Though I have no memorandum of the delivery of this to the Senate, yet I have not the least doubt it was given in to them, and will be found among their records. I find, among my press copies, the following in my hand writing: "The committee to report, that the President does not think that circumstances will justify, in the present instance, his entering into _absolute_ engagements for the ransom of our captives in Algiers, nor calling for money from the treasury, nor raising it by loan, without previous authority from _both branches_ of the Legislature." April 9, 1792. I do not recollect the occasion of the above paper with certainty; but I think there was a committee appointed by the Senate to confer with the President on the subject of the ransom, and to advise what is there declined, and that a member of the committee advising privately with me as to the report they were to make to the House, I minuted down the above, as the substance of what he observed to be the proper report, after what had passed with the President, and gave the original to the member, preserving the press copy. I think the member was either Mr. Izard or Mr. Butler, and have no doubt such a report will be found on the files of the Senate. On the 8th of May following, in consequence of questions proposed by the President to the Senate, they came to a resolution, on which a mission was founded. TO P. MAZZEI.[4] MONTICELLO, April 24, 1796. MY DEAR FRIEND,-- * * * * *