 1801

LETTER CCLXXVIII.—TO M. DE REYNEVAL, March 20, 1801

TO M. DE REYNEVAL. Washington, March 20, 1801. Mr. Pichon, who arrived two days ago, delivered me your favor of January the 1st, and I had before received one by Mr. Dupont, dated August the 24th, 1799, both on the subject of lands, claimed on behalf of your brother, Mr. Girard, and that of August the 24th containing a statement of the case. I had verbally explained to Mr. Dupont at the time, what I presumed to have been the case, which must, I believe, be very much mistaken in the statement sen

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LETTER CCLXXIX.—TO DOCTOR JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, March 21, 1801

LETTER CCLXXIX.—TO DOCTOR JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, March 21, 1801

TO DOCTOR JOSEPH PRIESTLEY. Washington, March 21, 1801. Dear Sir, I learned some time ago that you were in Philadelphia, but that it was only for a fortnight; and I supposed you were gone. It was not till yesterday I received information that you were still there, had been very ill, but were on the recovery. I sincerely rejoice that you are so. Yours is one of the few lives precious to mankind, and for the continuance of which every thinking man is solicitous. Bigots may be an exception. What an

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LETTER CCLXXX.—TO MOSES ROBINSON, March 23,1801

LETTER CCLXXX.—TO MOSES ROBINSON, March 23,1801

TO MOSES ROBINSON. Washington, March 23,1801. Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 3rd instant, and to thank you for the friendly expressions it contains. I entertain real hope that the whole body of your fellow-citizens (many of whom had been carried away by the X. Y. Z. business) will shortly be consolidated in the same sentiments. When they examine the real principles of both parties, I think they will find little to differ about. I know, indeed, that there are som

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LETTER CCLXXXI.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, March 23, 1801

LETTER CCLXXXI.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, March 23, 1801

TO WILLIAM B. GILES. Washington, March 23, 1801. I received two days ago your favor of the 16th, and thank you for your kind felicitations on my election: but whether it will be a subject of felicitation permanently, will be for chapters of future history to say. The important subjects of the government I meet with some degree of courage and confidence, because I do believe the talents to be associated with me, the honest line of conduct we will religiously pursue at home and abroad, and the con

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LETTER CCLXXXII.—TO SAMUEL ADAMS, March 29, 1801

LETTER CCLXXXII.—TO SAMUEL ADAMS, March 29, 1801

TO SAMUEL ADAMS. Washington, March 29, 1801. I addressed a letter to you, my very dear and ancient friend, on the 4th of March: not indeed to you by name, but through the medium of some of my fellow-citizens, whom occasion called on me to address. In meditating the matter of that address, I often asked myself, Is this exactly in the spirit of the patriarch, Samuel Adams? Is it as he would express it? Will he approve of it? I have felt a great deal for our country in the times we have seen. But i

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LETTER CCLXXXIII.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, March 29, 1801

LETTER CCLXXXIII.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, March 29, 1801

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY. Washington, March 29, 1801, My Dear Sir, Your two letters of January the 5th and February the 24th came safely to hand, and I thank you for the history of a transaction which will ever be interesting in our affairs. It has been very precisely as I had imagined. I thought, on your return, that if you had come forward boldly, and appealed to the public by a full statement, it would have had a great effect in your favor personally, and that of the republican cause then oppressed

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LETTER CCLXXXIV.—TO GIDEON GRANGER, May 3, 1801

LETTER CCLXXXIV.—TO GIDEON GRANGER, May 3, 1801

TO GIDEON GRANGER. Washington, May 3, 1801. Dear Sir, I wrote you on the 29th of March. Yours of the 25th of that month, with the address it covered, had not reached this place on the 1st of April, when I set out on a short visit to my residence in Virginia, where some arrangements were necessary previous to my settlement here. In fact, your letter came to me at Monticello only the 24th of April, two days before my departure from thence. This, I hope, will sufficiently apologize for the delay of

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LETTER CCLXXXV.—TO NATHANIEL MACON, May 14, 1801

LETTER CCLXXXV.—TO NATHANIEL MACON, May 14, 1801

TO NATHANIEL MACON. Washington, May 14, 1801. Your favors of April the 20th and 23rd had been received, and the commission made out for Mr. Potts, before I received the letter of the 1st instant. I have still thought it better to forward the commission, in the hope that reconsideration, or the influence of yourself and friends, might induce an acceptance of it. Should it be otherwise, you must recommend some other good person, as I had rather be guided by your opinion than that of the person you

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LETTER CCLXXXVI.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, July 11, 1801

LETTER CCLXXXVI.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, July 11, 1801

TO LEVI LINCOLN. Washington, July 11, 1801, Dear Sir, Your favor of the 15th came to hand on the 25th of June, and conveyed a great deal of that information which I am anxious to receive. The consolidation of our fellow-citizens in general is the great object we ought to keep in view; and that being once obtained, while we associate with us in affairs, to a certain degree, the federal sect of republicans, we must strip of all the means of influence the Essex junto, and their associate monocrats

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LETTER CCLXXXVII.—TO GOVERNOR MONROE, July 11, 1801

LETTER CCLXXXVII.—TO GOVERNOR MONROE, July 11, 1801

TO GOVERNOR MONROE. Washington, July 11, 1801. Dear Sir, As to the mode of correspondence between the general and particular executives, I do not think myself a good judge. Not because my position gives me any prejudice on the occasion; for if it be possible to be certainly conscious of any thing, I am conscious of feeling no difference between writing to the highest and lowest being on earth; but because I have ever thought that forms should yield to whatever should facilitate business. Compari

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LETTER CCLXXXVIII.—TO A COMMITTEE OF MERCHANTS, July 12, 1801

LETTER CCLXXXVIII.—TO A COMMITTEE OF MERCHANTS, July 12, 1801

To Elias Shipman and Others, a Committee of the Merchants of New Haven . Washington, July 12, 1801. Gentlemen, I have received the remonstrance you were pleased to address to me, on the appointment of Samuel Bishop to the office of Collector of New Haven, lately vacated by the death of David Austin. The right of our fellow-citizens to represent to the public functionaries their opinion on proceedings interesting to them, is unquestionably a constitutional right, often useful, sometimes necessary

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LETTER CCLXXXIX.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, August 26, 1801

LETTER CCLXXXIX.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, August 26, 1801

TO LEVI LINCOLN. Monticello, August 26, 1801. Dear Sir, Your favor of July the 28th was received here on the 20th instant. The superscription of my letter of July the 11th, by another hand, was to prevent danger to it from the curious. Your statement respecting the Berceau coincided with my own recollection, in the circumstances recollected by me, and I concur with you in supposing it may not now be necessary to give any explanations on the subject in the papers. The purchase was made by our pre

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LETTER CCXC.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, September 9, 1801

LETTER CCXC.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, September 9, 1801

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Monticello, September 9, 1801. Dear Sir, You will receive, probably by this post, from the Secretary of State, his final instructions for your mission to France. We have not thought it necessary to say any thing in them on the great question of the maritime law of nations, which at present agitates Europe, that is to say, whether free ships shall make free goods; because we do not mean to take any side in it during the war. But as I had before communicated to you some lo

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LETTER CCXCI.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, October 3, 1801

LETTER CCXCI.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, October 3, 1801

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Washington, October 3, 1801. Dear Sir, I trusted to Mr. Dawson to give you a full explanation, verbally, on a subject which I find he has but slightly mentioned to you. I shall therefore now do it. When I returned from France, after an absence of six or seven years, I was astonished at the change which I found had taken place in the United States in that time. No more like the same people; their notions, their habits and manners, the course of their commerce, so totally changed

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LETTER CCXCII.—TO THE HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENTS, November 6, 1801

LETTER CCXCII.—TO THE HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENTS, November 6, 1801

Circular to the Heads of the Departments, and private . Washington, November 6, 1801. Dear Sir, Coming all of us into executive office, new, and unfamiliar with the course of business previously practised, it was not to be expected, we should, in the first outset, adopt in every part a line of proceeding so perfect as to admit no amendment. The mode and degrees of communication, particularly between the President and heads of departments, have not been practised exactly on the same scale in all

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LETTER CCXCIII.—TO JOHN DICKINSON, December 19, 1801

LETTER CCXCIII.—TO JOHN DICKINSON, December 19, 1801

TO JOHN DICKINSON. Washington, December 19, 1801. The approbation of my ancient friends is above all things the most grateful to my heart. They know for what objects we relinquished the delights of domestic society, tranquillity, and science, and committed ourselves to the ocean of revolution, to wear out the only life God has given us here, in scenes, the benefits of which will accrue only to those who follow us. Surely we had in view to obtain the theory and practice of good government; and ho

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LETTER CCXCIV.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, April 1,1802

LETTER CCXCIV.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, April 1,1802

TO ALBERT GALLATIN. Washington, April 1,1802. I have read and considered your report on the operations of the sinking fund, and entirely approve of it, as the best plan on which we can set out. I think it an object of great importance, to be kept in view and to be undertaken at a fit season, to simplify our system of finance, and bring it within the comprehension of every member of Congress. Hamilton set out on a different plan. In order that he might have the entire government of his machine, h

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LETTER CCXCV.—TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, April 2,1802

LETTER CCXCV.—TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, April 2,1802

TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO. Washington, April 2,1802. Dear General, It is but lately that I have received your letter of the 25th Frimaire (December 15th), wishing to know whether some officers of your country could expect to be employed in this country. To prevent a suspense injurious to them, I hasten to inform you, that we are now actually engaged in reducing our military establishment one third, and discharging one third of our officers. We keep in service no more than men enough to garrison the s

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LETTER CCXCVI.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, April 18, 1802

LETTER CCXCVI.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, April 18, 1802

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Washington, April 18, 1802. Dear Sir, A favorable and confidential opportunity offering by M. Dupont de Nemours, who is re-visiting his native country, gives me an opportunity of sending you a cipher to be used between us, which will give you some trouble to understand, but once understood, is the easiest to use, the most indecipherable, and varied by a new key with the greatest facility, of any I have ever known. I am in hopes the explanation enclosed will be sufficient

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LETTER CCXCVII.—TO GOVERNOR MONROE, July 15, 1802

LETTER CCXCVII.—TO GOVERNOR MONROE, July 15, 1802

Washington, July 15, 1802. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 7th has been duly received. I am really mortified at the base ingratitude of Callender. It presents human nature in a hideous form. It gives me concern, because I perceive that relief, which was afforded him on mere motives of charity, may be viewed under the aspect of employing him as a writer. When the ‘Political Progress of Britain’ first appeared in this country, it was in a periodical publication called the ‘Bee,’ where I saw it. I was

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LETTER CCXCVIII.—TO GOVERNOR MONROE, July 17, 1802

LETTER CCXCVIII.—TO GOVERNOR MONROE, July 17, 1802

TO GOVERNOR MONROE. Washington, July 17, 1802. After writing you on the 15th, I turned to my letter-file to see what letters I had written to Callender, and found them to have been of the dates of 1798, October the 11th, and 1799, September the 6th, and October the 6th; but on looking for the letters they were not in their places, nor to be found. On recollection, I believe I sent them to you a year or two ago. If you have them, I shall be glad to receive them at Monticello, where I shall be on

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LETTER CCXCIX.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, October 10, 1802

LETTER CCXCIX.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, October 10, 1802

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Washington, October 10, 1802. The departure of Madame Brugnard for France furnishes me a safe conveyance of a letter, which I cannot avoid embracing, although I have nothing particular for the subject of it. It is well, however, to be able to inform you, generally, through a safe channel, that we stand completely corrected of the error, that either the government or the nation of France has any remains of friendship for us. The portion of that country which forms an exce

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LETTER CCC.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, October 13, 1802

LETTER CCC.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, October 13, 1802

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO ALBERT GALLATIN. You know my doubts, or rather convictions, about the unconstitutionality of the act for building piers in the Delaware, and the fears that it will lead to a bottomless expense, and to the greatest abuses. There is, however, one intention of which the act is susceptible, and which will bring it within the constitution; and we ought always to presume that the real intention which is alone consistent with the constitution. Although the power to regulate commerce

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LETTER CCCI.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, October 25, 1802

LETTER CCCI.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, October 25, 1802

TO LEVI LINCOLN. Washington, October 25, 1802. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 16th is received, and that of July the 24th had come to hand while I was at Monticello. I sincerely condole with you on the sickly state of your family, and hope this will find them re-established with the approach of the cold season. As yet, however, we have had no frost at this place, and it is believed the yellow fever still continues in Philadelphia, if not in Baltimore. We shall all be happy to see you here whenever

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LETTER CCCII.—TO GOVERNOR MONROE, January 13,1803

LETTER CCCII.—TO GOVERNOR MONROE, January 13,1803

TO GOVERNOR MONROE. Washington, January 13,1803. I dropped you a line on the 10th, informing you of a nomination I had made of you to the Senate, and yesterday I enclosed you their approbation, not then having time to write. The agitation of the public mind on occasion of the late suspension of our right of deposite at New Orleans is extreme. In the western country it is natural, and grounded on honest motives. In the sea-ports it proceeds from a desire for war, which increases the mercantile lo

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LETTER CCCIII.—TO M. DUPONT, February 1, 1803

LETTER CCCIII.—TO M. DUPONT, February 1, 1803

TO M. DUPONT. Washington, February 1, 1803. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of August the 16th and October the 4th. The latter I received with peculiar satisfaction; because, while it holds up terms which cannot be entirely yielded, it proposes such as a mutual spirit of accommodation and sacrifice of opinion may bring to some point of union. While we were preparing on this subject such modifications of the propositions of your letter of October the 4th, as we could assent to, a

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LETTER CCCIV.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH, April 21, 1803

LETTER CCCIV.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH, April 21, 1803

TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH. Washington, April 21, 1803. In some of the delightful conversations with you, in the evenings of 1798-99, and which served as an anodyne to the afflictions of the crisis through which our country was then laboring, the Christian religion was sometimes our topic: and I then promised you, that, one day or other, I would give you my views of it. They are the result of a life of inquiry and reflection, and very different from that anti-Christian system imputed to me by those

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LETTER CCCV.—TO GENERAL GATES, July 11, 1803

LETTER CCCV.—TO GENERAL GATES, July 11, 1803

TO GENERAL GATES. Washington, July 11, 1803. Dear General, I accept with pleasure, and with pleasure reciprocate your congratulations on the acquisition of Louisiana: for it is a subject of mutual congratulation, as it interests every man of the nation. The territory acquired, as it includes all the waters of the Missouri and Mississippi, has more than doubled the area of the United States, and the new part is not inferior to the old in soil, climate, productions, and important communications. I

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LETTER CCCVI.—TO MR. BRECKENRIDGE, August 12, 1803

