DEARSIR——MylasttoyouwasofMar。7。sincewhichIhavereceivedyourNos。8。and9。Iamapprehensivethatyoursituationmusthavebeendifficultduringthetransitionfromthelateformofgovernmenttothere-establishmentofsomeotherlegitimateauthority，andthatyoumayhavebeenatalosstodeterminewithwhombusinessmightbedone。Neverthelesswhenprinciplesarewellunderstoodtheirapplicationislessembarrassing。Wesurelycannotdenytoanynationthatrightwhereonourowngovernmentisfounded，thateveryonemaygovernitselfunderwhateverformsitpleases，andchangetheseformsatit’sownwill，andthatitmaytransactit’sbusinesswithforeignnationsthroughwhateverorganitthinksproper，whetherKing，convention，assembly，committee，President，orwhateverelseitmaychuse。Thewillofthenationistheonlythingessentialtoberegarded。OnthedissolutionofthelateconstitutioninFrance，byremovingsointegralapartofitastheKing，theNationalAssembly，towhomapartonlyofthepublicauthorityhadbeendelegated，sensibleoftheincompetenceoftheirpowerstotransacttheaffairsofthenationlegitimately，incitedtheirfellowcitizenstoappointanationalconventionduringthisdefectivestateofthenationalauthority。Dutytoourconstituentsrequiredthatweshouldsuspendpaimentofthemoniesyetunpaidofourdebttothatcountry，becausetherewasnopersonorpersonssubstantiallyauthorizedbythenationofFrancetoreceivethemoniesandgiveusagoodacquittal。Onthisgroundmylastletterdesiredyoutosuspendpaimentstillfurtherorders，withanassurance，ifnecessary，thatthesuspensionshouldnotbecontinuedamomentlongerthanshouldbenecessaryforustoseethere-establishmentofsomepersonorbodyofpersonswithauthoritytoreceiveandgiveusagoodacquittal。SincethatwelearnthataConventionisassembled，investedwithfullpowersbythenationtotransactit’saffairs。Tho’weknowthatfromthepublicpapersonly，insteadofwaitingforaformalannunciationofit，wehastentoactuponitbyauthorizingyou，ifthefactbetrue，toconsiderthesuspensionofpaiment，directedinmylastletter，asnowtakenoff，andtoproceedasifithadneverbeenimposed；consideringtheConvention，orthegovernmenttheyshallhaveestablishedasthelawfulrepresentativesoftheNationandauthorizedtoactforthem。
Neitherthehonornorinclinationofourcountrywouldjustifyourwithholdingourpaimentunderascrupulousattentiontoforms。Onthecontrarytheylentusthatmoneywhenwewereundertheircircumstances，anditseemsprovidentialthatwecannotonlyrepaythemthesamesum，butunderthesamecircumstances。Indeed，wewishtoomitnoopportunityofconvincingthemhowcordiallywedesiretheclosestunionwiththem：Mutualgoodoffices，mutualaffectionandsimilarprinciplesofgovernmentseemtohavedestinedthetwopeopleforthemostintimatecommunion，andevenforacompleteexchangeofcitizenshipamongtheindividualscomposingthem。
DuringthefluctuatingstateoftheAssignatsofFrance，Imustaskthefavorofyoutoinformmeineveryletteroftherateofexchangebetweenthem&coin，thisbeingnecessaryfortheregulationofourcustomhouses。WearecontinuingoursuppliestotheislandofSt。DomingoattherequestoftheMinisterofFrancehere。WewouldwishhowevertoreceiveamoreformalsanctionfromthegovernmentofFrancethanhasyetbeengiven。Indeed，weknowofnonebutavoteofthelateNationalAssemblyfor4millionsoflivresofourdebt，senttothegovernmentofSt。Domingo，communicatedbythemtotheMinisterhere，&byhimtous。Andthiswasintermsnotproperlyapplicabletotheformofouradvances。Wewishthereforeforafullsanctionofthepast&acompleteexpressionofthedesiresoftheirgovernmentastofuturesuppliestotheircolonies。Besideswhatwehavefurnishedpublicly，individualmerchantsoftheU。S。havecarriedconsiderablesuppliestotheislandofSt。Domingo，whichhavebeensometimespurchased，sometimestakenbyforce，andbillsgivenbytheadministrationofthecolonyontheministerhere，whichhavebeenprotestedforwantoffunds。WehavenodoubtthatjusticewillbedonetothesePAEANTOTHEFRENCHREVOLUTION
