Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/379

 ;/

363

own tobaccos ? They can sort them as well as any other mer chants whatever. Nothing is better known than the quality of every hogshead of tobacco, from the place of its growth. They know, too, the particular qualities required in every market. They do not send their tobaccos, therefore, to London to be sorted, but to pay their debts : and though they could send them to other markets, and remit the money to London, yet they find it neces sary to give _ their English merchant the benefit of the consign ment of their tobacco, (which is enormously gainful) in order to induce him to continue his indulgence for the balance due.

Is it impossible to persuade our countrymen to make peace with the Nova Scotians ? I am persuaded nothing is wanting but advances on our part ; and that it is in our power to draw off the greatest proportion of that settlement, and thus, to free ourselves from rivals who may become of consequence. We are, at present, co-operating with Great Britain, whose policy it is, to give aliment to that bitter enmity between her States and ours, which may se cure her against their ever joining us. But would not the existence of a cordial friendship between us and them, be the best bridle we could possible put into the mouth of England ?

With respect to the Danish business, you will observe that the instructions of Congress, article 3, of October the 29th, 1783, put it entirely into the hands of the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America at the court of Versailles, empowered to negotiate a peace, or to any one or more of them. At that time, I did not come under this description. I had received the permis sion of Congress to decline coming, in the spring preceding that date. On the first day of November, 1783, that is to say, two days after the date of the instructions to the commissioners, Congress recommended John Paul Jones to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, at Versailles, as agent, to solicit under his di rection, the payment of all prizes taken in Europe, under his command. But the object under their view, at that time, was assuredly the money due from the court of Versailles, for the prizes taken in the expedition by the Bon liomme Richard, the Alliance, &ic. In this business, I have aided him effectually, hav ing obtained a definitive order for paying the money to him, and a considerable proportion being actually paid him. But they could not mean by their resolution of November the 1st, to take from the commissioners, powers which they had given them two days before. If there could remain a doubt that this whole power has resulted to you, it would be cleared up by the instructions of May the 7th, 1784, article 9, which declare, that these instructions be considered as supplementary to those of October the 29th, 1783,