The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 4 (of 9) / Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private

by Thomas Jefferson

TO COLONEL MONROE.

January 23, 1799.

Dear Sir,—The newspapers furnish you with the articles of common news as well as the Congressional. You observe the addition proposed to be made to our Navy, and the loan of five millions, opened at eight per cent., to equip it. The papers say that our agents abroad are purchasing vessels for this purpose. The following is as accurate a statement of our income and expense annual, as I can form, after divesting the Treasury reports of such articles as are incidental, and properly annual:

1798 —	Imports		$7,405,420	76.
	Excise Auctions, Libraries, Carriages		585,879	67.
	Postage		57,000
	Patents		1,050
	Coinage		10,202
	Dividends of Bank Stock		79,920
	Fines		8
			$8,139,520	43.
1799 —	Direct Tax, } Clear of		2,000,000
	Stamp Tax } expense
			$10,139,520

Interest and reimbursement of domestic debt	$2,987,145	48
Interest on domestic loans	238,637	50
Dutch debt	586,829	58	— $3,812,612	56
Civil list			524,206	83
Loan office			13,000
Mint			13,300
Light-houses			44,281	58
Annuities and Grants			1,603	33
Military Pensions			93,400
Miscellaneous expenses			19,000
Contingent expenses of Government			20,000
Amount of Civil Government property	728,191	24
Indians			110,000
Foreign intercourse	93,000
Treaties with G. Britain, Spain and Mediterranean	187,500		—280,500
Annual expense of existing Navy	2,424,261	10
Annual expense of existing Army (2,038 officers and privates)	1,461,173
Annual expense of existing Officers of additional Army (actually commissioned)	217,372		—4,112,811	10
			9,044,714	90
Annual expense of privates of do. (about ——)	2,523,458
Annual expense of privates of Navy	2,949,278	96	—5,472,733	96
Eight per cent. interest on five millions new loan			400,000
			$14,917,448	86

By this you will perceive that our income for 1799, being ten millions, and expenses nine millions, we have a surplus of one million, which, with the five millions to be borrowed, it is expected, will build the Navy and raise the Army. When they are complete, we shall have to raise by new taxes about five millions more, making in the whole fifteen millions, which if our population be five millions, will be three dollars a head. But these additional taxes will not be wanting, till the session after the next. The majority in Congress being as in the last session, matters will go on now as then. I shall send you Gerry's correspondence and Pickering's report on it, by which you will perceive the willingness of France to treat with us, and our determination not to believe it, and therefore to go to war with them. For in this light must be viewed our surrounding their islands with our armed vessels instead of their cruising on our coasts as the law directs.

According to information, there is real reason to believe that the X. Y. Z. delusion is wearing off, and the public mind beginning to take the same direction it was getting into before that measure. Gerry's dispatches will tend strongly to open the eyes of the people. Besides this several other impressive circumstances will all be bearing on the public mind. The alien and sedition laws as before, the direct tax, the additional army and navy, an usurious loan to set these follies on foot, a prospect of heavy additional taxes as soon as they are completed, still heavier taxes if the government forces on the war, recruiting officers lounging at every court-house and decoying the laborer from his plough. A clause in a bill now under debate for opening commerce with Toussaint and his black subjects now in open rebellion with France, will be a circumstance of high aggravation to that country, and in addition to our cruising around their islands will put their patience to a great proof. One fortunate circumstance is that, annihilated as they are on the ocean, they cannot get at us for some time, and this will give room for the popular sentiment to correct the imprudence. Nothing is believed of the stories about Bonaparte. Those about Ireland have a more serious aspect. I delivered the letter from you of which I was the bearer. No use was made of the paper, because that poor creature had already fallen too low even for contempt. It seems that the representative of our district is attached to his seat. Mr. Bachley tells me you have the collection of a sum of money for him, which is destined for me. What is the prospect of getting it, and how much? I do not know whether I have before informed you that Mr. Madison paid to Mr. Barnes $240 or $250 in your name to be placed to your credit with Mr. Short, I consequently squared that account, and debited you to myself for the balance. This with another article or two of account between us, stands therefore against the books for which I am indebted to you, and for which I know not the cost. A very important measure is under contemplation here, which, if adopted, will require a considerable sum of money on loan. The thing being beyond the abilities of those present, they will possibly be obliged to assess their friends also. I may perhaps be forced to score you for fifty or one hundred dollars, to be paid at convenience, but as yet it is only talked of. I shall rest my justification on the importance of the measure, and the sentiments I know you to entertain on such subjects. We consider the elections on the whole as rather in our favor, and particularly believe those of North Carolina will immediately come right. J. Nicholas and Brent, both offer again. My friendly respects to Mrs. Monroe, and to yourself affectionate salutations and adieu.