[* A few lines ave here unintelligible.]

Charleston have been assuming a different hue.  Young Rutledge joining Smith and Harper, is an ominous fact as to that whole interest.

Tobacco is at nine dollars, and flour very dull of sale.  A great stagnation in commerce generally.  During the present bankruptcy in England, the merchants seem disposed to lie on their oars.  It is impossible to conjecture the rising of Congress, as it will depend on the system they decide on; whether of preparation for war, or inaction.  In the vote of forty-six to fifty-two, Morgan, Machir, and Evans were of the majority, and Clay kept his seat, refusing to vote with either.  In that of forty-seven to fifty-two, Evans was the only one of our delegation who voted against putting France on an equal footing with other nations.

P. M. So far I had written in the morning.  I now take up my pen to add, that the addresses having been reported to the House, it was moved to disagree to so much of the amendment as went to the putting France on an equal footing with other nations, and Morgan and Machir turning tail (in consequence, as is said, of having been closeted last night by Charles Lee), the vote was forty-nine to fifty.  So the principle was saved by a single vote.  They then proposed that compensations for spoliations shall be a sine qua non, and this will be decided on to-morrow,

Yours affectionately,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CCXIII.—­TO COLONEL BURR, June 17,1797

TO COLONEL BURR.

Philadelphia, June 17,1797.

Dear Sir,

The newspapers give, so minutely what is passing in Congress, that nothing of detail can be wanting for your information.  Perhaps, however, some general view of our situation and prospects, since you left us, may not be unacceptable.  At any rate, it will give me an opportunity of recalling myself to your memory, and of evidencing my esteem for you.  You well know how strong a character of division had been impressed on the Senate by the British treaty.  Common error, common censure, and common efforts of defence had formed the treaty majority into a common band, which feared to separate even on other subjects.  Towards the close of the last Congress, however, it had been hoped that their ties began to loosen, and their phalanx to separate a little.

This hope was blasted at the very opening of the present session, by the nature of the appeal which the President made to the nation; the occasion for which had confessedly sprung from the fatal British treaty.  This circumstance rallied them again to their standard, and hitherto we have had pretty regular treaty votes on all questions of principle.  And indeed I fear, that as long as the same individuals remain, so long we shall see traces of the same division.  In the House of Representatives the republican body has also lost strength.  The