as yours. No matter; I
will still tell you the charming though homespun news, that our crops of
wheat have been abundant and of superior quality; that very great though
partial drought has destroyed the crops of hay to the north, and corn
to the south; that the late rains may recover the tobacco to a middling
crop, and that the fields of rice are promising.

I informed you in my last, of the success of our first expedition
against the Indians. A second has gone against them, the result of which
is not yet known. Our public credit is good, but the abundance of paper
has produced a spirit of gambling in the funds, which has laid up our
ships at the wharves, as too slow instruments of profit, and has even
disarmed the hand of the tailor of his needle and thimble. They say the
evil will cure itself. I wish it may; but I have rarely seen a gamester
cured, even by the disasters of his vocation. Some new indications of
the ideas with which the British cabinet are coming into treaty, confirm
your opinions, which I knew to be right, but the Anglomany of some would
not permit them to accede to.

Adieu, my dear Sir. Your affectionate, humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXVII.--TO MONSIEUR DE TERNANT, September 1, 1791

TO MONSIEUR DE TERNANT, _Minister Plenipotentiary of France_.

Philadelphia, September 1, 1791.

Sir,

I have communicated to the President what passed between us the other
day, on the subject of the payments made to France by the United States
in the _assignats_ of that country, since they have lost their par with
gold and silver; and after conferences, by his instruction, with the
Secretary of the Treasury, I am authorized to assure you, that the
government of the United States have no idea of paying their debt in a
depreciated medium, and that in the final liquidation of the payments
which shall have bean made, due regard will be had to an equitable
allowance for the circumstance of depreciation.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and
respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXVIII.--TO T. NEWTON, September 8, 1791

TO T. NEWTON.

Georgetown, September 8, 1791.

Dear Sir,

I was in the moment of my departure from Philadelphia, for Virginia,
when I received your favor, inquiring how far the law of nations is to
govern in proceedings respecting foreign consuls.

The law of nations does not of itsel