Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-07-31
SELECTIONS.
POLITICAL HISTORY.

CoPy OF Letter from THOMAS JEFFERSON
(whilst President of the United Sates) to Wn.
DUNBAR, Esq. now published (it is believ ed Tor
the hrst tme) in the Ns'chez Ariel, by pe'mis-
sion of the Of Mr.. Dunbar.
LetteT from 1h0S. Jefferson 10 HIM. Dunbar.
WASHINGTON, July 18th, 1905
LEAR SIR Before you receive this you will
have heard, tbrOsgl .he channel of the public pa
rers. al the oession Of Louisiana by France TO the
u States, the terms stated in the National Intel
ligencer are accurate Tina, the Treaty may be rat
med IN time, have found it necessary to COW enc
congress on the 18th October; and il is very i'm
porant Tor the happiness of the country, that they
should possess all the information which can be OBJ
tanned respecting il, that they make the best ar
rangement practicable for its good gov ernme is
the most necessary because they will be obliged
ask hom the People an amendment ofthe Constitu-
ton, authorsing their receiving the province into
the Union, and providing for its government; and
he limitations OF power, which snail be given by
that smendhen', will be unsl'erable but by the
same authority. ! have, therefore, sent some que
ries to MIR. Clark, OF New OIIesns, to be answered
oy such person as he shall think best qualified, and
10 be returned 10 me before the meeting of Conc
gress; and kHow'ng that you have turned your at
tention 10 many OF the subjects, | enclose you a
copy OF them and ask the favor of you 10 give me
what information you can in such of them
as you shall select lying within the scope your
information. 1 am encouraged to propose thus o
trouble you by thorough percussion of your rea-
uness ana desire TO serve the public cause by what
ever snail De IN your power AMI by the belief that
you are one OF those Who will sincerely rejoice at
our success IN relieving you, by peacesuie means
HON powerful and enter prising neighbor; md es.
taolshlng on permanent basis the tranquility Sc
curiiy and prosperity, IF that interesting country
tender you my friendly salutations and assurance.
oil great esteem and respect
THO. JEFFERSON.
WILLIAM DUNBAR, Esq.
| L. =. July 49, Since writing the n,ecsJino
your favor OF June 10 has been received The ex-
change oil peacesble tor warning neig hbor at
New Orleans, was undoubtedly ground of Just and
great disquIelude part and the necessity of
acquiring the county could not be unperceiyed by
any. The question which divided our Legislature
(but not the natIon) was, whether we should take
IL at once ana enter single handed into war with the
most powerful nation on earth, or place things on
the best footing practicable for the present and a.
vail ourselves of the first war in Europe (which il
was clear was al no great di>tance) TO obtain the
country as the price or DeutTa!lIy or as repr-
sal Tor wrongs which we were sure enough 10 r.-
ceIVe- IbS gar happened somsvS hat sooner than
was exPecied but measures were previou.Iv
taken, and the thing took the best turn for both mar
nee. Ihose who were honest in their reasons foy
preIerrlns immediate war, will, In their candor re-
Joice that their opinion not followed They
may indeed. still believe it was the best oninioo
according TO probabilities. We however heIeved
otherwise, and they, am sure will not be glad that
we did The letter of yesterday will show YOU INV
desire OF receiving information from you, and shall
always be thankful for it. My wish is to have
every thing. COMPARE all together, and to do what.
on The WHOLE conscientou-ly think for The bes, /
repeat my satisfaction and esteem
Depth Of The .Ap.eyicdn Lakes. Lake Erie has
30 lathoms OF water above its lowest bed, though
ms not often more than 25 in depth Lake St.
CLAIR Is shallow, scarce exceeding fathoms. Like
Huron, Michigan, and Superior, are in places coo
feet deep sinking about 800 above the level of
.ne ocean; 1t is stated that Lake Ontario is now
feet higher than usual; the rise is att,ibn,sd ~
the melting of The heavy body of snow which fell
during the last winter. Lake Erie is considera-
'iy higher than it was six years ago Five years
ago II commenced rising, and has risen ever since
e'ch successive year finding it higher than the
year preceding II Is now between s feet bigns
er than 1t was in the spring of 1922