mattersofapublicnature，andpropertogoonourrecords，shouldgotothesecretaryofstate。2。mattersofapublicnaturenotpropertobeplacedonourrecordsmaystillgotothesecretaryofstate，headedbytheword`private。’But3。theremaybemattersmerelypersonaltoourselves，andwhichrequirethecoverofaciphermorethanthoseofanyothercharacter。Thislastpurposeandotherswhichwecannotforeseemayrenderitconvenientandadvantageoustohaveathandamaskforwhatevermayneedit。ButwritingbyMr。
DupontIneednocipher。Irequirefromhimtoputthisintoyourownandnootherhand，letthedelayoccasionedbythatbewhatitwill。
ThecessionofLouisianaandtheFloridasbySpaintoFranceworksmostsorelyontheU。S。OnthissubjecttheSecretaryofStatehaswrittentoyoufully。YetIcannotforbearrecurringtoitpersonally，sodeepistheimpressionitmakesinmymind。ItcompleatlyreversesallthepoliticalrelationsoftheU。S。andwillformanewepochinourpoliticalcourse。OfallnationsofanyconsiderationFranceistheonewhichhithertohasofferedthefewestpointsonwhichwecouldhaveanyconflictofright，andthemostpointsofacommunionofinterests。Fromthesecauseswehaveeverlookedtoherasour_naturalfriend_，asonewithwhichwenevercouldhaveanoccasionofdifference。Hergrowththereforeweviewedasourown，hermisfortunesours。Thereisontheglobeonesinglespot，thepossessorofwhichisournaturalandhabitualenemy。ItisNewOrleans，throughwhichtheproduceofthree-eighthsofourterritorymustpasstomarket，andfromitsfertilityitwillerelongyieldmorethanhalfofourwholeproduceandcontainmorethanhalfourinhabitants。Franceplacingherselfinthatdoorassumestoustheattitudeofdefiance。Spainmighthaveretaineditquietlyforyears。Herpacificdispositions，herfeeblestate，wouldinducehertoincreaseourfacilitiesthere，sothatherpossessionoftheplacewouldbehardlyfeltbyus，anditwouldnotperhapsbeverylongbeforesomecircumstancemightarisewhichmightmakethecessionofittousthepriceofsomethingofmoreworthtoher。NotsocaniteverbeinthehandsofFrance。Theimpetuosityofhertemper，theenergyandrestlessnessofhercharacter，placedinapointofeternalfrictionwithus，andourcharacter，whichthoughquiet，andlovingpeaceandthepursuitofwealth，ishigh-minded，despisingwealthincompetitionwithinsultorinjury，enterprisingandenergeticasanynationonearth，thesecircumstancesrenderitimpossiblethatFranceandtheU。S。cancontinuelongfriendswhentheymeetinsoirritableaposition。Theyaswellaswemustbeblindiftheydonotseethis；andwemustbeveryimprovidentifwedonotbegintomakearrangementsonthathypothesis。ThedaythatFrancetakespossessionofN。Orleansfixesthesentencewhichistorestrainherforeverwithinherlowwatermark。Itsealstheunionoftwonationswhoinconjunctioncanmaintainexclusivepossessionoftheocean。FromthatmomentwemustmarryourselvestotheBritishfleetandnation。Wemustturnallourattentionstoamaritimeforce，forwhichourresourcesplaceusonveryhighgrounds：andhavingformedandcementedtogetherapowerwhichmayrenderreinforcementofhersettlementshereimpossibletoFrance，makethefirstcannon，whichshallbefiredinEuropethesignalfortearingupanysettlementshemayhavemade，andforholdingthetwocontinentsofAmericainsequestrationforthecommonpurposesoftheunitedBritishandAmericannations。Thisisnotastateofthingsweseekordesire。Itisonewhichthismeasure，ifadoptedbyFrance，forcesonus，asnecessarilyasanyothercause，bythelawsofnature，bringsonitsnecessaryeffect。ItisnotfromafearofFrancethatwedeprecatethismeasureproposedbyher。Forhowevergreaterherforceisthanourscomparedintheabstract，itisnothingincomparisonofourswhentobeexertedonoursoil。Butitisfromasincereloveofpeace，andafirmpersuasionthatboundtoFrancebytheinterestsandthestrongsympathiesstillexistinginthemindsofourcitizens，andholdingrelativepositionswhichensuretheircontinuancewearesecureofalongcourseofpeace。
Whereasthechangeoffriends，whichwillberenderednecessaryifFrancechangesthatposition，embarksusnecessarilyasabelligerentpowerinthefirstwarofEurope。InthatcaseFrancewillhaveheldpossessionofNewOrleansduringtheintervalofapeace，longorshort，attheendofwhichitwillbewrestedfromher。Willthisshort-livedpossessionhavebeenanequivalenttoherforthetransferofsuchaweightintothescaleofherenemy?Willnottheamalgamationofayoung，thriving，nationcontinuetothatenemythehealthandforcewhichareatpresentsoevidentlyonthedecline?
