ments of officers are now before the Senate for approbation, so there will be sixteen regiments of officers and four or five of soldiers. Dupont de Nemours has been here from New York on a visit. He will settle there or at Alexandria. He promises me a visit this summer with Madame Dupont. I think we shall rise the first or second week in May. I have received the grateful news of Maria's recovery, and am to go by Eppington or Montblanco to carry her to Monticello with me. I shall by next post write to Richardson the day my horses are to meet me there, all three; and expect him to engage David Bowles to go with them. Not knowing whether Martha is yet returned home, I can only deliver my love to her provisionally, and my affectionate salutations to yourself. Adieu.

P. S. You have not informed me where your brother's newspapers are to be directed.

PHILADELPHIA, April 19, 1800.

DEAR SIR,-My duties here require me to possess exact knowledge of parliamentary proceedings. While a student I read a good deal, and common

1 This letter is printed from the original in the collection of autographs given to the Massachusetts Historical Society by Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Washburn.-EDS.

placed what I read on this subject.' But it is now 20 years since I was a member of a parliamentary body, so that I am grown rusty. So far, indeed, as books go, my commonplace has enabled me to retrieve, but there are many minute practises, which being in daily use in Parliament, and therefore supposed known to every one, were never noticed in their books. These practices were, I dare say, the same we used to follow in Virginia, but I have forgot even our practices. Besides these, there are minute questions arising frequently as to the mode of amending, putting questions, etc., which the books do not inform us of. I have, from time to time, noted these queries, and keeping them in view have been able to get some of them satisfied, and struck them off my list, but I have a number of them still remaining unsatisfied. However unwilling to disturb your repose, I am so anxious to perform the functions of my office with exact regularity that I have determined to throw myself on your friendship and to ask your aid in solving as many of my doubts as you I have written them down, leaving a broad margin in which I only ask the favor of you to write yea, or nay, opposite to the proposition, which will satisfy me. Those which you do not recollect, do not give yourself any trouble about. Do it only at your leisure. If this should be before the 9th of

can.

1 The commonplace book here referred to is probably a small and very neatly written volume, marked on the fly-leaf "Parliamentary Note-Book," now in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society.-EDS.

May, your return of the papers may find me here till the 16th; if after that, be so good as to direct them to me at Monticello.

I have no foreign news but what you see in the papers. Duane and Cooper's trials come on to-day. Such a selection of jurors has been made by the marshal as ensures the event. The same may be said as to Fries, etc., and also as to the sheriff and justices, who in endeavoring to arrest Sweeny, the horse thief, got possession of his papers, and sent them to the Chief Justice and the Governor, among which papers were Mr. Liston's letter to the Governor of Canada, printed we know not by whom. We have not yet heard the fate of Holt, editor of the Bee, in Connecticut. A printer in Vermont is prosecuted for reprinting Mr. McHenry's letter to General Darke. Be so good as to present my respects to Mrs. Pendleton, and friendly salutations to Mr. Taylor, and accept yourself assurances of constant and affectionate esteem.

TO THOMAS MANN RANDOLPH.

PHILADELPHIA, May 7, 1800.

Yours of April 26 came to hand the 2d inst. We have received information, not absolutely to be relied on, that our envoys are arrived at Paris and were received with peculiar favor. I have seen a letter from a person there of the best information,

dated in January, that the dispositions of the present government were so favorable that a carte blanche would be given to our envoys and that it would not be in their power to avoid a settlement. The New York city election has resulted in favor of the republican ticket. I inclose you a state of it. This is considered by both parties as deciding the legislative majority in that State, without taking into account what we shall gain in the country elections. The Federalists do not conceal their despair on this event. They held a caucus on Saturday night, and have determined on some hocus-pocus manoeuvres by running General Charles C. Pinckney with Mr. Adams to draw off South Carolina, and to make impression on North Carolina. We still count on rising on the 12th; perhaps we may be a day or two later, though it is generally expected otherwise. I shall not set out till the day, or day after, we rise.

You were not mistaken in your first idea that your tobacco was nearly sufficient for the payment to George Jefferson. I paid him 1870 dollars. Your Philadelphia tobacco came to 1537.325 and the New York supposed about 280 dollars. This, when it all comes in, will consequently be within a few dollars of what I paid; and as to the delay, I have apologized for that to those for whom my money was destined. A little before I left Monticello I attempted a statement of our account. But we had let it run so long that it called for more time than I

had left. I therefore brought on the materials here, and have stated it except as to one or two articles which need enquiry. I do not believe there will be a balance of 10 dollars either way, including every thing I know of to the present moment. The money, therefore, in Mr. Jefferson's hands, which you destined for me, is free for other purposes. I sincerely wish I were able to aid you in the embarrassments you speak of. But though I have been wiping out Mr. Wayles's old scores it has been impossible to me to avoid some new ones. The profits of my Bedford estate have gone for this purpose, and the unprofitable state of Albemarle has kept me in a constant struggle. There is a possible sale which might enable me to aid you, and nothing could be so pleasing to me, but it is only possible. I would wish you, however, to avoid selling anything as long as you can, to give time for this possibility. These things, however, will be better explained in conversation. Present my constant love to my dear Martha and the little ones, and accept assurances of the most affectionate attachment to yourself. Adieu.

TO THOMAS MANN RANDOLPH.

WASHINGTON, Sunday, Nov. 30, 1800. Davy will set out in the morning on his return with the horses. I will endeavor before he goes to get one of Hamilton's pamphlets for you, which