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says, that fifty livres the hundred weight, will pay the prime cost and duties, and leave a profit of sixteen per cent to the merchant. I hope that England will, within a year or two, be obliged to come here to buy whale oil for her lamps.
I like as little as you do, to have the gift of appointments. I hope Congress will not tranfer the appointment of their consuls, to their ministers. But if they do, Portugal is more naturally under the su- perintendance of the minister at Madrid, and still more naturally un der that of the minister at Lisbon, where it is clear they ought to have one. If all my hopes fail, the letters of Governor Bowdoin and Gushing, in favor of young Mr. Warren, and your more de tailed testimony in his behalf, are not likely to be opposed by evi dence of equal weight, in favor of any other. I think with you, too, that it is for the public interest to encourage sacrifices and services, by rewarding them, and that they should weigh to a cer tain point, in the decision between candidates.
I am sorry for the illness of the Chevalier Pinto. I think that treaty important : and the moment to urge it, is that of a treaty be tween France and England.
Lambe, who left this place the 6th of November, was at Ma drid the 10th of this month. Since his departure, Mr. Barclay has discovered that no copies of the full powers were furnished to himself, nor of course to Lambe. Colonel Franks has prepared copies, which I will endeavor to get, to send by this conveyance for your attestation : which you will be so good as to send back by the first safe conveyance, and I will forward them. Mr. Bar clay and Colonel Franks being at this moment at St. Germain s, I am not sure of getting the papers in time to go by Mr. Dalrymple. In that case, I will send them by Mr. Bingham.
Be so good as to present me affectionately to Mrs. and Miss Adams, to Colonels Smith and Humphreys, and accept assurances of the esteem with which I am, Dear Sir,
your friend and servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
VOL. i. 48
