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my dear children； and； when we meet at Monticello； let me see who has
improved most。 I kiss this paper for each of you： it will therefore
deliver the kisses to yourselves； and two over； which one of you must
deliver to your Mama for me； and present my affectionate attachment
to your papa。 Yourselves love and Adieux。
THE PROGRESS OF REFORM
_To General Thaddeus Kosciusko_
_Washington； April 2； 1802_
DEAR GENERAL； It is but lately that I have received your
letter of the 25th Frimaire （December 15） wishing to know whether
some officers of your country could expect to be employed in this
country。 To prevent a suspense injurious to them； I hasten to inform
you； that we are now actually engaged in reducing our military
establishment one third； and discharging one third of our officers。
We keep in service no more than men enough to garrison the small
posts dispersed at great distances on our frontiers； which garrisons
will generally consist of a captain's company only； and in no case of
more than two or three； in not one； of a sufficient number to require
a field officer； and no circumstance whatever can bring these
garrisons together； because it would be an abandonment of their
forts。 Thus circumstanced； you will perceive the entire
impossibility of providing for the persons you recommend。 I wish it
had been in my power to give you a more favorable answer； but next to
the fulfilling your wishes； the most grateful thing I can do is to
give a faithful answer。 The session of the first Congress convened
since republicanism has recovered its ascendancy； is now drawing to a
close。 They will pretty completely fulfil all the desires of the
people。 They have reduced the army and navy to what is barely
necessary。 They are disarming executive patronage and preponderance；
by putting down one half the offices of the United States； which are
no longer necessary。 These economies have enabled them to suppress
all the internal taxes； and still to make such provision for the
payment of their public debt as to discharge that in eighteen years。
They have lopped off a parasite limb； planted by their predecessors
on their judiciary body for party purposes； they are opening the
doors of hospitality to the fugitives from the oppressions of other
countries； and we have suppressed all those public forms and
ceremonies which tended to familiarise the public eye to the
harbingers of another form of government。 The people are nearly all
united； their quondam leaders； infuriated with the sense of their
impotence； will soon be seen or heard only in the newspapers； which
serve as chimnies to carry off noxious vapors and smoke； and all is
now tranquil； firm and well； as it should be。 I add no signature
because unnecessary for you。 God bless you； and preserve you still
for a season of usefulness to your country。
THE AFFAIR OF LOUISIANA
_To the U。S。 Minister to France_
（ROBERT R。 LIVINGSTON）
_Washington； Apr。 18； 1802_
DEAR SIR A favorable and a confidential opportunity offering
by Mr。 Dupont de Nemours； who is revisiting his native country gives
me an opportunity of sending you a cipher to be used between us；
which will give you some trouble to understand； but； once understood；
is the easiest to use； the most indecipherable； and varied by a new
key with the greatest facility of any one I have ever known。 I am in
hopes the explanation inclosed will be sufficient。 Let our key of
letters be ＇_some figures which are illegible_＇ and the key of lines
be ＇_figures illegible_＇ and lest we should happen to lose our key or
be absent from it； it is so formed as to be kept in the memory and
put upon paper at pleasure； being produced by writing our names and
residences at full length； each of which containing 27 letters is
divided into two parts of 9。 letters each； and each of the 9。 letters
is then numbered according to the place it would hold if the 9。 were
arranged alphabetically； thus ＇_so blotted as to be illegible＇。 The
numbers over the letters being then arranged as the letters to which
they belong stand in our names； we can always construct our key。 But
why a cipher between us； when official things go naturally to the
Secretary of State； and things not political need no cipher。 1。
matters of a public nature； and proper to go on our records； should
go to the secretary of state。 2。 matters of a public nature not
proper to be placed on our records may still go to the secretary of
state； headed by the word ‘private。' But 3。 there may be matters
merely personal to ourselves； and which require the cover of a cipher
more than those of any other character。 This last purpose and others
which we cannot foresee may render it convenient and advantageous to
have at hand a mask for whatever may need it。 But writing by Mr。
Dupont I need no cipher。 I require from him to put this into your
own and no other hand； let the delay occasioned by that be what it
will。
The cession of Louisiana and the Floridas by Spain to France
works most sorely on the U。S。 On this subject the Secretary of State
has written to you fully。 Yet I cannot forbear recurring to it
personally； so deep is the impression it makes in my mind。 It
compleatly reverses all the political relations of the U。S。 and will
form a new epoch in our political course。 Of all nations of any
consideration France is the one which hitherto has offered the fewest
points on which we could have any conflict of right； and the most
points of a communion of interests。 From these causes we have ever
looked to her as our _natural friend_； as one with which we never
could have an occasion of difference。 Her growth therefore we viewed
as our own； her misfortunes ours。 There is on the globe one single
spot； the possessor of which is our natural and habitual enemy。 It
is New Orleans； through which the produce of three…eighths of our
territory must pass to market； and from its fertility it will ere
long yield more than half of our whole produce and contain more than
half our inhabitants。 France placing herself in that door assumes to
us the attitude of defiance。 Spain might have retained it quietly
for years。 Her pacific dispositions； her feeble state； would induce
her to increase our facilities there； so that her possession of the
place would be hardly felt by us； and it would not perhaps be very
long before some circumstance might arise which might make the
cession of it to us the price of something of more worth to her。 Not
so can it ever be in the hands of France。 The impetuosity of her
temper； the energy and restlessness of her character； placed in a
point of eternal friction with us； and our character； which though
quiet； and loving peace and the pursuit of wealth； is high…minded；
despising wealth in competition with insult or injury； enterprising
and energetic as a