ved, than
the sum proposed. In order to obtain, therefore, a final arrangement of
this demand, Congress have authorized me to depute a special agent to
Copenhagen, to attend the pleasure of his Majesty. No agent could be so
adequate to this business, as the Commodore Paul Jones, who commanded
the squadron which took the prizes. He will therefore have the honor
of delivering this letter to your Excellency, in person; of giving such
information as may be material, relative to the whole transaction; of
entering into conferences for its final adjustment; and being himself
principally interested, not only in his own right, but as the natural
patron of those who fought under him, whatever shall be satisfactory
to him, will have a great right to that ultimate approbation, which
Congress have been pleased to confide to me.

I beg your Excellency to accept the homage of that respect, which your
exalted station, talents, and merit impress, as well as those sentiments
of esteem and regard, with which I have the honor to be

Your Excellency's most obedient

and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXXIII.--TO WILLIAM RUTLEDGE, February 2, 1788

TO WILLIAM RUTLEDGE.

Paris, February 2, 1788.

Dear Sir,

I should have sooner answered your favor of January the 2nd, but that we
have expected for some time, to see you here. I beg you not to think of
the trifle I furnished you with, nor to propose to return it, till you
shall have that sum more than you know what to do with. And on every
other occasion of difficulty, I hope you will make use of me freely.
I presume you will now remain at London, to see the trial of Hastings.
Without suffering yourself to be imposed on by the pomp in which it
will be enveloped, I would recommend to you to consider and decide for
yourself these questions. If his offence is to be decided by the law of
the land, why is he not tried in that court in which his fellow citizens
are tried, that is, the King's Bench? If he is cited before another
court, that he may be judged, not according to the law of the land, but
by the discretion of his judges, is he not disfranchised of his most
precious right, the benefit of the laws of his country, in common
with his fellow citizens? I think you will find, in investigating this
subject, that every solid argument is against the extraordinary court,
and that every one in its favor is specious only. It is a transfer from
a judicature of learning an