and to them alone, while it exempts the others from its operation by name.  You will be pleased to ask an explanation of this distinction:  and you will be able to say, in discussing its justice, that in every circumstance, we treat Great Britain on the footing of the most favored nation where our treaties do not preclude us, and that even these are just as favorable to her, as hers are to us.  Possibly she may be bound by treaty to admit this exception in favor of Denmark and Sweden.  But she cannot be bound by treaty to withhold it from us.  And if it be withheld merely because not established with us by treaty, what might not we, on the same ground, have withheld from Great Britain during the short course of the present war, as well as the peace which preceded it?

Whether these explanations with the British government shall be verbal or in writing, is left to yourself.  Verbal communications are very insecure; for it is only to deny them or to change their terms, in order to do away their effect at any time.  Those in writing have as many and obvious advantages, and ought to be preferred, unless there be obstacles of which we are not apprized.  I have the honor to be, with great and sincere esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CLXVIII.—­TO MR. HAMMOND, September 9, 1793

TO MR. HAMMOND.

Philadelphia, September 9, 1793.

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two memorials of the 4th and 6th instant, which have been duly laid before the President of the United States.

You cannot be uninformed of the circumstances which have occasioned the French squadron now in New York to seek asylum in the ports of the United States.  Driven from those where they were on duty, by the superiority of the adverse party in the civil war which has so unhappily afflicted the colonies of France, filled with the wretched fugitives from the same scenes of distress and desolation, without water or provisions for the shortest voyage, their vessels scarcely in a condition to keep the sea at all, they were forced to seek the nearest ports in which they could be received and supplied with necessaries.  That they have ever been out again to cruise, is a fact we have never learned, and which we believe to be impossible, from the information received of their wants and other impediments to active service.  This case has been noted specially, to show that no inconvenience can have been produced to the trade of the other belligerent powers, by the presence of this fleet in our harbors.  I shall now proceed to more general ground.