s, therefore, is suspended till we receive further
orders, except as to Mr. Barclay's mission. Your bills have been
received and honored. The first naming expressly a letter of advice, and
none coming, it was refused till the receipt of your letter to me, in
which you mentioned that you had drawn two bills. I immediately informed
Mr. Grand, who thereupon honored the bill.

I have received no public letters of late date. Through other channels,
I have collected some articles of information, which may be acceptable
to you.

*****

In a letter of March the 20th, from Dr. Franklin to me, is this passage.
'As to public affairs, the Congress has not been able to assemble more
than seven or eight States during the whole winter, so the treaty with
Prussia remains still unratified, though there is no doubt of its being
done soon, as a full Congress is expected next month. The disposition to
furnish Congress with ample powers augments daily, as people become more
enlightened. And I do not remember ever to have seen, during my long
life, more signs of public felicity than appear at present, throughout
these States; the cultivators of the earth, who make the bulk of our
nation, have made good crops, which are paid for at high prices, with
ready money; the artisans, too, receive high wages; and the value of all
real estates is augmented greatly. Merchants and shopkeepers, indeed,
complain that there is not business enough. But this is evidently not
owing to the fewness of buyers, but to the too great number of sellers;
for the consumption of goods was never greater, as appears by the dress,
furniture, and manner of living, of all ranks of the people.' His health
is good, except as to the stone, which does not grow worse. I thank
you for your attention to my request about the books, which Mr. Barclay
writes me he has forwarded from Cadiz.

I have the honor to be with great respect, Dear Sir, your most obedient,
humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XX.--TO MR. LAMBE, June 20,1786

TO MR. LAMBE.

Sir,

Paris, June 20,1786.

Having communicated to Mr. Adams the information received, at different
times, from yourself, from Mr. Randall, and Mr. Carmichael, we find
that the sum likely to be demanded by Algiers for the ransom of our
prisoners, as well as for peace, is so infinitely beyond our powers, and
the expectations of Congress, that it has become our duty to refer the
whole matter back to them. Whether they wi