by availing ourselves of the stages.  Be pleased to observe that the stages travel all the day.  There seems nothing necessary for us then, but to hand the mail along through the night till it may fall in with another stage the next day, if motives, of economy should oblige us to be thus attentive to small savings.  If a little latitude of expense can be allowed, I should be for only using the stages the first day, and then have our riders.  I am anxious that the thing should be begun by way of experiment, for a short distance, because I believe it will so increase the income of the post-office as to show we may go through with it.  I shall hope to see you at three o’clock.

I am with great esteem, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CI.—­TO MR. HAMMOND, March 31, 1792

TO MR. HAMMOND.

Philadelphia, March 31, 1792.

Sir,

I received yesterday your favor of the day before, and immediately laid it before the President of the United States.  I have it in charge from him to express to you the perfect satisfaction which these assurances on the part of your court have given him, that Bowles, who is the subject of them, is an unauthorized impostor.  The promptitude of their disavowal of what their candor had forbidden him to credit, is a new proof of their friendly dispositions, and a fresh incitement to us to cherish corresponding sentiments.  To these we are led both by interest and inclination, and I am authorized to assure you that no occasion will be omitted, on our part, of manifesting their sincerity.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CII.—­TO GOVERNOR PINCKNEY, April 1, 1792

TO GOVERNOR PINCKNEY.

Philadelphia, April 1, 1792.

Sir,

Your letter of January the 8th to the President of the United States having been referred to me, I have given the subject of it as mature consideration as I am able.  Two neighboring and free governments, with laws equally mild and just, would find no difficulty in forming a convention for the interchange of fugitive criminals.  Nor would two neighboring despotic governments, with laws of equal severity.  The latter wish that no door should be opened to their subjects flying from the oppression of their laws.  The fact is, that most of the governments on the continent of Europe have such conventions; but England, the only free one till lately, has never yet consented either to enter into a convention for this purpose, or to give up a fugitive.  The difficulty between a free government and a despotic one is indeed great.  I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency a sketch of the considerations which occurred to me on the