the experiment of cultivating the rice of
this quality, and to communicate the species to the two States of South
Carolina and Georgia, if they find it answers. I thought the staple of
these two States was entitled to this attention, and that it must be
desirable to them, to be able to furnish rice of the two qualities
demanded in Europe, especially, as the greater consumption is in the
forms for which the Lombardy quality is preferred. The mass of our
countrymen being interested in agriculture, I hope I do not err in
supposing, that in a time of profound peace, as the present, to enable
them to adapt their productions to the market, to point out markets for
them, and endeavor to obtain favorable terms of reception, is within the
line of my duty.

My journey into this part of the country has procured me information,
which I will take the liberty of communicating to Congress. In October
last, I received a letter, dated Montpelier, October the 2nd, 1786,
announcing to me that the writer was a foreigner, who had a matter
of very great consequence to communicate to me, and desired I would
indicate the channel through which it might pass safely. I did so.

I received soon after, a letter in the following words, omitting only
the formal parts. [_A translation of it is here given._]

'I am a native of Brazil. You are not ignorant of the frightful
slavery under which my country groans. This continually becomes more
insupportable, since the epoch of your glorious independence; for
the cruel Portuguese omit nothing which can render our condition more
wretched, from an apprehension that we may follow your example. The
conviction, that these usurpers against the laws of nature and humanity
only meditate new oppressions, has decided us to follow the guiding
light which you have held out to us, to break our chains, to revive
our almost expiring liberty, which is nearly overwhelmed by that force,
which is the sole foundation of the authority that Europeans exercise
over America. But it is necessary that some power should extend
assistance to the Brazilians, since Spain would certainly unite herself
with Portugal; and in spite of our advantages for defence, we could not
make it effectual, or, at least, it would be imprudent to hazard the
attempt, without some assurance of success. In this state of affairs,
Sir, we can, with propriety, look only to the United States, not only
because we are following her example, but, moreover, becau