_ToWilliamShort_
_Philadelphia，Jan。3，1793_
DEARSIR，——MylastprivatelettertoyouwasofOct。16。
sincewhichIhavereceivedyourNo。103，107，108，109，110，112，113&114andyesterdayyourprivateoneofSep15，cametohand。
Thetoneofyourlettershadforsometimegivenmepain，onaccountoftheextremewarmthwithwhichtheycensuredtheproceedingsoftheJacobinsofFrance。IconsideredthatsectasthesamewiththeRepublicanpatriots，&theFeuillantsastheMonarchicalpatriots，wellknownintheearlypartoftherevolution，&butlittledistantintheirviews，bothhavinginobjecttheestablishmentofafreeconstitution，&differingonlyonthequestionwhethertheirchiefExecutiveshouldbehereditaryornot。TheJacobinsassincecalledyieldedtotheFeuillants&triedtheexperimentofretainingtheirhereditaryExecutive。Theexperimentfailedcompletely，andwouldhavebroughtonthereestablishmentofdespotismhaditbeenpursued。TheJacobinssawthis，andthattheexpungingthatofficerwasofabsolutenecessity。AndtheNationwaswiththeminopinion，forhowevertheymighthavebeenformerlyfortheconstitutionframedbythefirstassembly，theywerecomeoverfromtheirhopeinit，andwerenowgenerallyJacobins。Inthestrugglewhichwasnecessary，manyguiltypersonsfellwithouttheformsoftrial，andwiththemsomeinnocent。TheseIdeploreasmuchasanybody，&shalldeploresomeofthemtothedayofmydeath。ButIdeplorethemasIshouldhavedonehadtheyfalleninbattle。Itwasnecessarytousethearmofthepeople，amachinenotquitesoblindasballsandbombs，butblindtoacertaindegree。Afewoftheircordialfriendsmetattheirhandsthefateofenemies。Buttimeandtruthwillrescue&
embalmtheirmemories，whiletheirposteritywillbeenjoyingthatverylibertyforwhichtheywouldneverhavehesitatedtoofferuptheirlives。Thelibertyofthewholeearthwasdependingontheissueofthecontest，andwaseversuchaprizewonwithsolittleinnocentblood?Myownaffectionshavebeendeeplywoundedbysomeofthemartyrstothiscause，butratherthanitshouldhavefailed，Iwouldhaveseenhalftheearthdesolated。WeretherebutanAdam&
anEveleftineverycountry，&leftfree，itwouldbebetterthanasitnowis。Ihaveexpressedtoyoumysentiments，becausetheyarereallythoseof99。inanhundredofourcitizens。Theuniversalfeasts，andrejoicingswhichhavelatelybeenhadonaccountofthesuccessesoftheFrenchshewedthegenuineeffusionsoftheirhearts。
Youhavebeenwoundedbythesufferingsofyourfriends，andhavebythiscircumstancebeenhurriedintoatemperofmindwhichwouldbeextremelydisrelishedifknowntoyourcountrymen。The_reserveofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates_hadneverpermittedmetodiscoverthelightinwhichheviewedit，andasIwasmoreanxiousthatyoushouldsatisfyhimthanme，Ihadstillavoidedexplanationswithyouonthesubject。Butyour113。inducedhimtobreaksilenceandtonoticetheextremeacrimonyofyourexpressions。Headdedthathehadbeeninformedthesentimentsyouexpressed_inyourconversations_wereequallyoffensivetoourallies，&thatyoushouldconsideryourselfastherepresentativeofyourcountryandthatwhatyousaymightbeimputedtoyourconstituents。Hedesiredmethereforetowritetoyouonthissubject。Headdedthatheconsidered_Franceasthesheetanchorofthiscountryanditsfriendshipasafirstobject。_ThereareintheU。S。somecharactersofoppositeprinciples；someofthemarehighinoffice，otherspossessinggreatwealth，andallofthemhostiletoFranceandfondlylookingtoEnglandasthestaffoftheirhope。TheseInamedtoyouonaformeroccasion。Theirprospectshavecertainlynotbrightened。
