But on this you will hear from the Secretary of State.  If the treaty cannot be put into an acceptable form, then the next best thing is to back out of the negotiation as well as we can, letting that die away insensibly; but, in the mean time, agreeing informally, that both parties shall act on the principles of the treaty, so as to preserve that friendly understanding which we so sincerely desire, until the one or the other may be disposed to yield the points which divide us.  This will leave you to follow your desire of coming home, as soon as you see that the amendment of the treaty is desperate.  The power of continuing the negotiations will pass oyer to Mr. Pinckney, who, by procrastinations, can let it die away, and give us time, the most precious of all things to us.  The government of New Orleans is still without such a head as I wish.  The salary of five thousand dollars is too small; but I am assured the Orleans legislature would make it adequate, would you accept it.  It is the second office in the United States in importance, and I am still in hopes you will accept it.  It is impossible to let you stay at home while the public has so much need of talents.  I am writing under a severe indisposition of periodical headache, without scarcely command enough of my mind to know what I write.  As a part of this letter concerns Mr. Pinckney as well as yourself, be so good as to communicate so much of it to him; and with my best respects to him, to Mrs. Monroe, and your daughter, be assured yourself, in all cases, of my constant and affectionate friendship and attachment.

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XLI.—­M.  LE COMTE DIODATI, March 29, 1807

M. LE COMTE DIODATI.

Washington, March 29, 1807.

My Dear and Antient Friend,

Your letter of August the 29th reached me the 18th of February.  It enclosed a duplicate of that written from Brunswick five years before, but which I never received, or had notice of, but by this duplicate.  Be assured, my friend, that I was incapable of such negligence towards you, as a failure to answer it would have implied.  It would illy have accorded with those sentiments of friendship I entertained for you at Paris, and which neither time nor distance has lessened.  I often pass in review the many happy hours I spent with Madame Diodati and yourself on the banks of the Seine, as well as at Paris, and I count them among the most pleasing I enjoyed in France.  Those were indeed days of tranquillity and happiness.  They had begun to cloud a little before I left you; but I had no apprehension that the tempest, of which I saw the beginning, was to spread over such an extent of space and time.  I have often thought of you with anxiety, and wished to know how you weathered the storm, and into what port you had retired.  The letters now received give me the first information, and I sincerely felicitate you on your safe and quiet retreat.  Were I in