e
of their minister to begin to reduce the national debt, seemed to
indicate that they could not wish a war. He thought so, but that neither
were we in a condition to go to war. I told him, I was yet uninformed
what Congress proposed to do on this subject, but that we should
certainly always count on the good offices of France, and I was sure
that the offer of them would suffice to induce Great Britain to do us
justice. He said that surely we might always count on the friendship
of France. I added, that by the treaty of alliance, she was bound to
guaranty our limits to us, as they should be established at the moment
of peace. He said they were so, '_mais qu'il nous etoit necessaire de
les constater_.' I told him there was no question what our boundaries
were; that the English themselves admitted they were clear beyond
all question. I feared, however, to press this any further, lest a
reciprocal question should be put to me, and therefore diverted the
conversation to another object. This is a sketch only of a conference
which was long. I have endeavored to give the substance, and sometimes
the expressions, where they were material. I supposed it would be
agreeable to Congress to have it communicated to them, in the present
undecided state in which these subjects are. I should add, that
an explanation of the transaction of Monsieur de Massiac with the
Algerines, before hinted at, will be found in the enclosed letter from
the Count d'Estaing to me, wherein he gives also his own opinion. The
whole is submitted to Congress, as I conceive it my duty to furnish them
with whatever information I can gather, which may throw any light on the
subjects depending before them. I have the honor to be, with the most
perfect esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble
servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XIX.--TO MR. CARMICHAEL, June 20, 1786

TO MR. CARMICHAEL.

Paris, June 20, 1786.

Dear Sir,

My last to you was of the 5th of May, by Baron Waltersdorff. Since that
I have been honored with yours of April the 13th, and May the 16th and
18th. The present covers letters to Mr. Lambe and Mr. Randall, informing
them that the demands of Algiers for the ransom of our prisoners and
also for peace, are so infinitely beyond our instructions, that we must
refer the matter back to Congress, and therefore praying them to come on
immediately. I will beg the favor of you to forward these letters. The
whole of this busines