The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
articles, and lighter than others on all of them. English vessels, on
the other hand, are distinguished by paying heavier duties than those of
any other nation. Should you desire any further information, or to pass
letters with certainty to any mercantile house in America, do me the favor
to address yourselves to me, at Paris, and I shall do whatever depends on
me, for this object.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of high esteem and respect, Sir,
your most obedient humble servant.
TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.
PARIS, June 14, 1787.
DEAR SIR,--Having got back to Paris three days ago, I resume immediately
the correspondence with which you have been pleased to honor me. I wish
I could have begun it with more agreeable information than that furnished
me by Mr. Grand, that the funds of the United States here are exhausted,
and himself considerably in advance; and by the board of treasury at New
York, that they have no immediate prospect of furnishing us supplies. We
are thus left to shift for ourselves, without previous warning. As soon as
they shall replenish Mr. Grand's hands, I will give you notice, that you
may recommence your usual drafts on him; unless the board should provide a
separate fund for you, dependent on yourself alone, which I have strongly
and repeatedly pressed on them, in order to remove the indecency of
suffering your drafts to pass through any intermediate hand for payment.
My letters from America came down to the 24th of April. The disturbances
in the Eastern States were entirely settled. I do not learn that
the government had made any examples. Mr. Hancock's health being
re-established, the want of which had occasioned him to resign the
government of Massachusetts, he has been re-elected to the exclusion of
Governor Bowdoin. New York still refuses to pass the impost in any form,
and, were she to pass it, Pennsylvania will not uncouple it from the
supplementary funds. These two States and Virginia are the only ones, my
letters say, which have paid anything into the Continental treasury, for
a twelve month past. I send you a copy of a circular letter from Congress
to the several States, insisting on their removing all obstructions to the
recovery of British debts. This was hurried, that it might be delivered
to the Assembly of New York before they rose. It was delivered, but
they did nothing in consequence of it. The convention to be assembled at
Philadelphia will be an able one. Ten States were known to have appointed
delegates. Maryland was about to appoint; Connecticut was doubtful; and
Rhode Island had refused. We are sure, however, of eleven States. South
Carolina has prohibited the importation of slaves for three years; which
is a step towards a perpetual prohibition. Between six and seven hundred
thousand acres of land are actually surveyed into townships, and the sales
are to begin immediately. They are not to be sold for less than a dollar
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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