It is therefore that I ask the aid of your friendship and that of Mr. Madison, that you will do for me in this regard, what you think it is right should be done, and what it would be right for me to do, were I on the spot, or were I apprized of all existing circumstances.  Indeed, were you two to think my claim an improper one, I would wish it to be suppressed, as I have so much confidence in your judgment, that I should suspect my own in any case where it varied from yours, and more especially, in one where it is liable to be warped by feeling.  Give me leave, then, to ask your consultation with Mr. Madison on this subject; and to assure you that whatever you are so good as to do herein, will be perfectly approved, and considered as a great obligation conferred on him, who has the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and attachment, Dear Sir, your friend and servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CXL.*—­TO JAMES MADISON, May 28, 1788

TO JAMES MADISON.

Paris, May 28, 1788.

Dear Sir,

The enclosed letter for Mr. Jay, being of a private nature.  I have thought it better to put it under your cover, lest it might be opened by some of his clerks, in the case of his absence.  But I enclose a press copy of it for yourself, as you will perceive the subject of it referred to you, as well as to him.  I ask your aid in it so far as you think right, and to have done what you think right.  If you will now be so good as to cast your eye over the copy enclosed, what follows the present sentence, will be some details, supplementary to that only, necessary for your information, but not proper for me to state to Mr. Jay.

      [* It will be seen that a few words of this letter are in
          cipher.  It is published, however, as written, because
          enough of it is literal to interest the reader, to whom
          also a specimen of the cipher, used by the Author, may
          not be unacceptable.]

378.227.1247. though appointed a minister resident at the court of 514. he never was 663. in that character.  He was continually passing from 1042. to 514. and 514. to 1042., so that he had no occasion to establish a household at either.  Accordingly, he staid principally in furnished lodgings.  Of all our ministers, he had the least occasion for an outfit, and I suppose spent almost nothing on that article.  He was of a disposition, too, to restrain himself within any limits of expense whatever, and it suited his recluse turn, which is, to avoid society.  Should he judge of what others should do, by what he did, it would be an improper criterion.  He was in Europe as a voyageur only, and it was while the salary was five hundred guineas more than at present.