he latter end of the month: neither time nor place are yet
declared, but Versailles is talked of, and we may well presume that some
time in April will be fixed on. In the mean time, Mr. Necker gets money
to keep the machine in motion. Their funds rose slowly, but steadily,
till within these few days, when there was a small check. However,
they stand very well, and will rise. The _caisse d'escompte_ lent the
government twenty-five millions, two days ago. The navy of this country
sustained a heavy loss lately, by the death of the Bailli de Suffrein.
He was appointed Generalissimo of the Atlantic, when war was hourly
expected with England, and is certainly the officer on whom the nation
would have reposed its principal hopes, in such a case. We just now
hear of the death of the Speaker of the House of Commons, before
the nomination of a regent, which adds a new embarrassment to the
re-establishment of government in England. Since writing mine of
November the 29th, yours of the 23rd of September has come to hand. As
the General of the Mathurins was to be employed in the final redemption
of our captives, I thought that their previous support had better be
put into his hands, and conducted by himself in such a way as not to
counterwork his plan of redemption, whenever we can enable him to begin
on it. I gave him full powers as to the amount and manner of subsisting
them. He has undertaken it, informing me, at the same time, that it
will be on a very low scale, to avoid suspicion of its coming from the
public. He spoke of but three sous a day per man, as being sufficient
for their physical necessaries, more than which, he thinks it not
advisable to give. I have no definitive answer yet from our bankers,
whether we may count on the whole million last agreed to be borrowed,
but I have no doubt of it, from other information, though I have not
their formal affirmative. The gazettes of Leyden and France to this
date, accompany this. I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the
most perfect esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble
servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLXXVIII.--TO JAMES MADISON, January 12, 1789

TO JAMES MADISON.

Paris, January 12, 1789.

Dear Sir,

My last to you was of the 18th of November; since which, I have received
yours of the 21st of September, and October the 8th, with the pamphlet
on the Mohicon language, for which, receive my thanks. I endeavor to
collect all the vocabul