s not for an individual to choose his post. You are to marshal
us as may best be for the public good; and it is only in the case of its
being indifferent to you, that I would avail myself of the option
you have so kindly offered in your letter. If you think it better to
transfer me to another post, my inclination must be no obstacle; nor
shall it be, if there is any desire to suppress the office I now hold,
or to reduce its grade. In either of these cases, be so good only as to
signify to me by another line your ultimate wish, and I shall conform
to it cordially. If it should be to remain at New York, my chief comfort
will be to work under your eye, my only shelter the authority of your
name, and the wisdom of measures to be dictated by you and implicitly
executed by me. Whatever you may be pleased to decide, I do not see that
the matters which have called me hither, will permit me to shorten
the stay I originally asked; that is to say, to set out on my journey
northward till the month of March. As early as possible in that month,
I shall have the honor of paying my respects to you in New York. In the
mean time, I have that of tendering you the homage of those sentiments
of respectful attachment, with which I am, Sir, your most obedient and
most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XIX.--TO HENRY LAURENS, ESQUIRE, March 31, 1790

TO HENRY LAURENS, ESQUIRE.

New York, March 31, 1790.

Sir,

Encroachments being made on the eastern limits of the United States, by
settlers under the British government, pretending that it is the
western and not the eastern river of the bay of Passamaquoddy, which
was designated by the name of St. Croix in the treaty of peace with that
nation, I have to beg the favor of you to communicate any facts which
your memory or papers may enable you to recollect, and which may
indicate the true river, the commissioners on both sides had in their
view to establish as the boundary between the two nations. It will be of
some consequence to be informed by what map they traced the boundary.

I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most
obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XX.--TO MR. VANDERKEMP, March 31, 1799

TO MR. VANDERKEMP.

New York, March 31, 1799.

Sir,

The letter has been duly received which you addressed to th(C) President
of the United States, praying his interference with the government of
the United Netherlands, o