his army into a long cord, to cover several hundred miles of frontier,
which put it in the power of the Turks to attack with their whole force
wherever they pleased. Laudon, now called to head the imperial army, is
endeavoring to collect it; but in the mean time the campaign is drawing
to a close, and has been worse than fruitless. The resistance of Russia
to Sweden has been successful in every point by sea and land, This, with
the interference of Denmark, and the discontent of the Swedish nation;
at the breach of their constitution, by the King's undertaking an
offensive war without the consent of the Senate, has obliged him to
withdraw his attacks by land, and to express a willingness for peace;
one third of his officers have refused to serve. England and Prussia
have offered their mediation between Sweden and Russia, in such
equivocal terms, as to leave themselves at liberty to say it was an
offer, or was not, just as it shall suit them. Denmark is asking the
counter-offer of mediation from this court. If England and Prussia make
a peace effectually in the north (which it is absolutely in their power
to do), it will be a proof they do not intend to enter into the war;
if they do not impose a peace, I should suspect they mean to engage
themselves; as one can hardly suppose they would let the war go on in
its present form, wherein Sweden must be crushed between Russia and
Denmark.

The _Garde des Sceaux_, M. de Lamoignon, was dismissed the 14th instant,
and M. de Barentin is appointed in his room. The deputies of Bretagne
are released from the Bastile, and M. d'Epermesnil and M. Sabatier
recalled from their confinement. The parliament is not yet reinstated;
but it is confidently said it will be this week. The stocks continue
low, and the treasury under a hard struggle to keep the government in
motion. It is believed the meeting of the States General will be as
early as January, perhaps December. I have received a duplicate of the
ratification of the loan of 1788, by Congress, and a duplicate of a
letter of July the 22nd, from the treasury board, on another subject,
but none on that of the captives, or foreign officers. I suppose
some cause of delay must have intervened between the ratification of
Congress, and the consequent orders of the treasury board.

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 C