nd us moreover the gazette of the court,
Woodfall's parliamentary paper, Debrett's parliamentary register; and to
serve sometimes as a centre for our correspondences with other parts
of Europe, by receiving and forwarding letters sent to your care. It
is desirable that we be annually informed of the extent to which the
British fisheries are carried on within each year, stating the number
and tonnage of the vessels, and the number of men employed in the
respective fisheries, to wit, the northern and southern whale-fisheries,
and the cod-fishery. I have as yet no statement of them for the year
1789, with which, therefore, I will thank you to begin. While the press
of seamen continues, our seamen in ports nearer to you than to Liverpool
(where Mr. Maury is consul), will need your protection. The liberation
of those impressed should be desired of the proper authority, with due
firmness, yet always in temperate and respectful terms, in which way,
indeed, all applications to government should be made.

The public papers herein desired may come regularly, once a month, by
the British packet, and intermediately, by any vessels bound directly
either to Philadelphia or New York. All expenses incurred for papers and
postages shall be paid at such intervals as you choose, either here,
on your order, or by bill on London, whenever you transmit to me an
account.

There was a bill brought into the legislature for the establishment of
some regulations in the consular offices: but it is postponed to the
next session. That bill proposed some particular fees for particular
services. They were, however, so small, as to be no object. As there
will be little or no legal emolument annexed to the office of consul, it
is, of course, not expected that it shall render any expense incumbent
on him.

I have the honor to be, with great esteem, Sir, your most obedient and
most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XXXVI.--TO WILLIAM SHORT, August 10,1790

TO WILLIAM SHORT.

New York, August 10,1790.

Dear Sir,

This letter, with the very confidential papers it encloses, will be
delivered to you by Mr. Barrett with his own hands. If there be no war
between Spain and England, they need be known to yourself alone. But
if that war be began, or whenever it shall begin, we wish you to
communicate them to the Marquis de la Fayette, on whose assistance we
know we can count in matters which interest both our countries. He
and you will c