untains and bridging of rivers, or the other, which if too
restricted may be referred to the States for amendment, securing still
due measures and proportion among us, and providing some means of
information to the members of Congress tantamount to that ocular
inspection, which, even in our county determinations, the magistrate
finds cannot be supplied by any other evidence? The fortification
of harbors was liable to great objection. But national circumstances
furnished some color. In this case there is none. The roads of America
are the best in the world, except those of France and England. But does
the state of our population, the extent of our internal commerce, the
want of sea and river navigation, call for such expense on roads here,
or are our means adequate to it? Think of all this, and a great deal
more which your good judgment will suggest, and pardon my freedom. T. J.

LETTER CXC.--TO WILLIAM B. GILES, March 19,1796.

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO WILLIAM B. GILES.

I know not when I have received greater satisfaction than on reading the
speech of Dr. Leib, in the Pennsylvania Assembly. He calls himself a new
member. I congratulate honest republicanism on such an acquisition, and
promise myself much from a career which begins on such elevated ground.
We are in suspense here to see the fate and effect of Mr. Pitt's bill
against democratic societies. I wish extremely to get at the true
history of this effort to suppress freedom of meeting, speaking,
writing, and printing. Your acquaintance with Sedgwick will enable you
to do it. Pray get the outlines of the bill he intended to have brought
in for this purpose. This will enable us to judge whether we have the
merit of the invention; whether we were really beforehand with the
British Minister on this subject; whether he took his hint from our
proposition, or whether the concurrence in sentiment is merely the
result of the general truth that great men will think alike and act
alike, though without intercommunication. I am serious in desiring
extremely the outlines of the bill intended for us. From the debates on
the subject of our seamen, I am afraid as much harm as good will be done
by our endeavors to arm our seamen against impressments. It is proposed
to register them and give them certificates. But these certificates
will be lost in a thousand ways: a sailor will neglect to take his
certificate: he is wet twenty times in a voyage; if he goes ashore
without it,