University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Dear Sir,—Your favor of the 17th of Sepr., with
sundry other letters and packets, came duly by the
last packet. Such of them as were addressed to
others were duly forwarded. The three Boxes,
marked I M. G. W. and A D. it appears, were never
shipped from Havre. Whenever they arrive your
commands with regard to the two last shall be attended
to, as well as those relating to some of the
contents of the first. I have not been able to get
any satisfactory account of Will.m S. Browne. Alderman
Broom tells me that he professed to receive the
money from him for the use of Mr. Burke. I shall
not lose sight of the subject, and will give you the
earliest information of the result of my enquiries.
The annexed list of trees will shew you that I have
ventured to substitute half a dozen sorts of apples in
place of the pippins alone, and to add 8 other sorts of
American trees, including twenty of the Sugar maple.
They were obtained from a Mr. Prince in the neighborhood
of this City, who deals largely in this way,
and is considered as a man of worth. I learn from
him that he has executed various commissions for
Europe & the West Indies, as well as places less distant;
and that he has been generally very successful
in preserving the trees from perishing by such distant
transplantations. He does not use moss as you prescribe
but encloses the roots in a bag of earth. As
moss is not to be got, as he says, it is uncertain
whether necessity or choice gives the preference to

the latter. I inclose a catalogue of his nursery and
annex the price of the sample I send you, that you
may, if you incline, give orders for any other supply.
I doubt whether the Virg.a Red Birds are found in this
part of America. Opossums are not rare in the
milder parts of New Jersey, but are very rare this
far Northward. I shall nevertheless avail myself of
any opportunities which may happen for procuring
and forwarding both. Along with the Box of trees I
send by the Packet, to the care of Mr. Limosin, 2
Barrels of New-town pippins, and 2 of Cranberries.
In one of the latter the Cranberries are put up dry
in the other in water; the opinions and accounts
differing as to the best mode. You will note the
event of the experiment.

The Constitution proposed by the late Convention
engrosses almost the whole political attention of
America. All the Legislatures, except that of R.
Island, which has assembled, have agreed in submitting
it to State Conventions. Virginia has set the
example of opening a door for amendments, if the
Convention there should chuse to propose them.
Maryland has copied it. The States which preceded,
referred the Constitution as recommended by the
Genl. Convention, to be ratified or rejected as it
stands. The Convention of Pennsylvania, is now
sitting. There are about 44 or 45 on the affirmative
and about half that number on the opposite side. A
considerable number of the Constitutional party as it
was called, having joined the other party in espousing
the Federal Constitution. The returns of deputies

