Your letter of November the 6th, No. 46, by Mr. Osmont came to hand yesterday, and I have just time before the departure of Mr. Terrasson, the bearer of my letter of the 15th instant, and despatches accompanying it, to acknowledge the receipt, and inform you that it has been laid before the President.  On consideration of the circumstances stated in the second page of your letter, he is of opinion, that it is expedient to press at this moment a settlement of our difference with Spain.  You are therefore desired, instead of confining your application for the interference of the court of France to the simple case of St. Marie, mentioned in my letter of the 12th, to ask it on the broad bottom of general necessity, that our right of navigating the Mississippi be at length ceded by the court of Madrid, and be ceded in such form, as to render the exercise of it efficacious and free from chicane.  This cannot be without an entrepot in some convenient port of the river, where the river and sea craft may meet and exchange loads, without any control from the laws of the Spanish government.  This subject was so fully developed to you in my letter of August the 10th, 1790, that I shall at present only refer to that.  We wish you to communicate this matter fully to the Marquis de la Fayette, to ask his influence and assistance, assuring him that a settlement of this matter is become indispensable to us; any further delay exposing our peace, both at home and abroad, to accidents, the results of which are incalculable and must no longer be hazarded.  His friendly interposition on this occasion, as well as that of his nation, will be most sensibly felt by us.  To his discretion, therefore, and yours, we confide this matter, trusting that you will so conduct it as to obtain our right in an efficacious form, and at the same time, to preserve to us the friendship of France and Spain, the latter of which we value much, and the former infinitely.

Mr. Carmichael is instructed to press this matter at Madrid; yet if the Marquis and yourself think it could be better effected at Paris, with the Count de Nunez, it is left to you to endeavor to draw it there.  Indeed, we believe it would be more likely to be settled there than at Madrid or here.  Observe always, that to accept the navigation of the river without an entrepot would be perfectly useless, and that an entrepot, if trammeled, would be a certain instrument for bringing on war instead of preventing it.

I am, with great esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER LVII.—­TO MR. OTTO, March 29, 1791

TO MR. OTTO.

Philadelphia, March 29, 1791.

Sir,