but of one appointment there, that of Lucas, whose temper
I see overrules every good quality and every qualification he has. Not a
single fact has appeared, which occasions me to doubt that I could have
made a fitter appointment than General Wilkinson. One qualm of principle
I acknowledge I do feel, I mean the union of the civil and military
authority. You remember that when I came into office, while we were
lodging together at Conrad's, he was pressed on me to be made Governor
of the Mississippi territory; and that I refused it on that very
principle. When, therefore, the House of Representatives took that
ground, I was not insensible to its having some weight. But in the
appointment to Louisiana, I did not think myself departing from my own
principle, because I consider it not as a civil government, but merely
a military station. The legislature had sanctioned that idea by the
establishment of the office of Commandant, in which were completely
blended the civil and military powers. It seemed, therefore, that the
Governor should be in suit with them. I observed too, that the House of
Representatives, on the very day they passed the stricture on this union
of authorities, passed a bill making the Governor of Michigan, commander
of the regular troops which should at any time be within his government.
However, on the subject of General Wilkinson nothing is in contemplation
at this time. We shall see what turn things take at home and abroad in
the course of the summer. Monroe has had a second conversation with Mr.
Fox, which gives me hopes that we shall have an amicable arrangement
with that government. Accept my friendly salutations, and assurances of
great esteem and respect.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XXXIII.--TO MR DIGGES, July 1, 1806

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO MR DIGGES.

Thomas Jefferson salutes Mr. Digges with friendship and respect, and
sends him the newspapers received last night. He is sorry that only the
latter part of the particular publication which Mr. Digges wished to
see, is in them. He will be happy to see Mr. Digges and his friends on
the fourth of July, and to join in congratulations on the return of
the day which divorced us from the follies and crimes of Europe, from a
dollar in the pound at least of six hundred millions sterling, and from
all the ruin of Mr. Pitt's administration. We, too, shall encounter
follies; but if great, they will be short, if long, they will be light:
and the vigor of our