y
verbal and of no consequence. We shall now get rid of the commissioner
of the internal revenue, and superintendant of stamps. It remains to
amalgamate the comptroller and auditor into one, and reduce the register
to a clerk of accounts; and then the organization will consist, as it
should at first, of a keeper of money, a keeper of accounts, and the
head of the department. This constellation of great men in the treasury
department was of a piece with the rest of Hamilton's plans. He took his
own stand as a Lieutenant General, surrounded by his Major Generals, and
stationing his Brigadiers and Colonels under the name of Supervisors,
Inspectors, &tc. in the different States. Let us deserve well of our
country by making her interests the end of all our plans, and not our
own pomp, patronage, and irresponsibility. I have hazarded these hasty
and crude ideas, which occurred on contemplating your report. They
may be the subject of future conversation and correction. Accept my
affectionate salutations.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCXCV.--TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, April 2,1802

TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO.

Washington, April 2,1802.

Dear General,

It is but lately that I have received your letter of the 25th Frimaire
(December 15th), wishing to know whether some officers of your country
could expect to be employed in this country. To prevent a suspense
injurious to them, I hasten to inform you, that we are now actually
engaged in reducing our military establishment one third, and
discharging one third of our officers. We keep in service no more than
men enough to garrison the small posts dispersed at great distances on
our frontiers, which garrisons will generally consist of a captain's
company only, and in no case of more than two or three, in not one, of
a sufficient number to require a field-officer; and no circumstance
whatever can bring these garrisons together, because it would be an
abandonment of their forts. Thus circumstanced, you will perceive the
entire impossibility of providing for the persons you recommend. I wish
it had been in my power to give you a more favorable answer; but next to
the fulfilling your wishes, the most grateful thing I can do is to give
a faithful answer. The session of the first Congress convened since
republicanism has recovered its ascendency, is now drawing to a close.
They will pretty completely fulfil all the desires of the people. They
have reduced the army and navy to what is barel