AndwillafewyearspossessionofN。OrleansaddequallytothestrengthofFrance?ShemaysaysheneedsLouisianaforthesupplyofherWestIndies。Shedoesnotneeditintimeofpeace。Andinwarshecouldnotdependonthembecausetheywouldbesoeasilyintercepted。IshouldsupposethatalltheseconsiderationsmightinsomeproperformbebroughtintoviewofthegovernmentofFrance。
Tho’statedbyus，itoughtnottogiveoffence；becausewedonotbringthemforwardasamenace，butasconsequencesnotcontroulablebyus，butinevitablefromthecourseofthings。Wementionthemnotasthingswhichwedesirebyanymeans，butasthingswedeprecate；
andwebeseechafriendtolookforwardandtopreventthemforourcommoninterests。
IfFranceconsidersLouisianahoweverasindispensableforherviewsshemightperhapsbewillingtolookaboutforarrangementswhichmightreconcileittoourinterests。IfanythingcoulddothisitwouldbethecedingtoustheislandofNewOrleansandtheFloridas。Thiswouldcertainlyinagreatdegreeremovethecausesofjarringandirritationbetweenus，andperhapsforsuchalengthoftimeasmightproduceothermeansofmakingthemeasurepermanentlyconciliatorytoourinterestsandfriendships。Itwouldatanyraterelieveusfromthenecessityoftakingimmediatemeasuresforcountervailingsuchanoperationbyarrangementsinanotherquarter。StillweshouldconsiderN。OrleansandtheFloridasasequivalentfortheriskofaquarrelwithFranceproducedbyhervicinage。Ihavenodoubtyouhaveurgedtheseconsiderationsoneveryproperoccasionwiththegovernmentwhereyouare。Theyaresuchasmusthaveeffectifyoucanfindthemeansofproducingthoroughreflectiononthembythatgovernment。TheideahereisthatthetroopssenttoSt。Domingo，weretoproceedtoLouisianaafterfinishingtheirworkinthatisland。Ifthiswerethearrangement，itwillgiveyoutimetoreturnagainandagaintothecharge，fortheconquestofSt。Domingowillnotbeashortwork。Itwilltakeconsiderabletimetoweardownagreatnumberofsouldiers。
EveryeyeintheU。S。isnowfixedonthisaffairofLouisiana。
Perhapsnothingsincetherevolutionarywarhasproducedmoreuneasysensationsthroughthebodyofthenation。NotwithstandingtemporarybickeringshavetakenplacewithFrance，shehasstillastrongholdontheaffectionsofourcitizensgenerally。Ihavethoughtitnotamiss，bywayofsupplementtothelettersoftheSecretaryofStatetowriteyouthisprivateonetoimpressyouwiththeimportanceweaffixtothistransaction。IprayyoutocherishDupont。Hehasthebestdispositionsforthecontinuanceoffriendshipbetweenthetwonations，andperhapsyoumaybeabletomakeagooduseofhim。
Acceptassurancesofmyaffectionateesteemandhighconsideration。
DRY-DOCKINGTHENAVY
_ToBenjaminH。Latrobe_
_Washington，Nov。2，1802_
DEARSIR——Theplacingofanavyinastateofperfectpreservation，sothatatthebeginningofasubsequentwaritshallbeassoundasattheendoftheprecedingonewhenlaidup，andthelesseningtheexpenceofrepairs，perpetuallynecessarywhiletheylieinthewater，areobjectsofthefirstimportancetoanationwhichtoacertaindegreemustbemaritime。ThedrydocksofEurope，beingbelowtheleveloftidewater，areveryexpensiveintheirconstructionandinthemannerofkeepingthemclearofwater，andareonlypracticableatallwheretheyhavehightides：insomuchthatnonationhaseverproposedtolayuptheirwholenavyindrydocks。
Butifthedrydockwereabovetheleveloftidewater，andtherebeanymeansofraisingthevesselsupintothem，andofcoveringthedockwitharoof，thuswithdrawnfromtherotandthesun，theywouldlastaslongastheinteriortimbers，doorsandfloorsofahouse。