for the Convention of Connecticut are known, and
prove, as is said by those who known the men that a
very great majority will adopt it in that State. The
event in Massachusetts lies in greater uncertainty.
The friends of the New Gov.t continue to eb sanguine.
N. Hampshire from every account, as well as from
some general inducements felt there will pretty certainly
be on the affirmative side. So will new Jersey
and Delaware. N. York is much divided. She will
hardly dissent from N. England, particularly if the
conduct of the latter should coincide with that of
N. Jersey and Pennsylva.. A more formidable opposition
is likely to be made in Maryland than was at
first conjectured. Mr. Mercer, it seems, who was a
member of the Convention, though his attendance
was but for a short time, is become an auxiliary to
Chase. Johnson the Carrolls, Govr. Lee, and most
of the other characters of weight, are on the other
side. Mr. T. Stone died a little before the Government
was promulged. The body of the people in
Virgina., particularly in the upper and lower Country,
and in the Northern neck, are as far as I can gather,
much disposed to adopt the New Constitution.
The middle Country, and the South side of James
River are principally in the opposition to it. As yet
a large majority of the people are under the first
description. As yet also are a majority of the Assembly.
What change may be produced by the
united influence and exertions of Mr. Henry, Mr.
Mason, & the Governor,[34] with some pretty able auxiliaries,
is uncertain. My information leads me to
suppose there must be three parties in Virginia. The
first for adopting without attempting amendments.
This includes Genl. W and ye other deputies who
signed the Constitution, Mr. Pendleton, (Mr. Marshall,
I believe,) Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Corbin, Mr. Zachy.
Johnson, Col. Innes, (Mr. B. Randolph as I understand)
Mr. Harvey Mr. Gabriel Jones, Docr. Jones,
&c., &c. At the head of the 2d. party which urges
amendments are the Govr. & Mr. Mason. These do
not object to the substance of the Governt., but contend
for a few additional guards in favor of the
Rights of the States and of the people. I am not
able to enumerate the characters which fall in with
their ideas, as distinguished from those of a third
class, at the head of which is Mr. Henry. This class
concurs at present with the patrons of Amendments,
but will probably contend for such as strike at the
essence of the System, and must lead to an adherence
to the principle of the existing confederation, which
most thinking men are convinced is a visionary one,
or to a partition of the Union into several Confederacies.
Mr. Harrison the late Govr., is with Mr. Henry.
So are a number of others. The General and Admiralty
Courts with most of the Bar, oppose the
Constitution, but on what particular grounds I am
unable to say. Genl. Nelson, Mr. Jno page, Col.
Bland, &c., are also opponents, but on what principle
and to what extent I am equally at a loss to say. In
general I must note, that I speak with respect to
many of these names, from information that may not
be accurate, and merely as I should do in a free and
confidential conversation with you. I have not yet
heard Mr. Wythe's sentiments on the subject.
Doc.r McClurg the other absent deputy, is a very
strenuous defender of the new Government. Mr.
Henry is the great adversary who will render the event
precarious. He is I find with his usual address, working
up every possible interest into a spirit of opposition.
It is worthy of remark that whilst in Virga.,
and some of the other States in the middle & Southern
Districts of the Union, the men of intelligence,
patriotism, property, and independent circumstances,
are thus divided, all of this description, with a few
exceptions, in the Eastern States, & most of the
Middle States, are zealously attached to the proposed
Constitution. In N. England, the men of letters,
the principal officers of Govt., the Judges & lawyers,
the Clergy, and men of property, furnish only here
and there an adversary. It is not less worthy of remark
that in Virginia where the mass of the people
have been so much accustomed to be guided by their
rulers on all new and intricate questions, they should
on the present which certainly surpasses the judgment
of the greater part of them, not only go before,
but contrary to their most popular leaders. And the
phenomenon is the more wonderful, as a popular
ground is taken by all the adversaries to the new
Constitution. Perhaps the solution in both these
cases would not be very difficult; but it would
lead to observations too diffusive; and to you unnecessary.
I will barely observe that the case in
Virga. seems to prove that the body of sober & steady
people, even of the lower order, are tired of the
vicissitudes, injustice, and follies, which have so
much characterized public measures, and are impatient
for some change which promises stability and
repose. The proceedings of the present assembly
are more likely to cherish than remove this disposition.
I find Mr. Henry has carried a Resolution for
prohibiting the importation of Rum, brandy, and
other ardent spirits; and if I am not misinformed
all manufactured leather, hats, and sundry other
articles are included in the prohibition. Enormous
duties at least are likely to take place on the last &
many other articles. A project of this sort without
the concurrence of the other States is little short of
madness. With such concurrence, it is not practicable
without resorting to expedients equally noxious
to liberty and economy. The consequences of the
experiment in a single State as unprepared for manufactures
as Virginia may easily be preconceived. The
Revised Code will not be resumed. Mr. Henry is an
inveterate adversary to it. Col. Mason made a regular
and powerful attack on the port Bill, but was left in a
very small minority. I found at the last Session that
that regulation was not to be shaken; though it certainly
owes its success less to its principal merits, than
to collateral & casual considerations. The popular
ideas are that by favoring the collection of duties on
imports it saves the solid property from direct taxes;
and that it injures G. Britain by lessening the advantage
she has over other Nations in the trade of Virginia.

We have no certain information from the three
Southern States concerning the temper relative to the
New Government. It is in general favorable according
to the vague accounts we have. Opposition however
will be made in each. Mr. Wiley Jones and
Governor Caswell have been named as opponents
in N. Carolina.

So few particulars have come to hand concerning
the state of things in Georgia[35] that I have nothing to
add on that subject, to the contents of my last by
Commodore Jones.

We have two or three States only yet met for
Congs. As many more can be called in when their
attendance will make a quorum. It continues to be
problematical whether the interregnum will not be
spun out through the winter.

We remain in great uncertainty here with regard
to a war in Europe. Reports and suspicions are
strongly on the side of one. Such an event may be
considered in various relations to this Country. It
is pretty certain I think that if the present lax state
of our General Government should continue, we shall
not only lose certain capital advantages which might
be drawn from it; but be in danger of being plunged
into difficulties, which may have a very serious effect
on our future fortunes.

I remain Dear Sir with the most sincere esteem &
affection. Your Obedt. Servt.

P. S. I have delivered your message to Mr.
Thomas & settled the pecuniary matter with him.

The letters which you put under the same cover,
with the seals of one joining the superscription of
the contiguous letter, come when the weather has
been warm in such a state that it is often difficult to
separate them without tearing out the superscription.
A bit of paper between the adjoining letters over the
seal would prevent this inconveniency.

                               

No. 1	6 New Town Spitzenburg	Apples	50 trees at 2s	£5. 0. 0
2	20. New Town pippins	do
3	6. Esopus Spitzenburg	do
4	6. Jersey Greening	do
5	5—6 R. Island Greening	do
6	6. Everlasting	do
7	10. American Plumbs		1s 6	15
8	8. Live Oaks		9d	6
9	20. Sugar Maples		2s	£
10	10. Candle berry Myrtles		9d	7—6
11	6. Standard American Honey Suckles		1s 6	9
12	6. Three thorned Accacia		1s 6	9
13	6. Rhododendrons		2s	12
14	6. Dogwood Trees		1s 6	9
	Box & Matts			5 6
Dollar at 8 shillgs.				£10—13