g to employ
it for the best. The business is, in its nature, executive, and would
require too great a variety of detail to be managed by an act of
parliament. However, I repeat it, that I never heard or read of an
instance of the parliament's interfering to give bread. If I see you at
Versailles to-day, I can be more particular.

I am with great sincerity, my dear Sir, your affectionate friend and
servant,

Th: Jefferson,

LETTER CCVI.--TO JOHN JAY, June 17, 1789

TO JOHN JAY.

Sir

Paris, June 17, 1789.

I had the honor of addressing you on the 9th and 12th of May, by the
way of London. This goes through the same channel to the care of Mr.
Trumbull. Having received no letter from you of later date than the 25th
of November, I am apprehensive that there may have been miscarriages,
and the more so, as I learn, through another channel, that you have
particularly answered mine of November the 19th.

The death of the Grand Seignior, which has happened, renders the
continuance of the war more probable, as it has brought to the throne
a successor of a more active and ardent temper, and who means to put
himself at the head of his armies. He has declared the Captain Pacha
his Generalissimo. The prospects for Russia, on the other hand, are
less encouraging. Her principal ally, the Emperor, is at death's door,
blazing up a little indeed, from time to time like an expiring taper,
but certainly to extinguish soon. Denmark, too, is likely to be
restrained by the threats of England and Prussia, from contributing even
her stipulated naval succors. It is some time since I have been able
to obtain any account of the King of England, on which I can rely with
confidence. His melancholy continues, and to such a degree, as to render
him absolutely indifferent to every thing that passes, so that he seems
willing to let his ministers do every thing they please, provided they
will let him alone. When forced to speak, his comprehension seems better
than it was in the first moments after his phrensy went off. His health
is bad: he does not go into public at all, and very few are admitted
to see him. This is his present state, according to the best accounts I
have been able to get lately. His ministers dictate boldly in the north,
because they know it is impossible they should be engaged in the war,
while this country is so completely palsied.

You will have seen by my former letters, that the question, whether the
States Gen