LETTER CCCVI.—TO MR. BRECKENRIDGE, August 12, 1803

Monticello, August 12, 1803. Dear Sir, The enclosed letter, though directed to you, was intended to me also, and was left open with a request, that when forwarded, I would forward it to you. It gives me occasion to write a word to you on the subject of Louisiana, which being a new one, an interchange of sentiments may produce correct ideas before we are to act on them. Our information as to the country is very incomplete: we have taken measures to obtain it full as to the settled part, which I h

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LETTER I.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, August 30, 1803

LETTER I.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, August 30, 1803

TO LEVI LINCOLN. Monticello, August 30, 1803. Deak. Sir, The enclosed letter came to hand by yesterday’s post. You will be sensible of the circumstances which make it improper that I should hazard a formal answer, as well as of the desire its friendly aspect naturally excites, that those concerned in it should understand that the spirit they express is friendly viewed. You can judge also from your knowledge of the ground, whether it may be usefully encouraged. I take the liberty, therefore, of a

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LETTER II.—TO WILSON C NICHOLAS, September 7, 1803

LETTER II.—TO WILSON C NICHOLAS, September 7, 1803

TO WILSON C NICHOLAS. Monticello, September 7, 1803. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 3rd was delivered me at court; but we were much disappointed at not seeing you here, Mr. Madison and the Governor being here at the time. 1 enclose you a letter from Monroe on the subject of the late treaty. You will observe a hint in it, to do without delay what we are bound to do. There is reason, in the opinion of our ministers, to believe, that if the thing were to do over again, it could not be obtained, and th

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LETTER III.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH, October 4, 1803

LETTER III.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH, October 4, 1803

TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH. Washington, October 4, 1803. No one would more willingly than myself pay the just tribute due to the services of Captain Barry, by writing a letter of condolence to his widow, as you suggest. But when one undertakes to administer justice, it must be with an even hand, and by rule; what is done for one, must be done for every one in equal degree. To what a train of attentions would this draw a President? How difficult would it be to draw the line between that degree of me

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LETTER IV.—TO M. DUPONT DE NEMOURS, November 1, 1803

LETTER IV.—TO M. DUPONT DE NEMOURS, November 1, 1803

TO M. DUPONT DE NEMOURS. Washington, November 1, 1803. My Dear Sir, Your favors of April the 6th and June the 27th were duly received, and with the welcome which every thing brings from you. The treaty which has so happily sealed the friendship of our two countries, has been received here with general acclamation. Some inflexible federalists have still ventured to brave the public opinion. It will fix their character with the world and with posterity, who, not descending to the other points of d

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LETTER V.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, November 4,1803

LETTER V.—TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, November 4,1803

Washington, November 4,1803. Dear Sir, A report reaches us this day from Baltimore (on probable, but not certain grounds), that Mr. Jerome Bonaparte, brother of the First Consul, was yesterday* married to Miss Patterson of that city. The effect of this measure on the mind of the First Consul, is not for me to suppose; but as it might occur to him primâ facie , that the executive of the United States ought to have prevented it, I have thought it advisable to mention the subject to you, that if ne

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LETTER VI.—TO DAVID WILLIAMS, November 14, 1803

LETTER VI.—TO DAVID WILLIAMS, November 14, 1803

Washington, November 14, 1803. Sir, I have duly received the volume on the claims of literature; which you did me the favor to send me through Mr. Monroe: and have read with satisfaction the many judicious reflections it contains, on the condition of the respectable class of literary men. The efforts for their relief, made by a society of private citizens, are truly laudable: but they are, as you justly observe, but a palliation of an evil, the cure of which calls for all the wisdom and the mean

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LETTER VII.—TO JOHN RANDOLH, December 1, 1803

LETTER VII.—TO JOHN RANDOLH, December 1, 1803

Washington, December 1, 1803. Dear Sir, The explanations in your letter of yesterday were quite unnecessary to me. I have had too satisfactory proofs of your friendly regard, to be disposed to suspect any thing of a contrary aspect. I understood perfectly the expressions stated in the newspaper to which you allude, to mean, that ‘though the proposition came from the republican quarter of the House, yet you should not concur with it.’ I am aware, that in parts of the Union, and even with persons

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LETTER VIII.—TO MR. GALLATIN, December 13, 1803

LETTER VIII.—TO MR. GALLATIN, December 13, 1803

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO MR. GALLATIN. The Attorney General having considered and decided, that the prescription in the law for establishing a bank, that the officers in the subordinate offices of discount and deposit, shall be appointed ‘on the same terms and in the same manner practised in the principal bank,’ does not extend to them the principle of rotation, established by the legislature in the body of directors in the principal bank, it follows that the extension of that principle has been mere

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LETTER IX.—TO DOCTOR PRIESTLEY, January 29, 1804

LETTER IX.—TO DOCTOR PRIESTLEY, January 29, 1804

TO DOCTOR PRIESTLEY. Washington, January 29, 1804. Dear Sir, Your favor of December the 12th came duly to hand, as did the second letter to Doctor Linn, and the treatise on Phlogiston, for which I pray you to accept my thanks. The copy for Mr. Livingston has been delivered, together with your letter to him, to Mr. Harvie, my secretary, who departs in a day or two for Paris, and will deliver them himself to Mr. Livingston, whose attention to your matter cannot be doubted. I have also to add my th

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LETTER X.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, March 3, 1804

LETTER X.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, March 3, 1804

Washington, March 3, 1804. Dear Sir, Although it is long since I received your favor of October the 27th, yet I have not had leisure sooner to acknowledge it. In the Middle and Southern States, as great an union of sentiment has now taken place as is perhaps desirable. For as there will always be an opposition, I believe it had better be from avowed monarchists than republicans. New York seems to be in danger of republican division; Vermont is solidly with us; Rhode Island with us on anomalous g

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LETTER XI.—TO GIDEON GRANGER, April 16, 1804

LETTER XI.—TO GIDEON GRANGER, April 16, 1804

TO GIDEON GRANGER. Monticello, April 16, 1804. In our last conversation you mentioned a federal scheme afloat, of forming a coalition between the federalists and republicans, of what they called the seven eastern States. The idea was new to me, and after time for reflection, I had no opportunity of conversing with you again. The federalists know that, eo nomine , they are gone for ever. Their object, therefore, is, how to return into power under some other form. Undoubtedly they have but one mea

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LETTER XII.—TO MRS. ADAMS, June 13,1804

LETTER XII.—TO MRS. ADAMS, June 13,1804

TO MRS. ADAMS. Washington, June 13,1804. Dear Madam, The affectionate sentiments which you have had the goodness to express in your letter of May the 20th, towards my dear departed daughter, have awakened in me sensibilities natural to the occasion, and recalled your kindnesses to her, which I shall ever remember with gratitude and friendship. I can assure you with truth, they had made an indelible impression on her mind, and that to the last, on our meetings after long separations, whether I ha

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LETTER XIII.—TO GOVERNOR PAGE, June 25, 1804

LETTER XIII.—TO GOVERNOR PAGE, June 25, 1804

TO GOVERNOR PAGE. Washington, June 25, 1804. Your letter, my dear friend, of the 25th ultimo, is a new proof of the goodness of your heart, and the part you take in my loss marks an affectionate concern for the greatness of it. It is great indeed. Others may lose of their abundance, but I, of my want, have lost even the half of all I had. My evening prospects now hang on the slender thread of a single life. Perhaps I maybe destined to see even this last cord of parental affection broken! The hop

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LETTER, XIV.—TO P. MAZZEI, July 18, 1804

LETTER, XIV.—TO P. MAZZEI, July 18, 1804

TO P. MAZZEI. Washington, July 18, 1804. My Dear Sir, It is very long, I know, since I wrote you. So constant is the pressure of business that there is never a moment, scarcely, that something of public importance is not waiting for me. I have, therefore, on a principle of conscience, thought it my duty to withdraw almost entirely from all private correspondence, and chiefly the trans-Atlantic; I scarcely write a letter a year to any friend beyond sea. Another consideration has led to this, whic

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LETTER XV.—TO MRS. ADAMS, July 22, 1804

LETTER XV.—TO MRS. ADAMS, July 22, 1804

TO MRS. ADAMS. Washington, July 22, 1804. Dear Madam, Your favor of the 1st instant was duly received, and I would not again have intruded on you, but to rectify certain facts which seem not to have been presented to you under their true aspect. My charities to Callendar are considered as rewards for his calumnies. As early, I think, as 1796, I was told in Philadelphia, that Callendar, the author of the ‘Political Progress of Britain,’ was in that city, a fugitive from persecution for having wri

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LETTER XVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 15, 1804

LETTER XVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 15, 1804

TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, August 15, 1804. Dear Sir, Your letter dated the 7th should probably have been of the 14th, as I received it only by that day’s post. I return you Monroe’s letter, which is of an awful complexion; and I do not wonder the communications it contains made some impression on him. To a person placed in Europe, surrounded by the immense resources of the nations there, and the greater wickedness of their courts, even the limits which nature imposes on their enterprises are

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LETTER XVII.—TO GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE, August 30, 1804

LETTER XVII.—TO GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE, August 30, 1804

TO GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE. Monticello, August 30, 1804. Various circumstances of delay have prevented my forwarding till now the general arrangements of the government of the territory of Orleans. Enclosed herewith you will receive the commissions. Among these is one for yourself as Governor. With respect to this I will enter into frank explanations. This office was originally destined for a person * whose great services and established fame would have rendered him peculiarly acceptable to the natio

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LETTER XVIII.—TO MRS. ADAMS, September 11, 1804

LETTER XVIII.—TO MRS. ADAMS, September 11, 1804

TO MRS. ADAMS. Monticello, September 11, 1804, Your letter, Madam, of the 18th of August has been some days received, but a press of business has prevented the acknowledgment of it: perhaps, indeed, I may have already trespassed too far on your attention. With those who wish to think amiss of me, I have learned to be perfectly indifferent; but where I know a mind to be ingenuous, and to need only truth to set it to rights, I cannot be as passive. The act of personal unkindness alluded to in your

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LETTER XIX.—TO MR. NICHOLSON, January 29, 1805

LETTER XIX.—TO MR. NICHOLSON, January 29, 1805

TO MR. NICHOLSON. Washington, January 29, 1805. Dear Sir, Mr. Eppes has this moment put into my hands your letter of yesterday, asking information on the subject of the gun-boats proposed to be built. I lose no time in communicating to you fully my whole views respecting them, premising a few words on the system of fortifications. Considering the harbors which, from their situation and importance, are entitled to defence, and the estimates we have seen of the fortifications planned for some of t

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LETTER XX.—TO MR. VOLNEY, February 8, 1805

LETTER XX.—TO MR. VOLNEY, February 8, 1805

TO MR. VOLNEY. Washington, February 8, 1805. Your letter of November the 26th came to hand May the 14th; the books some time after, which were all distributed according to direction. The copy for the East Indies went immediately by a safe conveyance. The letter of April the 28th, and the copy of your work accompanying that, did not come to hand till August. That copy was deposited in the Congressional library. It was not till my return here from my autumnal visit to Monticello, that I had an opp

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LETTER XXI.—TO JUDGE TYLER, March 29, 1805

LETTER XXI.—TO JUDGE TYLER, March 29, 1805

TO JUDGE TYLER. Monticello, March 29, 1805. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 17th found me on a short visit to this place, and I observe in it with great pleasure a continuance of your approbation of the course we are pursuing, and particularly the satisfaction you express with the last inaugural address. The first was, from the nature of the case, all profession and promise. Performance, therefore, seemed to be the proper office of the second. But the occasion restricted me to mention only the most

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LETTER XXII.—TO DOCTOR LOGAN, May 11, 1805

LETTER XXII.—TO DOCTOR LOGAN, May 11, 1805

TO DOCTOR LOGAN. Washington, May 11, 1805. I see with infinite pain the bloody schism which has taken place among our friends in Pennsylvania and New York, and will probably take place in other States. The main body of both sections mean well, but their good intentions will produce great public evil. The minority, whichever section shall be the minority, will end in coalition with the federalists, and some compromise of principle; because these will not sell their aid for nothing. Republicanism

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LETTER XXIII.—TO JUDGE SULLIVAN, May 21, 1805

LETTER XXIII.—TO JUDGE SULLIVAN, May 21, 1805

TO JUDGE SULLIVAN. Washington, May 21, 1805. An accumulation of business, which I found on my return here from a short visit to Monticello, has prevented till now my acknowledgment of your favor of the 14th ultimo . This delay has given time to see the result of the contest in your State, and I cannot but congratulate you on the advance it manifests, and the certain prospect it offers that another year restores Massachusetts to the general body of the nation. You have indeed received the federal

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LETTER XXIV.—TO THOMAS PAINE, June 5, 1805

LETTER XXIV.—TO THOMAS PAINE, June 5, 1805

TO THOMAS PAINE. Washington, June 5, 1805. Your letters, Nos. 1, 2, 3, the last of them dated April the 20th, were received April the 26th. I congratulate you on your retirement to your farm, and still more that it is of a character so worthy of your attention. I much doubt whether the open room on your second story will answer your expectations. There will be a few days in the year in which it will be delightful, but not many. Nothing but trees, or Venetian blinds, can protect it from the sun.

