eceived no journal of Congress since the beginning of
November last, and will thank you for them, if printed.

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

Th: Jefferson.

P. S. August 7. The parliament were received yesterday very harshly
by the King. He obliged them to register the two edicts for the _impot
territorial_ and stamp tax. When speaking in my letter of the reiterated
orders and refusals to register, which passed between the King and
parliament, I omitted to insert the King's answer to a deputation of
parliament, which attended him at Versailles. It may serve to show
the spirit which exists between them. It was in these words, and these
only:--'_Je vous ferai savoir mes intentions. Allez-vous-en. Qu'on ferme
la porte._'

LETTER LXXXII.--TO JOHN CHURCHMAN, August 8, 1787

TO JOHN CHURCHMAN.

Paris, August 8, 1787.

Sir,

I have duly received your favor of June the 6th, and immediately
communicated its contents to a member of the Academy. He told me that
they had received the other copy of your memorial, which you mention to
have sent through another channel; that your ideas were not conveyed so
explicitly, as to enable them to decide finally on their merit, but that
they had made an entry in their journals, to preserve to you the claim
of the original idea. As far as we can conjecture it here, we imagine
you make a table of variations of the needle, for all the different
meridians whatever. To apply this table to use in the voyage between
America and Europe, suppose the variation to increase a degree in every
one hundred and sixty miles. Two difficulties occur; 1. a ready and
accurate method of finding the variation of the place; 2. an instrument
so perfect, as that (though the degree on it shall represent one hundred
and sixty miles) it shall give the parts of the degree so minutely, as
to answer the purpose of the navigator. The variation of the needle
at Paris, actually, is 21 deg. west. I make no question you have provided
against the doubts entertained here, and I shall be happy that our
country may have the honor of furnishing the old world, what it has so
long sought in vain.

I am with much respect, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXXIII.--TO MONSIEUR L HOMMANDE, August 9, 1787

TO MONSIEUR L HOMMANDE.

Paris, August 9, 1787.

Sir,

At the time yo