Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXXI.--TO THE PRESIDENT, November 6, 1791

TO THE PRESIDENT.

November 6, 1791.

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose you the draught of a letter to Governor
Pinckney, and to observe, that I suppose it to be proper that there
should, on fit occasions, be a direct correspondence between the
President of the United States and the Governors of the States; and
that it will probably be grateful to them to receive from the President,
answers to the letters they address to him. The correspondence with them
on ordinary business may still be kept up by the Secretary of State, in
his own name.

I enclose also a letter to Major Pinckney, with a blank to be filled up,
when you shall have made up your mind on it. I have conferred with Mr.
M. on the idea of the commissioners of the federal town proceeding to
make private sales of the lots, and he thinks it advisable. I cannot but
repeat, that if the surveyors will begin on the river, laying off the
lots from Rock Creek to the Eastern Branch, and go on, abreast in that
way, from the river towards the back part of the town, they may pass the
avenue from the President's house to the Capitol, before the spring;
and as soon as they shall have passed it, a public sale may take place,
without injustice to either the Georgetown or Carrolsburg interest.
Will not the present afford you a proper occasion of assuring the
commissioners, that you leave every thing respecting L'Enfant to them?

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

Th: Jefferson

LETTER LXXXII.--TO MAJOR THOMAS PINCKNEY, November 6, 1791

TO MAJOR THOMAS PINCKNEY.

Philadelphia, November 6, 1791.

Sir,

The mission of a Minister Plenipotentiary to the court of London being
now to take place, the President of the United States is desirous
of availing the public of your services in that office. I have it in
charge, therefore, from him, to ask whether it will be agreeable that he
should nominate you for that purpose to the Senate. We know that higher
motives will alone influence your mind in the acceptance of this charge.
Yet it is proper, at the same time, to inform you, that as a provision
for your expenses in the exercise of it, an outfit of nine thousand
dollars is allowed, and an annual salary to the same amount, payable
quarterly. On receiving your permission, the necessary orders for these
sums, together with your