, which influenced the breast of his Majesty to make, through the
Baron de Waltersdorff, the proposition of a particular sum, will surely
lead him to restore their full value, if that were greater, as is
believed, than the sum proposed. In order to obtain, therefore, a final
arrangement of this demand, Congress have authorized me to depute a
special agent to Copenhagen, to attend the pleasure of his Majesty. No
agent could be so adequate to this business, as the Commodore Paul
Jones, who commanded the squadron which took the prizes. He will,
therefore, have the honor of delivering this letter to your Excellency,
in person; of giving such information as may be material, relative to
the whole transaction; of entering into conferences for its final
adjustment, and, being himself principally interested, not only in his
own right, but as the natural patron of those who fought under him,
whatever shall be satisfactory to him, will have a great right to that
ultimate approbation, which Congress have been pleased to confide to
me.

I beg your Excellency to accept the homage of that respect which your
exalted station, talents, and merit impress, as well as those
sentiments of esteem and regard with which I have the honor to be, your
Excellency's most obedient, and most humble servant.

TO MR. WILLIAM RUTLEDGE.

PARIS, Feb. 2, 1788.

DEAR SIR,--I should sooner have answered your favor of Jan. the 2d, but
that we have expected for some time to see you here. I beg you not to
think of the trifle I furnished you with, nor to propose to return it,
till you shall have that sum more than you know what to do with. And on
every other occasion of difficulty, I hope you will make use of me
freely. I presume you will now remain at London, to see the trial of
Hastings. Without suffering yourself to be imposed on by the pomp in
which it will be enveloped, I would recommend to you to consider and
decide for yourself these questions. If his offence is to be decided by
the law of the land, why is he not tried in that court in which his
fellow-citizens are tried, that is, the King's bench? If he is cited
before another court, that he may be judged, not according to the law
of the land, but by the discretion of his judges, is he not
disfranchised of his most precious right, the benefit of the laws of
his country, in common with his fellow-citizens? I think you will find,
in investigating this subject, that every solid argument is agains