Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/369

 353

doubtless judge, that Governor Bowdoin referred him properly to the laws for redress, as he was obliged to do, and as would have been done in England, in a like case. Had he applied to the courts, the question would have been, whether they would have punished Dunbar ? This must be answered now by conjecture only ; and, to form that conjecture, every man must ask himself, whether he would not have done as Dunbar did ? And whether the people should not have permitted him, to return to Stanhope the twenty-four lashes ? This affair has been stated in the London papers, without mixing with it one circumstance of truth.

In your letter of the 27th of June, you were so good as to tell me, that you should shortly send off some of the books I had taken the liberty to ask you to get for me, and that your correspondent at Bayonne, would give me notice of their arrival there. Not having heard from him, I mention it to you, lest they should be stopped any where.

I am, with great respect, Dear Sir,

your most obedient humble servant,

TH : JEFFERSON.

LETTER CXXXII.

Paris, November 4, 1785.

SIR,

I wrote you a short letter on the 29th of September, acknow ledging the receipt of yours of August the 24th, from Algiers, and promising that you should hear further from me soon. Mr. Adams, the American minister at London, and myself, have agreed to authorise the bearer hereof, Mr. Lambe, to treat for your re demption, and that of your companions taken in American vessels, and, if it can be obtained for sums within our power,, we shall have the money paid. But in this, we act without instruction from Congress, and are therefore obliged to take the precaution of requiring, that you bind your owners for yourself and crew, and the other captain, in like manner, his owners for himself and crew, and that each person, separately, make himself answerable for his own redemption, in case Congress requires it. I suppose Congress will not require it : but we have no authority to decide that, but must leave it to their own decision ; which renders neces sary the precautions I have mentioned, in order to justify ourselves VOL. i. 45