with Portugal, by adding to the number of those appointments, may give Congress an opportunity of doing justice to your own, and to Dr. Franklin’s services.  If my wishes could aid you, you have them sincerely.  My late return to this place scarcely enables me to give you any of its news.  I have not yet called on M. La Veillard, or seen any of your acquaintances.  The marriage of the ambassador of Sweden with Miss Necker, you have heard of.  Houdon is about taking a wife also.  His bust of the General has arrived, and meets the approbation of those who know the original.  Europe enjoys a perfect calm, at present.  Perhaps it may be disturbed by the death of the King of Prussia, which is constantly expected.  As yet, we have no information from the Barbary States, which may enable us to prognosticate the success of our endeavors to effect a peace in that quarter.  Present me respectfully and affectionately to Dr. Franklin, and accept assurances of the esteem, with which I am, Dear Sir, your friend and servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XII.—­TO ELBRIDGE GERRY, May 7, 1786

TO ELBRIDGE GERRY.

Paris, May 7, 1786.

Dear Sir,

My last to you was of the 11th of October.  Soon after that, your favor of the 12th of September came to hand.  My acknowledgment of this is made later than it should have been, by my trip to England.  Your long silence I ascribe to a more pleasing cause, that of devoting your spare time to one more capable of filling it with happiness, and to whom, as well as to yourself, I wish all those precious blessings which this change of condition is calculated to give you.

My public letters to Mr. Jay will have apprized you of my journey to England, and of its motives; and the joint letters of Mr. Adams and myself, of its effects.  With respect to Portugal, it produced arrangements; with respect to England and Barbary, only information.  I am quite at a loss what you will do with England.  To leave her in possession of our posts, seems inadmissible; and yet to take them, brings on a state of things, for which we seem not to be in readiness.  Perhaps a total suppression of her trade, or an exclusion of her vessels from the carriage of our produce, may have some effect; but I believe not very great.  Their passions are too deeply and too universally engaged in opposition to us.  The ministry have found means to persuade the nation, that they are richer than they were while we participated of their commercial privileges.  We should try to turn our trade into other channels.  I am in hopes this country will endeavor to give it more encouragement.  But what will you do with the piratical States?  Buy a peace at their enormous price; force one; or abandon the carriage into the Mediterranean to other powers?  All these measures are disagreeable.  The decision rests with you.  The Emperor is now pressing a treaty with us.