Exceptingthem，thiscountryisentirelyrepublican，friendstotheconstitution，anxioustopreserveitandtohaveitadministeredaccordingtoit’sownrepublicanprinciples。Thelittlepartyabovementionedhaveespouseditonlyasasteppingstonetomonarchy，andhaveendeavoredtoapproximateittothatinit’sadministrationinordertorenderit’sfinaltransitionmoreeasy。ThesuccessesofrepublicanisminFrancehavegiventhecoupdegracetotheirprospects，andIhopetotheirprojects——Ihavedevelopedtoyoufaithfullythesentimentsofyourcountry，thatyoumaygovernyourselfaccordingly。Iknowyourrepublicanismtobepure，andthatitisnodecayofthatwhichhasembitteredyouagainstit’svotariesinFrance，buttoogreatasensibilityatthepartialevilwhichit’sobjecthasbeenaccomplishedthere。IhavewrittentoyouinthestiletowhichIhavebeenalwaysaccustomedwithyou，andwhichperhapsitistimeIshouldlayaside。Butwhileoldmenaresensibleenoughoftheirownadvanceinyears，theydonotsufficientlyrecollectitinthosewhomtheyhaveseenyoung。Inwritingtoothelastprivateletterwhichwillprobablybewrittenunderpresentcircumstances，incontemplatingthatyourcorrespondencewillshortlybeturnedovertoIknownotwhom，butcertainlytosomeonenotinthehabitofconsideringyourinterestswiththesamefosteringanxietiesIdo，Ihavepresentedthingswithoutreserve，satisfiedyouwillascribewhatIhavesaidtoit’struemotive，useitforyourownbestinterest，andinthatfulfilcompletelywhatIhadinview。
WithrespecttothesubjectofyourletterofSep。15。youwillbesensiblethatmanyconsiderationswouldpreventmyundertakingthereformationofasystemwithwhichIamsosoontotakeleave。Itisbutcommondecencytoleavetomysuccessorthemouldingofhisownbusiness——Notknowinghowotherwisetoconveythislettertoyouwithcertainty，IshallappealtothefriendshipandhonouroftheSpanishcommissionershere，togiveittheprotectionoftheircover，asaletterofprivatenaturealtogether。Wehavenoremarkableeventherelately，butthedeathofDr。Lee；norhaveIanythingnewtocommunicatetoyouofyourfriendsoraffairs。Iamwithunalterableaffection&wishesforyourprosperity，mydearSir，yousincerefriendandservant。
PEACEABLECOERCION
_ToJamesMadison_
_March24，1793_
TheideaseemstogaincreditthatthenavalpowerscombinedagainstFrancewillprohibitsuppliesevenofprovisionstothatcountry。ShouldthisbeformallynotifiedIshouldsupposeCongresswouldbecalled，becauseitisajustifiablecauseofwar，&astheExecutivecannotdecidethequestionofwarontheaffirmativeside，neitheroughtittodosoonthenegativeside，bypreventingthecompetentbodyfromdeliberatingonthequestion。ButIshouldhopethatwarwouldnotbetheirchoice。Ithinkitwillfurnishusahappyopportunityofsettinganotherexampletotheworld，byshewingthatnationsmaybebroughttodojusticebyappealstotheirinterestsaswellasbyappealstoarms。IshouldhopethatCongressinsteadofadenunciationofwar，wouldinstantlyexcludefromourportsallthemanufactures，produce，vessels&subjectsofthenationscommittingthisaggression，duringthecontinuanceoftheaggression&tillfullsatisfactionmadeforit。Thiswouldworkwellinmanyways，safelyinall，&introducebetweennationsanotherumpirethanarms。Itwouldrelieveustoofromtherisks&thehorrorsofcuttingthroats。ThedeathofthekingofFrancehasnotproducedasopencondemnationsfromtheMonocratsasIexpected。I
dinedtheotherdayinacompanywherethesubjectwasdiscussed。I
willnamethecompanyintheorderinwhichtheymanifestedtheirpartialities；beginningwiththewarmestJacobinism&proceedingbyshadestothemostheartfeltaristocracy。SmithN。Y。Coxe。
Stewart。T。Shippen。Bingham。Peters。Breck。Meredith。Wolcott。Itiscertainthattheladiesofthiscity，ofthefirstcircleareallopen-mouthedagainstthemurderersofasovereign，andtheygenerallyspeakthosesentimentswhichthemorecautioushusbandsmothers。I
believeitisprettycertainthatSmithS。C。andMissA。arenottocometogether。Ternanthasatlengthopenlyhoistedtheflagofmonarchybygoingintodeepmourningforhisprince。Isuspecthethinksacessationofhisvisitstomeanecessaryaccompanimenttothispiousduty。Aconnectionbetweenhim&Hamiltonseemstobespringingup。OnobservingthatDuerwassecretarytotheoldboardoftreasury，IsuspecthimtohavebeenthepersonwhosuggestedtoHamiltontheletterofminetothatboardwhichhesotorturedinhisCatullus。Dunlaphasrefusedtoprintthepiecewhichwehadheardofbeforeyourdeparture，andithasbeenseveraldaysinBache’shands，withoutanynoticeofit。ThePresidentwillleavethisaboutthe27thinst。，&returnaboutthe20thofApril。Adieu。
