American. The sobriety and order of the two last, preserve them from
want. You will find it necessary, therefore, to be extremely on your
guard against these applications. The bill of expenses for Huls is
much beyond those aids which I should think myself authorized to have
advanced habitually, until the law shall make express provision for that
purpose. I must, therefore, recommend to you, to hazard only small sums
in future, until our legislature shall lay down more precise rules for
my government.

The difference of duty on tobacco carried to France in French and
American bottoms, has excited great uneasiness. We presume the National
Assembly must have been hurried into the measure, without being allowed
time to reflect on its consequences. A moment's consideration must
convince any body, that no nation upon earth ever submitted to so
enormous an assault on the transportation of their own produce.
Retaliation, to be equal, will have the air of extreme severity and
hostility. Such would be an additional tonnage of twelve livres ten sous
the ton burthen, on all French ships entering Our ports. Yet this would
but exactly balance an additional duty of six livres five sous the
hogshead of tobacco, brought in American ships entering in the ports
of France. I hope, either that the National Assembly will repeal the
measure, or the proposed treaty be so hastened, as to get this matter
out of the way before it shall be necessary for the ensuing legislature
to act on it. Their measure, and our retaliation on it, which is
unavoidable, will very illy prepare the minds of both parties for
a liberal treaty. My confidence in the friendly dispositions of the
National Assembly, and in the sincerity of what they have expressed on
the subject, induce me to impute, it to surprise altogether, and to hope
it will be repealed before time shall be given to take it up here.

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

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXVI.--TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, August 30, 1791

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.

Philadelphia, August 30, 1791.

Dear Sir,

My letter of July the 26th covered my first of exchange for a thousand
dollars, and though that went by so sure an opportunity as to leave
little doubt of its receipt, yet, for greater security, I enclose a
second.

The tranquillity of our country leaves us nothing to relate, which may
interest a mind surrounded by such buoyant scenes