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If it should prove an insuperable obstacle with them, or if it should stand in the way of @ greater advantage, we can but aban- don it in the course of the negotiation.
In my copy of the cypher, on the alphabetical side, numbers are wanting from ‘ Denmark’ to ‘ disc’ inclusive, and from ‘ gone’ to ‘ governor’ inclusive. . I suppose them to have been omitted in copying ; will you be so good as to send them to me from yours, by the first safe conveyance.
With compliments to the ladies and to Colonel Smith.
I am, Dear Sir, your friend and servant, __ TH: JEFFERSON.*
LETTER LXXXIII.
TO M. DE CASTRIES.
Paris, August 3, 1785. Sir, .
The enclosed copy of a letter from Captain John Paul Jones, on the subject on which your Excellency did me the honor to write me, on the — day of July, will inform you that there is still occasion to be troublesome to you. A Mr. Puchilberg, a merchant of L’Orient, who seems to have kept himself unknown till money was to be received, now presents powers to receive it, signed by the American officers and crews: and this produces a hesitation in the person to whom your order was directed. Congress how- ever, having substituted Captain Jones, as agent, to solicit and re- ceive this money, he having given them security to forward it, when received, to their treasury, to be thence distributed to the claimants, and having at a considerable expense of time, trouble, and money, attended it to a conclusion, are circumstances of weight, against which Mr. Puchilberg seems to have nothing to oppose, but a nomination by individuals of the crew, under which he has declined to act, and permitted the business to be done by another without contradiction from him. Against him, too, it 1s urged that he fomented the sedition which took place among them ; that he cbtained this nomination from them while their minds were
[* The original of this letter was in cypher. But annexed to the copy in cypher, is the above literal copy by the Author.]
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