nd,
and with the French and English American Colonies._

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LETTER XC.--TO THE PRESIDENT, January 4, 1792

TO THE PRESIDENT.

Philadelphia, January 4, 1792,

Sir,

Having been in conversation to-day with Monsieur Payan, one of the St.
Domingo deputies, I took occasion to inquire of him the footing on
which our commerce there stands at present, and particularly whether
the colonial _Arret_ of 1789, permitting a free importation of our
flour till 1793, was still in force. He answered, that that _Arret_ was
revoked in France on the clamors of the merchants there; and with a like
permission to carry flour to the three usual ports, and he thinks to
bring away coffee and sugar, was immediately renewed by the Governor.
Whether this has been regularly kept up by renewed _Arrets_, during
the present trouble, he cannot say, but is sure that in practice it
has never been discontinued, and that not by contraband, but openly and
legally, as is understood. The public application to us to send flour
there, is a proof of it. Instead, therefore, of resting this permission
on a colonial _Arret_ till 1793, it should be rested on temporary
_Arrets_ renewed from time to time, as heretofore. This correction
of the notes I took the liberty of laying before you with the table
containing a comparative view of our commerce with France and England, I
thought it my duty to make.

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

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER XCI.--TO THOMAS PINCKNEY, January 17, 1792

TO THOMAS PINCKNEY.

Philadelphia, January 17, 1792.

Sir,

Your favors of November the 29th, 30th, and December the 1st, came duly
to hand, and gave sincere pleasure, by announcing your disposition to
accept the appointment to London. The nominations to Paris and the Hague
having been detained till yours could be made, they were all immediately
sent in to the Senate, to wit, yourself for London, Mr. G. Morris for
Paris, Mr. Short for the Hague. Some members of the Senate, apprehending
they had a right of determining on the expediency of foreign missions,
as well as on the persons named, took that occasion of bringing forward
the discussion of that question, by which the nominations were delayed
two or three weeks. I am happy to be able to assure you, that not
a single personal motive with respect to yourse