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1 am persuaded that government would gladly arrange this me- thod with us, and send their packets in the mtermediate months, as they are tired of the expense.. We should then have a safe conveyance every two months, and one for common matters every month. A courier would pass between this and Havre in twenty- four hours. Could not the surplus of the post office revenue be applied to this? ‘This establishment would look like the conimence- ment of a little navy ; the only kind of force we ought to possess. You mention that Congress is on the subject of requisition. No subject is more interesting to the honor of the States. It is an opinion which prevails much in Europe, that our government wants authority to draw money from the States, and that the States want faith to pay their debts. I shall wish much to hear how far the requisitions on the States are productive of actual cash. Mr. Grand informed me, the other day, that the commissioners were dissatis- fied with his having paid to this country but two hundred thousand livres, of the four hundred thousand for which Mr. Adams drew on Holland ; reserving the residue to replace his advances and fur- nish current expenses. ‘They observed that these last objects might have been effected by the residue of the money in Holland, which was lying dead. Mr. Grand’s observation to me was, that Mr. Adams did not like to draw for these purposes, that he him- self had no authority, and that the commissioners had not accom- panied their complaints with any draft on that fund; so that the debt still remains unpaid, while the money is lymg dead in Hol- land. He did not desire me to mention this circumstance ; but should you see the commissioners, it might not be amiss to com- municate it to them, that they may take any measures they please, if they think it proper to do any thing in it. Iam anxious to hear what is done with the States of Vermont and Franklin. I think. that the former is the only innovation on the system of April 23rd, 1784, which ought ever possibly to be admitted. If Congress are not firm on that head, our several States will crumble to atoms by the spirit of establishing every little canton mto a separate State. I hope Virginia will concur in that plan as to her territory South of the Ohio ; and not leave to the western country to withdraw them- selves by force, and become our worst enemies instead of our best friends. |
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of great respect,
your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant, Tu: JEFFERSON.