THEGALLANTGENET
_ToJamesMadison_
_Phila，May19，1793_
Iwroteyoulastonthe13’th……SincethatIhavereceivedyoursofthe8’th……Ihavescribbledonaseparatepapersomegeneralnotesontheplanofahouseyouenclosed。Ihavedonemore。
Ihaveendeavoredtothrowthesamearea，thesameextentofwalls，thesamenumberofrooms，&ofthesamesize，intoanotherformsoastoofferachoicetothebuilder。IndeedIvariedmyplanbyshewingthatitwouldbewithalcovebedrooms，towhichIammuchattached。
Idaresayyouwillhavejudgedfromthepusillanimityoftheproclamation，fromwhosepenitcame。Afearlestanyaffectionshouldbediscoveredisdistinguishableenough。Thisbasefearwillproducetheveryeviltheywishtoavoid。Forourconstituentsseeingthatthegovernmentdoesnotexpresstheirmind，perhapsratherleanstheotherway，arecomingforwardtoexpressitthemselves。ItwassuspectedthattherewasnotaclearmindintheP。’scounsellorstoreceiveGenet。Thecitizenshoweverdeterminedtoreceivehim。ArrangementsweretakenformeetinghimatGray’sferryinagreatbody。Heescapedthatbyarrivingintownwiththeletterswhichbroughtinformationthathewasontheroad。Themerchants_i。e。_Fitzsimmons&co。weretopresentanaddressto_theP。_ontheneutralityproclaimed。Itcontainedmuchwisdombutnoaffection。Youwillseeitinthepapersinclosed。Thecitizensdeterminedtoaddress_Genet。_Rittenhouse，Hutcheson，Dallas，Sargeant&c。wereattheheadofit。Thoaselectbodyofonly30。
wasappointedtopresentit，yetavastconcourseofpeopleattendedthem。Ihavenotseenit；butitisunderstoodtobethecounteraddress——Ternant’shopesofemploymentintheFrencharmyturnouttobewithoutgrounds。HeistoldbytheministerofwarexpresslythattheplacesofMarechaldecampareallfull。HethinksitmoreprudentthereforetoremaininAmerica。Hedeliveredyesterdayhislettersofrecall，&Mr。Genetpresentedhisofcredence。Itisimpossibleforanythingtobemoreaffectionate，moremagnanimousthanthepurportofhismission。`Weknowthatunderpresentcircumstanceswehavearighttocalluponyoufortheguaranteeofourislands。Butwedonotdesireit。Wewishyoutodonothingbutwhatisforyourowngood，andwewilldoallinourpowertopromoteit。Cherishyourownpeace&prosperity。Youhaveexpressedawillingnesstoenterintoamoreliberaltreatyofcommercewithus；
Ibringfullpowers&heproducedthemtoformsuchatreaty，andapreliminarydecreeoftheNationalconventiontolayopenourcountry&it’scoloniestoyouforeverypurposeofutility，withoutyourparticipatingtheburthensofmaintaining&defendingthem。Weseeinyoutheonlypersononearthwhocanloveussincerely&merittobesoloved。’Inshortheofferseverything&asksnothing。YetI
knowtheofferswillbeopposed，&suspecttheywillnotbeaccepted。
Inshort，mydearSir，itisimpossibleforyoutoconceivewhatispassinginourconclave：anditisevidentthatoneortwoatleast，underpretenceofavoidingwarontheonesidehavenogreatantipathytorunfoulofitontheother，andtomakeapartintheconfederacyofprincesagainsthumanliberty——ThepeopleintheWesternpartsofthisstatehavebeentotheexciseofficer&
threatenedtoburnhishouse&c。Theywereblacked&otherwisedisguisedsoastobeunknown。Hehasresigned，andH。saysthereisnopossibilityofgettingthelawexecutedthere，&thatprobablytheevilwillspread。Aproclamationistobeissued，andanotherinstanceofmybeingforcedtoappeartoapprovewhatIhavecondemneduniformlyfromit’sfirstconception。
IexpecteverydaytoreceivefromMr。PinckneythemodeloftheScotchthreshingmachine。Itwastohavecomeinashipwhicharrived3。weeksago，buttheworkmanhadnotquitefinishedit。Mr。
P。writesmewordthatthemachinefromwhichmymodelistakenthreshes8。quarters64。bushelsofoats_anhour_，with4。horses&4。men。IhopetogetitintimetohaveoneerectedatMonticellotocleanoutthepresentcrop——Iincloseyouthepamphletyoudesired。Adieu。
THEDEBTOFSERVICE
_ToJamesMadison_
_June9，1793_