northern coast of Africa,
constituted the whole world almost for the Romans, and to us they are
scarcely known, scarcely accessible at all. The present summer will
enable us to judge, what turn this contest will take. I am greatly
anxious to hear that nine States accept our new constitution. We must
be contented to accept of its good, and to cure what is evil in it
hereafter. It seems necessary for our happiness at home; I am sure it is
so for our respectability abroad. I shall, at all times, be glad to hear
from you, from New York, from Kentucky, or whatever region of the
earth you inhabit; being with sentiments of very sincere esteem and
attachment, Dear Sir, your friend and servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXXXVIII.--TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, May 27, 1788

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.

Paris, May 27, 1788.

Dear Sir,

Your favors of April the 14th and 29th, and May the 8th, have lately
come to hand. That of January the 29th, by M. de Moinedo, had been left
here during my absence on a journey to Amsterdam. That gentleman had
gone, as I presume, before my return, from my being unable to learn any
thing of him.

*****

With respect to the Isthmus of Panama, I am assured by Burgoine (who
would not chose to be named, however), that a survey was made, that a
canal appeared very practicable, and that the idea was suppressed for
political reasons altogether. He has seen and minutely examined the
report. This report is to me a vast _desideratum_, for reasons political
and philosophical. I cannot help suspecting the Spanish squadrons to
be gone to South America, and that some disturbances have been excited
there by the British. The court of Madrid may suppose we would not see
this with an unwilling eye. This may be true as to the uninformed part
of our people: but those who look into futurity farther than the present
moment or age, and who combine well what is, with what is to be, must
see that our interests, well understood, and our wishes are, that Spain
shall (not for ever, but) very long retain her possessions in that
quarter; and that her views and ours must, in a good degree, and for a
long time, concur. It is said in our gazettes, that the Spaniards have
sunk one of our boats on the Mississippi, and that our people retaliated
on one of theirs. But my letters, not mentioning this fact, have made
me hope it is not true, in which hope your letter confirms me. There are
now one hundred thousand inhabitants in Ken