You will perceive, by the report of Mr. Necker (in the gazette of France), 1. a renewal of the renunciation of the power of imposing a new tax by the King, and a like renunciation of the power of continuing any old one; 2. an acknowledgment that the States are to appropriate the public monies, which will go to the binding the court to a civil list; 3. a consent to the periodical meeting of the States; 4. to consider of the restrictions of which lettres de cachet are susceptible; 5. the degree of liberty to be given to the press; 6. a bill of rights; and 7. there is a passage which looks towards the responsibility of ministers.  Nothing is said of communicating to them a share in the legislation.  The ministry, perhaps, may be unwilling to part with this, but it will be insisted on in the States.  The letters of convocation will not appear till towards the latter end of the month:  neither time nor place are yet declared, but Versailles is talked of, and we may well presume that some time in April will be fixed on.  In the mean time, Mr. Necker gets money to keep the machine in motion.  Their funds rose slowly, but steadily, till within these few days, when there was a small check.  However, they stand very well, and will rise.  The caisse d’escompte lent the government twenty-five millions, two days ago.  The navy of this country sustained a heavy loss lately, by the death of the Bailli de Suffrein.  He was appointed Generalissimo of the Atlantic, when war was hourly expected with England, and is certainly the officer on whom the nation would have reposed its principal hopes, in such a case.  We just now hear of the death of the Speaker of the House of Commons, before the nomination of a regent, which adds a new embarrassment to the re-establishment of government in England.  Since writing mine of November the 29th, yours of the 23rd of September has come to hand.  As the General of the Mathurins was to be employed in the final redemption of our captives, I thought that their previous support had better be put into his hands, and conducted by himself in such a way as not to counterwork his plan of redemption, whenever we can enable him to begin on it.  I gave him full powers as to the amount and manner of subsisting them.  He has undertaken it, informing me, at the same time, that it will be on a very low scale, to avoid suspicion of its coming from the public.  He spoke of but three sous a day per man, as being sufficient for their physical necessaries, more than which, he thinks it not advisable to give.  I have no definitive answer yet from our bankers, whether we may count on the whole million last agreed to be borrowed, but I have no doubt of it, from other information, though I have not their formal affirmative.  The gazettes of Leyden and France to this date, accompany this.  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.