In questions like the present, important neither in principle nor amount, I think the collectors should decide for themselves, and especially as they, and they only, are the legally competent judges; for I believe the law makes them the judges of the security. If the indulgence proposed be within the intentions of the law, they can grant it; if it be not, we cannot. But it is the practice in all cases for the officer who is charged with the taking security, to be indulgent in a hard case, as where the person is a stranger, could he not take hypothecations of their vessels? although the law may not specially authorize this, yet the collector can take it as counter security for himself, and he can assign it to the government. Affectionate salutations. TO MR. GALLATIN. February 10, 1808. It would certainly be very desirable that our citizens should be able to draw home their property from beyond sea, and it is possible that Mr. Parish's proposition might be instrumental to that. But it would be too bold an extension of the views of the Legislature in the portion of discretion they have given us. They could not mean to give us so extensive a power of dispensation as would result from the duty of giving special licenses to merchants, and such a power, guided by no Legislative regulations, would be liable to great abuse, and greater complaints of it. I see therefore, neither justification nor safety in leaving the ground we have taken, of confining the discretionary power given us to the public correspondence and public interests. If the drawing this mass of specie here could be any way connected with any direct public operation, the danger of the precedent would be guarded against; but as it is presented to us, I think it inadmissible. Affectionate salutations. TO MR. SMITH. February 14, 1808. I believe we must employ some of our gun-boats to aid in the execution of the embargo law. Some British ships in the Delaware, one of them loaded with fifteen hundred barrels of flour for Jamaica, another armed as a letter of marque, openly mean to go out by force. The last is too strong for the revenue cutters. Mr. Brice also, of Baltimore, asks armed assistance. I see nothing at present to prevent our sparing a couple of gun-boats from New York to go into the Delaware, and a couple from Norfolk to come up to the head of the Bay. Will this interfere with more important duties? Affectionate salutations. TO MR. GALLATIN. February 14, 1808. I have written to Mr. Smith, proposing to order a couple of gun-boats from New York into the Delaware, and two from Norfolk to the head of the bay. I hope the passage of naval stores into Canada will be prevented. I enclose for your information the account of a silver mine to fill your treasury. Affectionate salutations. TO MR. DANIEL SALMON.