Thevastcommandofrunningwateratthisplace，atdifferentheightsfrom30to200feetabovetidewater，enablesustoeffectthisdesirableobjectbyformingalowerbasonintowhichthetidewatershallfloatthevesselandthenhaveitsgatesclosed，andadjoiningtothis，but24feethigher，anupperbason275feetwide，and800f。
longsufficienttocontain12frigatesintowhichrunningwatercanbeintroducedfromabove，sothatfillingbothbasonsasinalock
thevesselshallberaisedupandfloatedintotheupperone，andthewaterbeingdischargedleaveherdry。Overabasonnotwiderthan175feet，aroofcanbethrown，inthemannerofthatoftheHalleaubleatParis，whichneedingnounderworkstosupportit，willpermitthebasontobeentirelyopenandfreeforthemovementofthevessels。ImeantoproposetheconstructionofoneofthesetotheNationallegislature，convinceditwillbeaworkofnogreatcost，thatitwillsaveusgreatannualexpence，andbeanencouragementtoprepareinpeacethevesselsweshallneedinwar，whenwefindtheycanbekeptinastateofperfectpreservationandwithoutexpence。
Thefirstthingtobedoneistochusefromwhichofthestreamswewillderiveourwaterforthelock。ThesearetheEasternbranch，Tyber，Rockcreek，andthePotomakitself。Thentotracethecanal，drawplansofthatandofthetwobasons，andcalculatetheexpenceofthewhole，thatwemayleadthelegislaturetonoexpenceintheexecutionofwhichtheyshallnotbeapprisedinthebeginning。ForthisIaskyouraid，whichwillrequireyourcominghere。SomesurveysandelevationshavebeenalreadymadebyMr。N。
King，averyaccuratemaninthatline，andwhowillassistinanythingyoudesire，andexecuteonthegroundanytracingsyoumaydirect，unlessyoupreferdoingthemyourself。Itisverymaterialtoothatthisshouldbedoneimmediately，aswehavelittlemorethan4weekstothemeetingofthelegislature，andtherewillthenbebut2weeksforthemtoconsideranddecidebeforethedayarrivesJan。
1atwhichaloneanynumberoflabourerscanbehiredhere。Shouldthatpasseithertheworkmustlieoverforayear，orbeexecutedbydaylabourersatdoubleexpence。Iproposethatsuchaforceshallbeprovidedastocompleattheworkinoneyear。Ifthisresults，asitwillreceiveallourpresentships，thenextworkwillbeasecondone，tobuildandlayupadditionalships。Onthesubjectofyoursuperintendingtheexecutionoftheworkitwouldbeprematuretosayanythingtillthelegislatureshallhavedeclaredtheirwill。Besogoodastoletmehearfromyouimmediately，ifyoucannotcomesosoonasyoucanwrite。Acceptmybestwishesandrespects。”ANOISELESSCOURSE”
_ToThomasCooper_
_Washington，Nov。29，1802_
DEARSIR，——YourfavorofOct25wasreceivedinduetime，andIthankyouforthelongextractyoutookthetroubleofmakingfromMr。Stone’sletter。CertainlytheinformationitcommunicatesastoAlexanderkindlesagreatdealofinterestinhisexistence，andstrongspasmsoftheheartinhisfavor。Thohismeansofdoinggoodaregreat，yetthematerialsonwhichheistoworkarerefractory。
Whetherheengagesinprivatecorrespondencesabroad，astheKingofPrussiadidmuch，hisgrandmothersometimes，Iknownot；butcertainlysuchacorrespondencewouldbeveryinterestingtothosewhoaresincerelyanxioustoseemankindraisedfromtheirpresentabjectcondition。ItdelightsmetofindthattherearepersonswhostillthinkthatallisnotlostinFrance：thattheirretrogradationfromalimitedtoanunlimiteddespotism，isbuttogivethemselvesanewimpulse。ButIseenothoworwhen。Thepress，theonlytocsinofanation，iscompleatlysilencedthere，andallmeansofageneralefforttakenaway。However，Iamwillingtohope，aslongasanybodywillhopewithme；andIamentirelypersuadedthattheagitationsofthepublicmindadvanceitspowers，andthatateveryvibrationbetweenthepointsoflibertyanddespotism，somethingwillbegainedfortheformer。