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now remains, of the continuance of our commissions, should also be used with the Chevalier de Pinto, to hasten the movements of his court.
But all these preparations for trade with Portugal, will fail in their effect, unless the depredations of the Algerines can be pre vented. I am far from confiding in the measures taken for this purpose. Very possibly war must be recurred to. Portugal is at war with them. Suppose the Chevalier de Pinto was to be sound ed on the subject of an union of force, and even a stipulation for contributing, each, a certain force, to be kept in constant cruise. Such a league once begun, other nations would drop into it, one by one. If he should seem to approve it, it might then be sug gested to Congress, who, if they should be forced to try the mea sure of war, would doubtless be glad of such an ally. As the Portuguese negotiation should be hastened, I suppose our com munications must often be trusted to the post, availing ourselves of the cover of our cypher.
I am, with sincere esteem, Dear Sir, your friend and servant,
TH: JEFFERSON,
LETTER CXXXIX. TO COLONEL HUMPHREYS.
Paris, December 4, 1785, DEAR SIR,
I enclose you a letter from Gatteaux, observing that there will be an anachronism, if, in making a medal to commemorate the victory of Saratoga, he puts on General Gates the insignia of the Cincinnati, which did not exist at that date. I wrote him, in an swer, that I thought so too, but that you had the direction of the business ; that you were now in London ; that I would write to you, and probably should have an answer within a fortnight ; and, that in the mean time, he could be employed on other parts of the die. I supposed you might not have observed on the print of General Gates, the insignia of the Cincinnati, or did not mean that that particular should be copied. Another reason against it strikes me. Congress have studiously avoided giving to the public, their sense of this institution. Should medals be prepared, to be presented from them to certain officers, and bearing on them the insignia of the order, as the presenting them would involve an approbation of
