we understand the real policy of Spain in this point.
You will, therefore, be pleased to extract from the enclosed papers such
facts as you think proper to be communicated to that court, and enter
into friendly but serious expostulations on the conduct of their
officers; for we have equal evidence against the commandants of other
posts in West Florida, though, they being subordinate to Carondelet, we
name him as the source. If they disavow his conduct, we must naturally
look to their treatment of him as the sole evidence of their sincerity.
But we must look further. It is a general rule, that no nation has a
right to keep an agent within the limits of another, without the consent
of that other, and we are satisfied it would be best for both Spain and
us, to abstain from having agents or other persons in our employ or
pay among the savages inhabiting our respective territories, whether
as subjects or independent. You are, therefore, desired to propose and
press a stipulation to that effect. Should they absolutely decline it,
it may be proper to let them perceive that, as the right of keeping
agents exists on both sides or on neither, it will rest with us
to reciprocate their own measures. We confidently hope that these
proceedings are unauthorized by the government of Spain, and, in this
hope, we continue in the dispositions formerly expressed to you, of
living on terms of the best friendship and harmony with that country, of
making their interests in our neighborhood our own, and of giving them
every proof of this, except the abandonment of those essential rights
which you are instructed to insist on.

I have the honor to be, with great and sincere esteem, Gentlemen, your
most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXXI.--TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, October 15, 1792

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.

Philadelphia, October 15, 1792.

Sir,

I have received your favor of July the 10th, No. 4, but no other number
preceding or subsequent. I fear, therefore, that some miscarriage has
taken place. The present goes to Bordeaux under cover to Mr. Fenwick,
who I hope will be able to give it a safe conveyance to you. I observe
that you say in your letter, that 'the marine department is to treat
with you for supplies to St. Domingo.' I presume you mean 'supplies
of money,' and not that our government is to furnish supplies of
provisions, &c. specifically, or employ others to do it, this being a
business into which