TO A. HAMILTON.
December 29, 1790.
Thomas Jefferson presents his respectful compliments to the Secretary of the Treasury, and his condolences on the accident of the other evening, which he hopes has produced no serious loss.
He encloses to the Secretary of the Treasury a report of a committee of the National Assembly of France, on the subject of Billon, containing more particular information as to that species of coin than he had before met with. If the metal be so mixed as to make it of 1-5 of the intrinsic value of the standard silver coin of the United States, the cent of billon will be a little smaller than the present 16ths of dollars, and consequently be more convenient than a copper cent. This he submits to the better judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, and hopes he will consider the liberty taken as an advance towards unreserved communications for reciprocal benefit.
TO MR. SHORT.
Philadelphia, January 23, 1791.
Sir,—The 3d and subsequent amendments to the constitution have been agreed to by New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The first by New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, North and South Carolina, and the second by only New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and the two Carolinas. The other States, viz. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia and Georgia, have not decided on them. Vermont has acceded to the new Constitution of the United States, and is coming forward to ask admission into Congress. Kentucky has asked the same, and a bill for the purpose has passed the Senate, and is now before the Representatives, where it will meet with no difficulty. But they have only asked admission for the year 1792.
The census had made considerable progress, but will not be completed till midsummer. It is judged at present that our numbers will be between four and five millions. Virginia it is supposed will be between 7 and 800,000.