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LETTER XXV.—TO DOCTORS ROGERS AND SLAUGHTER, March 2, 1806

LETTER XXV.—TO DOCTORS ROGERS AND SLAUGHTER, March 2, 1806

TO DOCTORS ROGERS AND SLAUGHTER. Washington, March 2, 1806. Gentlemen, I have received the favor of your letter of February the 2nd, and read with thankfulness its obliging expressions respecting myself. I regret that the object of a letter from persons whom I so much esteem, and patronized by so many other respectable names, should be beyond the law which a mature consideration of circumstances has prescribed for my conduct. I deem it the duty of every man to devote a certain portion of his inc

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LETTER XXVI.—TO MR. DUANE, March 22, 1806

LETTER XXVI.—TO MR. DUANE, March 22, 1806

TO MR. DUANE. Washington, March 22, 1806. I thank you, my good Sir, cordially, for your letter of the 12th; which, however, I did not receive till the 20th. It is a proof of sincerity, which I value above all things; as, between those who practise it, falsehood and malice work their efforts in vain. There is an enemy somewhere endeavoring to sow discord among us. Instead of listening first, then doubting, and lastly believing anile tales handed round without an atom of evidence, if my friends wi

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LETTER XXVII.—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, March 24,1806

LETTER XXVII.—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, March 24,1806

TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS.—[Confidential.] Washington, March 24,1806. Dear Sir, A last effort at friendly settlement with Spain is proposed to be made at Paris, and under the auspices of France. For this purpose, General Armstrong and Mr. Bowdoin (both now at Paris) have been appointed joint commissioners: but such a cloud of dissatisfaction rests on General Armstrong in the minds of many persons, on account of a late occurrence stated in all the public papers, that we have in contemplation to add a

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LETTER XXVIII.—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, April 13, 1806

LETTER XXVIII.—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, April 13, 1806

TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS. Washington, April 13, 1806. The situation of your affairs certainly furnishes good cause for your not acceding to my proposition of a special mission to Europe. My only hope had been, that they could have gone on one summer without you. An unjust hostility against General Armstrong will, I am afraid, show itself whenever any treaty made by him shall be offered for ratification. I wished, therefore, to provide against this, by joining a person who would have united the conf

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LETTER XXIX.—TO MR. HARRIS, April 18, 1806

LETTER XXIX.—TO MR. HARRIS, April 18, 1806

Washington, April 18, 1806. Sir, It is now some time since I received from you, through the house of Smith and Buchanan, at Baltimore, a bust of the Emperor Alexander, for which I have to return you my thanks. These are the more cordial, because of the value the bust derives from the great estimation in which its original is held by the world, and by none more than by myself. It will constitute one of the most valued ornaments of the retreat I am preparing for myself at my native home. Accept, a

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LETTER XXX.—TO THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA

LETTER XXX.—TO THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA

TO THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. Washington, April 19, 1806. I owe an acknowledgment to your Imperial Majesty, of the great satisfaction I have received from your letter of August the 20th, 1805, and sincere expressions of the respect and veneration I entertain for your character. It will be among the latest and most soothing comforts of my life, to have seen advanced to the government of so extensive a portion of the earth, and at so early a period of his life, a sovereign, whose ruling passion is the

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LETTER XXXI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, May 4, 1806

LETTER XXXI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, May 4, 1806

Washington, May 4, 1806. Dear Sir, I wrote you on the 16th of March by a common vessel, and then expected to have had, on the rising of Congress, an opportunity of peculiar confidence to you. Mr. Beckley then supposed he should take a flying trip to London, on private business. But I believe he does not find it convenient. He could have let you into the arcana rerum , which you have interests in knowing. Mr. Pinckney’s pursuits having been confined to his peculiar line, he has only that general

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LETTER XXXII.—TO GENERAL SMITH, May 4,1806

LETTER XXXII.—TO GENERAL SMITH, May 4,1806

TO GENERAL SMITH. Washington, May 4,1806. I received your favor covering some papers from General Wilkinson. I have repented but of one appointment there, that of Lucas, whose temper I see overrules every good quality and every qualification he has. Not a single fact has appeared, which occasions me to doubt that I could have made a fitter appointment than General Wilkinson. One qualm of principle I acknowledge I do feel, I mean the union of the civil and military authority. You remember that wh

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LETTER XXXIII.—TO MR DIGGES, July 1, 1806

LETTER XXXIII.—TO MR DIGGES, July 1, 1806

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO MR DIGGES. Thomas Jefferson salutes Mr. Digges with friendship and respect, and sends him the newspapers received last night. He is sorry that only the latter part of the particular publication which Mr. Digges wished to see, is in them. He will be happy to see Mr. Digges and his friends on the fourth of July, and to join in congratulations on the return of the day which divorced us from the follies and crimes of Europe, from a dollar in the pound at least of six hundred mill

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LETTER XXXIV.—TO MR. BIDWELL, July 5, 1806

LETTER XXXIV.—TO MR. BIDWELL, July 5, 1806

TO MR. BIDWELL. Washington, July 5, 1806. Sir, Your favor of June the 21st has been duly received. We have not as yet heard from General Skinner on the subject of his office. Three persons are proposed on the most respectable recommendations, and under circumstances of such equality as renders it difficult to decide between them. But it shall be done impartially. I sincerely congratulate you on the triumph of republicanism in Massachusetts. The Hydra of Federalism has now lost all its heads but

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LETTER XXXV.—TO MR. BOWDOIN, July 10, 1806

LETTER XXXV.—TO MR. BOWDOIN, July 10, 1806

TO MR. BOWDOIN. Washington, July 10, 1806. Dear Sir, I believe that when you left America, the invention of the polygraph had not yet reached Boston. It is for copying with one pen while you write with the other, and without the least additional embarrassment or exertion to the writer. I think it the finest invention of the present age, and so much superior to the copying machine, that the latter will never be continued a day by any one who tries the polygraph. It was invented by a Mr. Hawkins o

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LETTER XXXVI.—TO W. A. BURWELL, September 17, 1806

LETTER XXXVI.—TO W. A. BURWELL, September 17, 1806

TO W. A. BURWELL. Monticello, September 17, 1806. Dear Sir, Yours of August the 7th, from Liberty, never got to my hands till the 9th instant. About the same time, I received the Enquirer in which Decius was so judiciously answered. The writer of that paper observed, that the matter of Decius consisted, first of facts; secondly, of inferences from these facts: that he was not well enough informed to affirm or deny his facts, and he therefore examines his inferences, and in a very masterly manner

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LETTER XXXVII.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, October 12, 1806

LETTER XXXVII.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, October 12, 1806

Washington, October 12, 1806. You witnessed, in the earlier part of the administration, the malignant and long continued efforts which the federalists exerted in their newspapers, to produce misunderstanding between Mr. Madison and myself. These failed completely. A like attempt was afterwards made, through other channels, to effect a similar purpose between General Dearborn and myself, but with no more success. The machinations of the last session to put you at cross questions with us all, were

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LETTER XXXVIII.—TO JOHN DICKINSON, January 13, 1807

LETTER XXXVIII.—TO JOHN DICKINSON, January 13, 1807

TO JOHN DICKINSON. Washington, January 13, 1807. My Dear and Ancient Friend, I have duly received your favor of the 1st instant, and am ever thankful for communications which may guide me in the duties which I wish to perform as well as I am able. It is but too true, that great discontents exist in the territory of Orleans. Those of the French inhabitants have for their sources, 1. the prohibition of importing slaves. This may be partly removed by Congress permitting them to receive slaves from

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LETTER XXXIX,—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, February 28,1807

LETTER XXXIX,—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, February 28,1807

TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS. Washington, February 28,1807. Dear Sir, Your letter of January the 20th was received in due time. But such has been the constant pressure of business, that it has been out of my power to answer it. Indeed, the subjects of it would be almost beyond the extent of a letter, and as I hope to see you ere long at Monticello, it can then be more effectually done verbally. Let me observe, however, generally, that it is impossible for my friends ever to render me so acceptable a fa

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LETTER XL.—TO JAMES MONROE, March 21, 1807

LETTER XL.—TO JAMES MONROE, March 21, 1807

TO JAMES MONROE. Washington, March 21, 1807. A copy of the treaty with Great Britain came to Mr. Erskine’s hands on the last day of the session of Congress, which he immediately communicated to us; and since that, Mr. Purviance has arrived with an original. On the subject of it you will receive a letter from the Secretary of State, of about this date, and one more in detail hereafter. I should not have written, but that I perceive uncommon efforts, and with uncommon wickedness, are making by the

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LETTER XLI.—M. LE COMTE DIODATI, March 29, 1807

LETTER XLI.—M. LE COMTE DIODATI, March 29, 1807

M. LE COMTE DIODATI. Washington, March 29, 1807. My Dear and Antient Friend, Your letter of August the 29th reached me the 18th of February. It enclosed a duplicate of that written from Brunswick five years before, but which I never received, or had notice of, but by this duplicate. Be assured, my friend, that I was incapable of such negligence towards you, as a failure to answer it would have implied. It would illy have accorded with those sentiments of friendship I entertained for you at Paris

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LETTER XLII.—TO MR. BOWDOIN, April 2, 1807

LETTER XLII.—TO MR. BOWDOIN, April 2, 1807

Washington, April 2, 1807. Dear Sir, I wrote you on the 10th of July last; but neither your letter of October the 20th nor that of November the 15th mentioning the receipt of it, I fear it has miscarried. I therefore now enclose a duplicate. As that was to go under cover of the Secretary of State’s despatches by any vessel going from our distant ports, I retained the polygraph therein mentioned for a safer conveyance. None such has occurred till now, that the United States’ armed brig the Wasp,

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LETTER XLIII.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, April 20, 1807

LETTER XLIII.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, April 20, 1807

TO WILLIAM B. GILES. Monticello, April 20, 1807. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 6th instant, on the subject of Burr’s offences, was received only four days ago. That there should be anxiety and doubt in the public mind, in the present defective state of the proof, is not wonderful; and this has been sedulously encouraged by the tricks of the judges to force trials before it is possible to collect the evidence, dispersed through a line of two thousand miles from Maine to Orleans. The federalists, to

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LETTER XLIV.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 2, 1807

LETTER XLIV.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 2, 1807

TO GEORGE HAY. Washington, June 2, 1807. Dear Sir, While Burr’s case is depending before the court, I will trouble you from time to time with what occurs to me. I observe that the case of Marbury v. Madison has been cited, and I think it material to stop at the threshold the citing that case as authority, and to have it denied to be law. 1. Because the judges, in the outset, disclaimed all cognizance of the case; although they then went on to say what would have been their opinion, had they had

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LETTER XLV.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, June 3, 1807

LETTER XLV.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, June 3, 1807

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO ALBERT GALLATIN. I gave you, some time ago, a project of a more equal tariff on wines, than that which now exists. But in that I yielded considerably to the faulty classification of them in our law. I have now formed one with attention, and according to the best information I possess, classing them more rigorously. I am persuaded, that were the duty on cheap wines put on the same ratio with the dear, it would wonderfully enlarge the field of those who use wine, to the expulsi

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LETTER XLVI.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 5, 1807

LETTER XLVI.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 5, 1807

TO GEORGE HAY. Washington, June 5, 1807. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 31st instant has been received, and I think it will be fortunate if any circumstance should produce a discharge of the present scanty grand jury, and a future summons of a fuller: though the same views of protecting the offender may again reduce the number to sixteen, in order to lessen the chance of getting twelve to concur. It is understood, that wherever Burr met with subjects who did not choose to embark in his projects, un

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LETTER XLVII.—TO DOCTOR HORATIO TURPIN, June 10, 1807

LETTER XLVII.—TO DOCTOR HORATIO TURPIN, June 10, 1807

TO DOCTOR HORATIO TURPIN. Washington, June 10, 1807. Your favor of June the 1st has been duly received. To a mind like yours, capable in any question of abstracting it from its relation to yourself, I may safely hazard explanations, which I have generally avoided to others, on questions of appointment. Bringing into office no desires of making it subservient to the advancement of my own private interests, it has been no sacrifice, by postponing them, to strengthen the confidence of my fellow-cit

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LETTER XLVIII.—TO JOHN NORVELL, June 11, 1807

LETTER XLVIII.—TO JOHN NORVELL, June 11, 1807

Washington, June 11, 1807. Sir, Your letter of May the 9th has been duly received. The subjects it proposes would require time and space for even moderate developement. My occupations limit me to a very short notice of them. I think there does not exist a good elementary work on the organization of society into civil government: I mean a work which presents in one full and comprehensive view the system of principles on which such an organization should be founded, according to the rights of natu

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LETTER XLIX.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, June 12, 1807

LETTER XLIX.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, June 12, 1807

Washington, June 12, 1807. Dear Sir, ****** The proposition in your letter of May the 16th, of adding an umpire to our discordant negotiators at Paris, struck me favorably on reading it, and reflection afterwards strengthened my first impressions. I made it therefore a subject of consultation with my coadjutors, as is our usage. For our government, although in theory subject to be directed by the unadvised will of the President, is, and from its origin has been, a very different thing in practic

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LETTER L.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 12, 1807

LETTER L.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 12, 1807

TO GEORGE HAY. Your letter of the 9th is this moment received. Reserving the necessary right of the President of the United States to decide, independently of all other authority, what papers, coming to him as President, the public interests permit to be communicated, and to whom, I assure you of my readiness, under that restriction, voluntarily to furnish, on all occasions, whatever the purposes of justice may require. But the letter of General Wilkinson, of October the 21st, requested for the

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LETTER LI.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 17, 1807

LETTER LI.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 17, 1807

Washington, June 17, 1807. Sir, In answering your letter of the 9th, which desired a communication of one to me from General Wilkinson, specified by its date, I informed you in mine of the 12th that I had delivered it, with all other papers respecting the charges against Aaron Burr, to the Attorney General, when he went to Richmond; that I had supposed he had left them in your possession, but would immediately write to him, if he had not, to forward that particular letter without delay. I wrote

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LETTER LII.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 19,1807

LETTER LII.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 19,1807

Washington, June 19,1807. Dear Sir, Yours of the 17th was received last night. Three blank pardons had been (as I expect) made up and forwarded by the mail of yesterday, and I have desired three others to go by that of this evening. You ask what is to be done if Bollman finally rejects his pardon, and the Judge decides it to have no effect? Move to commit him immediately for treason or misdemeanor, as you think the evidence will support; let the court decide where he shall be sent for trial; and

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LETTER LIII.—TO GOVERNOR SULLIVAN, June 19, 1807

LETTER LIII.—TO GOVERNOR SULLIVAN, June 19, 1807

Washington, June 19, 1807. Dear Sir, In acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 3rd instant, I avail myself of the occasion it offers of tendering to yourself, to Mr. Lincoln, and to your State, my sincere congratulations on the late happy event of the election of a republican executive to preside over its councils. The harmony it has introduced between the legislative and executive branches, between the people and both of them, and between all and the General Government, are so many step

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LETTER LIV.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 20, 1807

LETTER LIV.—TO GEORGE HAY, June 20, 1807

TO GEORGE HAY. Washington, June 20, 1807. Dear Sir, Mr. Latrobe now comes on as a witness against Burr. His presence here is with great inconvenience dispensed with, as one hundred and fifty workmen require his constant directions on various public works of pressing importance. I hope you will permit him to come away as soon as possible. How far his testimony will be important as to the prisoner, I know not; but I am desirous that those meetings of Yrujo with Burr and his principal accomplices s

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LETTER LV.—TO DOCTOR WISTAR, June 21, 1807

LETTER LV.—TO DOCTOR WISTAR, June 21, 1807

TO DOCTOR WISTAR. Washington, June 21, 1807. I have a grandson, the son of Mr. Randolph, now about fifteen years of age, in whose education I take a lively interest. I am not a friend to placing young men in populous cities, because they acquire there habits and partialities which do not contribute to the happiness of their after life. But there are particular branches of science, which are not so advantageously taught any where else in the United States as in Philadelphia. The garden at the Woo

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LETTER LVI.—TO MR. BOWDOIN, July 10, 1807

LETTER LVI.—TO MR. BOWDOIN, July 10, 1807

TO MR. BOWDOIN. Washington, July 10, 1807. Dear Sir, I wrote you on the 10th of July, 1806; but supposing, from your not acknowledging the receipt of the letter, that it had miscarried, I sent a duplicate with my subsequent one of April the 2nd. These having gone by the Wasp, you will doubtless have received them. Since that, yours of May the 1st has come to hand. You will see by the despatches from the department of State, carried by the armed vessel the Revenge, into what a critical state our

