iness being necessarily
postponed. New elections have taken place for the most part, and very
few changes made. This is one of many proofs, that the proceedings of
the new government have given general satisfaction. Some acts, indeed,
have produced local discontents; but these can never be avoided. The new
Congress will meet on the 4th Monday of October. Enclosed is the copy
of an act reported by a committee to the late Congress, who, not having
time to go through the subject, referred it to me, to be examined and
reported to the next Congress. This measure, therefore, will be proposed
to them as a first and immediate step, and perhaps something further
at a more distant day. I have sent copies of this act to Mr. Short and
Colonel Humphreys, and I enclose this to you, that you may communicate
it to the court of Madrid, as a measure in contemplation with us. How
far such an one may be politic to be adopted by Spain, France, and
Portugal, is for them to consider. The measure is perfectly innocent as
to all nations except those, or rather that, which has a navigation
act; and to that it retorts only its own principles. Being founded
in universal reciprocity, it is impossible it should excite a single
complaint. Its consequences on that nation are such as they cannot
avoid; for either they must repeal their navigation act, in order to be
let in to a share of foreign carriage, or the shipping they now employ
in foreign carriage will be out of employ, and this act frustrated,
on which their naval power is built. Consequently, that power will be
reduced within safer limits, and the freedom of the ocean be better
secured to all the world. The more extensive the adoption of this
measure is, the more irresistible will be its effect. We would not wish
to be declared the exciters of such a concert of measures, but we have
thought it expedient to suggest informally to the courts of France,
Spain, and Portugal, the measure we propose to take, and to leave with
them to decide, on the motives of their own interest, how far it may be
expedient for them to adopt a similar measure. Their concurrence will
more completely insure the object of our act, and therefore I leave it
to yourself to insinuate it with all the discretion and effect you can.

Your letter of May the 6th, 1789, is still the last we have received,
and that is now near two years old. A letter from Colonel Humphreys,
written within twenty-four hours after his arrival at Madr