Since writing thus far, I have received an intimation, that it will be agreeable not to press our commercial regulations at this moment, the ministry being too much occupied with the difficulties surrounding them, to spare a moment on any subject which will admit of delay.  Our business must, therefore, be suspended for a while.  To press it out of season, would be to defeat, it.  It would be felt as a vital benefit here, could we relieve their finances, by paying what we owe.  Congress will judge by Mr. Adams’s letters, how far the transferring all our debts in this country to Holland is practicable.  On the replenishing their treasury with our principal and interest, I should not be afraid to ask concessions in favor of our West India trade.  It would produce a great change of opinion as to us and our affairs.  In the Assemblee des Notables, hard things were said of us.  They were induced, however, in committing us to writing, to smother their ideas a little.  In their votes, now gone to be printed, our debt is described in these words.  The twenty-first article of the account, formed of the interest of the claims of his Majesty on the United States of America, cannot be drawn out for the present, except as a document.  The recovery of these claims, as well principal as perhaps even interest, although they appear to rest on the most solid security, may, nevertheless, be long delayed, and should not, consequently, be taken into account in estimating the annual revenue.  This article amounts to one million and six hundred thousand livres.’  Above all things, it is desirable to hush the foreign officers by payment.  Their wants, the nature of their services, their access to high characters, and connections with them, bespeak the reasons for this.  I hear also that Mr. Beaumarchais means to make himself heard, if a memorial which he sends by an agent in the present packet is not attended to, as he thinks it ought to be.  He called on me with it, and desired me to recommend his case to a decision, and to note in my despatch, that it was the first time he had spoken to me on the subject.  This is true, it being the first time I ever saw him; but my recommendations would be as displaced as unnecessary.  I assured him Congress would do in that business what justice should require, and their means enable them.  The information sent me by Mr. Montgomery from Alicant, of the death of the Dey of Algiers, was not true.  I had expressed my doubt of it in my last, when I communicated it.  I send herewith the newspapers to this date, and a remonstrance of the parliament, to show you in what language the King can be addressed at this day.  I have received no journal of Congress since the beginning of November last, and will thank you for them, if printed.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.