nce known, another convention
shall be assembled, to adopt the improvements generally acceptable, and
omit those found disagreeable. In this way, union may be produced under
a happy constitution, and one which shall not be too energetic, as are
the constitutions of Europe. I give you these details, because,
possibly, you may not have received them all. The sale of our western
lands is immensely successful. Five millions of acres have been sold at
private sale, for a dollar an acre, in certificates, and at the public
sales, some of them had sold as high as two dollars and forty cents the
acre. The sales had not been begun two months. By these means, taxes,
etc., our domestic debt, originally twenty-eight millions of dollars,
was reduced, by the 1st day of last October, to twelve millions, and
they were then in treaty for two millions of acres more, at a dollar,
private sale. Our domestic debt will thus be soon paid off, and that
done, the sales will go on for money, at a cheaper rate, no doubt, for
the payment of our foreign debt. The _petite guerre_ always waged by
the Indians, seems not to abate the ardor of purchase or emigration.
Kentucky is now counted at sixty thousand. Frankland is also growing
fast.

I have been told, that the cutting through the Isthmus of Panama, which
the world has so often wished, and supposed practicable, has at times
been thought of by the government of Spain, and that they once
proceeded so far, as to have a survey and examination made of the
ground; but that the result was, either impracticability or too great
difficulty. Probably the Count de Campomanes, or Don Ulloa, can give
you information on this head. I should be exceedingly pleased to get as
minute details as possible on it, and even copies of the survey,
report, etc., if they could be obtained at a moderate expense. I take
the liberty of asking your assistance in this.

I have the honor to be, with very great respect and esteem, Sir, your
most obedient, and most humble servant.

TO JOHN ADAMS.

PARIS, December 12, 1787.

DEAR SIR,--In the month of July, I received from Fiseaux & Co. of
Amsterdam, a letter notifying me that the principal of their loan to
the United States would become due the first day of January. I answered
them, that I had neither powers nor information on the subject, but
would transmit their letter to the board of treasury. I did so, by the
packet which sailed from Havre, August the 10th. The earl