Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/271

 255

While Captain Jones was hovering on the coast of England, in the year 1779, a British pilot, John Jackson by name, came on board him, supposing him to be British. Captain Jones found it conve- nient to detain him as a pilot, and, in the action with the Serapis, which ensued, this man lost his arm. It is thought that this gives him a just claim to the same allowance with others, who have met with the like misfortune in the service of the United States. Con- gress alone being competent to this application, it is my duty to present the case to their consideration; which I beg leave to do through you. 4

Dr. Franklin will be able to give you so perfect a state of all transactions relative to his particular office in France, as well as * to the subjects included in our general commission, that it is un- necessary for me to enter on them. His departure, with the se- parate situation of Mr. Adams and myself, will render it difficult to communicate to you the future proceedings of the commission, as regularly as they have been heretofore. We shall do it, how- ever, with all the punctuality practicable, either separately or joint- ly, as circumstances may require and admit.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest respect, Si, your most obedient and

most humble servant, Tu: JEFFERSON.

“s LETTER LXXVI.

TO MONSIEUR BRIET.

Paris, July 13, 1785. SIR,

I am glad to hear that the Council have ordered restitution of the merchandise seized in L’Orient, contrary to the freedom of the place. When a court of justice has taken cognisance of a com- plaint, and has given restitution of the principal subject, if it refuses some of the accessories, we are to presume that. some circumstance of evidence appeared to them, unknown to us, and which render- ed its refusal just and proper. So, in the present case, if any cir- cumstances in the conduct of the owner, or relative to the mer- chandise itself, gave probable grounds of suspicion that they were not entitled to the freedom of the port, damages for the detention might be properly denied. Respect for the integrity of courts