at event the law was to be suspended. But the event
did not take place, and the consequence, of course, could not follow.
This view is derived from the former non-intercourse law only, having
never read the latter one. I had doubted whether Congress must not be
called; but that arose from another doubt, whether their second law had
not changed the ground, so as to require their agency to give operation
to the law. Should Bonaparte have the wisdom to correct his injustice
towards us, I consider war with England as inevitable. Our ships will
go to France and its dependencies, and they will take them. This will
be war on their part, and leaves no alternative but reprisal. I have no
doubt you will think it safe to act on this hypothesis, and with energy.
The moment that open war shall be apprehended from them, we should take
possession of Baton Rouge. If we do not, they will, and New Orleans
becomes irrecoverable, and the western country blockaded during the war.
It would be justifiable towards Spain on this ground, and equally so on
that of title to West Florida, and reprisal extended to East Florida.
Whatever turn our present difficulty may take, I look upon all cordial
conciliation with England as desperate during the life of the present
King. I hope and doubt not that Erskine will justify himself. My
confidence is founded in a belief of his integrity, and in the ------
of Canning. I consider the present as the most shameless ministry which
ever disgraced England. Copenhagen will immortalize their infamy. In
general their administrations are so changeable, and they are obliged
to descend to such tricks to keep themselves in place, that nothing like
honor or morality can ever be counted on in transactions with them. I
salute you with all possible affection.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXXIII.--TO DOCTOR BARTON, September 21, 1809

TO DOCTOR BARTON.

Monticello, September 21, 1809.

Dear Sir,

I received last night your favor of the 14th, and would with all
possible pleasure have communicated to you any part or the whole of the
Indian vocabularies which I had collected, but an irreparable misfortune
has deprived me of them. I have now been thirty years availing myself of
every possible opportunity of procuring Indian vocabularies to the same
set of words: my opportunities were probably better than will ever occur
again to any person having the same desire. I had collected about fifty,
and had digested most of t