God bless you, my excellent friend, and give you yet many healthy and happy years.
TO MR. HENING
Sir,—Your letter of December 26th, was received in due time. The only object I had in making my collection of the laws of Virginia, was to save all those for the public which were not then already lost, in the hope that at some future day they might be republished. Whether this be by public or private enterprise, my end will be equally answered. The book divides itself into two very distinct parts; to wit, the printed and the unprinted laws. The former begin in 1682, (Pervis' collection.) My collection of these is in strong volumes, well bound, and therefore may safely be transported anywhere. Any of these volumes which you do not possess, are at your service for the purpose of republication, but the unprinted laws are dispersed through many MS. volumes, several of them so decayed that the leaf can never be opened but once without falling into powder. These can never bear removal further than from their shelf to a table. They are, as well as I recollect, from 1622 downwards. I formerly made such a digest of their order, and the volumes where they are to be found, that, under my own superintendence, they could be copied with once handling. More they would not bear. Hence the impracticability of their being copied but at Monticello. But independent of them, the printed laws, beginning in 1682, with all our former printed collections, will be a most valuable publication, and sufficiently distinct. I shall have no doubt of the exactness of your part of the work, but I hope you will take measures for having the typography and paper worthy of the work. I am lead to this caution by the scandalous volume of our laws printed by Pleasants in 1803, and those by Davis in 1796 were little better; both unworthy the history of Tom Thumb. You can have them better and cheaper printed anywhere north of Richmond. Accept my salutations and assurances of respect.
TO DANIEL CLARKE, ESQ
Sir,—I have examined the papers you left with me on the claim to the common of New Orleans, and finding the subject to be within the cognizance of the Board of Commissioners for that territory, they will be immediately instructed to make full inquiry into the foundation of the claim, and to report it for the decision of Congress.
With respect to the lots and buildings in the city of New Orleans, held by the public, the Governor will be immediately instructed to report an exact list of them, stating the uses to which they were applied under the former government, and those for which he thinks them proper at present, which shall be laid before Congress at their next session, the Legislature alone being competent to their final disposition.
I have lodged in the Treasury Office the papers you left with me; but if you wish their return, they will there be delivered to you. Accept my salutations and assurances of respect.
TO GENERAL SHEE
Sir,—Your letter of the 16th ult. was duly received, conveying a tender of the Philadelphia republican militia legion, of their voluntary services, against either foreign or domestic foes. The pressure of business, usual at this season, has prevented its earlier acknowledgment, and the return of my thanks, on the public behalf, for this example of patriotic spirit. Always a friend to peace, and believing it to promote eminently the happiness and prosperity of nations, I am ever unwilling that it should be disturbed, until greater and more important interests call for an appeal to force. Whenever that shall take place, I feel a perfect confidence that the energy and enterprise displayed by my fellow citizens in the pursuits of peace, will be equally eminent in those of war. The Legislature have now under consideration, in what manner, and to what extent, the executive may be permitted to accept the service of volunteers, should the public peace be disturbed, either from without or within. In whatever way they shall give that authority, the legion may be assured that no unreasonable use shall be made of the proffer which their laudable zeal has prompted them to make. With my just acknowledgments to them, I pray you to accept personally the assurance of my high consideration and respect.
TO CAPTAIN CHRISTIAN
Sir,—I have duly received your letter of December 24th, conveying a tender, by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the Saratoga Rangers, of their voluntary services to support the Constitution, laws, and integrity of our country, when the constitutional authorities shall declare it necessary, and I now, on the public behalf, return them thanks for this example of patriotic spirit. Always a friend to peace, and believing it to promote eminently the happiness and prosperity of mankind, I am ever unwilling that it should be disturbed until greater and more imperious interests call for an appeal to force. Whenever that shall take place, I feel a perfect confidence that the energy and enterprise displayed by my fellow citizens in the pursuits of peace, will be equally eminent in those of war. The Legislature have now under consideration, in what manner, and to what extent, the executive may be permitted to accept the service of volunteers, should the public peace be disturbed either from without or within. In whatever way they shall give that authority, the Saratoga Rangers may be assured that no unreasonable use shall be made of the proffer which their laudable zeal has prompted them to make. With my acknowledgments to them, I pray you to accept personally the assurance of my high consideration and respect.
TO GOVERNOR PINCKNEY
Dear Sir,—I received two days ago a letter from General Wilkinson, dated at New Orleans, December 14th, in which he enclosed me an affidavit, of which I now transmit you a copy. You will perceive that it authenticates the copy of a letter from Colonel Burr to the General, affirming that Mr. Alston, his son-in-law, is engaged in the unlawful enterprises he is carrying on, and is to be an actor in them. I am to add, also, that I have received information from another source, that Mr. Alston, while returning from Kentucky last autumn through the upper part of your State, proposed to a Mr. Butler of that part of the country, to join in Colonel Burr's enterprise, which he represented as of a nature to make his fortune, and is understood to have been explained as against Mexico, as well as for separating the Union of these States. That Butler communicated this to a person, of the same part of the country, called Span, who communicated it to a Mr. Horan, the clerk of a court in that quarter; that Butler and Span agreed to join in the enterprise, but Horan refused.
Nobody is a better judge than yourself whether any and what measures can be taken on this information. As to General Wilkinson's affidavit, it will be laid before the Legislature in a few days, and, of course, will be public; but as to the other part, if no use can be made of it, your own discretion and candor would lead you to keep it secret. It is further well known here that Mr. Alston is an endorser to a considerable amount, of the bills which have enabled Colonel Burr to prepare his treasons. A message which I shall send into the Legislature two days hence, will give a development of them. I avail myself with pleasure of this opportunity of recalling myself to your recollection, and of assuring you of my constant esteem and high consideration.
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
Several French vessels of war, disabled from keeping the sea, by the storms which some time since took place on our coast, put into the harbors of the United States to avoid the danger of shipwreck. The Minister of their nation states that their crews are without resources for subsistence, and other necessaries, for the reimbursement of which he offers bills on his government, the faith of which he pledges for their punctual payment.
The laws of humanity make