easure of relief to the colony.
It is our wish, as undoubtedly it must be yours, that the monies we
furnish be applied strictly in the line they prescribe. We understand,
however, that there are in the hands of our citizens, some bills
drawn by the administration of the colony, for articles of subsistence
delivered there. It seems just, that such of them should be paid as
were received before _fide bona_ notice that that mode of supply was
not bottomed on the funds furnished to you by the United States, and we
recommend them to you accordingly.

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

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXXVIII.--TO MR. RUTHERFORD, December 25, 1792

TO MR. RUTHERFORD.

Philadelphia, December 25, 1792.

Sir,

I have considered with all the attention which the shortness of the
time would permit, the two motions which you were pleased to put into my
hands yesterday afternoon, on the subject of weights and measures, now
under reference to a committee of the Senate, and will take the liberty
of making a few observations thereon.

The first, I presume, is intended as a basis for the adoption of that
alternative of the report on measures and weights, which proposed
retaining the present system, and fixing its several parts by a
reference to a rod vibrating seconds, under the circumstances therein
explained: and to fulfil its object, I think the resolutions there
proposed should be followed by this; 'that the standard by which the
said measures of length, surface, and capacity shall be fixed, shall
be an uniform cylindrical rod of iron, of such length, as in latitude
forty-five degrees, in the level of the ocean, and in a cellar or other
place of uniform natural temperature, shall perform its vibrations in
small and equal arcs, in one second of mean time, and that rain-water be
the substance, to some definite mass of which the said weights shall
be referred.' Without this, the committee employed to prepare a bill on
those resolutions, would be uninstructed as to the principle by which
the Senate mean to fix their measures of length, and the substance by
which they will fix their weights.

The second motion is a middle proposition between the first and the
last alternatives in the report. It agrees with the first in some of
the present measures and weights, and with the last, in compounding
and dividing them dec