of these smaller rooms of the second floor, are four mezzininos or entresols, serving as offices for the clerks of the Executive, the Senate, the Delegates, and the Court in actual session.  It will be an objection, that the work is begun on the other plan.  But the whole of this need not be taken to pieces, and of what shall be taken to pieces, the bricks will do for inner work.  Mortar never becomes so hard and adhesive to the bricks, in a few months, but that it may be easily chipped off.  And upon the whole, the plan now sent will save a great proportion of the expense.

Hitherto, I have spoken of the capital only.  The plans for the prison, also, accompany this.  They will explain themselves.  I send, also, the plan of the prison proposed at Lyons, which was sent me by the architect, and to which we are indebted for the fundamental idea of ours.  You will see, that of a great thing a very small one is made.  Perhaps you may find it convenient to build, at first, only two sides, forming an L; but of this, you are the best judges.  It has been suggested to me, that fine gravel, mixed in the mortar, prevents the prisoners from cutting themselves out, as that will destroy their tools.  In my letter of August the 13th, I mentioned that I could send workmen from hence.  As I am in hopes of receiving your orders precisely, in answer to that letter, I shall defer actually engaging any, till I receive them.  In like manner, I shall defer having plans drawn for a Governor’s house, &c, till further orders; only assuring you, that the receiving and executing these orders, will always give me a very great pleasure, and the more, should I find that what I have done meets your approbation.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem, Gentlemen,

your most obedient

and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CLVI.—­TO JOHN ADAMS, February 7, 1786

TO JOHN ADAMS.

Paris, February 7, 1786.

Dear Sir,

I am honored with yours of January the 19th.  Mine of January the 12th, had not, I suppose, at that time got to your hands, as the receipt of it is unacknowledged.  I shall be anxious till I receive your answer to it.

I was perfectly satisfied before I received your letter, that your opinion had been misunderstood or misrepresented in the case of the Chevalier de Mezieres.  Your letter, however, will enable me to say so with authority.  It is proper it should be known, that you had not given the opinion imputed to you, though, as to the main question, it is become useless; Monsieur de Reyneval having assured me, that what I had written on that subject had perfectly satisfied the Count de Vergennes and himself, that this case could never come under the treaty.  To evince, still further, the impropriety of taking up subjects gravely, on such imperfect information