urs in any one
instance. In Massachusetts this was owing to the discretion which the
malcontents still preserved; in Connecticut and New Hampshire the body
of the people rose in support of government, and obliged the malcontents
to go to their homes. In the last mentioned State they seized about
forty, who were in jail for trial. It is believed this incident will
strengthen our government. Those people are not entirely without excuse.
Before the war these States depended on their whale-oil and fish.
The former was consumed in England, and much of the latter in the
Mediterranean. The heavy duties on American whale-oil, now required in
England, exclude it from that market: and the Algerines exclude them
from bringing their fish into the Mediterranean. France is opening
her ports for their oil, but in the mean while their ancient debts are
pressing them, and they have nothing to pay with. The Massachusetts
Assembly, too, in their zeal for paying their public debt, had laid
a tax too heavy to be paid, in the circumstances of their State. The
Indians seem disposed, too, to make war on us. These complicated causes
determined Congress to increase their forces to two thousand men. The
latter was the sole object avowed, yet the former entered for something
into the measure. However, I am satisfied the good sense of the people
is the strongest army our governments can ever have, and that it will
not fail them. The commercial convention at Annapolis was not full
enough to do business. They found, too, their appointments too narrow,
being confined to the article of commerce. They have proposed a meeting
at Philadelphia in May, and that it may be authorized to propose
amendments of whatever is defective in the federal constitution.

When I was in England, I formed a portable copying press, on the
principles of the large one they make there, for copying letters. I had
a model made there, and it has answered perfectly. A workman here has
made several from that model. The itinerant temper of your court will, I
think, render one of these useful to you. You must, therefore, do me the
favor to accept of one. I have it now in readiness, and shall send it
by the way of Bayonne, to the care of Mr. Alexander there, unless Don
Miguel de Lardi-zabal can carry it with him.

My hand admonishes me it is time to stop, and that I must defer writing
to Mr. Barclay till to-morrow.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest esteem and
r