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LETTER LVII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 14, 1807

LETTER LVII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, July 14, 1807

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Washington, July 14, 1807. My Dear Friend, I received last night your letters of February the 20th and April the 29th, and a vessel just sailing from Baltimore enables me hastily to acknowledge them; to assure you of the welcome with which I receive whatever comes from you, and the continuance of my affectionate esteem for yourself and family. I learn with much concern, indeed, the state of Madame de la Fayette’s health. I hope I have the pleasure yet to come of lea

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LETTER LVIII.—TO JOHN PAGE, July 17, 1807

LETTER LVIII.—TO JOHN PAGE, July 17, 1807

TO JOHN PAGE. Washington, July 17, 1807. My Dear Friend, Yours of the 11th is received. In appointments to public offices of mere profit, I have ever considered faithful service in either our first or second revolution as giving preference of claim, and that appointments on that principle would gratify the public, and strengthen that confidence so necessary to enable the executive to direct the whole public force to the best, advantage of the nation. Of Mr. Boiling Robertson’s talents and integr

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LETTER LIX.—TO WILLIAM DUANE, July 20, 1807

LETTER LIX.—TO WILLIAM DUANE, July 20, 1807

TO WILLIAM DUANE. Washington, July 20, 1807. Sir, Although I cannot always acknowledge the receipt of communications, yet I merit their continuance by making all the use of them of which they are susceptible. Some of your suggestions had occurred, and others will be considered. The time is coming when our friends must enable us to hear every thing, and expect us to say nothing; when we shall need all their confidence that every thing is doing which can be done, and when our greatest praise shall

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LETTER LX.—TO GEORGE HAY, August 20, 1807

LETTER LX.—TO GEORGE HAY, August 20, 1807

TO GEORGE HAY. Monticello, August 20, 1807. Dear Sir, I received yesterday your favor of the 11th. An error of the post-office had occasioned the delay. Before an impartial jury Burr’s conduct would convict himself, were not one word of testimony to be offered against him. But to what a state will our law be reduced by party feelings in those who administer it? Why do not Blannerhasset, Dayton, &amp;c. demand private and comfortable lodgings? In a country where an equal application of law to

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LETTER LXI.—TO GEORGE HAY, September 4, 1807

LETTER LXI.—TO GEORGE HAY, September 4, 1807

Monticello, September 4, 1807. Yours of the 1st came to hand yesterday. The event has been ——— that is to say, not only to clear Burr, but to prevent the evidence from ever going before the world. But this latter case must not take place. It is now, therefore, more than ever indispensable, that not a single witness be paid or permitted to depart, until his testimony has been committed to writing, either as delivered in court, or as taken by yourself in the presence of any of Burr’s counsel, who

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LETTER LXII.—TO GEORGE HAY, September 7, 1807

LETTER LXII.—TO GEORGE HAY, September 7, 1807

Monticello, September 7, 1807. I received, late last night, your favor of the day before, and now re-enclose you the subpoena. As I do not believe that the district courts have a power of commanding the executive government to abandon superior duties and attend on them, at whatever distance, I am unwilling, by any notice of the subpoena, to set a precedent which might sanction a proceeding so preposterous. I enclose you, therefore, a letter, public and for the court, covering substantially all t

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LETTER LXIII.—TO THE REV. MR. MILLAR, January 23, 1808

LETTER LXIII.—TO THE REV. MR. MILLAR, January 23, 1808

TO THE REV. MR. MILLAR, Washington, January 23, 1808. Sir, I have duly received your favor of the 18th, and am thankful to you for having written it, because it is more agreeable to prevent than to refuse what I do not think myself authorized to comply with. I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made r

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LETTER LXIV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, February 18, 1808

LETTER LXIV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, February 18, 1808

TO COLONEL MONROE. Washington, February 18, 1808. My Dear Sir, You informed me that the instruments you had been so kind as to bring for me from England, would arrive at Richmond with your baggage, and you wished to know what was to be done with them there. I will ask the favor of you to deliver them to Mr. Jefferson, who will forward them to Monticello in the way I shall advise him. And I must intreat you to send me either a note of their amount, or the bills, that I may be enabled to reimburse

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LETTER LXV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, March 10, 1808

LETTER LXV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, March 10, 1808

Washington, March 10, 1808. Dear Sir, From your letter of the 27th ultimo, I perceive that painful impressions have been made on your mind during your late mission, of which I had never entertained a suspicion. I must, therefore, examine the grounds, because explanations between reasonable men can never but do good. 1. You consider the mission of Mr. Pinckney as an associate, to have been in some way injurious to you. Were I to take that measure on myself, I might say in its justification, that

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LETTER LXVI.—TO RICHARD M. JOHNSON, March 10, 1808

LETTER LXVI.—TO RICHARD M. JOHNSON, March 10, 1808

TO RICHARD M. JOHNSON. Sir, I am sure you can too justly estimate my occupations, to need an apology for this tardy acknowledgment of your favor of February the 27th. I cannot but be deeply sensible of the good opinion you are pleased to express of my conduct in the administration of our government. This approbation of my fellow-citizens is the richest reward I can receive. I am conscious of having always intended to do what was best for them: and never, for a single moment, to have listened to

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LETTER LXVII.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, March 23, 1808

LETTER LXVII.—TO LEVI LINCOLN, March 23, 1808

TO LEVI LINCOLN. Washington, March 23, 1808. Dear Sir, Your letter on the subject of Mr. Lee came safely to hand. You know our principles render federalists in office safe, if they do not employ their influence in opposing the government, but only give their own vote according to their conscience. And this principle we act on as well with those put in office by others, as by ourselves. We have received from your presses a very malevolent and incendiary denunciation of the administration, bottome

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LETTER LXVIII.—TO CHARLES PINCKNEY, March 30, 1808

LETTER LXVIII.—TO CHARLES PINCKNEY, March 30, 1808

Washington, March 30, 1808. Your letter of the 8th was received on the 25th, and I proceed to state to you my views of the present state and prospect of foreign affairs, under the confidence that you will use them for your own government and opinions only, and by no means let them get out as from me. With France we are in no immediate danger of war. Her future views it is impossible to estimate. The immediate danger we are in of a rupture with England, is postponed for this year. This is effecte

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LETTER LXIX.—TO DOCTOR LEIB, June 23, 1808

LETTER LXIX.—TO DOCTOR LEIB, June 23, 1808

TO DOCTOR LEIB. Washington, June 23, 1808. Sir, I have duly received your favor covering a copy of the talk to the Tammany society, for which I thank you, and particularly for the favorable sentiments expressed towards myself. Certainly, nothing will so much sweeten the tranquillity and comfort of retirement, as the knowledge that I carry with me the good will and approbation of my republican fellow-citizens, and especially of the individuals in unison with whom I have so long acted. With respec

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LETTER LXX.—TO ROBERT L. LIVINGSTON, October 15, 1808

LETTER LXX.—TO ROBERT L. LIVINGSTON, October 15, 1808

TO ROBERT L. LIVINGSTON. Washington, October 15, 1808. Your letter of September the 22nd waited here for my return, and it is not till now that I have been able to acknowledge it. The explanation of his principles, given you by the French Emperor, in conversation, is correct as far as it goes. He does not wish us to go to war with England, knowing we have no ships to carry on that war. To submit to pay to England the tribute on our commerce which she demands by her orders of council, would be to

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LETTER LXXI.—TO DOCTOR JAMES BROWN, October 27, 1808

LETTER LXXI.—TO DOCTOR JAMES BROWN, October 27, 1808

TO DOCTOR JAMES BROWN. Washington, October 27, 1808. Dear Sir, You will wonder that your letter of June the 3rd should not be acknowledged till this date. I never received it till September the 12th, and coming soon after to this place, the accumulation of business I found here has prevented my taking it up till now. That you ever participated in any plan for a division of the Union, I never for one moment believed. I knew your Americanism too well. But as the enterprise against Mexico was of a

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LETTER LXXII.—TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LINCOLN, November 13, 1808

LETTER LXXII.—TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LINCOLN, November 13, 1808

TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LINCOLN. Washington, November 13, 1808. I enclose you a petition from Nantucket, and refer it for your decision. Our opinion here is, that that place has been so deeply concerned in smuggling, that if it wants, it is because it has illegally sent away what it ought to have retained for its own consumption. Be so good as to bear in mind that I have asked the favor of you to see that your State encounters no real want, while, at the same time, where applications are made mer

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LETTER LXXIII.—TO THOMAS JEFFERSON RANDOLPH, November 24, 1808

LETTER LXXIII.—TO THOMAS JEFFERSON RANDOLPH, November 24, 1808

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON RANDOLPH. Washington, November 24, 1808. My Dear Jefferson, Your situation, thrown at such a distance from us and alone, cannot but give us all great anxieties for you. As much has been secured for you, by your particular position and the acquaintance to which you have been recommended, as could be done towards shielding you from the dangers which surround you. But thrown on a wide world, among entire strangers, without a friend or guardian to advise, so young, too, and with

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LETTER LXXIV.—TO DOCTOR EUSTIS, January 14, 1809

LETTER LXXIV.—TO DOCTOR EUSTIS, January 14, 1809

TO DOCTOR EUSTIS. Washington, January 14, 1809. Sir, I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of December the 24th, and of the resolutions of the republican citizens of Boston, of the 19th of that month. These are worthy of the ancient character of the sons of Massachusetts, and of the spirit of concord with her sister States, which, and which alone, carried us successfully through the revolutionary war, and finally placed us under that national government, which constitutes

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LETTER LXXV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, January 28, 1809

LETTER LXXV.—TO COLONEL MONROE, January 28, 1809

TO COLONEL MONROE. Washington, January 28, 1809. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 18th was received in due time, and the answer has been delayed as well by a pressure of business, as by the expectation of your absence from Richmond. The idea of sending a special mission to France or England is not entertained at all here. After so little attention to us from the former, and so insulting an answer from Canning, such a mark of respect as an extraordinary mission, would be a degradation against which al

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LETTER LXXVI.—TO THOMAS MANN RANDOLPH, February 7, 1809

LETTER LXXVI.—TO THOMAS MANN RANDOLPH, February 7, 1809

TO THOMAS MANN RANDOLPH. Washington, February 7, 1809. I thought Congress had taken their ground firmly for continuing their embargo till June, and then war. But a sudden and unaccountable revolution of opinion took place the last week, chiefly among the New England and New York members, and in a kind of panic, they voted the 4th of March for removing the embargo, and by such a majority as gave all reason to believe, they would not agree either to war or non-intercourse. This, too, was after we

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LETTER LXXVII.—TO JOHN HOLLINS, February 19, 1809

LETTER LXXVII.—TO JOHN HOLLINS, February 19, 1809

TO JOHN HOLLINS. Washington, February 19, 1809. A little transaction of mine, as innocent an one as I ever entered into, and where an improper construction was never less expected, is making some noise, I observe, in your city. I beg leave to explain it to you, because I mean to ask your agency in it. The last year, the Agricultural Society of Paris, of which I am a member, having had a plough presented to them, which, on trial with a graduated instrument, did equal work with half the force of t

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LETTER LXXVIII.—TO M. DUPONT DE NEMOURS, March 2, 1809

LETTER LXXVIII.—TO M. DUPONT DE NEMOURS, March 2, 1809

TO M. DUPONT DE NEMOURS. Washington, March 2, 1809. My last to you was of May the 2nd; since which I have received yours of May the 25th, June the 1st, July the 23rd, 24th, and September the 5th, and distributed the two pamphlets according to your desire. They are read with the delight which every thing from your pen gives. After using every effort which could prevent or delay our being entangled in the war of Europe, that seems now our only resource. The edicts of the two belligerents, forbiddi

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LETTER LXXIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT, March 17, 1809

LETTER LXXIX.—TO THE PRESIDENT, March 17, 1809

TO THE PRESIDENT. Monticello, March 17, 1809. On opening my letters from France, in the moment of my departure from Washington, I found from their signatures that they were from literary characters, except one from Mr. Short, which mentioned in the outset that it was private, and that his public communications were in the letter to the Secretary of State, which I sent you. I find, however, on reading his letter to me (which I did not do till I got home) a passage of some length, proper to be com

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LETTER LXXX.—TO THE INHABITANTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, April 3, 1809

LETTER LXXX.—TO THE INHABITANTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, April 3, 1809

TO THE INHABITANTS OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY, IN VIRGINIA, Returning to the scenes of my birth and early life, to the society of those with whom I was raised, and who have been ever dear to me, I receive, fellow-citizens and neighbors, with inexpressible pleasure, the cordial welcome you are so good as to give me. Long absent on duties which the history of a wonderful era made incumbent on those called to them, the pomp, the turmoil, the bustle, and splendor of office, have drawn but deeper sighs for

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LETTER LXXXI.—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, June 13, 1809

LETTER LXXXI.—TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, June 13, 1809

TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS. Monticello, June 13, 1809. Dear Sir, I did not know till Mr. Patterson called on us, a few days ago, that you had passed on to Washington. I had recently observed in the debates of Congress, a matter introduced, on which I wished to give explanations more fully in conversation, which I will now do by abridgment in writing. Mr. Randolph has proposed an inquiry into certain prosecutions at common law in Connecticut, for libels on the government, and not only himself, but oth

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LETTER LXXXII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, August 17, 1809

LETTER LXXXII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, August 17, 1809

TO THE PRESIDENT. Monticello, August 17, 1809. I never doubted the chicanery of the Anglomen, on whatsoever measures you should take in consequence of the disavowal of Erskine; yet I am satisfied that both the proclamations have been sound. The first has been sanctioned by universal approbation; and although it was not literally the case foreseen by the legislature, yet it was a proper extension of their provision to a case similar, though not the same. It proved to the whole world our desire of

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LETTER LXXXIII.—TO DOCTOR BARTON, September 21, 1809

LETTER LXXXIII.—TO DOCTOR BARTON, September 21, 1809

TO DOCTOR BARTON. Monticello, September 21, 1809. I received last night your favor of the 14th, and would with all possible pleasure have communicated to you any part or the whole of the Indian vocabularies which I had collected, but an irreparable misfortune has deprived me of them. I have now been thirty years availing myself of every possible opportunity of procuring Indian vocabularies to the same set of words: my opportunities were probably better than will ever occur again to any person ha

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LETTER LXXXIV.—TO DON VALENTINE DE FORONDA, October 4, 1809

