ough him, I beg to be allowed the honor of presenting those
sentiments of profound respect and veneration, with which I am,
Gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XXIII.--TO COLONEL MONROE, July 9, 1786

TO COLONEL MONROE.

Paris, July 9, 1786.

Dear Sir,

I wrote you last on the 10th of May; since which your favor of May the
11th has come to hand. The political world enjoys great quiet here. The
King of Prussia is still living, but like the snuff of a candle, which
sometimes seems out, and then blazes up again. Some think that his death
will not produce any immediate effect in Europe. His kingdom like a
machine, will go on for some time with the winding up he has given it.
The King's visit to Cherbourg has made a great sensation in England
and here. It proves to the world, that it is a serious object to this
country, and that the King commits himself for the accomplishment of
it. Indeed, so many cones have been sunk, that no doubt remains of the
practicability of it. It will contain, as is said, eighty ships of
the line, be one of the best harbors in the world, and by means of two
entrances, on different sides, will admit vessels to come in and go out
with every wind. The effect of this, in another war with England, defies
calculation. Having no news to communicate, I will recur to the subjects
of your letter of May the 11th.

With respect to the new States, were the question to stand simply in
this form, How may the ultramontane territory be disposed of, so as to
produce the greatest and most immediate benefit to the inhabitants of
the maritime States of the Union? the plan would be more plausible, of
laying it off into two or three States only. Even on this view, however,
there would still be something to be said against it, which might render
it at least doubtful. But that is a question, which good faith forbids
us to receive into discussion. This requires us to state the question in
its just form, How may the territories of the Union be disposed of, so
as to produce the greatest degree of happiness to their inhabitants?
With respect to the maritime States, little or nothing remains to
be done. With respect, then, to the ultramontane States, will their
inhabitants be happiest, divided into States of thirty thousand square
miles, not quite as large as Pennsylvania, or into States of one hundred
and sixty thousand square miles each, that is to say, three times as