ery of this to the Senate, yet
I have not the least doubt it was given in to them, and will be found
among their records.

I find, among my press copies, the following in my hand-writing.

'The committee to report, that the President does not think that
circumstances will justify, in the present instance, his entering into
absolute engagements for the ransom of our captives in Algiers, nor
calling for money from the treasury, nor raising it by loan, without
previous authority from both branches of the legislature.

'April 9, 1792.'

I do not recollect the occasion of the above paper with certainty; but
I think there was a committee appointed by the Senate to confer with
the President on the subject of the ransom, and to advise what is there
declined, and that a member of the committee advising privately with
me as to the report they were to make to the House, I minuted down the
above, as the substance of what he observed to be the proper report,
after what had passed with the President, and gave the original to the
member, preserving the press copy. I think the member was either Mr.
Izard or Mr. Butler, and have no doubt such a report will be found on
the files of the Senate.

On the 8th of May following, in consequence of questions proposed by the
President to the Senate, they came to a resolution, on which a mission
was founded.

LETTER CXCIV.*--TO P. MAZZEI, April 24, 1796

TO P. MAZZEI.

Monticello, April 24, 1796.

Mr Dear Friend,

*****

[* The first part of this letter is on private business, and is
therefore omitted.]

The aspect of our politics has wonderfully changed since you left us.
In place of that noble love of liberty and republican government which
carried us triumphantly through the war, an Anglican monarchical and
aristocratical party has sprung up, whose avowed object is to draw over
us the substance, as they have already done the forms, of the British
government. The main body of our citizens, however, remain true to their
republican principles: the whole landed interest is republican, and so
is a great mass of talents. Against us are the executive, the judiciary,
two out of three branches of the legislature, all the officers of the
government, all who want to be officers, all timid men who prefer the
calm of despotism to the boisterous sea of liberty, British merchants
and Americans trading on British capitals, speculators and holders in
the banks and public funds, a contri