deferred it for some time, but not for a long one. However I am sure you will be secure of a friendly correspondence with my successor, whoever he may be. I think it very certain that a decided majority of the next Congress will be actuated by a very different spirit from that which governed the two preceding Congresses. Public faith will be cherished equally, I would say more, because it will be on purer principles and the tone & proceedings of the government will be brought back to the true spirit of the constitution, without disorganizing the machine in it's essential parts. Continue if you please the general address I formerly recommended 'to the Secretary of State' &c. I shall thank you most sincerely for the model of the threshing machine, besides replacing the expence of it. The threshing out our wheat immediately after harvest being the only preservative against the weavil in Virginia, the service you will thereby render that state will make you to them a second Triptolemus. Adieu my dear Sir, & be assured of every sentiment of friendship & respect from Your's affectionately.

DEAR SIR,-According to what I mentioned to you in a former letter, I have had in January past a sale

of

negroes made for the purpose of paying my bonds to Henderson & co. The amount of the sales returned to me is £700-1-5. besides which there is one

other bond not yet taken which will be about £100. so that the whole is about £800. Virginia currency, the one half payable the next christmas, the other half christmas twelvemonth. The ensuing winter I hope to be able to add from another source £200 or a little upwards, so as to compleat the bonds payable 1791. 2. 3. and 4. one half the money receivably this year and the whole by the end of 1796. I expected ere this to have been in Virginia and to have put into your hands myself the bonds for the £700.1.6. but particular circumstances defer my departure till the latter end of summer. In the meantime the bonds are lodged at Monticello.

The last bond to Henderson & co. and my mother's balance will then remain, as I have now cleared myself of Farrell & Jones by bonds in like manner to within about 100, I shall be more able to manage the last bond to Henderson & my mother's balance : but still I can by no means promise myself to do it by the time stipulated. However when I return to my own country & my own affairs I shall have time to examine into my own resources for doing it. In the mean time I am with sincere esteem Dear your affectionate friend & Servt.

TO THE BRITISH MINISTER.

(GEORGE HAMMOND.)

J. MSS.

PHILADELPHIA, Apr. 18. 1793.

SIR, I have now the honor to inclose you the answer of the Attorney General to my letter covering yours of Mar 12 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 U. S. 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, & the merits thereby been brought into question. From this statement you will be able to judge whether Pagan has bond fide complied with the rule which requires that a foreigner, before he applies for extraordinary interposition, should use his best endeavors to obtain the justice he claims from the ordinary tribunals of the country. You will perceive also that had the writ been pressed for & obtained, & the substantial justice of Pagan's claim thereby brought into discussion, substantial justice would have been against him, according to the opinion of the Attorney General, according to the uniform decisions of the courts of the US, even in the case of their own citizens, and according to the decision of this very case in the British provincial court where the evidence was taken & the trial first had. This does not appear then to be one of those cases of gross & palpable wrong ascribable only to wickedness of the heart, & not to error of the head, in the judges who have decided on it, & founding a claim of national satisfaction. At least, that it is so, remains yet to be demonstrated.

The readiness with which the government of the US. has entered into enquiries concerning the case of Mr. Pagan, even before that case was ripe for their interposition according to ordinary rules, will, I hope, satisfy you, that they would with equal readiness have done for the redress of his case whatever the laws & constitution would have permitted them to do, had it appeared in the result that their courts had been guilty of partiality or other gross wrong against Mr. Pagan. On the contrary, it is hoped, that the marked attentions which have been shewn to him by the government of Massachusets, as well as by that of the U S. have evinced the most scrupulous dispositions to patronize & effectuate his right had right been on his side.

CABINET OPINION ON PROCLAMATION AND FRENCH

MINISTER.

W. MSS.

Apr. 19, 1793.

At a meeting of the heads of departments & the Attorney general at the President's Apr. 19. 1793. by special summons to consider of several questions previously communicated to them in writing by the President.

Qu. I. Shall a Proclamation issue & ? (See the questions)

Agreed by all that a Proclamation shall issue, forbidding our citizens to take part in any hostilities on the seas with or against any of the belligerant powers, and warning them against carrying to any such powers any of those articles deemed contraband according to the modern usage of Nations, and enjoining them from all acts and proceedings inconsistent with the duties of a friendly nation towards those at war.

Qu. II. Shall a minister from the Republic of France be received?
Agreed unanimously that he shall be received.

Qu. III. If received, shall it be absolutely, &

1

This & the subsequent questions are postponed to another day.

TO THE U. S. MINISTER TO FRANCE.
(GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.)

DEAR SIR,

J. MSS.

Philadelphia, Apr. 20. 1793.

* No country perhaps was ever so thoroughly against war as ours. These dispositions pervade every description of its citizens, whether in or out of Office. They cannot perhaps suppress their affections, nor their wishes. But they will suppress the effects of them so as to preserve a fair neutrality. Indeed we shall be more useful as neutrals than as parties by the protection which our flag will give to supplies of provision. In this spirit let all your assurances be given to the government with which you reside. I am with great & sincere esteem Dear Sir your most obedt & humble Servt.

1 At this point the following is struck out:

"The Attorney general & Secretary of state are of opinion he should be received absolutely & without qualifications.

"The Secretaries of the Treasury & War?"

TO GEORGE WYTHE.

J. MSS.

PHILADELPHIA, Apr. 27. 1793.

DEAR SIR, I received not till yesterday your favor of the 12th Mr. Dorepard was paid the 64. Dollars agreed for, on the delivery of his work. As draughts on Richmond cannot be disposed of here, take any opportunity at your convenience of remitting the sum here. The custom house officers can generally give post-bills of the bank of the U. S. here. But these must not be confounded with branch-bank bills which the bank here will not receive. We understand that a French frigate has taken several English vessels off the capes of Delaware, within two or three days after they had left Philadelphia. We shall be a little embarrassed occasionally till we feel ourselves firmly seated in the saddle of neutrality. I am with great & sincere esteem & respect D: Sir Your affectionate friend & Servt.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

W. MSS.

PHILADELPHIA Apr. 28. 1793.

SIR,-According to the intimation the other day, and indeed according to my own wish in a question, if not difficult, yet very important, I have the honor to inclose you a written opinion on the question Whether the U S. ought to declare their treaties with France void, or suspended?

This contains my answer to the 2o 3d 4th 5th & 6th of the written queries.

The 1st had been before answered & acted on.

The 7th 8th 9th & 10th are questions on the Guarantee, which it may possibly never be necessary to answer; or if we should be called on we may then take due time to give in the answer, which