practicable for their recovery.  In the mean time, it is our desire that the disbursements hitherto made for their subsistence, by the Spanish Consul or others, be paid off, and that their future comfortable subsistence be provided for.  As to past disbursements, I must beg the favor of you to write to Mr. Carmichael, that you are authorized to pay them off, pray him to let you know their amount, and to whom payments are due.  With respect to future provision for the captives, I must put it into your hands.  The impossibility of getting letters to or from Mr. Carmichael, renders it improper for us to use that channel.  As to the footing on which they are to be subsisted, the ration and clothing of a soldier would have been a good measure, were it possible to apply it to articles of food and clothing so extremely different as those used at Algiers.  The allowance heretofore made them by the Spanish Consul might perhaps furnish a better rule, as we have it from themselves, that they were then comfortably subsisted.  Should you be led to correspond with them at all, it had better be with Captain O’Bryan, who is a sensible man, and whose conduct since he has been there, has been particularly meritorious.  It will be better for you to avoid saying any thing which may either increase or lessen their hopes of ransom.  I write to our bankers, to answer your drafts for these purposes, and enclose you a duplicate to be forwarded with your first draft.  The prisoners are fourteen in number:  their names and qualities as follows; Richard O’Bryan and Isaac Stephens, captains; Andrew Montgomery and Alexander Forsyth, mates; Jacob Tessanier, a French passenger; William Patterson, Philip Sloan, Peleg Lorin, John Robertson, James Hall, James Cathcart, George Smith, John Gregory, James Hermel, seamen.  They have been twenty-one or twenty-two.

We are in hourly expectation of hearing the event of General Scott’s irruption into the Indian country, at the head of between seven and eight hundred mounted infantry.  Perhaps it may yet be known in time to communicate to you by this opportunity.  Our bank was filled with subscriptions the moment it was opened.  Eight millions of dollars were the whole permitted to be subscribed, of which two millions were deposited in cash, the residue to be public paper.  Every other symptom is equally favorable to our credit.

The President has returned from his southern tour in good health.  You will receive herewith the newspapers up to the present date.

I have the honor to be, with great esteem Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th; Jefferson.

LETTER LXVII.—­TO M. VAN BERKEL, July 14,1791

TO M. VAN BERKEL.

Philadelphia, July 14,1791.

Sir,