My journey furnished us occasion to renew our overtures to the court of London; which it was the more important to do, as our powers to that court were to expire on the 12th of this month.  These overtures were not attended to, and our commission expiring, we made our final report to Congress; and I suppose this the last offer of friendship, which will ever be made on our part.  The treaty of peace being unexecuted on either part, in important points, each will now take their own measures for obtaining execution.  I think the King, ministers, and nation are more bitterly hostile to us at present, than at any period of the late war.  A like disposition on our part, has been rising for some time.  In what events these things will end, we cannot foresee.  Our countrymen are eager in their passions and enterprise, and not disposed to calculate their interests against these.  Our enemies (for such they are, in fact) have for twelve years past, followed but one uniform rule, that of doing exactly the contrary of what reason points out.  Having early, during our contest, observed this in the British conduct, I governed myself by it, in all prognostications of their measures; and I can say, with truth, it never failed me but in the circumstance of their making peace with us.  I have no letters from America of later date than the new year.  Mr. Adams had, to the beginning of February.  I am in hopes our letters will give a new spur to the proposition, for investing Congress with the regulation of our commerce.

This will be handed you by a Baron Waltersdorf, a Danish gentleman, whom, if you did not already know, I should take the liberty of recommending to you.  You were so kind as to write me, that you would forward me a particular map, which has not come to hand.

I beg you to be assured of the respect and esteem, with which I have the honor to be, Dear Sir,

your most obedient

and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER IX.—­TO MR. DUMAS, May 6, 1789

TO MR. DUMAS.

Paris, May 6, 1789.

Sir,

Having been absent in England, for some time past, your favors of February the 27th, March the 28th, and April the 11th, have not been acknowledged so soon as they should have been.  I am obliged to you, for assisting to make me known to the Rhingrave de Salm and the Marquis de la Coste, whose reputations render an acquaintance with them desirable.  I have not yet seen either:  but expect that honor from the Rhingrave very soon.  Your letters to Mr. Jay and Mr. Van Berkel, received in my absence, will be forwarded by a gentleman who leaves this place for New York, within a few days.  I sent the treaty with Prussia by a gentleman who sailed from Havre, the 11th of November.  The arrival of that vessel in America is not yet known here.  Though the time is not long enough to produce despair, it is sufficiently