LETTER LXXXIV.—TO DON VALENTINE DE FORONDA, October 4, 1809

TO DON VALENTINE DE FORONDA. Monticello, October 4, 1809. Dear Sir, Your favor of August the 26th came to hand in the succeeding month, and have now to thank you for the pamphlet it contained. I have read it with pleasure, and find the constitution proposed would probably be as free as is consistent with hereditary institutions. It has one feature which I like much; that which provides that when the three co-ordinate branches differ in their construction of the constitution, the opinion of two b

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LETTER LXXXV.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, October 11, 1809

LETTER LXXXV.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, October 11, 1809

TO ALBERT GALLATIN. Monticello, October 11, 1809. I do not know whether the request of Monsieur Moussier, explained in the enclosed letter, is grantable or not. But my partialities in favor of whatever may promote either the useful or liberal arts, induce me to place it under your consideration, to do in it whatever is right, neither more nor less. I would then ask you to favor me with three lines, in such form as I may forward him by way of answer. I have reflected much and painfully on the cha

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LETTER LXXXVI.—TO CÆSAR A. RODNEY, February 10, 1810

LETTER LXXXVI.—TO CÆSAR A. RODNEY, February 10, 1810

TO CÆSAR A. RODNEY. Monticello, February 10, 1810. My Dear Sir, I have to thank you for your favor of the 31st ultimo, which is just now received. It has been peculiarly unfortunate for us, personally, that the portion in the history of mankind, at which we were called to take a share in the direction of their affairs, was such an one as history has never before presented. At any other period, the even-handed justice we have observed towards all nations, the efforts we have made to merit their e

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LETTER LXXXVII.*—TO SAMUEL KERCHEVAL, February 19,1810

LETTER LXXXVII.*—TO SAMUEL KERCHEVAL, February 19,1810

Monticello, February 19,1810. Sir, Yours of the 7th instant has been duly received, with the pamphlet enclosed, for which I return you my thanks. Nothing can be more exactly and seriously true than what is there stated; that but a short time elapsed after the death of the great reformer of the Jewish religion, before his principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, and aggrandizing their oppressors in Church

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LETTER LXXXVIII.—TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, February 26, 1810

LETTER LXXXVIII.—TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, February 26, 1810

TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO. Monticello, February 26, 1810. My Dear General and Friend, I have rarely written to you; never but by safe conveyances; and avoiding every thing political, lest coming from one in the station I then held, it might be imputed injuriously to our country, or perhaps even excite jealousy of you. Hence my letters were necessarily dry. Retired now from public concerns, totally unconnected with them, and avoiding all curiosity about what is done or intended, what I say is from mys

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LETTER LXXXIX.—TO DOCTOR JONES, March 5, 1810

LETTER LXXXIX.—TO DOCTOR JONES, March 5, 1810

TO DOCTOR JONES. Monticello, March 5, 1810. Dear Sir, I received duly your favor of the 19th ultimo, and I salute you with all antient and recent recollections of friendship. I have learned, with real sorrow, that circumstances have risen among our executive counsellors, which have rendered foes those who once were friends. To themselves it will be a source of infinite pain and vexation, and therefore chiefly I lament it, for I have a sincere esteem for both parties. To the President it will be

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LETTER XC.—TO GOVERNOR LANGDON, March 5, 1810

LETTER XC.—TO GOVERNOR LANGDON, March 5, 1810

Your letter, my dear friend, of the 18th ultimo, comes like the refreshing dews of the evening on a thirsty soil. It recalls antient as well as recent recollections, very dear to my heart. For five and thirty years we have walked together through a land of tribulations. Yet these have passed away, and so I trust will those of the present day. The toryism with which we struggled in ‘77, differed but in name from the federalism of ‘99, with which we struggled also; and the Anglicism, of 1808, agai

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LETTER XCI.—TO GENERAL DEARBORN, July 16,1810

LETTER XCI.—TO GENERAL DEARBORN, July 16,1810

Monticello, July 16,1810. Dear General and Friend, Your favor of May the 31st was duly received, and I join in congratulations with you on the resurrection of republican principles in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and the hope that the professors of these principles will not again easily be driven off their ground. The federalists, during their short-lived ascendancy, have, nevertheless, by forcing us from the embargo, inflicted a wound on our interests which can never be cured, and on our af

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LETTER XCII.—TO J. B. COLVIN, September 20, 1810

LETTER XCII.—TO J. B. COLVIN, September 20, 1810

Monticello, September 20, 1810. Sir, Your favor of the 14th has been duly received, and I have to thank you for the many obliging things respecting myself which are said in it. If I have left in the breasts of my fellow-citizens a sentiment of satisfaction with my conduct in the transaction of their business, it will soften the pillow of my repose through the residue of life. The question you propose, whether circumstances do not sometimes occur, which make it a duty in officers of high trust, t

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LETTER XCIII.—TO MR. LAW, January 15, 1811

LETTER XCIII.—TO MR. LAW, January 15, 1811

Monticello, January 15, 1811. Dear Sir, An absence from home of some length has prevented my sooner acknowledging the receipt of your letter, covering the printed pamphlet, which the same absence has as yet prevented me from taking up, but which I know I shall read with great pleasure. Your favor of December the 22nd is also received. Mr. Wagner’s malignity, like that of the rest of his tribe of brother printers, who deal out calumnies for federal readers, gives me no pain. When a printer cooks

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LETTER XCIV.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH, January 16, 1811

LETTER XCIV.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH, January 16, 1811

TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH. Monticello, January 16, 1811. I had been considering for some days, whether it was not time by a letter, to bring myself to your recollection, when I received your welcome favor of the 2nd instant. I had before heard of the heart-rending calamity you mention, and had sincerely sympathized with your afflictions. But I had not made it the subject of a letter, because I knew that condolences were but renewals of grief. Yet I thought, and still think, this is one of the case

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LETTER XCV.—TO M. DESTUTT TRACY, January 26, 1811

LETTER XCV.—TO M. DESTUTT TRACY, January 26, 1811

Monticello, January 26, 1811. Sir, The length of time your favor of June the 12th, 1809, was on its way to me, and my absence from home the greater part of the autumn, delayed very much the pleasure which awaited me of reading the packet which accompanied it. I cannot express to you the satisfaction which I received from its perusal. I had, with the world, deemed Montesquieu’s a work of much merit; but saw in it, with every thinking man, so much of paradox, of false principle, and misapplied fac

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LETTER XCVI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, May 5, 1811

LETTER XCVI.—TO COLONEL MONROE, May 5, 1811

Monticello, May 5, 1811. Dear Sir, Your favor on your departure from Richmond came to hand in due time. Although I may not have been among the first, I am certainly with the sincerest, who congratulate you on your re-entrance into the national councils. Your value there has never been unduly estimated by those whom personal feelings did not misguide. The late misunderstandings at Washington have been a subject of real concern to me. I know that the dissolutions of personal friendships are among

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LETTER XCVII.—TO GENERAL DEARBORN, August 14, 1811

LETTER XCVII.—TO GENERAL DEARBORN, August 14, 1811

TO GENERAL DEARBORN. Poplar Forest, August 14, 1811. Dear General and Friend, I am happy to learn that your own health is good, and I hope it will long continue so. The friends we left behind us have fallen out by the way. I sincerely lament it, because I sincerely esteem them all, and because it multiplies schisms where harmony is safety. As far as I have been able to judge, however, it has made no sensible impression against the government. Those who were murmuring before are a little louder n

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LETTER XCVIII.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH

LETTER XCVIII.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH

Poplar Forest, December 5, 1811. Dear Sir, While at Monticello I am so much engrossed by business or society, that I can only write on matters of strong urgency. Here I have leisure, as I have every where the disposition, to think of my friends. I recur, therefore, to the subject of your kind letters relating to Mr. Adams and myself, which a late occurrence has again presented to me. I communicated to you the correspondence which had parted Mrs. Adams and myself, in proof that I could not give f

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LETTER XCIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, January 21, 1812

LETTER XCIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, January 21, 1812

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, January 21, 1812. I thank you beforehand (for they are not yet arrived) for the specimens of homespun you have been so kind as to forward me by post. I doubt not their excellence, knowing how far you are advanced in these things in your quarter. Here we do little in the fine way, but in coarse and middling goods a great deal. Every family in the country is a manufactory within itself, and is very generally able to make within itself all the stouter and middling stuffs

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LETTER C.—TO JOHN ADAMS, April 20, 1812

LETTER C.—TO JOHN ADAMS, April 20, 1812

Monticello, April 20, 1812. I have it now in my power to send you a piece of homespun in return for that I received from you. Not of the fine texture, or delicate character of yours, or, to drop our metaphor, not filled as that was with that display of imagination which constitutes excellence in Belles Lettres, but a mere sober, dry, and formal piece of logic. Ornari res ipsa negat . Yet you may have enough left of your old taste for law reading, to cast an eye over some of the questions it disc

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LETTER CI.—TO JAMES MAURY, April 25, 1812

LETTER CI.—TO JAMES MAURY, April 25, 1812

TO JAMES MAURY. Monticello, April 25, 1812. My Dear and Ancient Friend and Classmate, Often has my heart smote me for delaying acknowledgments to you, receiving, as I do, such frequent proofs of your kind recollection in the transmission of papers to me. But instead of acting on the good old maxim of not putting off to to-morrow what we can do to-day, we are too apt to reverse it, and not to do today what we can put off to to-morrow. But this duty can be no longer put off. To-day we are at peace

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LETTER CII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, May 30, 1812

LETTER CII.—TO THE PRESIDENT, May 30, 1812

TO THE PRESIDENT. Monticello, May 30, 1812. Dear Sir, Another communication is enclosed, and the letter of the applicant is the only information I have of his qualifications. I barely remember such a person as the secretary of Mr. Adams, and messenger to the Senate while I was of that body. It enlarges the sphere of choice by adding to it a strong federalist. The triangular war must be the idea of the Anglomen and malcontents; in other words, the federalists and quids. Yet it would reconcile nei

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LETTER CIII.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, June 11, 1812

LETTER CIII.—TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, June 11, 1812

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY. Monticello, June 11, 1812. It has given me great pleasure to receive a letter from you. It seems as if, our ancient friends dying off, the whole mass of the affections of the heart survives undiminished to the few who remain. I think our acquaintance commenced in 1764, both then just of age. We happened to take lodgings in the same house in New York. Our next meeting was in the Congress of 1775, and at various times afterwards in the exercise of that and other public functions

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LETTER CIV.—TO JUDGE TYLER, June 17,1812

LETTER CIV.—TO JUDGE TYLER, June 17,1812

TO JUDGE TYLER. Monticello, June 17,1812. Dear Sir, On the other subject of your letter, the application of the common law to our present situation, I deride with you the ordinary doctrine, that we brought with us from England the common law rights. This narrow notion was a favorite in the first moment of rallying to our rights against Great Britain. But it was that of men who felt their rights before they had thought of their explanation. The truth is, that we brought with us the rights of men;

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LETTER CV.—TO COLONEL WILLIAM DUANE, October 1, 1812

LETTER CV.—TO COLONEL WILLIAM DUANE, October 1, 1812

TO COLONEL WILLIAM DUANE. Monticello, October 1, 1812. Your favor of September the 20th has been duly received, and I cannot but be gratified by the assurance it expresses, that my aid in the councils of our government would increase the public confidence in them; because it admits an inference that they have approved of the course pursued, when I heretofore bore a part in those councils. I profess, too, so much of the Roman principle, as to deem it honorable for the general of yesterday to act

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LETTER CVI.—TO MR. MELISH, January 13, 1813

LETTER CVI.—TO MR. MELISH, January 13, 1813

TO MR. MELISH. Monticello, January 13, 1813. I received duly your favor of December the 15th, and with it the copies of your map and travels, for which be pleased to accept my thanks. The book I have read with extreme satisfaction and information. As to the western States, particularly, it has greatly edified me; for of the actual condition of that interesting portion of our country, I had not an adequate idea. I feel myself now as familiar with it as with the condition of the maritime States. I

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LETTER CVII.—TO MADAME LA BARONNE DE STAEL-HOLSTEIN, May 24, 1818

LETTER CVII.—TO MADAME LA BARONNE DE STAEL-HOLSTEIN, May 24, 1818

TO MADAME LA BARONNE DE STAEL-HOLSTEIN. United States of America, May 24, 1818. I received with great pleasure, my dear Madam and friend, your letter of November the 10th, from Stockholm, and am sincerely gratified by the occasion it gives me of expressing to you the sentiments of high respect and esteem which I entertain for you. It recalls to my remembrance a happy portion of my life, passed in your native city; then the seat of the most amiable and polished society of the world, and of which

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LETTER CVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, May 27, 1813

LETTER CVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, May 27, 1813

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, May 27, 1813. Another of our friends of seventy-six is gone, my Dear Sir, another of the co-signers of the Independence of our country. And a better man than Rush could not have left us, more benevolent, more learned, of finer genius, or more honest. We too must go; and that ere long. I believe we are under half a dozen at present; I mean the signers of the Declaration. Yourself, Gerry, Carroll, and myself, are all I know to be living. I am the only one south of the Po

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LETTER CIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 15, 1813

LETTER CIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 15, 1813

Monticello, June 15, 1813. Dear Sir, I wrote you a letter on the 27th of May, which probably would reach you about the 3rd instant, and on the 9th I received yours of the 29th of May. Of Lindsay’s Memoirs I had never before heard, and scarcely indeed of himself. It could not, therefore, but be unexpected, that two letters of mine should have any thing to do with his life. The name of his editor was new to me, and certainly presents itself for the first time under unfavorable circumstances. Relig

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LETTER CX.—TO JOHN W. EPPES, June 24, 1813

LETTER CX.—TO JOHN W. EPPES, June 24, 1813

TO JOHN W. EPPES. Monticello, June 24, 1813. This letter will be on politics only. For although I do not often permit myself to think on that subject, it sometimes obtrudes itself, and suggests ideas which I am tempted to pursue. Some of these, relating to the business of finance, I will hazard to you, as being at the head of that committee, but intended for yourself individually, or such as you trust, but certainly not for a mixed committee. It is a wise rule, and should be fundamental in a gov

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LETTER CXI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 21, 1813

LETTER CXI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 21, 1813

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, June 21, 1813. And I too, my dear Sir, like the wood-cutter of Ida, should doubt where to begin, were I to enter the forest of opinions, discussions, and contentions which have occurred in our day. I should say with Theocritus, But I shall not do it. The summum bonum with me is now truly epicurean, ease of body and tranquillity of mind; and to these I wish to consign my remaining days. Men have differed in opinion, and been divided into parties by these opinions, from

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LETTER CXII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 22, 1813

LETTER CXII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 22, 1813

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, August 22, 1813. Dear Sir, Since my letter of June the 27th, I am in your debt for many; all of which I have read with infinite delight. They open a wide field for reflection, and offer subjects enough to occupy the mind and the pen indefinitely. I must follow the good example you have set; and when I have not time to take up every subject, take up a single one. Your approbation of my outline to Dr. Priestley is a great gratification to me; and I very much suspect that

