the road, and at the
port of exportation, but to prove to you, whether they shall have been
opened by any body else after going out of my hands. If the stamped
leads are entire, and the cords uncut, when you receive them, you will
be sure they have not been opened; they will be wrapt in oil-cloth here
to guard them against the damps of the sea; and, as I mentioned
before, Mr. Vannet will put them under another covering, if he finds it
necessary, at Havre.

At the same time with your last letter, I received from the office of
Foreign Affairs the ratification by Congress of the loan of 1788, for
another million of guilders. As the necessity of this loan resulted
from the estimate made by Mr. Adams and myself, which estimate was laid
before Congress, I suppose their ratification of the loan implies that
of the estimate. One article of this was for the redemption of our
captives at Algiers. Though your letter says nothing on this subject,
I am in hopes you have sent orders to the commissioners of the loans
at Amsterdam to furnish, as soon as they shall have it, what may be
necessary for this pressing call. So also for the foreign officers. If
the ratification of the loan has been made by Congress, with a view
to fulfil the objects of the estimate, a general order from you to the
commissioners of the loans at Amsterdam, to pay the monies from time to
time, according to that estimate, or to such other as you shall furnish
them with, might save the trouble of particular orders on every single
occasion, and the disappointments arising from the delay or miscarriage
of such orders: but it is for you to decide on this.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect respect,
Gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLX.--TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN,

TO THE COUNT DE MONTMORIN.

Paris, September 11, 1788.

Sir,

In the course of the last war, the house of Schweighaeuser and Dobree of
Nantes, and Puchilberg of L'Orient, presented to Dr. Franklin a demand
against the United States of America. He, being acquainted with the
circumstances of the demand, and knowing it to be unfounded, refused
to pay it. They thereupon procured seizure, by judiciary authority, of
certain arms and other military stores which we had purchased in this
country, and had deposited for embarkation at Nantes: and these
stores have remained in that position ever since. Congress have lately
instru