that I fear they will not easily be persuaded to tread back their steps; especially as the recommendations of Congress, like most other recommendations, are seldom efficient when opposed by interest. A mere Government of reason and persuasion is little adapted to the actual state of human nature in any age or country. One of our five Indiamen, viz: an Albany sloop, returned, a few days ago, in four months from Canton; and I heard last evening that one or two vessels are preparing at Boston for a voyage to the Isle of France. The enterprise of our countrymen is inconceivable, and the number of young swarms daily going down to settle in the western country is a further proof of it. I fear that western country will, one day, give us trouble. To govern them will not be easy, and whether, after two or three generations, they will be fit to govern themselves, is a question that merits consideration. The progress of civilization, and the means of information, is very tardy, in sparse and separate settlements. I wish our differences with Spain, in that quarter, were well settled; but the maxim of festina lente does not suit our southern sanguine politicians. The English are making some important settlements on the river St. Lawrence, &c. Many of our people go there. And it is said that Vermont is not greatly inclined to be the fourteenth State. Taxes and relaxed Governments agree but ill. I have the honor to be, &c., JOHN JAY. FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO M. DUMAS. Paris, February 9, 1787. Sir, 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 23d. 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 importance scarcely admits calculation, is in a situation which fills us with alarm. Nature is struggling to relieve him by a decided gout; she has my sincere prayers to aid her, as I am persuaded she yours. I have letters and papers from America as late as the 15th of December. The Government of Massachusetts had imprisoned three of the leaders of their insurgents. The insurgents being collected to the number of three or four hundred, had sent in their petition to the Government, praying another act of pardon for their leaders and themselves, and on this condition offering to go, every man, home, and conduct himself dutifully afterwards. This is the last intelligence. I thank you for your attention to the question I had taken the liberty of proposing to you. I think with you, that it would be advisable to have our debt transferred to individuals of your country. There could, and would be no objection to the guarantee remaining as you propose; and a postponement of the first payments of capital would surely be a convenience to us. For though the resources of the United States are great and growing, and their dispositions good, yet their machine is new, and they have not got it to go well. It is the object of their general wish at present, and they are all in movement, to set it in a good train; but their movements are necessarily slow. They will surely effect it in the end, because all have the same end in view; the difficulty being only to get all the thirteen States to agree on the same means. Divesting myself of every partiality, and speaking from that thorough knowledge I have of the country, their resources, and their principles, I had rather trust money in their hands than in that of any Government on earth, because, though for a while the payments of the interest might be less regular, yet the final reimbursement of the capital would be more sure. I set out next week for the south of France, to try whether some mineral waters in that quarter, much recommended, will restore the use of my hand. I shall be absent from Paris two or three months; but I take arrangements for the regular receipt of your favors, as if I were here. It will be better, however, for you to put your letters to Mr. Jay, under cover to Mr. Short, who remains here, and will forward them. I have thought it my duty to submit to Congress the proposition about the French debt, and may expect their answer in four months. Have the honor to be, &c., TH: JEFFERSON. Sir, FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY. Paris, February 14, 1787. / In the letter of the 8th instant, which I had the honor of writing you, I informed you that Count de Vergennes was dangerously ill. He died yesterday morning, and Count de Montmorin is appointed his successor. Your personal knowledge of this gentleman renders it unnecessary for me to say anything of him. Mr. Morris, during his office, being authorized to have the medals and swords executed which had been ordered by Congress, he authorized Colonel Humphreys to take measures here for the execution. Colonel Humphreys did so, and the swords were finished in time for him to carry them. The medals not being finished, he desired me to attend to them. The workman who was to make that of General Greene brought me yesterday the medal in gold, twentythree in copper, and the die. Mr. Short, during my absence, will avail himself of the first occasion which shall offer of forwarding the medals to you. I must beg leave, through you, to ask the pleasure of Congress as to the number they would choose to have struck. Perhaps they might be willing to deposit one of each person in every college of the United States. Perhaps they might choose to give a series of them to each of the crowned heads of Europe, which would be an acceptable present to them. They will be pleased to decide. In the mean time, I have sealed up the die, and shall retain it till I am honored with their orders as to this medal, and the others also, when they shall be finished. With great respect and esteem, &c., TH: JEFFERSON. Sir, FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY. Paris, February 14, 1787. In the letter of the 8th instant, which I had the honor of writing you, I informed you of the illness of the Count de Vergennes. In one of the present date, which I send by the way of London, 1 have notified to you his death, which happened yesterday morning, and that the Count de Montmorin is appointed his successor, with whose character you are personally acquainted. As the winds have been contrary to the sailing of the packet, and this may possibly reach Havre by post in time to be put on board, I avail myself of that chance of conveying you the above information. I have the honor to be, &c., TH: JEFFERSON. REPORT OF JOHN JAY TO CONGRESS. Office for Foreign Affairs, July 11, 1787. The Secretary of the United States for the Department of Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred a letter from the Honorable Mr. Jefferson of 14th February last, reports: Your Secretary presumes that the following paragraph in this letter gave occasion to its being referred to him, viz: "The workman 'who was to make that of General Greene brought me yesterday the 'medal in gold, twenty-three in copper, and the die. I must beg leave, through you, to ask the pleasure of Congress as to the number 'they would choose to have struck. Perhaps they might be willing 'to deposit one of each person in every college of the United States. 'Perhaps they might choose to give a series of them to each of the 'crowned heads of Europe, which would be an acceptable present to them. They will be pleased to decide. In the mean time, I have sealed up the die, and shall retain it till I am honored with 'their orders as to this medal, and the others also, when they shall 'be finished." As these medals were directed to be struck in order to signalize and commemorate certain interesting events and conspicuous characters, the distribution of them should, in his opinion, be such as may best conduce to that end. He, therefore, thinks that both of Mr. Jefferson's hints should be improved, to wit: that a series of these medals should be presented to each of the crowned heads in Europe, and that one of each set be deposited in each of the American colleges. He presumes that Mr. Jefferson does not mean that any should be presented to the King of Great Britain, for it would not be delicate; nor that by crowned heads he meant to exclude free States from the compliment, for to make discrimination would give offence. In the judgment of your Secretary, it would be proper to instruct Mr. Jefferson to present, in the name of the United States, one silver medal of each denomination to every monarch (except his Britannic Majesty) and to every sovereign and independent State, without exception, in Europe, and also to the Emperor of Morocco. That he also be instructed to send fifteen silver medals of each set to Congress, to be by them presented to the thirteen United States respectively, and also to the Emperor of China, with an explanation and a letter, and one to General Washington. That he also be instructed to present a copper medal of each denomination to each. of the most distinguished Universities (except the British) in Europe, and also to the Count de Rochambeau, to Count d'Estaing, and to Count de Grasse; and lastly, that he be instructed to send to Congress two hundred copper ones of each set, together with the dies. Your Secretary thinks that of these it would be proper to present one to each of the American colleges, one to the Marquis de la Fayette, and one to each of the other Major Generals who served in the late American army, and that the residue, with the dies, be deposited in the Secretary's office of the United States, subject to such future orders as Congress may think proper to make respecting them. It might be more magnificent to give golden medals to sovereigns, silver ones to distinguished persons, and copper to the colleges, &c., but, in his opinion, the nature of the American Governments, as well as the state of their finances, will apologize for their declining the expense. All which is submitted to the wisdom of Congress. Sir, JOHN JAY. FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JOHN JAY. Paris, February 23, 1787. 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 family, |