I have now the honor to return you the propositions of Messrs.
Schweizer, Jeanneret, and Company, which have been submitted to the
Secretary of the Treasury. He does not think they can be acceded to on
the part of the United States. The greater premium demanded than what we
now pay, the change of the place of payment, the change of the bankers
whom we have always employed, for others unknown to us, the danger of
risking our credit by putting such a mass of our paper into new hands,
will, I dare say, appear to you, Sir, substantial reasons for declining
this measure; and the more so, as the new instructions given to Mr.
Short, are to raise money as fast as our credit will admit: and we have
no reason to suppose it cannot be as soon done by our ancient bankers as
by others. Our desire to pay our whole debt, principal and interest, to
France, is as strong as hers can be to receive it, and we believe, that
by the arrangements already taken it will be as soon done for her, and
more safely and advantageously for us than by a change of them. We
beg you to be assured, that no exertions are sparing on our part to
accomplish this desirable object, as it will be peculiarly gratifying to
us, that monies advanced to us in critical times, should be reimbursed
to France in times equally critical to her.

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 LXII.--TO THE ATTORNEY OF THE DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, May 7,1791