University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MONROE.

Dear Sir,—On Saturday last a proposition was
agreed to for establishing Circuit Courts throughout
this Commonwealth, and yesterday a bill for that purpose
was reported. On wednesday next it will undergo
a discussion of the Come of the Whole. The
circumstances under which it has passed thus far seem
to promise a favorable issue, but the dangers which it
is yet to go thro' are formidable. They proceed from
latent & interested objections which have on several
former occasions proved fatal to similar attempts. The
plan is pretty analogous to the Nisi prius establishmt. in
England. On Tuesday sundry propositions were
made by Mr. Jones in favor of the 4 art: of the
Treaty of peace. They passed by a large majority
with blanks as to the length of time to be given for
the payment of the principal and for disallowing the
interest. The former was filled up with seven years,
in preference to 10, 8, 6, & 5 which were contended
for on different sides. The latter with the period between
Apl 19, 1775, & March 3, 1783, in preference

to the period between the first date & May 1784,
the date of the exchange of Ratifications. The bill
will probably pass but not I fear without some improper
ingredients, & particularly some conditions
relative to the N. W. Posts, or the Negroes which lye
without our province. The bill for the Religious
Asst. was reported yesterday and will be taken up in a
Come. of the whole next week. Its friends are much
disheartened at the loss of Mr. Henry. Its fate is I
think very uncertain. Another Act of the H. of D.
during the prest. week is a direction to the Executive
to carry into effect the vote of a Bust to the Marquis
de la fayette, to be presented to the City of Paris, &
to cause another to be procured to be set up in this
Country. These resolutions are so contrived as to
hide as much as possible the circumstance in the original
vote of the bust being to be presented to the
Marquis himself. I find by a Letter from Gl Washington
that he was on the 28th Ult: just setting out to
accompany the Marquis to Annapolis & thence to
Baltimore. The latter may therefore soon be expected
at Trenton. He has been much caressed here as
well as everywhere else in his Tour, and I make no
doubt he will leave Congs. with equal reason to be
pleased with his visit. I meant to have sent you a
copy of the Resolutions touching the Busts, but have
been disappointed in getting one. They were offered
by Mr. Jones & agreed to unanimously, as they no
doubt will also be in the Senate. Wishing you all happiness,
I am