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is intimately acquainted with most of the articles, induce me to think we must yield to this delay. Be so good as to give me your opinion on this subject.

I have the honor to be, with very great esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient and

most humble servant,

TH: JEFFERSON.

LETTER CXLII. TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES.

-.^ Paris, December 21, 1785.

SIR,

I have received this moment a letter, of which I have the honor to enclose your Excellency a copy. It is on the case of Asquith and others, citizens of the United States, in whose behalf I had taken the liberty of asking your interference. I understand by this letter, that they have been condemned to lose their vessel and cargo, and to pay six thousand livres and the costs of the prose cution, before the 25th instant, or to go to the gallies. This pay ment being palpably impossible to men in their situation, and the execution of the judgment pressing, I am obliged to trouble your Excellency again, by praying, if the government can admit any mitigation of their sentence, it may be extended to them, in time to save their persons from its effect.

I have the honor to be, with very great respect, your Excellency s most obedient

and most humble servant,

TH: JEFFERSON.

LETTER CXLIIL TO THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA.

Paris, December 22, 1785.

SIR,

The death of the late General Oglethorpe, who had considera ble possessions in Georgia, has given rise, as we understand, to questions whether those possessions have become the property of the State, or have been transferred by his will to his widow, or