urs. I have letters and papers from America
as late as the 15th of December. The government of Massachusetts had
imprisoned three of the leaders of their insurgents. The insurgents,
being collected to the number of three or four hundred, had sent in
their petition to the government, praying another act of pardon for
their leaders and themselves, and on this condition offering to go every
man home, and conduct himself dutifully afterwards. This is the latest
intelligence.

I thank you for your attention to the question I had taken the liberty
of proposing to you. I think with you, that it would be advisable to
have our debt transferred to individuals of your country. There could
and would be no objection to the guarantee remaining as you propose;
and a postponement of the first payments of capital would surely be a
convenience to us. For though the resources of the United States are
great and growing, and their dispositions good, yet their machine is
new, and they have not got it to go well. It is the object of their
general wish at present, and they are all in movement, to set it in a
good train; but their movements are necessarily slow. They will surely
effect it in the end, because all have the same end in view; the
difficulty being only to get all the thirteen States to agree on the
same means. Divesting myself of every partiality, and speaking from that
thorough knowledge which I have of the country, their resources, and
their principles, I had rather trust money in their hands, than in that
of any government on earth; because, though for a while the payments of
the interest might be less regular, yet the final reimbursement of the
capital would be more sure.

I set out next week for the south of France, to try whether some mineral
waters in that quarter, much recommended, will restore the use of my
hand. I shall be absent from Paris two or three months; but I take
arrangements for the regular receipt of your favors, as if I were here.
It will be better, however, for you to put your letters to Mr. Jay under
cover to Mr. Short, who remains here, and will forward them.

I have thought it my duty to submit to Congress the proposition about
the French debt, and may expect their answer in four months.

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

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER L.--TO JOHN JAY, February 14, 1787

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, February 14, 1787