I thank you for your attention to the question I had taken the liberty of proposing to you.  I think with you, that it would be advisable to have our debt transferred to individuals of your country.  There could and would be no objection to the guarantee remaining as you propose; and a postponement of the first payments of capital would surely be a convenience to us.  For though the resources of the United States are great and growing, and their dispositions good, yet their machine is new, and they have not got it to go well.  It is the object of their general wish at present, and they are all in movement, to set it in a good train; but their movements are necessarily slow.  They will surely effect it in the end, because all have the same end in view; the difficulty being only to get all the thirteen States to agree on the same means.  Divesting myself of every partiality, and speaking from that thorough knowledge which I have of the country, their resources, and their principles, I had rather trust money in their hands, than in that of any government on earth; because, though for a while the payments of the interest might be less regular, yet the final reimbursement of the capital would be more sure.

I set out next week for the south of France, to try whether some mineral waters in that quarter, much recommended, will restore the use of my hand.  I shall be absent from Paris two or three months; but I take arrangements for the regular receipt of your favors, as if I were here.  It will be better, however, for you to put your letters to Mr. Jay under cover to Mr. Short, who remains here, and will forward them.

I have thought it my duty to submit to Congress the proposition about the French debt, and may expect their answer in four months.

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

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER L.—­TO JOHN JAY, February 14, 1787

TO JOHN JAY.

Paris, February 14, 1787.

Sir,

In the letter of the 8th instant, which I had the honor of writing you, I informed you that the Count de Vergennes was dangerously ill.  He died yesterday morning, and the Count de Montmorin is appointed his successor.  Your personal knowledge of this gentleman renders it unnecessary for me to say any thing of him.

Mr. Morris, during his office, being authorized to have the medals and swords executed, which had been ordered by Congress, he authorized Colonel Humphreys to take measures here for the execution.  Colonel Humphreys did so; and the swords were finished in time for him to carry them.  The medals not being finished, he desired me to attend to them.  The workman who was to make that of General Greene, brought me yesterday the medal in gold, twenty-three in copper, and the die.  Mr. Short, during my absence, will avail himself of the first occasion which shall offer,