and ordered it into the hands
of their banker, who paid it away for the purposes to which they had
destined it. I should be sorry an idea should get abroad, that I had
received the money of those poor fellows, and applied it to other
purposes. I shall, in like manner, order the Danish and Barbary money
into the hands of bankers, carefully avoiding ever to touch a sou of
it, or having any other account to make out than what the banker will
furnish. T. J.

LETTER CXIX.--TO MONSIEUR LIMOZIN, December 22, 1787

TO MONSIEUR LIMOZIN.

Paris, December 22, 1787.

Sir,

I have the honor now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the
18th and 19th of November, and two of the 18th of the present month.
I did not write to you immediately on the receipt of the two first,
because the observation they contained were to be acted on here. I
was much obliged to you for them, as I have been frequently before for
others, and you will find that I have profited by them in the _Arret_
which is to come out for the regulation of our commerce, wherein most
of the things are provided for, which you have from time to time
recommended. With respect to the article of yellow wax, I think there
is a general clause in the _Arret_, which will take it in; but I am not
sure of it. If there be not, it is now too late to get any alteration
made. You shall receive the _Arret_ the moment it is communicated to me.

I have examined the case of Captain Thomas, with all the dispositions
possible, to interpose for him. But on mature reflection, I find it is
one of those cases wherein my solicitation would be ill received. The
government of France, to secure to its subjects the carrying trade
between her colonies and the mother country, have made a law, forbidding
any foreign vessels to undertake to carry between them. Notwithstanding
this, an American vessel has undertaken, and has brought a cargo. For me
to ask that this vessel shall be received, would be to ask a repeal of
the law, because there is no more reason for receiving her, than there
will be for receiving the second, third, &c, which shall act against the
same law, nor for receiving an American vessel, more than the vessels of
other nations. Captain Thomas has probably engaged in this business, not
knowing the law; but ignorance of the law is no excuse, in any country.
If it were, the laws would lose their effect, because it can be always
pretended. Were I to make this application t