assume a threatening appearance. I
give you the facts, however, and you will judge whether they are objects
of attention or of mere curiosity.

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

Th: Jefferson.

P. S. I enclose herewith an extract of a letter from the Count de
Vergennes to the French ambassador at the Hague, which will make a
remarkable chapter in the history of the late revolution here. It is not
public, nor should be made so by us. Probably those who have been the
victims of it, will some day publish it.

LETTER CXXX.--TO MR. DUMAS, March 29, 1788

TO MR. DUMAS.

Amsterdam, March 29, 1788.

Sir,

I have now to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 14th, 18th,
and 23rd instant. I would have preferred doing it in person, but the
season, and the desire of seeing what I have not yet seen, invite me to
take the route of the Rhine. I shall leave this place to-morrow morning,
and probably not reach Paris till the latter end of April. In the moment
we were to have conferred on the subject of paying the arrears due to
you, a letter of the 20th of February, from the board of treasury, was
received, forbidding the application of money to any purpose, (except
our current claims,) till the June interest should be actually in hand.
Being by the letter, tied up from giving an order in your favor, I
return you the letter you had written to Mr. Jay, on the supposition
that the order for your arrears was given. It has been suggested,
however, that if you could receive bonds of the loan, you could make
them answer your purpose, and the commissioners say, this would in no
wise interfere with the views of the treasury board, nor the provision
for the June interest. I have, therefore, recommended to them in
writing, to give you bonds to the amount of your balance, if you choose
to take them, rather than to wait. I wish this may answer your purpose.
I remember that in the conversation which I had the honor of having with
you, on the evening I was at the Hague, you said that your enemies had
endeavored to have it believed, that Congress would abandon you, and
withdraw your appointments. An enemy generally says and believes what
he wishes, and your enemies, particularly, are not those who are most in
the counsels of Congress, nor the best qualified to tell what Congress
will do. From the evidences you have received of their appro