4108. JEFFERSON (Thomas), Offices held by.—[further continued].
Soon after my leaving
Congress, in September, '76, to wit, on
the last day of that month [256]
, I had been appointed,
with Dr. Franklin, to go to France,
as a Commissioner, to negotiate treaties of
alliance and commerce with that government.
Silas Deane, then in France, acting as
agent for procuring military stores, was
joined with us in commission. But such was
the state of my family that I could not leave
it, nor could I expose it to the dangers of
the sea, and of capture by the British ships,
then covering the ocean. I saw, too, that the
laboring oar was really at home, where much
was to be done of the most permanent interest,
in new moodelling our governments,
and much to defend our fanes and firesides
from the desolations of an invading enemy,
pressing on our country in every point. I
declined, therefore, and Dr. Lee was appointed
in my place.—
Autobiography. Washington ed. i, 51.
Ford ed., i, 70.
(1812)
