on board Stanhope’s ship.  He treated them most cruelly, whipping them frequently, in order to make them do duty against their country, as sailors, on board his ship.  The ship going to Antigua to refit, he put all his prisoners into jail, first giving Dunbar twenty-four lashes.  Peace took place, and the prisoners got home under the general liberation.  These men were quietly pursuing their occupations at home, when they heard that Stanhope was in Boston.  Their indignation was kindled.  They immediately went there, and meeting Stanhope walking in the mall, Dunbar stepped up to him, and asked him if he recollected him, and the whipping him on board his ship.  Having no weapon in his hand, he struck at Stanhope with his fist.  Stanhope stepped back, and drew his sword.  The people interposed, and guarded him to the door of a Mr. Morton, to which he retreated.  There Dunbar again attempted to seize him; but the high-sheriff had by this time arrived, who interposed and protected him.  The assailants withdrew, and here ended all appearance of force.  But Captain Stanhope thought proper to write to the Governor, which brought on the correspondence published in the papers of Europe.  Lest you should not have seen it, I enclose it, as cut from a London paper; though not perfectly exact, it is substantially so.  You will doubtless judge, that Governor Bowdoin referred him properly to the laws for redress, as he was obliged to do, and as would have been done in England, in a like case.  Had he applied to the courts, the question would have been whether they would have punished Dunbar.  This must be answered now by conjecture only; and, to form that conjecture, every man must ask himself, whether he would not have done as Dunbar did; and whether the people should not have permitted him to return to Stanhope the twenty-four lashes.  This affair has been stated in the London papers, without mixing with it one circumstance of truth.

In your letter of the 27th of June, you were so good as to tell me that you should shortly send off some of the books I had taken the liberty to ask you to get for me, and that your correspondent at Bayonne would give me notice of their arrival there.  Not having heard from him, I mention it to you, lest they should be stopped any where.

I am, with great respect, Dear Sir,

your most obedient, humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CXXXII.—­TO RICHARD O’BRYAN, November 4, 1785

TO RICHARD O’BRYAN.

Paris, November 4, 1785.

Sir,