LETTER CII. TO MESSRS. DUMAS AND SHORT:
Paris, September 1 , 1785. GENTLEMEN,
I have been duly honored with the receipt of your separate let ters, of August 23rd, and should sooner have returned an answer, but that as you had written also to Mr. Adams, I thought it pos sible I might receive his sentiments on the subject, in time for the post. Not thinking it proper to lose the occasion of the post, I have concluded to communicate to you my separate sentiments, which you will of course pay attention to, only so far as they may concur with what you shall receive from Mr. Adams.
On a review of our letters to the Baron de Thulemeyer, I do not find that we had proposed that the treaty should be in two co lumns, the one English, and the other what he should think proper. We certainly intended to have, proposed it. We had agreed together, that it should be an article of system with us, and the omission of it, in this instance, has been accidental. My own opinion, there fore, is, that to avoid the appearance of urging new propositions when every thing appeared to be arranged, we should agree to consider the French column as the original, if the Baron de Thu lemeyer thinks himself bound to insist on it : but if the practice of his court will admit of the execution in the two languages, each to be considered as equally original, it would be very pleasing to me, as it will accommodate it to our views, relieve us from the embar rassment of this precedent, which may be urged against us on other occasions, and be more agreeable to our country, where the French language is spoken by very few. This method will be also attend ed with the advantage, that if any expression in any part of the treaty is equivocal in the one language, its true sense will be known by the corresponding passage in the other.
The errors of the copyist, in the French column, you will cor rect of course.
I have the honor to be, with very high esteem, Gentlemen, your most obedient and
most humble servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
