, which would surely have dictated, that a power, lying
between the jaws of Russia and Austria, should not separate itself from
France, unless, indeed, he had assurances of dispositions in those
two powers, which are not supposed to exist. On the contrary, I am
persuaded that they ask the alliance of France, whom we suppose to
be under hesitations between her reluctance to abandon the Turks, her
jealousy of increasing by their spoils the power of the two empires, and
her inability to oppose them. If they cannot obtain her alliance, they
will surely join themselves to England and Prussia.

Official advices are received, that the first division of the Russian
army has passed the Borysthenes into the Polish Ukraine, and is marching
towards the frontiers of Turkey. Thus, we may consider the flames of
war as completely kindled in two distinct parts of this quarter of
the globe, and that though France and England have not yet engaged
themselves in it, the probabilities are that they will do it.

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

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XCVI.--TO MR. CARNES, September 22, 1787

TO MR. CARNES.

Paris, September 22, 1787.

Sir,

I am honored by your favor of the 17th instant. A war between France and
England does not necessarily engage America in it; and I think she
will be disposed rather to avail herself of the advantages of a neutral
power. By the former usage of nations, the goods of a friend were safe,
though taken in an enemy bottom, and those of an enemy were lawful
prize, though found in a free bottom. But in our treaties with France,
&c. we have established the simpler rule, that a free bottom makes free
goods, and an enemy bottom, enemy goods. The same rule has been adopted
by the treaty of armed neutrality between Russia, Sweden, Denmark,
Holland, and Portugal, and assented to by France and Spain. Contraband
goods, however, are always excepted, so that they may still be
seized; but the same powers have established that naval stores are not
contraband: and this may be considered now as the law of nations. Though
England acquiesced under this during the late war, rather than draw on
herself the neutral powers, yet she never acceded to the new principle,
and her obstinacy on this point is what has prevented the late renewal
of her treaty with Russia. On the commencement of a new war, this
principle will pro