st confidence in the sincerity and good faith with which their
High Mightinesses will observe the treaty between the two countries,
feel no dissatisfaction at the circumstance mentioned in your note. They
are sensible that in human affairs, there are moments of difficulty and
necessity, to which it is the office of friendship to accommodate its
strict rights.

The President considers the explanation, which their High Mightinesses
have instructed you to give of this incident, as a proof of their desire
to cultivate harmony and good understanding with these United States,
and charges me to assure you that he has nothing more at heart than to
convince their High Mightinesses of the same amicable sentiments on the
part of this country, and of the certainty with which they may count on
its justice and friendship on every occasion.

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

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CLI.--TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT, May 31, 1793

TO MESSRS. CARMICHAEL AND SHORT.

Philadelphia, May 31, 1793.

Gentlemen,

In my letters of October the 14th and November the 3rd, 1792, I
communicated to you papers and observations on the conduct of the
Spanish officers on our southwestern frontier, and particularly of the
Baron de Carondelet, the Governor of New Orleans. These made it evident
that he had industriously excited the southern Indians to war against
us, and had furnished them with arms and ammunition in abundance, for
that express purpose. We placed this under the view of the commissioners
of Spain here, who undertook to communicate it to their court, and also
to write on the subject to the Baron de Carondelet. They have lately
made us communications from both these quarters; the aspect of
which, however, is by no means such as to remove the causes of our
dissatisfaction. I send you these commmunications, consisting of
treaties between Spain, the Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Cherokees,
handed us by express order from their court, a speech of Jiaron de
Carondelet to the Cherokees, and a letter from Messrs. de Viar and
Jaudenes, covering that speech, and containing in itself very serious
matter.

I will first observe to you, that the question stated in that letter to
have been proposed to the Cherokees, What part they would take, in the
event of a war between the United States and Spain was never proposed by
authority from this gove