University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Dear Sir,—I have just recd. your favor of the 17th.
The same mail brings me the "Proceedings of the

Govt. of the U. S. relative to the Batture," for which
you will accept my thanks.

I had not supposed that so great a proportion of
produce, particularly of Wheat & flour, was still in
the hands of the farmers. In Penna. it was known
to be the case. In N. Y. almost the whole of the
last crop, is in the Country, though chiefly in the
hands of the Merchants & Millers. The measure
of the Embargo was made a difficult one, both as to
its duration & its date, by the conflict of opinions
here, and of local interests elsewhere; and to these
causes are to be added, that invariable opposition,
open with some & covert with others, which have
perplexed & impeded the whole course of our public
measures. You will have noticed that the Embargo
as recommended to Congs. was limited to 60 days.
Its extension to 90 proceeded from the united votes
of those who wished to make it a negotiating instead
of a war measure, of those who wished to put off the
day of war as long as possible, if ultimately to be met,
& of those whose mercantile constituents had ships
abroad, which would be favored in their chance of
getting safely home. Some also who wished &
hoped to anticipate the expiration of the terms,
calculated on the ostensible postponement of the
war question as a ruse agst the Enemy. At present
great differences of opinion exist, as to the time &
form of entering into hostilities; whether at a very
early or later day, or not before the end of the 90
days, and whether by a general declaration, or by
a commencement with letters of M. & Reprisal.

The question is also to be brought forward for an
adjournment for 15 or 18 days. Whatever may be
the decision on all these points, it can scarcely be
doubted that patience in the holders of Wheat &
flour at least, will secure them good prices; Such
is the scarcity all over Europe, and the dependence
of the W. Indies on our supplies. Mr. Maury writes
me, on the 21st of March, that flour had suddenly
risen to 16 1/2 dollars, and a further rise looked
for. And it is foreseen, that in a State of War, the
Spanish & Portuguese flags & papers real or counterfeit,
will afford a neutral cover to our produce as
far as wanted, in ports in the favor of G. B. Licences
therefore on our part will not be necessary; which
tho' in some respects mitigating the evils of war,
are so pregnant with abuses of the worst sort, as to
be liable in others to strong objections. As managed
by the belligerents of Europe they are sources
of the most iniquitous & detestable practices.

The Hornet still loiters. A letter from Barlow
to Granger, fills us with serious apprehensions, that
he is burning his fingers with matters which will
work great embarrassment & mischief here; and
which his instructions could not have suggested.[51]

In E. Florida, Mathews has been playing a strange
comedy, in the face of common sense, as well as of
his instructions.[52] His extravagances place us in
the most distressing dilemma.

Always & affey. Yrs.