on hand may go on immediately, according to the statement I sent to Mr. Jay.  One article in this I must beg you to press on the treasury board; that is, an immediate order for the payment of the three years’ arrearages to the French officers.  They were about holding a meeting to take desperate measures on this subject, when I was called to Holland.  I desired them to be quiet till my return, and since my return I have pressed a further tranquillity till July, by which time I have given them reason to hope I may have an answer from the treasury board to my letters of March.  Their ill humor can be contained no longer; and as I know no reason why they may not be paid at that time, I shall have nothing to urge in our defence after that.

*****

You remember the report, drawn by Governor Randolph, on the navigation of the Mississippi.  When I came to Europe, Mr. Thomson was so kind as to have me a copy of it made out.  I lent it to Dr. Franklin, and he mislaid it, so that it could never be found.  Could you make interest with him to have me another copy made, and send it to me?  By Mr. Warville I send your pedometer.  To the loop at the bottom of it you must sew a tape, and at the other end of the tape a small hook (such as we use under the name of hooks and eyes), cut a little hole in the bottom of your left watch-pocket, pass the hook and tape through it, and down between the breeches and drawers, and fix the hook on the edge of your knee-band, an inch from the knee-buckle; then hook the instrument itself by its swivel-hook on the upper edge of the watch-pocket.  Your tape being well adjusted in length, your double steps will be exactly counted by the instrument, the shortest hand pointing out the thousands, the flat hand the hundreds, and the long hand the tens and units.  Never turn the hands backward; indeed, it is best not to set them to any given place, but to note the number they stand at when you begin to walk.  The adjusting the tape to its exact length is a critical business, and will cost you many trials.  But once done, it is done for ever.  The best way is to have a small buckle fixed on the middle of the tape, by which you can take it up, and let it out at pleasure.  When you choose it should cease to count, unhook it from the top of the watch-pocket, and let it fall down to the bottom of the pocket.

*****

I am, with sentiments of the most sincere esteem and attachment, Dear Sir, your affectionate friend and servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CXXXIV.—­TO JOHN JAY, May 4, 1788

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, May 4, 1788.

Sir,