University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

. . . The non-importation bill has passed the
H. of Reps by 59 agst 34. It will probably miscarry
in the Senate. It prohibits all articles of British or
Irish production after the 1st Novr, until the claims
of the U. S. be adjusted and satisfied. The appointment
of H. as envoy Extry was likely to produce
such a sensation that to his great mortification he

was laid aside & Jay named in his place. The appointment
of the latter would have been difficult in
the Senate, but for some adventitious causes. There
were 10 votes agst him in one form of the opposition
and 8 on the direct question. As a resignation of his
Judiciary character might, for anything known to the
Senate, have been intended to follow his acceptance
of the Ex. trust, the ground of incompatibility could
not support the objections, which, since it has appeared
that such a resignation was no part of the
arrangement, are beginning to be pressed in the
Newspapers. If animadversions are undertaken by
skilful hands, there is no measure of the Ex. administration
perhaps that will be found more
severely vulnerable.

The English prints breathe an unabated zeal for
the war agst France. The Minister carries everything
as usual in Parll notwithstanding the miscarriages
at Toulon &c; and his force will be much increased
by the taking of Martinique, and the colouring
it will give to the W. India prospects. Nothing
further appears as to the views prevailing in relation
to us. The latter accls from the W. Inds since
the new Instruction of Jany 8 are rather favorable
to the Merchants, & alleviate their resentments; so
that G. B. seems to have derived from the excess of
her aggressions a title to commit them in a less
degree with impunity. The French arms continue
to prosper, the' no very capital event is brought by
the latest arrivals.