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LETTER CXIII.—TO JOHN W. EPPES, November 6, 1813

LETTER CXIII.—TO JOHN W. EPPES, November 6, 1813

Monticello, November 6, 1813. Dear Sir, I had not expected to have troubled you again on the subject of finance; but since the date of my last, I have received from Mr. Law a letter covering a memorial on that subject, which, from its tenor, I conjecture must have been before Congress at their two last sessions. This paper contains two propositions; the one for issuing treasury notes, bearing interest, and to be circulated as money; the other for the establishment of a national bank. The first w

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LETTER CXIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, October 13, 1813

LETTER CXIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, October 13, 1813

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, October 13, 1813. Dear Sir, Since mine of August the 22nd, I have received your favors of August the 16th, September the 2nd, 14th, 15th, and, and Mrs. Adams’s, of September the 20th. I now send you, according to your request, a copy of the syllabus. To fill up this skeleton with arteries, with veins, with nerves, muscles, and flesh, is really beyond my time and information. Whoever could undertake it, would find great aid in Enfield’s judicious abridgment of Brucker’s

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LETTER CXV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, October 28, 1813

LETTER CXV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, October 28, 1813

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, October 28, 1813. Dear Sir, According to the reservation between us, of taking up one of the subjects of our correspondence at a time, I turn to your letters of August the 16th and September the 2nd. The passage you quote from Theognis, I think has an ethical rather than a political object. The whole piece is a moral exhortation, and this passage particularly seems to be a reproof to man, who, while with his domestic animals he is curious to improve the race, by employ

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LETTER CXVI.—TO THOMAS LIEPER, January 1, 1814

LETTER CXVI.—TO THOMAS LIEPER, January 1, 1814

TO THOMAS LIEPER. Monticello, January 1, 1814. Dear Sir, I had hoped, when I retired from the business of the world, that I should have been permitted to pass the evening of life in tranquillity, undisturbed by the peltings and passions of which the public papers are the vehicles. I see, however, that I have been dragged into the newspapers by the infidelity of one with whom I was formerly intimate, but who has abandoned the American principles out of which that intimacy grew, and become the big

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LETTER CXVII.—TO DOCTOR WALTER JONES, January 2,1814

LETTER CXVII.—TO DOCTOR WALTER JONES, January 2,1814

TO DOCTOR WALTER JONES. Monticello, January 2,1814. Dear Sir, Your favor of November the 25th reached this place December the 21st, having been near a month on the way. How this could happen I know not, as we have two mails a week both from Fredericksburg and Richmond. It found me just returned from a long journey and absence, during which so much business had accumulated, commanding the first attentions, that another week has been added to the delay. I deplore, with you, the putrid state into w

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LETTER CXVIII.—TO JOSEPH C. CABELL, January 31, 1814

LETTER CXVIII.—TO JOSEPH C. CABELL, January 31, 1814

Monticello, January 31, 1814. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 23d is received. Say had come to hand safely. But I regretted having asked the return of him; for I did not find in him one new idea on the subject I had been contemplating; nothing more than a succinct, judicious digest of the tedious pages of Smith. You ask my opinion on the question, whether the States can add any qualifications to those which the constitution has prescribed for their members of Congress? It is a question I had never b

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LETTER CXIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 5, 1814

LETTER CXIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 5, 1814

Monticello, July 5, 1814 Since mine of January the 24th, yours of March the 14th has been received. It was not acknowledged in the short one of May the 18th, by Mr. Rives, the only object of that having been to enable one of our most promising young men to have the advantage of making his bow to you. I learned with great regret the serious illness mentioned in your letter; and I hope Mr. Rives will be able to tell me you are entirely restored. But our machines have now been running seventy or ei

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LETTER CXX.—TO COLONEL MONROE, January 1, 1815

LETTER CXX.—TO COLONEL MONROE, January 1, 1815

Monticello, January 1, 1815. Dear Sir, Your letters of November the 30th and December the 21st have been received with great pleasure. A truth now and then projecting into the ocean of newspaper lies, serves like headlands to correct our course. Indeed, my scepticism as to every thing I see in a newspaper, makes me indifferent whether I ever see one. The embarrassments at Washington, in August last, I expected would be great in any state of things; but they proved greater than expected. I never

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LETTER CXXI.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, February 14, 1815

LETTER CXXI.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, February 14, 1815

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Monticello, February 14, 1815. Mr Dear Friend, Your letter of August the 14th has been received and read, again and again, with extraordinary pleasure. It is the first glimpse which has been furnished me of the interior workings of the late unexpected but fortunate revolution of your country. The newspapers told us only that the great beast was fallen; but what part in this the patriots acted, and what the egoists, whether the former slept while the latter were awak

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LETTER CXXII.*—TO MR. WENDOVER, March 13, 1815

LETTER CXXII.*—TO MR. WENDOVER, March 13, 1815

TO MR. WENDOVER. Monticello, March 13, 1815. Sir, Your favor of January the 30th was received after long delay on the road, and I have to thank you for the volume of Discourses which you have been so kind as to send me. I have gone over them with great satisfaction, and concur with the able preacher in his estimate of the character of the belligerents in our late war, and lawfulness of defensive war. I consider the war, with him, as ‘made on good advice,’ that is, for just causes, and its dispen

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LETTER CXXIII.—TO CÆSAR A. RODNEY, March 16, 1815

LETTER CXXIII.—TO CÆSAR A. RODNEY, March 16, 1815

TO CÆSAR A. RODNEY. Monticello, March 16, 1815. My Dear Friend and Ancient Colleague, Your letter of February the 19th has been received with very sincere pleasure. It recalls to memory the sociability, the friendship, and the harmony of action which united personal happiness with public duties, during the portion of our lives in which we acted together. Indeed, the affectionate harmony of our cabinet is among the sweetest of my recollections. I have just received a letter of friendship from Gen

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LETTER CXXIV.—TO GENERAL DEARBORN, March 17, 1815

LETTER CXXIV.—TO GENERAL DEARBORN, March 17, 1815

TO GENERAL DEARBORN. Monticello, March 17, 1815. My Dear General, Friend, and Ancient Colleague, I have received your favor of February the 27th, with very great pleasure, and sincerely reciprocate congratulations on the late events. Peace was indeed desirable; yet it would not have been as welcome without the successes of New Orleans. These last have established truths too important not to be valued; that the people of Louisiana are sincerely attached to the Union; that their city can be defend

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LETTER CXXV.—TO THE PRESIDENT, March 23,1815

LETTER CXXV.—TO THE PRESIDENT, March 23,1815

TO THE PRESIDENT. Monticello, March 23,1815. Deak Sir, I duly received your favor of the 12th, and with it the pamphlet on the causes and conduct of the war, which I now return. I have read it with great pleasure, but with irresistible desire that it should be published. The reasons in favor of this are strong, and those against it are so easily gotten over, that there appears to me no balance between them. 1. We need it in Europe. They have totally mistaken our character. Accustomed to rise at

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LETTER CXXVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 10,1815

LETTER CXXVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS, June 10,1815

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, June 10,1815. Dear Sir, It is long since we have exchanged a letter, and yet what volumes might have been written on the occurrences even of the last three months. In the first place, peace, God bless it! has returned, to put us all again into a course of lawful and laudable pursuits: a new trial of the Bourbons has proved to the world their incompetence to the functions of the station they have occupied: and the recall of the usurper has clothed him with the semblance

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LETTER CXXVII.—TO MR. LEIPER, June 12, 1815

LETTER CXXVII.—TO MR. LEIPER, June 12, 1815

TO MR. LEIPER. Monticello, June 12, 1815. Dear Sir, A journey soon after the receipt of your favor of April the 17th and an absence from home of some continuance, have prevented my earlier acknowledgment of it. In that came safely my letter of January the 2nd, 1814. In our principles of government we differ not at all; nor in the general object and tenor of political measures. We concur in considering the government of England as totally without morality, insolent beyond bearing, inflated with v

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LETTER CXXVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 10,1815

LETTER CXXVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 10,1815

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, August 10,1815. Dear Sir, The simultaneous movements in our correspondence have been remarkable on several occasions. It would seem as if the state of the air, or state of the times, or some other unknown cause, produced a sympathetic effect on our mutual recollections. I had sat down to answer your letters of June the 19th, 20th, and 22nds with pen, ink, and paper, before me, when I received from our mail that of July the 30th. You ask information on the subject of Ca

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LETTER CXXIX.—TO DABNEY CARR, January 19, 1816

LETTER CXXIX.—TO DABNEY CARR, January 19, 1816

TO DABNEY CARR. Monticello, January 19, 1816. Dear Sir, At the date of your letter of December the 1st, I was in Bedford, and since my return, so many letters, accumulated during my absence, having been pressing for answers, that this is the first moment I have been able to attend to the subject of yours. While Mr. Girardin was in this neighborhood writing his continuation of Burke’s History, I had suggested to him a proper notice of the establishment of the committee of correspondence here in 1

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LETTER CXXX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, April 8, 1816

LETTER CXXX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, April 8, 1816

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, April 8, 1816. I have to acknowledge your two favors of February the 16th and March the 2nd, and to join sincerely in the sentiment of Mrs. Adams, and regret that distance separates us so widely. An hour of conversation would be worth a volume of letters. But we must take things as they come. You ask, if I would agree to live my seventy or rather seventy-three years over again? To which I say, yea. I think with you that it is a good world on the whole; that it has been

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LETTER CXXXI.—TO JOHN TAYLOR, May 28,1816

LETTER CXXXI.—TO JOHN TAYLOR, May 28,1816

TO JOHN TAYLOR. Monticello, May 28,1816. Dear Sir, On my return from a long journey and considerable absence from home, I found here the copy of your ‘Enquiry into the Principles of our Government,’ which you had been so kind as to send me; and for which I pray you to accept my thanks. The difficulties of getting new works in our situation, inland and without a single bookstore, are such as had prevented my obtaining a copy before; and letters which had accumulated during my absence, and were ca

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LETTER CXXXII.—TO FRANCIS W. GILMER, June 7,1816

LETTER CXXXII.—TO FRANCIS W. GILMER, June 7,1816

TO FRANCIS W. GILMER. Monticello, June 7,1816. Dear Sir, I received a few-days ago from Mr. Dupont the enclosed manuscript, with permission to read it, and a request, when read, to forward it to you, in expectation that you would translate it. It is well worthy of publication for the instruction of our citizens, being profound, sound, and short. Our legislators are not sufficiently apprized of the rightful limits of their powers: that their true office is to declare and enforce only our natural

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LETTER CXXXIII.*—TO BENJAMIN AUSTIN, January 9, 1816

LETTER CXXXIII.*—TO BENJAMIN AUSTIN, January 9, 1816

TO BENJAMIN AUSTIN. Monticello, January 9, 1816. Dear Sir, I acknowledge with pleasure your letter of the 9th of December last. Your opinions on the events which have taken place in France, are entirely just, so far as these events are yet developed. But we have reason to suppose, that they have not reached their ultimate termination. There is still an awful void between the present, and what is to be the last chapter of that history; and I fear it is to be filled with abominations, as frightful

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LETTER CXXXIV.—TO WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD, June 20, 1816

LETTER CXXXIV.—TO WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD, June 20, 1816

TO WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD. Monticello, June 20, 1816. Dear Sir, I am about to sin against all discretion, and knowingly, by adding to the drudgery of your letter-reading, this acknowledgment of the receipt of your favor of May the 31st, with the papers it covered. I cannot, however, deny myself the gratification of expressing the satisfaction I have received, not only from the general statement of affairs at Paris, in yours of December the 12th, 1814, (as a matter of history which I had not before

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LETTER CXXXV.—TO SAMUEL KERCHIVAL, July 12, 1816

LETTER CXXXV.—TO SAMUEL KERCHIVAL, July 12, 1816

TO SAMUEL KERCHIVAL. Monticello, July 12, 1816. Sir, I duly received your favor of June the 13th, with the copy of the letters on the calling a convention, on which you are pleased to ask my opinion. I have not been in the habit of mysterious reserve on any subject, nor of buttoning up my opinions within my own doublet. On the contrary, while in public service especially, I thought the public entitled to frankness, and intimately to know whom they employed. But I am now retired: I resign myself,

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LETTER CXXXVI.—TO JOHN TAYLOR, July 21, 1816

LETTER CXXXVI.—TO JOHN TAYLOR, July 21, 1816

TO JOHN TAYLOR. Monticello, July 21, 1816. Dear Sir, Yours of the 10th is received, and I have to acknowledge a copious supply of the turnip-seed requested. Besides taking care myself, I shall endeavor again to commit it to the depository of the neighborhood, generally found to be the best precaution against losing a good thing. I will add a word on the political part of our letters. I believe we do not differ on either of the points you suppose. On education certainly not; of which the proofs a

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LETTER CXXXVII.—TO SAMUEL KERCHIVAL, September 5, 1816

LETTER CXXXVII.—TO SAMUEL KERCHIVAL, September 5, 1816

Monticello, September 5, 1816. Sir, Your letter of August the 16th is just received. That which I wrote to you under the address of H. Tompkinson, was intended for the author of the pamphlet you were so kind as to send me, and therefore, in your hands, found its true destination. But I must beseech you, Sir, not to admit a possibility of its being published. Many good people will revolt from its doctrines, and my wish is to offend nobody; to leave to those who are to live under it, the settlemen

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LETTER CXXXVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, October 14, 1816

LETTER CXXXVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, October 14, 1816

TO JOHN ADAMS, Monticello, October 14, 1816. Your letter, dear Sir, of May the 6th, had already well explained the uses of grief. That of September the 3rd, with equal truth, adduces instances of its abuse; and when we put into the same scale these abuses, with the afflictions of soul which even the uses of grief cost us, we may consider its value in the economy of the human being, as equivocal at least. Those afflictions cloud too great a portion of life, to find a counterpoise in any benefits

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LETTER CXXXIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, TO JOHN ADAMS

LETTER CXXXIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, TO JOHN ADAMS

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, January 11, 1817. Dear Sir, Forty-three volumes read in one year, and twelve of them quarto! Dear Sir, how I envy you! Half a dozen octavos in that space of time are as much as I am allowed. I can read by candlelight only, and stealing long hours from my rest: nor would that time be indulged to me, could I by that light see to write. From sunrise to one or two o’clock, and often from dinner to dark, I am drudging at the writing-table. And all this to answer letters int

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LETTER CXL.—TO JOHN ADAMS, May 5, 1817

LETTER CXL.—TO JOHN ADAMS, May 5, 1817

Monticello, May 5, 1817. Absences and avocations had prevented my acknowledging your favor of February the 2nd, when that of April the 19th arrived. I had not the pleasure of receiving the former by the hands of Mr. Lyman. His business probably carried him in another direction; for I am far inland, and distant from the great line of communication between the trading cities. Your recommendations are always welcome, for, indeed, the subjects of them always merit that welcome, and some of them in a

