the many marks of esteem and attention, with which you have honored me, and to request most earnestly a continuance of that regard, which I sincerely assure you is very precious to, gentlemen,

Your most, &c.

THOS. BARCLAY.

P. S. The precise exchange of the bills cannot be adjusted, until I receive M. Grand's accounts.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO GEORGE WASHINGTON. Paris, August 14, 1787.

Sir,

I was happy to find, by the letter of August 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 chapeaubras.

I remember, having written to you, while Congress sat at Annapolis, on the water communication between ours and the western country, and to have mentioned, particularly, the information I had received of the plain face of the country between the sources of Big Beaver and Cayohoga, which made me hope that a canal, of no great expense, might unite the navigation of Lake Erie and the Ohio. You must since have had occasion of getting better information on this subject, and if you have, you will oblige me by a communication of it. I consider this canal, if practicable, as a very important work.

I remain in hopes of great and good effects, from the decision of the assembly over which you are presiding. To make our States one, as to all foreign concerns, preserve them several as to all merely domestic, to give to the federal head some peaceable mode of enforcing its just authority, to organize that head into legislative, executive and judiciary departments, a great desiderata in our federal constitution. Yet, with all its defects, and

with all those of our particular governments, the inconveniences resulting from them, are so light, in comparison with those existing in every other government on earth, that our citizens may certainly be considered, as in the happiest political situation which exists.

The Assemblée des Notables has been productive of much good in this country. The reformation of some of the most oppressive laws has taken place. The allotment of the State into subordinate governments, the administration of which is committed to persons chosen by the people, will work, in time, a very beneficial change in their constitution. The expense of the trappings of monarchy, too, is lightening. Many of the useless officers, high and low, of the King, Queen and Princes, are struck off. Notwithstanding all this, the discovery of the abominable abuses of the public money, by the late Comptroller General, some new expences of the Court, not of a piece with the projects of reformation, and the imposition of new taxes, have, in the course of a few weeks, raised a spirit of discontent in this nation, so great and so general, as to threaten serious consequences The parliaments in general, and particularly that of Paris, put themselves at the head of this effervescence, and direct its object to the calling the States General, who have not been assembled since 1614. The object is to fix a constitution, and to limit expenses. The King has been obliged to hold a bed of justice, to enforce the registering the new taxes; the Parliament, on their side, propose to issue a prohibition against their execution. Very probably this may bring on their exile. The mild and patriotic character of the new Ministry, is the principal dependance against this extremity.

The turn which the affairs of Europe will take, is not yet decided.

A war, wherein France, Holland and England should be parties, seems prima facie, to promise much advantage to us. But, in the first place, no war can be safe for us, which threatens France with an unfavorable issue. And, in the next, it will probably embark us again into the ocean of speculation, engage us to over-trade ourselves, convert us into sea-rovers, under French and Dutch colors, divert us from agriculture, which is our wisest pursuit, because it will, in the end, contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness. The wealth acquired by speculation and plunder, is fugacious in its nature, and fills society with the spirit of gambling. The moderate and sure income of husbandry, begets permanent improvement, quiet life, and orderly conduct, both public and private. We have no occasion for more commerce than to take off our superfluous produce, and the people complain that some restrictions prevent this; yet, the price of articles with us, in general, shews the contrary. Tobacco, indeed, is low, not because we cannot carry it where we please, but because we make more than the consumption requires. Upon the whole, I think peace advantageous to us, necessary for Europe, and desirable for humanity. A few days will decide, probably, whether all these considerations are to give way to the bad passions of Kings, and those who would be Kings. I have the honor to be, &c.

TH: JEFFERSON. P. S. August 15th. The Parliament is exiled to Troyes, this morning.

T. J.

FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON 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 arrettée (a resolution) which, besides protesting against the enregistering, as done by force, laid the foundation for an arrêt de defence (an act) against the execution of the two new laws. The question on the final arrêt was adjourned to the day before yesterday. It is believed that they did not conclude on this arrêt, as it has not appeared. However, there was a concourse of about ten thousand people at the Parliament house, who, on their adjournment, received them with acclamations of joy, loosened the horses of the most eminent speakers against the tax, from their carriages, and drew them home. This morning the Parliament is exiled at Troyes. It is believed to proceed principally from the fear of a popular commotion here.

The officer charged by this Court, to watch the English squadron, which was under sailing orders, returned about a week ago, with information that it had sailed, having shaped its course westwardly. This is another step towards war. It is the more suspicious, as their Minister here denies the fact. Count Adhemar is here from London, by leave from his Court. The Duke of Dorset, the British Ambassador here, has lately gone to London,