er
articles. The greatest part of the eleventh, and the whole of the
twelfth new articles, are in this predicament. They propose, that no
person shall be arrested on board a merchant vessel, for any cause, but
in presence of the consul; that no such vessel shall be visited, but
in his presence; and that when the officers of justice have reason to
believe that a criminal has taken refuge on board a vessel of war, the
captain's word shall be conclusive evidence that he is not there.

To the objections which I had the honor of stating in my letter to his
Excellency, the Count de Montmorin, I have now that of adding some other
observations, of which I request your perusal. I enclose with them a
draught, on the basis of the one you were pleased to give me, altered so
as to reconcile it to the spirit of our laws.

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

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLXII.--TO THE MARQUIS DE LA ROUERIE, September 16,1788

TO THE MARQUIS DE LA ROUERIE.

Paris, September 16,1788.

Sir,

On receiving the first letters which you did me the honor to write to me
on the arrears due to you from the United States, I informed you that
I had nothing to do in the money department; that the subject of your
letters belonged altogether to the treasury board, and to Mr. Grand,
their banker here, to the former of whom I forwarded your letters. As
I felt an anxiety, however, that the foreign officers should be paid, I
took the liberty of pressing the treasury board, from time to time, to
exert themselves for that effect; and I availed myself of an opportunity
which occurred last spring, of setting on foot measures, which, with
their approbation, might furnish the means of effecting this payment.
So far my information to you went, and I added a supposition, that the
treasury board would probably give orders on the subject, in the course
of the month of July. But I made you no promise; it would have been
strange if I had; nor does my office, nor any thing I have ever said
or done, subject me to the demand of immediate payment, which you are
pleased to make on me, nor call on me for any declaration or answer,
positive or negative.

Finding that my interference, which was friendly only, and avowed to be
inofficial, has given occasion to your letter of yesterday, in a style
which I did not expect, and to which I can have no motive