, by peaceable
means, now that we are likely to have our public councils detached from
foreign views. The return, of our citizens from the phrenzy into which
they had been wrought, partly by ill conduct in France, partly by
artifices practised on them, is almost entire, and will, I believe,
become quite so. But these details, too minute and long for a letter,
will be better developed by Mr. Dawson, the bearer of this, a member
of the late Congress, to whom I refer you for them. He goes in the
Maryland, a sloop of war, which will wait a few days at Havre to receive
his letters, to be written on his arrival at Paris. You expressed a
wish to get a passage to this country in a public vessel. Mr. Dawson
is charged with orders to the captain of the Maryland to receive and
accommodate you with a passage back, if you can be ready to depart
at such short warning. Robert R. Livingston is appointed Minister
Plenipotentiary to the republic of France, but will not leave this till
we receive the ratification of the convention by Mr. Dawson. I am in
hopes you will find us returned generally to sentiments worthy of former
times. In these it will be your glory to have steadily labored, and with
as much effect as any man living. That you may long live to continue
your useful labors, and to reap their reward in the thankfulness of
nations, is my sincere prayer.

Accept assurances of my high esteem and affectionate attachment.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCLXXVIII.--TO M. DE REYNEVAL, March 20, 1801

TO M. DE REYNEVAL.

Washington, March 20, 1801.

Dear Sir,

Mr. Pichon, who arrived two days ago, delivered me your favor of January
the 1st, and I had before received one by Mr. Dupont, dated August the
24th, 1799, both on the subject of lands, claimed on behalf of your
brother, Mr. Girard, and that of August the 24th containing a statement
of the case. I had verbally explained to Mr. Dupont at the time, what
I presumed to have been the case, which must, I believe, be very much
mistaken in the statement sent with that letter; and I expected he had
communicated it to you.

During the regal government, two companies called the Loyal, and the
Ohio companies had obtained grants from the crown for eight hundred
thousand, or one million of acres of land, each, on the Ohio, on
condition of settling them in a given number of years. They surveyed
some and settled them; but the war of 1755 came on and broke up the
settlements. After it w