DEAR SIR,-Your letters, No. 1, 2, 3, the last of them dated Apr. 20, were received April 26th. I congratulate you on your retirement to your farm, and still more that it is of a character so worthy of your attention. I much doubt whether the open room on your 2d story will answer your expectations. There will be a few days in the year in which it will be delightful, but not many. Nothing but trees, or Venetian blinds, can protect it from the sun. The semicylindrical roof you propose will have advantages. You know it has been practised on the cloth market at Paris. De Lorme, the inventor, shews many forms of roofs in his book to which it is applicable. I have used it at home for a dome, being 120° of an oblong octagon, and in the capitol we unite two quadrants of a Sphere by a semi-cylinder; all framed in De Lorme's manner. How has your planing machine answered? Has it been tried & persevered in by any workmen ? France has become so jealous of our conduct as to St. Domingo (which in truth is only the conduct of our merchants), that the offer to become a mediator would only confirm her suspicions. Bonaparte, however, expressed satisfaction at the paragraph in my message to Congress on the subject of that commerce. With respect to the German redemptioners, you know I can do nothing unless authorized by law. It would be made a question in Congress, whether any of the enumerated objects to which the Constitution authorizes the money of the Union to be applied, would cover an expenditure for importing settlers to Orleans. The letter of the revolutionary sergeant, which you enclosed to me, was attended to by Gen. Dearborne, who wrote to him informing him how to proceed to obtain his land. I Doctr Eustis's observation to you, that 'certain paragraphs in the National Intelligencer' respecting my letter to you, 'supposed to be under Mr. Jefferson's direction, had embarrassed Mr. Jefferson's friends in Massachusetts; that they appeared like a half denial of the letter, or as if there was something in it not proper to be owned, or that needed an apology,' is one of those mysterious half-confidences difficult to be understood. That tory printers should think it advantageous to identify me with that paper, the Aurora, &c., in order to obtain ground for abusing me, is perhaps fair warfare. But that any one who knows me personally should listen one moment to such an insinuation, is what I did not expect. neither have, nor ever had, any more connection with those papers than our antipodes have; nor know what is to be in them until I see it in them, except proclamations & other documents sent for publication. The friends in Massachusetts who could be embarrassed by so weak a weapon as this, must be feeble friends indeed. With respect to the letter, I never hesitated to avow and to justify it in conversation. In no other way do I trouble myself to contradict anything which is said. At that time, however, there were certain anomalies in the motions of some of our friends, which events have at length reduced to regularity. It seems very difficult to fad out what turns things are to take in Europe. I suppose it depends on Austria, which, knowing it is to stand in the way of receiving the first hard blows, is cautious of entering into a coalition. As to France & England we can have but one wish, that they may disable one another from injuring others. Accept my friendly salutations, & assurances of esteem & respect. NOTES ON ARMED VESSELS.1 J. MSS. WASHINGTON, July 4, 05. Notes for consideration & for instructions to any armed vessels which may be sent out to protect our commerce on our coasts. Preliminary questions. Do the laws authorize the putting vessels in commission for the protection of our commerce other than against Tripoli? If they do not, should we not do it at our risk & ask an act of indemnity from Congress? What vessels? The Adams & Baltimore brig for the coast. 2. The for the Mississippi. 3. the the Islands. Instructions. Cruising grounds. for Cuba & The frigate & brig from St. Mary's to St. George's bank, crossing each other always. The following paper appears to have been drafted by Jefferson at this time: "Resolved that the President of the U. S. ought to be authorized by law to employ the armed vessels of the U. S. which may be in commission, for restraining as well the irregularities and oppressions of our commerce, not amounting to piracy, as those of that degree, which shall be committed by private armed vessels within the Gulf stream, in the Gulf itself, or among the islands bordering thereon, & that a bill be brought in for that purpose. The 3d (if to be had) from Florida point to Rio grande. The 4th (if to be had) round Cuba & among the islands. To respect public ships of war, except when violating the 3. miles jurisdiction. To confine themselves to privateers. If they find privateers without commissions, or with irregular or doubtful commissions, bring them in for examination. If their commissions be regular, and they are found cruising within sight of land warn them to keep without that limit, & if found within it after warning bring them as offenders against the law for preserving peace in our harbours & waters. If they have regularly seized an American bottom, inquire if their conduct has been regular, viz., Have they plundered the vessel? maltreated the crew? separated the master &c. from his vessel? forced the American to send his boat aboard? Do they refuse to exhibit their commission, to declare their name, vessel flag or port? In all these cases bring them in for examination. If they have acted correctly, carry or send the prize & the privateer, if a Spaniard to Havana; if French to Sto. Domingo; if English to and deliver them up to the proper tribunal. If any American citizens are found engaged in the privateers, take them out, & keep them in safe custody to be brought home & delivered up to justice. You are not to extend your protection 1. to foreign vessels. 2. to American vessels engaged in the slave trade. 3. to American vessels engaged in any contraband commerce. The gunboats & revenue cutters to be subsidiary. NOTES ON JEFFERSON'S CONDUCT DURING THE INVASION OF Richmond, 1780, Dec. 31. At eight a.m. the Governor receives the first intelligence that 27 sail of ships had entered Chesapeake 1 Another paper, undated, relating to this matter is as follows: "Saturday, December the 31st, 1780, eight o'clock A.M. Received first intel bay & were in the morning of the 29th just below Willoughby's point (the southern cape of James river) their destination unknown. 1781 Jan. 2. At ten a.m. information received that they had ligence that twenty-seven sail were, on the morning of December the 29th, just Information from N. Burwell, that their “Thursday, January the 4th, five o'clock, A.M. Mr. Eppes and family, &c., came and informed me from the Speaker, that they had passed Kennon's and Hood's the evening before; the tide having made for them at one o'clock, P.M., of the 3d, and the wind shifted to the east strong. They had not, however, passed Hood's, but anchored at Kennon's. Called whole militia from adjacent counties. I was then anxious to know whether they would pass Westover, or not, as that would show the side they would land. Five o'clock, P.M. Learned by Captain De Ponthiere, that at two o'clock, P.M., they were drawn up at Westover. Then ordered arms, and stores, &c., (which till then had been carrying to Westham,) to be thrown across the river at Richmond; and at half-past seven o'clock, P.M., set out to the foundry and Westham, and set Captain Brush, Captain Irish, and Mr. Hylton, to see everything wagoned from the magazine and laboratory to Westham, and there thrown over; to work all night. The enemy encamped at Four-Mile Creek. I went to Tuckahoe and lodged. “January the 5th. Went early over the river with my family; sent them up to Fine Creek; went myself to Westham; gave orders for withdrawing ammunition and arms (which lay exposed on the bank to the effect of artillery from opposite shore), behind a point. Then went to Manchester; had a view of the enemy. My horse sunk under me with fatigue; borrowed one, went to Chetwood's, appointed by Baron Steuben as a rendezvous and head-quarters; but finding him not there, and understanding he would go to Colonel Henry's, I proceeded there for quarters. The enemy arrived in Richmond at one o'clock, P. M. One regiment of infantry and thirty horse proceeded, without stopping, to the foundry; burned that and the magazine and Ballendine's house, and went as far as Westham. They returned that evening to Richmond. Sent me a proposition to compound for property. Refused. January the 6th. In the morning they burned certain houses and stores, and |