I have the honor to be, with great and sincere esteem, Gentlemen, your
most obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CXXI.--TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, October 15, 1792
TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.
Philadelphia, October 15, 1792.
Sir,
I have received your favor of July the 10th, No. 4, but no other number
preceding or subsequent. I fear, therefore, that some miscarriage has
taken place. The present goes to Bordeaux under cover to Mr. Fenwick,
who I hope will be able to give it a safe conveyance to you. I observe
that you say in your letter, that 'the marine department is to treat
with you for supplies to St. Domingo.' I presume you mean 'supplies
of money,' and not that our government is to furnish supplies of
provisions, &c. specifically, or employ others to do it, this being a
business into which they could not enter. The payment of money here, to
be employed by their own agents in purchasing the produce of our soil,
is a desirable thing. We are informed by the public papers, that the
late constitution of France, formally notified to us, is suspended, and
a new convention called. During the time of this suspension, and while
no legitimate government exists, we apprehend we cannot continue the
payments of our debt to France, because there is no person authorized
to receive it and to give us an unobjectionable acquittal.
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