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LETTER CXLI.—TO MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, May 14, 1817

LETTER CXLI.—TO MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, May 14, 1817

TO MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Monticello, May 14, 1817. Although, Dear Sir, much retired from the world, and meddling little in its concerns, yet I think it almost a religious duty to salute at times my old friends, were it only to say and to know that ‘all’s well.’ Our hobby has been politics; but all here is so quiet, and with you so desperate, that little matter is furnished us for active attention. With you too, it has long been forbidden ground, and therefore imprudent for a foreign friend to t

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LETTER CXLII.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, June 16, 1817

LETTER CXLII.—TO ALBERT GALLATIN, June 16, 1817

TO ALBERT GALLATIN. Monticello, June 16, 1817. Dear Sir, The importance that the enclosed letters should safely reach their destination, impels me to avail myself of the protection of your cover. This is an inconvenience to which your situation exposes you, while it adds to the opportunities of exercising yourself in works of charity. According to the opinion I hazarded to you a little before your departure, we have had almost an entire change in the body of Congress. The unpopularity of the com

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LETTER CXLIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, May 17, 1818

LETTER CXLIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, May 17, 1818

Monticello, May 17, 1818. Dear Sir, I was so unfortunate as not to receive from Mr. Holly’s own hand your favor of January the 28th, being then at my other home. He dined only with my family, and left them with an impression which has filled me with regret that I did not partake of the pleasure his visit gave them. I am glad he is gone to Kentucky. Rational Christianity will thrive more rapidly there than here. They are freer from prejudices than we are, and bolder in grasping at truth. The time

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LETTER CXLIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, November 13, 1818

LETTER CXLIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, November 13, 1818

Monticello, November 13, 1818. The public papers, my dear friend, announce the fatal event of which your letter of October the 20th had given me ominous foreboding. Tried myself in the school of affliction, by the loss of every form of connection which can rive the human heart, I know well, and feel what you have lost, what you have suffered, are suffering, and have yet to endure. The same trials have taught me that, for ills so immeasurable, time and silence are the only medicine. I will not, t

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LETTER CXLV.—TO ROBERT WALSH, December 4, 1818

LETTER CXLV.—TO ROBERT WALSH, December 4, 1818

TO ROBERT WALSH. Monticello, December 4, 1818. Dear Sir, Yours of November the 8th has been some time received; but it is in my power to give little satisfaction as to its inquiries. Dr. Franklin had many political enemies, as every character must, which, with decision enough to have opinions, has energy and talent to give them effect on the feelings of the adversary opinion. These enmities were chiefly in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. In the former, they were merely of the proprietary party.

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LETTER CXLVI.—TO M. DE NEUVILLE, December 13, 1818

LETTER CXLVI.—TO M. DE NEUVILLE, December 13, 1818

TO M. DE NEUVILLE. Monticello, December 13, 1818. I thank your Excellency for the notice with which your letters favor me, of the liberation of France from the occupation of the allied powers. To no one, not a native, will it give more pleasure. In the desolation of Europe, to gratify the atrocious caprices of Bonaparte, France sinned much: but she has suffered more than retaliation. Once relieved from the incubus of her late oppression, she will rise like a giant from her slumbers. Her soil and

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LETTER CXLVII.—TO DOCTOR VINE UTLEY, March 21, 1819

LETTER CXLVII.—TO DOCTOR VINE UTLEY, March 21, 1819

TO DOCTOR VINE UTLEY. Monticello, March 21, 1819. Sir, Your letter of February the 18th came to hand on the 1st instant; and the request of the history of my physical habits would have puzzled me not a little, had it not been for the model with which you accompanied it, of Doctor Rush’s answer to a similar inquiry. I live so much like other people, that I might refer to ordinary life as the history of my own. Like my friend the Doctor, I have lived temperately, eating little animal food, and tha

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LETTER CXLVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 9, 1819

LETTER CXLVIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, July 9, 1819

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, July 9, 1819. Dear Sir, I am in debt to you for your letters of May the 21st, 27th, and June the 22nd. The first, delivered me by Mr. Greenwood, gave me the gratification of his acquaintance; and a gratification it always is, to be made acquainted with gentlemen of candor, worth, and information, as I found Mr. Greenwood to be. That, on the subject of Mr. Samuel Adams Wells, shall not be forgotten in time and place, when it can be used to his advantage. But what has at

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LETTER CXLIX.—TO JUDGE ROANE, September 6,1819

LETTER CXLIX.—TO JUDGE ROANE, September 6,1819

TO JUDGE ROANE. Poplar Forest, September 6,1819. Dear Sir, I had read in the Enquirer, and with great approbation, the pieces signed Hampden, and have read them again with redoubled approbation in the copies you have been so kind as to send me. I subscribe to every tittle of them. They contain the true principles of the revolution of 1800, for that was as real a revolution in the principles of our government as that of 1776 was in its form; not effected indeed by the sword, as that, but by the r

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LETTER CL.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 10, 1819

LETTER CL.—TO JOHN ADAMS, December 10, 1819

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, December 10, 1819. Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of November the 23rd. The banks, bankrupt-law, manufacturers, Spanish treaty, are nothing. These are occurrences which, like waves in a storm, will pass under the ship. But the Missouri question is a breaker on which we lose the Missouri country by revolt, and what more, God only knows. From the battle of Bunker’s Hill to the treaty of Paris, we never had so ominous a question. It even damps t

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LETTER CLI.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 13, 1820

LETTER CLI.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, April 13, 1820

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Monticello, April 13, 1820. Your favor of March the 27th is received, and, as you request, a copy of the syllabus is now enclosed. It was originally written to Dr. Rush. On his death, fearing that the inquisition of the public might get hold of it, I asked the return of it from the family, which they kindly complied with. At the request of another friend, I had given him a copy. He lent it to his friend to read, who copied it, and in a few months it appeared in the Theological

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LETTER CLII.—TO JOHN HOLMES, April 22, 1820

LETTER CLII.—TO JOHN HOLMES, April 22, 1820

TO JOHN HOLMES. Monticello, April 22, 1820. I thank you, dear Sir, for the copy you have been so kind as to send me of the letter to your constituents on the Missouri question. It is a perfect justification to them. I had for a long time ceased to read newspapers, or pay any attention to public affairs, confident they were in good hands, and content to be a passenger in our bark to the shore from which I am not distant. But this momentous question, like a fire-bell in the night, awakened and fil

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LETTER CLIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 4, 1820

LETTER CLIII.—TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 4, 1820

TO WILLIAM SHORT. Monticello, August 4, 1820. Dear Sir, I owe you a letter for your favor of June the 29th, which was received in due time; and there being no subject of the day, of particular interest, I will make this a supplement to mine of April the 13th. My aim in that was, to justify the character of Jesus against the fictions of his pseudo-followers, which have exposed him to the inference of being an impostor. For if we could believe that he really countenanced the follies, the falsehood

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LETTER CLIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 15, 1820

LETTER CLIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, August 15, 1820

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, August 15, 1820. I am a great defaulter, my Dear Sir, in our correspondence, but prostrate health rarely permits me to write; and when it does, matters of business imperiously press their claims. I am getting better however, slowly, swelled legs being now the only serious symptom, and these, I believe, proceed from extreme debility. I can walk but little; but I ride six or eight miles a day without fatigue; and within a few days, I shall endeavor to visit my other home

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LETTER CLV.—TO JOSEPH C. CABELL, November 28, 1820

LETTER CLV.—TO JOSEPH C. CABELL, November 28, 1820

TO JOSEPH C. CABELL. Poplar Forest, November 28, 1820. Dear Sir, I sent in due time the Report of the Visitors to the Governor, with a request that he would endeavor to convene the Literary Board in time to lay it before the legislature on the second day of their session. It was enclosed in a letter which will explain itself to you. If delivered before the crowd of other business presses on them, they may act on it immediately, and before there will have been time for unfriendly combinations and

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LETTER CLVI.—TO THOMAS RITCHIE, December, 25, 1820

LETTER CLVI.—TO THOMAS RITCHIE, December, 25, 1820

Monticello, December, 25, 1820. Dear Sir, On my return home after a long absence, I find here your favor of November the 23rd, with Colonel Taylor’s ‘Construction Construed,’ which you have been so kind as to send me, in the name of the author as well as yourself. Permit me, if you please, to use the same channel for conveying to him the thanks I render you also for this mark of attention. I shall read it, I know, with edification, as I did his Enquiry, to which I acknowledge myself indebted for

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LETTER CLVII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, January 22, 1821

LETTER CLVII.—TO JOHN ADAMS, January 22, 1821

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, January 22, 1821. I was quite rejoiced, dear Sir, to see that you had health and spirits enough to take part in the late convention of your State, for revising its constitution, and to bear your share in its debates and labors. The amendments of which we have as yet heard, prove the advance of liberalism in the intervening period; and encourage a hope that the human mind will some day get back to the freedom it enjoyed two thousand years ago. This country, which has gi

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LETTER CLVIII.—TO JOSEPH C CABELL, January 31, 1821

LETTER CLVIII.—TO JOSEPH C CABELL, January 31, 1821

TO JOSEPH C CABELL. Monticello, January 31, 1821. Dear Sir, Your favors of the 18th and 25th came together, three days ago. They fill me with gloom as to the dispositions of our legislature towards the University. I perceive that I am not to live to see it opened. As to what had better be done within the limits of their will, I trust with entire confidence to what yourself, General Breckenridge, and Mr. Johnson shall think best. You will see what is practicable, and give it such shape as you thi

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LETTER CLIX.—TO GENERAL BRECKENRIDGE, February 15, 1821

LETTER CLIX.—TO GENERAL BRECKENRIDGE, February 15, 1821

TO GENERAL BRECKENRIDGE. Monticello, February 15, 1821. I learn with deep affliction, that nothing is likely to be done for our University this year. So near as it is to the shore that one shove more would land it there, I had hoped that would be given; and that we should open with the next year an institution on which the fortunes of our country may depend more than may meet the general eye. The reflections that the boys of this age are to be the men of the next; that they should be prepared to

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LETTER CLX.—TO ————- NICHOLAS, December 11,1821

LETTER CLX.—TO ————- NICHOLAS, December 11,1821

TO ————- NICHOLAS. Monticello, December 11,1821, Your letter of December the 19th places me under a dilemma, which I cannot solve but by an exposition of the naked truth. I would have wished this rather to have remained as hitherto, without inquiry; but your inquiries have a right to be answered. I will do it as exactly as the great lapse of time and a waning memory will enable me. I may misremember indifferent circumstances, but can be right in substance. At the time when the republicans of our

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LETTER CLXI.—TO JEDIDIAH MORSE, March 6, 1822

LETTER CLXI.—TO JEDIDIAH MORSE, March 6, 1822

TO JEDIDIAH MORSE. Monticello, March 6, 1822. Sir, I have duly received your letter of February the 16th, and have now to express my sense of the honorable station proposed to my ex-brethren and myself, in the constitution of the society for the civilization and improvement of the Indian tribes. The object, too, expressed, as that of the association, is one which I have ever had much at heart, and never omitted an occasion of promoting, while I have been in situations to do it with effect, and n

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LETTER CLXII.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE, June 26, 1822

LETTER CLXII.—TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE, June 26, 1822

Monticello, June 26, 1822. Dear Sir, I have received and read with thankfulness and pleasure your denunciation of the abuses of tobacco and wine. Yet, however sound in its principles, I expect it will be but a sermon to the wind. You will find it is as difficult to inculcate these sanative precepts on the sensualities of the present day, as to convince an Athanasian that there is but one God. I wish success to both attempts, and am happy to learn from you that the latter, at least, is making pro

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LETTER CLXIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS

LETTER CLXIII.—TO JOHN ADAMS

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, June 27, 1822. Dear Sir, Your kind letter of the 11th has given me great satisfaction. For although I could not doubt but that the hand of age was pressing heavily on you, as on myself, yet we like to know the particulars and the degree of that pressure. Much reflection, too, has been produced by your suggestion of lending my letter of the 1st, to a printer. I have generally great aversion to the insertion of my letters in the public papers; because of my passion for q

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LETTER CLXIV.—TO WILLIAM T. BARRY, July 2, 1822

LETTER CLXIV.—TO WILLIAM T. BARRY, July 2, 1822

TO WILLIAM T. BARRY. Monticello, July 2, 1822. Sir, Your favor of the 15th of June is received, and I am very thankful for the kindness of its expressions respecting myself. But it ascribes to me merits which I do not claim. I was only of a band devoted to the cause of independence, all of whom exerted equally their best endeavors for its success, and have a common right to the merits of its acquisition. So also in the civil revolution of 1801. Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patr

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LETTER CLXV.—TO DOCTOR WATERHOUSE, July 19, 1822

LETTER CLXV.—TO DOCTOR WATERHOUSE, July 19, 1822

TO DOCTOR WATERHOUSE. Monticello, July 19, 1822. Dear Sir, An anciently dislocated, and now stiffening wrist, makes writing an operation so slow and painful to me, that I should not so soon have troubled you with an acknowledgment of your favor of the 8th, but for the request it contained of my consent to the publication of my letter of June the 26th. No, my dear Sir, not for the world. Into what a nest of hornets would it thrust my head! the genus irritabile vatum , on whom argument is lost, an

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LETTER CLXVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS

LETTER CLXVI.—TO JOHN ADAMS

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, November 1, 1822. I have racked my memory and ransacked my papers, to enable myself to answer the inquiries of your favor of October the 15th; but to little purpose. My papers furnish me nothing, my memory, generalities only. I know that while I was in Europe, and anxious about the fate of our seafaring men, for some of whom, then in captivity in Algiers, we were treating, and all were in like danger, I formed, undoubtingly, the opinion that our government, as soon as

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LETTER CLXVII.—TO DOCTOR COOPER, November 2, 1822

LETTER CLXVII.—TO DOCTOR COOPER, November 2, 1822

TO DOCTOR COOPER. Monticello, November 2, 1822. Dear Sir, Your favor of October the 18th came to hand yesterday. The atmosphere of our country is unquestionably charged with a threatening cloud of fanaticism, lighter in some parts, denser in others, but too heavy in all. I had no idea, however, that in Pennsylvania, the cradle of toleration and freedom of religion, it could have arisen to the height you describe. This must be owing to the growth of Presbyterianism. The blasphemy and absurdity of

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LETTER CLXVIII.—TO JAMES SMITH, December 8, 1822

