ng over him, and
which will infallibly be ruinous, if he fails to receive his money. I
ask of you, on his behalf, that in pursuing the path of right, you will
become active for him, instead of being merely quiescent, as you might
be, were his merit and his misfortunes unknown to you.

I have put into the hands of Mr. Fulwar Skipwith for you, a packet
containing some catalogues, which he will forward. I am, with very
sincere esteem, Dear Sir,

your friend and servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER VI.--TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES, May 3, 1786

TO THE COUNT DE VERGENNES.

Paris, May 3, 1786.

Sir,

After begging leave to present my respects to your Excellency, on my
return to this place, I take the liberty of offering to your attention
some papers, which I found on my arrival here, written by sundry
merchants of L'Orient and others, some of whom are citizens of the
United States, and all of them concerned in the trade between the two
countries. This has been carried on by an exchange of the manufactures
and produce of this country, for the produce of that, and principally
for tobacco, which, though, on its arrival here, confined to a single
purchaser, has been received equally from all sellers. In confidence
of a continuance of this practice, the merchants of both countries were
carrying on their commerce of exchange. A late contract by the Farm has,
in a great measure, fixed in a single mercantile house the supplies of
tobacco wanted for this country. This arrangement found the established
merchants with some tobacco on hand, some on the seas coming to them,
and more still due. By the papers now enclosed, it seems, that there
are six thousand four hundred and eight hogsheads in the single port of
L'Orient. Whether government may interfere, as to articles furnished by
the merchants after they had notice of the contract before mentioned,
must depend on principles of policy. But those of justice seem to urge,
that, for commodities furnished before such notice, they should be so
far protected, as that they may wind up, without loss, the transactions
in which the new arrangement found them actually engaged. Your
Excellency is the best judge, how far it may be consistent with the
rules of government, to interfere for their relief, and with you,
therefore, I beg leave entirely to rest their interests.

Information lately received, relative to the Barbary States, has
suggested, that it might be expedient, and perhaps