preserved; in Connecticut and New Hampshire the body of the people rose in support of government, and obliged the malcontents to go to their homes.  In the last mentioned State they seized about forty, who were in jail for trial.  It is believed this incident will strengthen our government.  Those people are not entirely without excuse.  Before the war these States depended on their whale-oil and fish.  The former was consumed in England, and much of the latter in the Mediterranean.  The heavy duties on American whale-oil, now required in England, exclude it from that market:  and the Algerines exclude them from bringing their fish into the Mediterranean.  France is opening her ports for their oil, but in the mean while their ancient debts are pressing them, and they have nothing to pay with.  The Massachusetts Assembly, too, in their zeal for paying their public debt, had laid a tax too heavy to be paid, in the circumstances of their State.  The Indians seem disposed, too, to make war on us.  These complicated causes determined Congress to increase their forces to two thousand men.  The latter was the sole object avowed, yet the former entered for something into the measure.  However, I am satisfied the good sense of the people is the strongest army our governments can ever have, and that it will not fail them.  The commercial convention at Annapolis was not full enough to do business.  They found, too, their appointments too narrow, being confined to the article of commerce.  They have proposed a meeting at Philadelphia in May, and that it may be authorized to propose amendments of whatever is defective in the federal constitution.

When I was in England, I formed a portable copying press, on the principles of the large one they make there, for copying letters.  I had a model made there, and it has answered perfectly.  A workman here has made several from that model.  The itinerant temper of your court will, I think, render one of these useful to you.  You must, therefore, do me the favor to accept of one.  I have it now in readiness, and shall send it by the way of Bayonne, to the care of Mr. Alexander there, unless Don Miguel de Lardi-zabal can carry it with him.

My hand admonishes me it is time to stop, and that I must defer writing to Mr. Barclay till to-morrow.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest esteem and respect,

Dear Sir, your most obedient

and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XXXVI.—­TO MR. VAUGHAN, December 29, 1786

TO MR. VAUGHAN.

Paris, December 29, 1786.

Sir,