nts entered deeply into the
privateering business. The individuals who did not, say they have lost
this interest: the debtor replies, that he has not gained it, and that
it is a case where, a loss having been incurred, every one tries to
shift it from himself. The known bias of the human mind from motives of
interest should lessen the confidence of each party in the justice of
their reasoning: but it is difficult to say, which of them should
make the sacrifice, both of reason and interest. Our conferences were
intended as preparatory to some arrangement. It is uncertain how far
we should have been able to accommodate our opinions. But the absolute
aversion of the government to enter into any arrangement prevented the
object from being pursued. Each country is left to do justice to itself
and to the other, according to its own ideas as to what is past; and to
scramble for the future as well as they can: to regulate their commerce
by duties and prohibitions, and perhaps by cannons and mortars; in which
event, we must abandon the ocean, where we are weak, leaving to neutral
nations the carriage of our commodities; and measure with them on land,
where they alone can lose. Farewell, then, all our useful improvements
of canals and roads, reformations of laws, and other rational
employments. I really doubt, whether there is temper enough, on either
side, to prevent this issue of our present hatred. Europe is, at this
moment, without the appearance of a cloud. The death of the King of
Prussia, daily expected, may raise one. My paper admonishes me, that,
after asking a continuance of your favors, it is time for me to conclude
with assurances of the esteem with which I am,

Dear Sir, your friend and servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XIV.--TO T. PLEASANTS, May 8,1786

TO T. PLEASANTS.

Paris, May 8,1786.

Dear Sir,

At the time of the receipt of your favor of October the 24th, the
contract between the Farmers General and Mr. Morris, for tobacco, was
concluded, and in a course of execution. There was no room, therefore,
to offer the proposals which accompanied your letter. I was, moreover,
engaged in endeavors to have the monopoly, in the purchase of this
article, in this country, suppressed. My hopes on that subject are not
desperate, but neither are they flattering. I consider it as the most
effectual means of procuring the full value of our produce, of diverting
our demands for manufactures from Great Britain to