on-law, contributed to the
fines of Callender himself, of Holt, Brown, and others, suffering under
that law. I discharged, when I came into office, such as were under
the persecution of our enemies, without instituting any prosecutions in
retaliation. They may, therefore, with the same justice, impute to me,
or to every republican contributor, every thing which was ever published
in those papers or by those persons. I must correct a fact in mine
of the 15th. I find I did not enclose the fifty dollars to Callender
himself while at General Mason's, but authorized the General to draw on
my correspondent at Richmond, and to give the money to Callender. So
the other fifty dollars of which he speaks, were by order on my
correspondent at Richmond.

Accept assurances of my affectionate esteem and respect.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCXCIX.--TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, October 10, 1802

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Washington, October 10, 1802.

Dear Sir,

The departure of Madame Brugnard for France furnishes me a safe
conveyance of a letter, which I cannot avoid embracing, although I have
nothing particular for the subject of it. It is well, however, to be
able to inform you, generally, through a safe channel, that we stand
completely corrected of the error, that either the government or the
nation of France has any remains of friendship for us. The portion of
that country which forms an exception, though respectable in weight,
is weak in numbers. On the contrary, it appears evident, that an
unfriendly-spirit prevails in the most important individuals of the
government, towards us. In this state of things, we shall so take our
distance between the two rival nations, as, remaining disengaged till
necessity compels us, we may haul finally to the enemy of that which
shall make it necessary. We see all the disadvantageous consequences of
taking a side, and shall be forced into it only by a more disagreeable
alternative; in which event we must countervail the disadvantages
by measures which will give us splendor and power, but not as much
happiness as our present system. We wish, therefore, to remain well with
France. But we see that no consequences, however ruinous to them, can
secure us with certainty against the extravagance of her present rulers.
I think, therefore, that while we do nothing which the first nation on
earth would deem crouching, we had better give to all our communications
with them a very mild, complaisan