I beg you to accept assurances of the esteem/and respect, with which I have the honor to be, Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER LXVI.—­TO M. L’ABBE MORELLET, July 2, 1787

TO M. L’ABBE MORELLET.

Paris, July 2, 1787.

I am sorry, my Dear Sir, that your interest should be affected by the ill behavior of Barrois.  But when you consider the facts, you will be sensible that I could not have indulged his indolence further, without increasing the injury to a more punctual workman.  Stockdale, of London, had asked leave to print my Notes.  I agreed to it; and promised he should have the plate of the map as soon as it should be corrected, and the copies struck off for you and myself.  He thereupon printed his edition completely in three weeks.  The printer, who was to strike off two hundred and fifty maps for me, kept the plate but five days.  It was then delivered to Barrois, with notice that it could not be left longer with him, than should suffice to strike off his number.  Repeated applications for it, by Mr. Short and my servant, were only answered by repeated promises, and times of delivery fixed, no one of which was performed.  When I returned, he had been possessed of the plate upwards of two months.  I was astonished and confounded, to be told it had not been sent to Stockdale, and that his edition had been lying dead on his hands three months.  I sent to Barrois the very day of my return, to let him know, that justice to Stockdale did not permit me to defer sending him the plate any longer:  yet I would wait five days, at the end of which he must deliver me the plate, whether his maps were done or not.  I received no answer, but waited ten days.  I then sent for the plate.  The answer was, he was not at home.  I sent again the next day.  Answer, he was not at home.  I sent the third day.  Not at home.  I then ordered the messenger to go back, and wait till he should come home.  This produced an answer of two lines, qu’il alloit soigner son ouvrier? I wrote him word in return, to deliver the plate instantly.  This I think was on a Saturday or Sunday.  He told the messenger he would let me have it the Thursday following.  I took patience, and sent on the Friday, but telling the messenger, if he refused to deliver it, to inform him I would be plagued no more with sending messages, but apply to the police.  He then delivered it, and I sent it off immediately to London.  He had kept it three months, of which three weeks were after my return.  I think, Sir, you will be satisfied that justice to Stockdale, justice to myself, who had passed my word for sending on the plate, and sensibility to the shuffling conduct of Barrois, permitted me to act no otherwise.  But no matter.  Let his ill behavior make no odds between you and me.  It will affect your interest, and that suffices to determine me to order back the