arrangements should be stipulated as
to the payment of the old debts, said he would proceed in that moment to
Lord Caermarthen's, and discuss the subject with him, and that we might
expect to hear from him. He took leave, and we have never since heard
from him or any other person on the subject. Congress will judge how far
these conversations should influence their future proceedings, or those
of the States.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect and esteem, Sir, your
most obedient, humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER V.--TO JAMES MADISON, April 25, 1786

TO JAMES MADISON.

London, April 25, 1786.

Dear Sir,

Some of the objects of the joint commission, with which we were honored
by Congress, called me to this place about six weeks ago. To-morrow I
set out on my return to Paris. With this nation nothing is done; and it
is now decided, that they intend to do nothing with us.

*****

I wrote you, in a former letter, on the subject of a Mr. Paradise,
who owns an estate in Virginia in right of his wife, and who has a
considerable sum due to him in our loan office. Since I came here, I
have had opportunities of knowing his extreme personal worth, and his
losses by the late war. He is, from principle, a pure republican, while
his father was as warm a tory. His attachment to the American cause,
and his candid warmth, brought him sometimes into altercations on the
subject with his father, and some persons interested in their variance,
artfully brought up this subject of conversation whenever they met. It
produced a neglect in the father. He had already settled on him a sum of
money in the funds: but would do no more, and probably would have undone
that, if he could. When remittances from Virginia were forbidden,
the profits of the Virginia estate were carried into our loan office.
Paradise was then obliged to begin to eat his capital in England: from
that, to part with conveniences, and to run in debt. His situation is
now distressing; and would be completely relieved, could he receive what
is due to him from our State. He is coming over to settle there. His
wife and family will follow him. I never ask unjust preferences for any
body. But if, by any just means, he can be helped to his money, I own
I should be much gratified. The goodness of his heart, his kindness to
Americans before, during, and since the war, the purity of his political
and moral character, interest me in the events impendi