Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) To: John Sinclair.
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08060 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 August 1791 Pagination: Order a Copy
Praising French Revolution: "It would be unfortunate were it in the power of one man [the king] to defeat the issue of so beautiful a revolution. I hope... that for the good of suffering humanity all over the earth, that revolution will be established and spread thro' the whole world."
Dear Sir, Philadelphia Aug 26 1791
I am to acknolege [sic] the reciept [sic] of your two favors of Dec 25. & May 14. with the pamphlets which accompanied them & to return you my thanks for them. the Corn law, I perceive has not yet passed in the form you expected. my wishes on that subject were nearer to yours than you imagined. we both in fact desired the same thing for different reasons, respecting the interests of our respective countries, & therefore justifiable in both. you wished the bill so moulded as to encourage strongly your national agriculture. the clause for warehousing foriegn corn tended to lessen the confidence of the farmer in the demand for his corn. I wished the clause omitted that our corn might pass directly to the country of the consumer, & save us the loss of an intermediate deposit, which it can ill bear. - that no commercial arrangments between Gr. Britain & the U.S. have taken place, as you wish should be done, cannot be imputed to us. the proposition has surely been often enough made; perhaps too often it is a happy cirsumstance in human affairs that evils which are not cured one way, will cur ethemselves in some other. - we are now under the first impression of the news of the king's flight from Paris, & his recapture. it would be unfortunate were it in the power of any one man to defeat the issue of so beautiful a revolution. I hope & trust it is not, & that for the good of suffering humanity all over the earth, that revolution will be established & spread thro' the whole world. - I shall always be happy my dear sir to hear of your health & happiness, being with sentiments of the most cordial esteem and respect. Dear Sir you most obd. humble srvt.
Tho. Jefferson
Sir John Sinclair
[crosswritten: I send you a small pamphlet on the subject of commerce written by a very judicious hand.]
verso: Tho Jefferson Esq.
Secratary of State
in America -
24 August
1791
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