But sometimes the ministers are all in the country, sometimes
they are absorbed in negotiations nearer home, sometimes it is the hurry
of impending war, or attention to other objects, the stock of which is
inexhaustible, and can therefore never fail those who desire nothing but
that things shall rest as they are. Perhaps, however, the present times
may hasten justice.

We shall be glad to receive the assayer you hope to procure, as soon as
possible, for we cannot get one in this country equal to the business
in all its parts. With respect to Mr. Droz, we retain the same desire to
engage him, but we are forced to require an immediate decision, as the
officer employed in the interim, and who does tolerably well, will not
continue much longer under an uncertainty of permanent employment.
I must therefore desire you to press Mr. Morris to bring Droz to an
immediate determination; and we place the matter on this ground with
him, that if he is not embarked by the first day of July next, we shall
give a permanent commission to the present officer, and be free to
receive no other. We are likely to be in very great distress for copper
for the mint, and must therefore press your expediting what we desired
you to order from Sweden.

You may, on every occasion, give assurances which cannot go beyond
the real desires of this country, to preserve a fair neutrality in
the present war, on condition that the rights of neutral nations are
respected in us, as they have been settled in modern times, either by
the express declarations of the powers of Europe, or their adoption of
them on particular occasions. From our treaties with France and Holland,
and that of England and France, a very clear and simple line of conduct
can be marked out for us, and I think we are not unreasonable in
expecting that England shall recognise towards us the same principles
which she has stipulated to recognise towards France, in a state of
neutrality.

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

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXLIII.--CIRCULAR TO MORRIS, PINCKNEY, AND SHORT, April 26,1793

CIRCULAR TO MESSRS. MORRIS, PINCKNEY, AND SHORT.

Philadelphia, April 26,1793.

Sir,

The public papers giving us reason to believe that the war is becoming
nearly general in Europe, and that it has already involved nations with
which we are in daily habits of commerce and friendship, the Presiden