Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CCXCV.—­TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO, April 2,1802

TO GENERAL KOSCIUSKO.

Washington, April 2,1802.

Dear General,

It is but lately that I have received your letter of the 25th Frimaire (December 15th), wishing to know whether some officers of your country could expect to be employed in this country.  To prevent a suspense injurious to them, I hasten to inform you, that we are now actually engaged in reducing our military establishment one third, and discharging one third of our officers.  We keep in service no more than men enough to garrison the small posts dispersed at great distances on our frontiers, which garrisons will generally consist of a captain’s company only, and in no case of more than two or three, in not one, of a sufficient number to require a field-officer; and no circumstance whatever can bring these garrisons together, because it would be an abandonment of their forts.  Thus circumstanced, you will perceive the entire impossibility of providing for the persons you recommend.  I wish it had been in my power to give you a more favorable answer; but next to the fulfilling your wishes, the most grateful thing I can do is to give a faithful answer.  The session of the first Congress convened since republicanism has recovered its ascendency, is now drawing to a close.  They will pretty completely fulfil all the desires of the people.  They have reduced the army and navy to what is barely necessary.  They are disarming executive patronage and preponderance, by putting down one half the offices of the United States, which are no longer necessary.  These economies have enabled them to suppress all the internal taxes, and still to make such provision for the payment of their public debt as to discharge that in eighteen years.  They have lopped off a parasite limb, planted by their predecessors on their judiciary body for party purposes; they are opening the doors of hospitality to the fugitives from the oppressions of other countries; and we have suppressed all those public forms and ceremonies which tended to familiarize the public eye to the harbingers of another form of government.  The people are nearly all united; their quondam leaders, infuriated with the sense of their impotence, will soon be seen or heard only in the newspapers, which serve as chimneys to carry off noxious vapors and smoke, and all is now tranquil, firm, and well, as it should be.  I add no signature because unnecessary for you.  God bless you, and preserve you still for a season of usefulness to your country.

LETTER CCXCVI.—­TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, April 18, 1802

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Washington, April 18, 1802.

Dear Sir,

A favorable and confidential opportunity offering by M. Dupont de Nemours, who is re-visiting his native country, gives me an opportunity of sending you a cipher to be used between us, which will give you some trouble to understand, but once understood, is the easiest to use, the most indecipherable, and varied by a new key with the greatest facility, of any I have ever known.  I am in hopes the explanation enclosed will be sufficient.