will meet on the 4th Monday of October.  Enclosed is the copy of an act reported by a committee to the late Congress, who, not having time to go through the subject, referred it to me, to be examined and reported to the next Congress.  This measure, therefore, will be proposed to them as a first and immediate step, and perhaps something further at a more distant day.  I have sent copies of this act to Mr. Short and Colonel Humphreys, and I enclose this to you, that you may communicate it to the court of Madrid, as a measure in contemplation with us.  How far such an one may be politic to be adopted by Spain, France, and Portugal, is for them to consider.  The measure is perfectly innocent as to all nations except those, or rather that, which has a navigation act; and to that it retorts only its own principles.  Being founded in universal reciprocity, it is impossible it should excite a single complaint.  Its consequences on that nation are such as they cannot avoid; for either they must repeal their navigation act, in order to be let in to a share of foreign carriage, or the shipping they now employ in foreign carriage will be out of employ, and this act frustrated, on which their naval power is built.  Consequently, that power will be reduced within safer limits, and the freedom of the ocean be better secured to all the world.  The more extensive the adoption of this measure is, the more irresistible will be its effect.  We would not wish to be declared the exciters of such a concert of measures, but we have thought it expedient to suggest informally to the courts of France, Spain, and Portugal, the measure we propose to take, and to leave with them to decide, on the motives of their own interest, how far it may be expedient for them to adopt a similar measure.  Their concurrence will more completely insure the object of our act, and therefore I leave it to yourself to insinuate it with all the discretion and effect you can.

Your letter of May the 6th, 1789, is still the last we have received, and that is now near two years old.  A letter from Colonel Humphreys, written within twenty-four hours after his arrival at Madrid, reached us within two months and ten days after its date.  A full explanation of the causes of this suspension of all information from you, is expected in answer to my letter of August the 6th.  It will be waited for yet a reasonable time, and in the mean while, a final opinion suspended.  By the first vessel to Cadiz, the laws and gazettes shall be forwarded.

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

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER LVI.—­TO WILLIAM SHORT, March 19, 1791

TO WILLIAM SHORT.

Philadelphia, March 19, 1791.

Dear Sir,