Asmenbecomebetterinformed，theirrulersmustrespectthemthemore。Ithinkyouwillbesensiblethatourcitizensarefastreturning，fromthepanicintowhichtheywereartfullythrowntothedictatesoftheirownreason；andIbelievethedelusionstheyhaveseenthemselveshurriedintowillbeusefulasalessonundersimilarattemptsontheminfuture。Thegoodeffectsofourlatefiscalarrangementswillcertainlytendtounitetheminopinion，andinaconfidenceastotheviewsoftheirpublicfunctionaries，legislative&executive。ThepathwehavetopursueissoquietthatwehavenothingscarcelytoproposetoourLegislature。Anoiselesscourse，notmeddlingwiththeaffairsofothers，unattractiveofnotice，isamarkthatsocietyisgoingoninhappiness。Ifwecanpreventthegovernmentfromwastingthelaborsofthepeople，underthepretenceoftakingcareofthem，theymustbecomehappy。Theirfinancesarenowundersuchacourseofapplicationasnothingcouldderangebutwarorfederalism。Thegripeofthelatterhasshownitselfasdeadlyasthejawsoftheformer。Ouradversariessayweareindebtedtotheirprovidenceforthemeansofpayingthepublicdebt。Weneverchargedthemwiththewantofforesightinprovidingmoney，butwiththemisapplicationofitaftertheyhaveleviedit。Wesaytheyraisednotonlyenough，buttoomuch；andthataftergivingbackthesurpluswedomorewithapartthantheydidwiththewhole。
YourletterofNov18isalsoreceived。Theplacesofmidshipmanaresomuchsoughtthatbeinglimitedthereisneveravacancy。Yoursonshallbesetdownforthe2d，whichshallhappen；
the1stbeinganticipated。Wearenotlonggenerallywithoutvacancieshappening。Assoonashecanbeappointedyoushallknowit。Iprayyoutoacceptassurancesofmygreatattachmentandrespect。
CRISISONTHEMISSISSIPPI
_TotheSpecialEnvoytoFrance_
JAMESMONROE
_Washington，Jan。13，1803_
DEARSIR，——Idroppedyoualineonthe10thinformingyouofanominationIhadmadeofyoutotheSenate，andyesterdayI
enclosedyoutheirapprobationnotthenhavingtimetowrite。TheagitationofthepublicmindonoccasionofthelatesuspensionofourrightofdepositatN。Orleansisextreme。Inthewesterncountryitisnaturalandgroundedonhonestmotives。Intheseaportsitproceedsfromadesireforwarwhichincreasesthemercantilelottery；inthefederalistsgenerallyandespeciallythoseofCongresstheobjectistoforceusintowarifpossible，inordertoderangeourfinances，orifthiscannotbedone，toattachthewesterncountrytothem，astheirbestfriends，andthusgetagainintopower。Remonstrancesmemorials&c。arenowcirculatingthroughthewholeofthewesterncountryandsigningbythebodyofthepeople。Themeasureswehavebeenpursuingbeinginvisible，donotsatisfytheirminds。Somethingsensiblethereforewasbecomenecessary；andindeedourobjectofpurchasingN。OrleansandtheFloridasisameasureliabletoassumesomanyshapes，thatnoinstructionscouldbesquaredtofitthem，itwasessentialthentosendaministerextraordinarytobejoinedwiththeordinaryone，withdiscretionarypowers，firsthoweverwellimpressedwithallourviewsandthereforequalifiedtomeetandmodifytotheseeveryformofpropositionwhichcouldcomefromtheotherparty。Thiscouldbedoneonlyinfullandfrequentoralcommunications。Havingdeterminedonthis，therecouldnotbetwoopinionsamongtherepublicansastotheperson。Youpossesstheunlimitedconfidenceoftheadministrationandofthewesternpeople；andgenerallyoftherepublicanseverywhere；andwereyoutorefusetogo，noothermancanbefoundwhodoesthis。ThemeasurehasalreadysilencedtheFeds。here。Congresswillnolongerbeagitatedbythem：andthecountrywillbecomecalmasfastastheinformationextendsoverit。