LETTER CLXVIII.—TO JAMES SMITH, December 8, 1822

TO JAMES SMITH. Monticello, December 8, 1822. Sir, I have to thank you for your pamphlets on the subject of Unitarianism, and to express my gratification with your efforts for the revival of primitive Christianity in your quarter. No historical fact is better established, than that the doctrine of one God, pure and uncompounded, was that of the early ages of Christianity; and was amoung the efficacious doctrines which gave it triumph over the polytheism of the ancients, sickened with the absurdi

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LETTER, CLXIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, February 25, 1823

LETTER, CLXIX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, February 25, 1823

TO JOHN ADAMS, Monticello, February 25, 1823. Dear Sir, I received, in due time, your two favors of December the 2nd and February the 10th, and have to acknowledge for the ladies of my native State their obligations to you for the encomiums which you are so kind as to bestow on them. They certainly claim no advantages over those of their sister States, and are sensible of more favorable circumstances existing with many of them, and happily availed, which our situation does not offer. But the pap

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LETTER CLXX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, April 11, 1823

LETTER CLXX.—TO JOHN ADAMS, April 11, 1823

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, April 11, 1823. Dear Sir, The wishes expressed in your last favor, that I may continue in life and health until I become a Calvinist, at least in his exclamation of, ‘ Mon Dieu! jusqu’a quand? ’ would make me immortal. I can never join Calvin in addressing his God. He was indeed an atheist, which I can never be; or rather his religion was daemonism. If ever man worshipped a false God, he did. The being described in his five points, is not the God whom you and I acknowl

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LETTER CLXXI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, June 11, 1823

LETTER CLXXI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, June 11, 1823

TO THE PRESIDENT. Monticello, June 11, 1823. Dear Sir, Considering that I had not been to Bedford for a twelvemonth before, I thought myself singularly unfortunate in so timing my journey, as to have been absent exactly at the moment of your late visit to our neighborhood. The loss, indeed, was all my own; for in these short interviews with you. I generally get my political compass rectified, learn from you whereabouts we are, and correct my course again. In exchange for this, I can give you but

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LETTER CLXXII.—TO JUDGE JOHNSON, June 12, 1823

LETTER CLXXII.—TO JUDGE JOHNSON, June 12, 1823

TO JUDGE JOHNSON. Monticello, June 12, 1823. Our correspondence is of that accommodating character, which admits of suspension at the convenience of either party, without inconvenience to the other. Hence this tardy acknowledgment of your favor of April the 11th. I learn from that with great pleasure, that you have resolved on continuing your history of parties. Our opponents are far ahead of us in preparations for placing their cause favorably before posterity. Yet I hope even from some of them

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LETTER CLXXIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 30,1823

LETTER CLXXIII.—TO JAMES MADISON, August 30,1823

TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, August 30,1823. Dear Sir, I received the enclosed letters from the President, with a request that after perusal I would forward them to you, for perusal by yourself also, and to be returned then to him. You have doubtless seen Timothy Pickering’s fourth of July observations on the Declaration of Independence. If his principles and prejudices, personal and political, gave us no reason to doubt whether he had truly quoted the information he alleges to have received fr

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LETTER CLXXIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 4, 1823

LETTER CLXXIV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, September 4, 1823

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, September 4, 1823. Dear Sir, Your letter of August the 15th was received in due time, and with the welcome of every thing which comes from you. With its opinions on the difficulties of revolutions from despotism to freedom, I very much concur. The generation which commences a revolution rarely completes it. Habituated from their infancy to passive submission of body fend mind to their kings and priests, they are not qualified, when called on, to think and provide for t

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LETTER CLXXV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, October 12, 1823

LETTER CLXXV.—TO JOHN ADAMS, October 12, 1823

TO JOHN ADAMS. Monticello, October 12, 1823. Dear Sir, I do not write with the ease which your letter of September the 18th supposes. Crippled wrists and fingers make writing slow and laborious. But while writing to you, I lose the sense of these things in the recollection of ancient times, when youth and health made happiness out of every thing. I forget for a while the hoary winter of age, when we can think of nothing but how to keep ourselves warm, and how to get rid of our heavy hours until

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LETTER CLXXVI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, October 24,1823

LETTER CLXXVI.—TO THE PRESIDENT, October 24,1823

TO THE PRESIDENT. Monticello, October 24,1823. The question presented by the letters you have sent me, is the most momentous which has ever been offered to my contemplation since that of Independence. That made us a nation, this sets our compass, and points the course which we are to steer through the ocean of time opening on us. And never could we embark on it under circumstances more auspicious. Our first and fundamental maxim should be, never to entangle ourselves in the broils of Europe. Our

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LETTER CLXXVII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, November 4, 1823

LETTER CLXXVII.—TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE, November 4, 1823

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA FAYETTE. Monticello, November 4, 1823. My Dear Friend, Two dislocated wrists and crippled fingers have rendered writing so slow and laborious, as to oblige me to withdraw from nearly all correspondence: not, however, from yours, while I can make a stroke with a pen. We have gone through too many trying scenes together, to forget the sympathies and affections they nourished. Your trials have indeed been long and severe. When they will end, is yet unknown, but where they will

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LETTER CLXXVIII.—TO JOSEPH C CABELL, February 3, 1824

LETTER CLXXVIII.—TO JOSEPH C CABELL, February 3, 1824

TO JOSEPH C CABELL. Monticello, February 3, 1824. Dear Sir, I am favored with your two letters of January the 26th and 29th, and am glad that yourself and the friends of the University are so well satisfied, that the provisos amendatory of the University Act are mere nullities. I had not been able to put out of my head the Algebraical equation, which was among the first of my college lessons, that a-a = 0. Yet I cheerfully arrange myself to your opinions. I did not suppose, nor do I now suppose

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LETTER CLXXIX.—TO JARED SPARKS, February 4, 1824

LETTER CLXXIX.—TO JARED SPARKS, February 4, 1824

TO JARED SPARKS. Monticello, February 4, 1824. Dear Sir, I duly received your favor of the 3th, and with it the last number of the North American Review. This has anticipated the one I should receive in course, but have not yet received, under my subscription to the new series. The article on the African colonization of the people of color, to which you invite my attention, I have read with great consideration. It is, indeed, a fine one, and will do much good. I learn from it more, too, than I h

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LETTER CLXXX.—TO EDWARD LIVINGSTON, April 4, 1824

LETTER CLXXX.—TO EDWARD LIVINGSTON, April 4, 1824

TO EDWARD LIVINGSTON. Monticello, April 4, 1824. Dear Sir, It was with great pleasure I learned that the good people of New Orleans had restored you again to the councils of our country. I did not doubt the aid it would bring to the remains of our old school in Congress, in which your early labors had been so useful. You will find, I suppose, on revisiting our maritime States, the names of things more changed than the things themselves; that though our old opponents have given up their appellati

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LETTER CLXXXI.—TO MAJOR JOHN CARTWRIGHT, June 5,1824

LETTER CLXXXI.—TO MAJOR JOHN CARTWRIGHT, June 5,1824

TO MAJOR JOHN CARTWRIGHT. Monticello, June 5,1824. Dear and Venerable Sir, I am much indebted for your kind letter of February the 29th, and for your valuable volume on the English constitution. I have, read this with pleasure and much approbation, and think it has deduced the constitution of the English nation from its rightful root, the Anglo-Saxon, it is really wonderful, that so many able and learned men should have failed in their attempts to define it with correctness. No wonder then, that

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LETTER CLXXXII.—TO MARTIN VAN BUREN, June 29, 1824

LETTER CLXXXII.—TO MARTIN VAN BUREN, June 29, 1824

TO MARTIN VAN BUREN. Monticello, June 29, 1824. Dear Sir, I have to thank you for Mr. Pickering’s elaborate philippic against Mr. Adams, Gerry, Smith, and myself; and I have delayed the acknowledgment until I could read it and make some observations on it. I could not have believed, that for so many years, and to such a period of advanced age, he could have nourished passions so vehement and viperous. It appears, that for thirty years past, he has been industriously collecting materials for vitu

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LETTER CLXXXIII.—TO EDWARD EVERETT, October 15, 1824

LETTER CLXXXIII.—TO EDWARD EVERETT, October 15, 1824

Monticello, October 15, 1824. Dear Sir, I have yet to thank you for your O. B. K. oration, delivered in presence of General la Fayette. It is all excellent, much of it sublimely so, well worthy of its author and his subject, of whom we may truly say, as was said of Germanicus, ‘ Fruitur famâ sui .’ Your letter of September the 10th gave me the first information that mine to Major Cartwright had got into the newspapers; and the first notice, indeed, that he had received it. I was a stranger to hi

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LETTER CLXXXIV.—TO JOSEPH C. CABELL, January 11, 1825

LETTER CLXXXIV.—TO JOSEPH C. CABELL, January 11, 1825

TO JOSEPH C. CABELL. Monticello, January 11, 1825. Dear Sir, We are dreadfully nonplussed here by the non-arrival of our three Professors. We apprehend that the idea of our opening on the 1st of February prevails so much abroad (although we have always mentioned it doubtfully), as that the students will assemble on that day without awaiting the further notice which was promised. To send them away will be discouraging, and to open an University without Mathematics or Natural Philosophy would brin

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LETTER CLXXXV.—TO THOMAS JEFFERSON SMITH, February 21, 1825

LETTER CLXXXV.—TO THOMAS JEFFERSON SMITH, February 21, 1825

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO THOMAS JEFFERSON SMITH. This letter will, to you, be as one from the dead. The writer will be in the grave before you can weigh its counsels. Your affectionate and excellent father has requested that I would address to you something which might possibly have a favorable influence on the course of life you have to run, and I too, as a namesake, feel an interest in that course. Few words will be necessary, with good dispositions on your part. Adore God. Reverence and cherish yo

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LETTER CLXXXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 24, 1825

LETTER CLXXXVI.—TO JAMES MADISON, December 24, 1825

TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, December 24, 1825. Dear Sir, I have for sometime considered the question of internal improvement as desperate. The torrent of general opinion sets so strongly in favor of it as to be irresistible. And I suppose that even the opposition in Congress will hereafter be feeble and formal, unless something can be done which may give a gleam of encouragement to our friends, or alarm their opponents in their fancied security. I learn from Richmond, that those who think with

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LETTER CLXXXVII.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, December 25, 1825

LETTER CLXXXVII.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, December 25, 1825

TO WILLIAM B. GILES. Monticello, December 25, 1825. Dear Sir, Your favor of the 15th was received four days ago. It found me engaged in what I could not lay aside till this day. Far advanced in my eighty-third year, worn down with infirmities which have confined me almost entirely to the house for seven or eight months past, it afflicts me much to receive appeals to my memory for transactions so far back as that which is the subject of your letter. My memory is indeed become almost a blank, of w

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LETTER CLXXXVIII.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, December 26, 1825

LETTER CLXXXVIII.—TO WILLIAM B. GILES, December 26, 1825

TO WILLIAM B. GILES. Monticello, December 26, 1825. Dear Sir, I wrote you a letter yesterday, of which you will be free to make what use you please. This will contain matters not intended for the public eye. I see, as you do, and with the deepest affliction, the rapid strides with which the federal branch of our government is advancing towards the usurpation of all the rights reserved to the States, and the consolidation in itself of all powers, foreign and domestic; and that too, by constructio

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LETTER CLXXXIX.—TO CLAIBORNE W. GOOCH, January 9, 1826

LETTER CLXXXIX.—TO CLAIBORNE W. GOOCH, January 9, 1826

TO CLAIBORNE W. GOOCH. Monticello, January 9, 1826. I have duly received your favor of December the 31st, and fear, with you, all the evils which the present lowering aspect of our political horizon so ominously portends. That at some future day, which I hoped to be very distant, the free principles of our government might change, with the change of circumstances, was to be expected. But I certainly did not expect that they would not over-live the generation which established them. And what I st

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LETTER CXC.—TO [ANONYMOUS], January 21, 1826

LETTER CXC.—TO [ANONYMOUS], January 21, 1826

Monticello, January 21, 1826. Your favor of January the 15th is received, and I am entirely sensible of the kindness of the motives which suggested the caution it recommended. But I believe what I have done is the only thing I could have done with honor or conscience. Mr. Giles requested me to state a fact which he knew himself, and of which he knew me to be possessed. What use he intended to make of it I knew not, nor had I a right to inquire, or to indicate any suspicion that he would make an

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LETTER CXCI.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 17,1826

LETTER CXCI.—TO JAMES MADISON, February 17,1826

TO JAMES MADISON. Monticello, February 17,1826. Immediately on seeing the overwhelming vote of the House of Representatives against giving us another dollar, I rode to the University and desired Mr. Brockenbrough to engage in nothing new, to stop every thing on hand which could be done without, and to employ all his force and funds in finishing the circular room for the books, and the Anatomical theatre. These cannot be done without; and for these and all our debts, we have funds enough. But I t

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THOUGHTS ON LOTTERIES.

THOUGHTS ON LOTTERIES.

It is a common idea that games of chance are immoral. But what is chance? Nothing happens in this world without a cause. If we know the cause, we do not call it chance; but if we do not know it, we say it was produced by chance. If we see a loaded die turn its lightest side up, we know the cause, and that it is not an effect of chance; but whatever side an unloaded die turns up, not knowing the cause, we say it is the effect of chance. Yet the morality of a thing cannot depend on our knowledge o

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LETTER CXCII.—TO JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, March 30, 1826

LETTER CXCII.—TO JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, March 30, 1826

TO JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. Monticello, March 30, 1826. Dear Sir, I am thankful for the very interesting message and documents of which you have been so kind as to send me a copy, and will state my recollections as to the particular passage of the message to which you ask my attention. On the conclusion of peace, Congress, sensible of their right to assume independence, would not condescend to ask its acknowledgment from other nations, yet were willing, by some of the ordinary international transactio

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LETTER CXCIII.—TO MR. WEIGHTMAN, June 24, 1826

LETTER CXCIII.—TO MR. WEIGHTMAN, June 24, 1826

Monticello, June 24, 1826. Respected Sir, The kind invitation I receive from you, on the part of the citizens of the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration on the fiftieth anniversary of American Independence, as one of the surviving signers of an instrument pregnant with our own, and the fate of the world, is most flattering to myself, and heightened by the honorable accompaniment proposed for the comfort of such a journey. It adds sensibly to the sufferings of sicknes

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ANA.—EXPLANATION OF THE THREE VOLUMES BOUND IN MARBLED PAPER

ANA.—EXPLANATION OF THE THREE VOLUMES BOUND IN MARBLED PAPER

Explanation of the Three Volumes bound in Marbled Paper .* In these three volumes will be found copies of the official opinions given in writing by me to General Washington, while I was Secretary of State, with sometimes the documents belonging to the case. Some of these are the rough draughts, some press copies, some fair ones. In the earlier part of my acting in that office, I took no other note of the passing transactions; but after a while, I saw the importance of doing it in aid of my memor

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