their magazines at Honfleur, opposite
to Havre, at a mercantile price. They fix it at present at sixty livres
the _muid_, which comes to about, fifteen sous, or seven and a half
pence sterling our bushel; but it will vary as the price varies at the
place from which they bring it. As this will be a great relief to such
of our vessels coming to Havre, as might wish to take back salt, it may
perhaps be proper to notify it to our merchants. I enclose herewith Mr.
Necker's discourse to the Assembly, which was not printed till I left
Paris: and have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect
esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

*****

LETTER XVIII.--TO THE PRESIDENT, December 15,1789

TO THE PRESIDENT.

Chesterfield, December 15,1789.

Sir,

I have received at this place the honor of your letters of October the
13th and November the 30th, and am truly flattered by your nomination of
me to the very dignified office of Secretary of State; for which permit
me here to return you my humble thanks. Could any circumstance seduce
me to overlook the disproportion between its duties and my talents, it
would be the encouragement of your choice. But when I contemplate
the extent of that office, embracing as it does the principal mass
of domestic administration, together with the foreign, I cannot be
insensible of my inequality to it; and I should enter on it with gloomy
forebodings from the criticisms and censures of a public, just indeed in
their intentions, but sometimes misinformed and misled, and always too
respectable to be neglected. T cannot but foresee the possibility
that this may end disagreeably for me, who, having no motive to public
service but the public satisfaction, would certainly retire the moment
that satisfaction should appear to languish. On the other hand, I feel
a degree of familiarity with the duties of my present office, as far
at least as I am capable of understanding its duties. The ground I have
already passed over, enables me to see my way into that which is before
me. The change of government too, taking place in the country where
it is exercised, seems to open a possibility of procuring from the new
rulers some new advantages in commerce, which may be agreeable to our
countrymen. So that as far as my fears, my hopes, or my inclination
might enter into this question, I confess they would not lead me to
prefer a change.

But it i