Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/382

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LETTER CXXXVII.

TO LISTER

Paris, November 23, 1785. SIR,

I have received your letter of the 14th instant. It was not till the 8th of this month, that I could obtain information from any quarter, of the particular court in which your prosecution was in stituted, and the ground on which it was founded. I then received it through the hands of Monsieur Desbordes, at Brest. I have sent to the Count de Vergennes a statement of your case, of which the enclosed is a copy. I wish you would read it over, and if there be any fact stated in it, which is wrong, let me know it, that I may have it corrected. I at the same time, wrote him an urgent letter in your behalf. 1 have daily expected an answer, which has oc casioned rny deferring writing to you. The moment I receive one, you may be assured of my communicating it to you. My hopes are, that I may obtain from the King, a discharge of the persons of all of you : but, probably, your vessel and cargo must go through a process. I have sincerely sympathised with your misfortunes, and have taken every step in my power, to get into the right line for obtaining relief. If it will add any comfort to your situation and that of your companions, to be assured that I never lose sight of your sufferings, and leave nothing undone to extricate you, you have that assurance. I am, Sir,

your very humble servant,

TH: JEFFERSON.

LETTER CXXXVII I. TO JOHN ADAMS.

Paris, November 27, 1785. DEAR SIR,

Your favor 6f the 5th, came to hand yesterday, and Colonel Smith, and Colonel flumphreys, (by whom you will receive one of the 19th, from me) being to set out tomorrow, I hasten to answer it. I sincerely rejoice that Portugal is stepping forward in the busi ness of treaty, and that there is a probability that we may at length do something under our commissions, which may produce a solid