I take the liberty of troubling you with the perusal of the enclosed papers from Mr. Shaw, Consul for the United States in the East Indies; wherein you will observe, he complains of a prohibition from the government of Batavia, to American ships, by name, to have any trade in that port, while such trade was permitted to other nations.  I do not hesitate to presume, that something has been misunderstood in this case.  My presumption is founded on those sentiments of general amity which subsist between our government and that of the United Netherlands, and also on the whole tenor of our treaty, which secures to us always the treatment of the most favored nation.  Nevertheless, the refusal by the government of Batavia has been so formal, so deliberate and pointed, as to render it necessary to ask for some explanation.  If you will allow me the honor of a moment’s conference on this subject, the first time you come to town, I shall be obliged to you:  and in the mean time, have that of assuring you of those sentiments of esteem and respect, with which I am, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER LXVIII.—­TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, July 26,1791

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.

Philadelphia, July 26,1791.

Dear Sir,

Your favors of February the 26th and March the 16th have been duly received.  The conferences which you held last with the British minister needed no apology.  At the time of writing my letter desiring that communications with them might cease, it was supposed possible that some might take place before it would be received.  They proved to be such as not to vary the opinion formed, and, indeed, the result of the whole is what was to have been expected from known circumstances.  Yet the essay was perhaps necessary to justify, as well as induce, the measures proper for the protection of our commerce.  The first remittance of a thousand dollars to you, was made without the aid of any facts, which could enable the government to judge what sum might be an indemnification for the interference of the business referred to you, with your private pursuits.  Your letter of February the 26th furnishing grounds for correcting the first judgment, I now enclose you a bill on our bankers in Holland for another sum of a thousand dollars.  In the original remittance, as in this supplement to it, there has been no view but to do what is right between the public and those who serve them.

Though no authentic account is yet received, we learn through private channels that General Scott has returned from a successful expedition against the Indians; having killed about thirty warriors, taken fifty odd women and children prisoners, and destroyed two or three villages, without the loss of a man, except three, drowned by accident.  A similar expedition was to follow immediately after the first, while preparations are making for measures of more permanent effect:  so that we hope this summer to bring the Indians to accept of a just and general peace, on which nothing will be asked of them but their peace.