on leave. Neither of these Ambassadors has the confidence of his Court, on the point of abilities. The latter merits it for his honesty. The Minister of the British Court, resident here, remains, but Mr. Eden, their Ambassador to Spain, under pretence of taking this in his route, is in truth their factotum in the present emergency. Nothing worth noting has occurred since my last, either in the Dutch or Austrian Netherlands. Since the 8th ult. when I last wrote to you, I have been favored with your letters of the 6th and 15th August last, which together with the papers mentioned in the first of them, were immediately laid before Congress. Although the opinion of the most judicious and well informed seems to be that France and Britain will avoid war, and unite their councils and their efforts to preserve peace, yet as great events are often produced by latent and little circumstances, especially between Courts who distrust each other, I should not be surprised, if notwithstanding their wishes to the contrary, something should happen to frustrate their pacific designs. You will receive herewith enclosed, two letters from me dated the 27th, concerning the Consular Convention, with a commission to you to form one; and also a certified copy of an act of Congress of the 23rd July, on the subject of the Morocco treaty and papers. The want of a safe and private conveyance has, until now, delayed the transmission of these letters and this act. I also enclose the following papers, viz: 1. A certified copy of an act of Congress of 28th September, respecting duties on goods imported by foreign Consuls. 2. A certified copy of an act of 2nd October instant, instructing you not to promote any negotiation for transferring the debt due to France from the United States. 3. A certified copy of an act of 11th October inst, approving the manner in which the prize money due to the crews of the Bon Homme Richard and Alliance has been quotaed by France, and directing the Board of Treasury to distribute it accordingly. 4. A certified copy of an act of 12th October instant, reappointing you Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles, together with a commission and letter of credence, and a copy of the letter for your information. 5. A certified copy of an act of 12th October instant, constituting the residue of the money, appropriated the 14th February, 1785, for treaties with Morocco, &c., a fund for redeeming the American captives at Algiers, and a duplicate of the act of 18th July instructing you to redeem them. 6. A certified copy of an act of the 16th October instant directing you to have a medal struck in honor of Chevalier Jones, and a copy of a letter to his most Christian Majesty of the same date, on the same subject. Congress were pleased to order that he should be the VOL. III-37 bearer of this letter; but I nevertheless think it proper you should have a copy of it. that 7. Copy of a letter of the 26th ult.,which I this day received from the Governor of Rhode Island, requesting me to transmit to you, the papers which accompanied it, and which I now transmit accordingly. 8. A copy of the federal government, proposed by the late Convention. 9. The requisition of Congress, passed the 11th instant, and their printed journals, from the 10th May to 25th September last, which, with those heretofore sent, will complete your set, from the 6th November, 1786. I also send the newspapers from 8th September to this day. As to the claims of certain individuals against the State of South Carolina, I have, by order of Congress, sent an extract from your letter on that subject, together with a copy of the papers relative to it, to the Governor of that State, in order that they may, thereupon, take such measures as the good faith of the State, and the justice due to the individuals in question, may appear to dictate. The number of States represented in Congress, almost daily diminishes, and I must fear, will soon be so reduced, as not to leave them in capacity to despatch any business requiring nine. Congress has been pleased to comply with the request of Mr. Adams, to return, and I enclose a copy of their act, on that head. As yet, I am not authorized to say any thing relative to the proposed Post Office Convention. A report on that subject has lain many months before Congress, and still remains undecided. What will be the fate of the new Constitution, as it is called, cannot easily be conjectured. At present the majority seems to be in favor of it, but there will probably be a strong opposition in some of the States, particularly in this and Pennsylvania. I have the honor of being, &c. JOHN JAY. FROM JOHN JAY TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. Office for Foreign Affairs, Sir, The despatches alluded to in my late letters, together with others of some importance, are ready, and were intended to be conveyed to you by this packet; but the gentleman to whose care they were committed, declining to go in her, they must pass to you by some other route. An opinion prevails, that hostilities have probably commenced between France and Britain, and such is its impression, that some gentlemen who proposed to sail in the French packet, think it most adviseable to take passage in an American vessel. For my own part, I think their apprehensions are premature; for, as yet, I am not informed of any events, from which I can infer a probability that war has taken place. A new commission, to expire at the expiration of your present one, has been ordered, and is ready. You will receive it with the above mentioned despatches. With sentiments of great and sincere esteem and regard, I have the honor to be, &c. JOHN JAY. FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN ADAMS. Paris, August 30, 1787 Sir, Since your favor of July 10th, mine have been of July the 17th, 23rd, and 28th. The last enclosed a bill of exchange from M. 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 interesting interval ever known in this country. The propositions of the government, approved by the Notables, were precious to the nation, and have been in an honest course of execution, some of them being carried into effect, and others preparing. Above all, the establishment of Provincial Assemblies, some of which have begun their sessions, bids fair to be the instrument for circumscribing the power of the crown, and raising the people into consideration. The election given to them is what will do this. Though the Minister who proposed these improvements, seems to have meant them as the price of new supplies, the game has been so played, as to secure the improvements to the nation, without securing the price. The Notables spoke softly on the subject of the additional supplies. But the Parliament took them up roundly, refused to register the edicts for the new taxes, till compelled in a bed of justice, and suffered themselves, to be transferred to Troyes, rather than withdraw their opposition. It is urged principally against the King, that his revenue is one hundred |