retiring.  I do not think, however, that the success of the Turks in the partisan affairs which have taken place, can authorize us to presume, that they will be superior also in great decisions.  Their want of discipline and skill in military manoeuvres is of little consequence in small engagements, and of great in larger ones.  Their grand army was at Adrianople by the last accounts, and to get from thence to Belgrade will require a month.  It will be that time at least then, before we can have any very interesting news from them.  In the mean time, the plague rages at Constantinople to a terrible degree.  I cannot think but that it would be desirable to all commercial nations, to have that nation and all its dependencies driven from the sea-coast, into the interior parts of Asia and Africa.  What a field would, thus be restored to commerce!  The finest parts of the old world are now dead, in a great degree, to commerce, to arts, to science, and to society.  Greece, Syria, Egypt, and the northern coast of Africa, constituted the whole world almost for the Romans, and to us they are scarcely known, scarcely accessible at all.  The present summer will enable us to judge, what turn this contest will take.  I am greatly anxious to hear that nine States accept our new constitution.  We must be contented to accept of its good, and to cure what is evil in it hereafter.  It seems necessary for our happiness at home; I am sure it is so for our respectability abroad.  I shall, at all times, be glad to hear from you, from New York, from Kentucky, or whatever region of the earth you inhabit; being with sentiments of very sincere esteem and attachment, Dear Sir, your friend and servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CXXXVIII.—­TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL, May 27, 1788

TO WILLIAM CARMICHAEL.

Paris, May 27, 1788.

Dear Sir,

Your favors of April the 14th and 29th, and May the 8th, have lately come to hand.  That of January the 29th, by M. de Moinedo, had been left here during my absence on a journey to Amsterdam.  That gentleman had gone, as I presume, before my return, from my being unable to learn any thing of him.

*****

With respect to the Isthmus of Panama, I am assured by Burgoine (who would not chose to be named, however), that a survey was made, that a canal appeared very practicable, and that the idea was suppressed for political reasons altogether.  He has seen and minutely examined the report.  This report is to me a vast desideratum, for reasons political and philosophical.  I cannot help suspecting the Spanish squadrons to be gone to South America, and that some disturbances have been excited there by the British.  The court of Madrid may suppose we would not see this with an unwilling eye.  This may be true as to the uninformed part of our people:  but those who look into futurity farther than the present moment or age, and who combine well what is, with what