TO MR. SHORT.
Philadelphia, January 5, 1792.
Dear Sir,—My last to you was of November 24th, since which I have received yours, Nos. 76, 77, and 81 to 87 inclusive. Your letter of October 6th, with your account to June, 1791, is not yet arrived, nor the box mentioned in your number 84. The memorial of the crew of the Indian shall be sent to the Governor of South Carolina. In a former letter I informed you that two balanciers would suffice for us, which will have served as an answer to that part of your late letters on the same subject. With respect to the Assayer, it will be better to defer taking any measures till the bill establishing a mint, which is now before the legislature, shall have passed.
We have been in expectation for some time that some overture would have been made to us from the Court of France, on the subject of the treaty of commerce recommended by the National Assembly to be entered into between the two nations. The executive of ours are perfectly disposed to meet such overtures, and to concur in giving them effect on the most liberal principles. This sentiment you may freely express to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
We receive with deep regret daily information of the progress of insurrection and devastation in St. Domingo. Nothing indicates as yet that the evil is at its height, and the materials, as yet untouched, but open to conflagration, are immense. The newspapers heretofore sent you, and those now sent, will have informed you of a very bloody action we have had with the Northern Indians, in which our army was defeated. This imposes the necessity of stronger preparations than were before thought requisite.
Some communications from the Court of Madrid having been lately, for the first time, made to us, these shall be the subject of a separate letter.
You mention some failures in the receipt of the journals of Congress and other public papers. I trust always to Mr. Remson to make them up from time to time, and I can answer for his punctuality. I send you his statement of those which have been sent, so that the failure has probably arisen from the inexactitude of those to whom they have been confided. At present we watch for vessels bound to Havre whereby to send them. You will receive some by the de Jeune Eole, which sails from hence to that port next week. I am not certain whether this letter will go by the same conveyance, or by the English packet. I am, with the highest esteem and attachment, your affectionate humble servant.