the act above recited at the joint disposal of John Armstrong and James Bowdoin, commissioners plenipotentiary and extraordinary for settling all matters of difference between the United States and the Government of Spain, and, in case of the death of one of them, at the disposal of the survivor, to be jointly applied by the said John Armstrong and James Bowdoin, or, in case of the death of one of them, by the survivor, to such purposes as I may think proper to direct in my instructions to them; and for so doing this shall be his sufficient warrant.

In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.

[SEAL.]

Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, this 18th day of March, 1806.

TH:  JEFFERSON.

By the President: 
  JAMES MADISON,
    Secretary of State.

[From the Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Paul Leicester Ford, Vol.  IX, pp. 34-35.]

CIRCULAR LETTER TO THE GOVERNORS OF KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, OHIO, AND
MISSISSIPPI.

WASHINGTON, March 21, 1807.

SIR:  Although the present state of things on the western side of the Mississippi does not threaten any immediate collision with our neighbors in that quarter and it is our wish they should remain undisturbed until an amicable adjustment may take place, yet as this does not depend on ourselves alone it has been thought prudent to be prepared to meet any movements which may occur.  The law of a former session of Congress for keeping a body of 100,000 militia in readiness for service at a moment’s warning is still in force, but by an act of the last session, a copy of which I now inclose, the Executive is authorized to accept the services of such volunteers as shall offer themselves on the conditions of the act, which may render a resort to the former act unnecessary.  It is for the execution of this act that I am now to solicit your zealous endeavors.  The persons who shall engage will not be called from their homes until some aggression, committed or intended, shall render it necessary.  When called into action it will not be for a lounging but for an active and perhaps distant service.  I know the effect of this consideration in kindling that ardor which prevails for this service, and I count on it for filling up the numbers requisite without delay.  To yourself I am sure it must be as desirable as it is to me to transfer this service from the great mass of our militia to that portion of them to whose habits and enterprise active and distant service is most congenial.  In using, therefore, your best exertions toward accomplishing the object of this act you will render to your constituents as well as to the nation a most acceptable service.

With respect to the organizing and officering those who shall be engaged within your State the act itself will be your guide, and as it is desirable that we should be kept informed of the progress in this business I must pray you to report the same from time to time to the Secretary of War, who will correspond with you on all the details arising out of it.