University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Dear Sir,—Your favor of the 31 ult: came to hand
yesterday. As the reason which chiefly urged my
departure for Virga has ceased I have been led to
protract my attendance on Congress by the interest I

felt in some measures on foot, and the particular interest
which my Constituents have in them. Two of
these were the territorial Cession and the permanent
seat of Congress. The former was a few days ago
put into a form which I hope will meet the ultimatum
of Virginia. The first monday in next month is fixed
for a decision of the latter; after which it may still be
necessary to choose a temporary residence until the
permanent one can be made ready. I am utterly unable
to foretell how either of these points will be determined.
It is not impossible that an effective vote
may be found attainable on neither; in which case the
Winter must be spent in this village where the public
business can neither be conveniently done, the members
of Congress be decently provided for, nor those
connected with Congress provided for at all. I shall
lose no time in looking out for quarters for you & entering
into provisional engagements in your favor.
Your other request relative to Miss Patsy shall be
equally attended to as soon as I go to Philada, which
will probably be towards the end of the present week.

It will give me real concern if we should miss one
another altogether in the journies before us; and yet
I foresee the danger of it. Mr. Jones & myself will
probably be on the road by the middle of next month
or a few days later. This is the time about which
you expect to commence your journey. Unless therefore
we travel the same road a disappointment of
more [than] an interview will be unavoidable. At
present our plan is to proceed thro' Baltimore & Alexandria
& Fredericksbg and we may possibly be at the

races of the second place. I am at a loss by what
regulation I can obey your wishes with regard to the
notes I have on hand; having not yet made any
copy of them, having no time now for that purpose,
and being unwilling for several reasons to leave them
all behind me. A disappointment however will be
of the less consequence as they have been much
briefer & more interrupted since the period at which
you run them over, and have been altogether discontinued
since the arrival of Congs here.

My plan of spending this winter in Philada. in close
reading was not entirely abandoned untill Congress
left that City and shewed an utter disinclination to
return to it. The prospect of agreeable and even instructive
society was an original consideration with
me; and the subsequent one having yours added to
it would have confirmed my intention after the
abortive issue of another plan,[1] had not the solicitude
of a tender & infirm parent exacted a visit to Virga
and an uncertainty of returning been thereby incurred.
Even at present if Congs. sd. make Philaa.
their seat this winter & I can decline a visit to Virga.
or speedily get away from it, my anxiety on the subject
will be renewed.

Our last information from Europe is dated the 27th
July. France & Spain were then ready for the
definitive signing of the Peace. Holland was on the
point of being so. The American Plenipos. had done
nothing on the subject and in case of emergency

could only sign the provisional Treaty as final. Their
negotiations had been spent chiefly on commercial
stipulations from which G. B. after very different
professions & appearances, altogether drew back.
The ready admission she found into our commerce
without paying any price for it has suggested the
policy of aiming at the entire benefit of it, and at
the same time saving the carriage of the W. India
trade the price she at first bid for it. The supposed
contrariety of interests among the States and the
impotence of the fœderal Govt., are urged by the
ministerial pamphleteers as a safeguard agst. retaliation.
The other nations of Europe seem to have
more honorable views towards our commerce, sundry
advances having been made to our Ministers on that
subject.

Congress have come to no decision even as yet on
any of the great branches of the peace establishment.
The military branch is supported and quickened by
the presence of the Commander in Chief, but without
any prospect of a hasty issue. The department of
foreign Affairs both internal & external remains as it
has long done. The election of a Secy. has been an
order of the day for many months without a vote
being taken. The importance of the marine department
has been diminished by the sale of almost all
the Vessels belonging to the U. S. The department
of Finance is an object of almost daily attack and
will be reduced to its crisis on the final resignation of
Mr. M., which will take place in a few months.
The War Office is connected with the Military establishment

& will be regulated I suppose in conformity
to what that may be. Among other subjects which
divide Congress, their Constitutional authority touching
such an establishment in time of peace is one.
Another still more puzzling is the precise jurisdiction
proper for Congress within the limits of their permanent
seat. As these points may possibly remain undecided
till Novr, I mention them particularly that your aid
may be prepared. The investigation of the Mutiny
ended in the condemnation of several Sergeants who
were stimulated to the measure without being apprized
of the object by the two officers who escaped. They
have all recd. a pardon from Congress. The real plan
& object of the mutiny lies in profound darkness. I
have written this in hopes that it may get to Monticello
before you leave it. It might have been made
more interesting if I had brought the Cypher from
Philada., tho' my present situation required a great
effort to accomplish as much as I have. I am obliged
to write in a position that scarcely admits the use of
any of my limbs, Mr. Jones & myself being lodged
in a room not 10 feet square and without a single
accommodation for writing.

I am Dear Sir your sincere friend & Obt. Servt.