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be introduced from above； so that filling both basons （as in a lock）
the vessel shall be raised up and floated into the upper one； and the
water being discharged leave her dry。 Over a bason not wider than
175 feet； a roof can be thrown； in the manner of that of the Halle au
ble at Paris； which needing no underworks to support it； will permit
the bason to be entirely open and free for the movement of the
vessels。 I mean to propose the construction of one of these to the
National legislature； convinced it will be a work of no great cost；
that it will save us great annual expence； and be an encouragement to
prepare in peace the vessels we shall need in war； when we find they
can be kept in a state of perfect preservation and without expence。
The first thing to be done is to chuse from which of the
streams we will derive our water for the lock。 These are the Eastern
branch； Tyber； Rock creek； and the Potomak itself。 Then to trace the
canal； draw plans of that and of the two basons； and calculate the
expence of the whole； that we may lead the legislature to no expence
in the execution of which they shall not be apprised in the
beginning。 For this I ask your aid； which will require your coming
here。 Some surveys and elevations have been already made by Mr。 N。
King； a very accurate man in that line； and who will assist in any
thing you desire； and execute on the ground any tracings you may
direct； unless you prefer doing them yourself。 It is very material
too that this should be done immediately； as we have little more than
4 weeks to the meeting of the legislature； and there will then be but
2 weeks for them to consider and decide before the day arrives （Jan。
1） at which alone any number of labourers can be hired here。 Should
that pass either the work must lie over for a year； or be executed by
day labourers at double expence。 I propose that such a force shall
be provided as to compleat the work in one year。 If this results； as
it will receive all our present ships； the next work will be a second
one； to build and lay up additional ships。 On the subject of your
superintending the execution of the work it would be premature to say
any thing till the legislature shall have declared their will。 Be so
good as to let me hear from you immediately； if you cannot come so
soon as you can write。 Accept my best wishes and respects。
〃A NOISELESS COURSE〃
_To Thomas Cooper_
_Washington； Nov。 29； 1802_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of Oct 25 was received in due time； and
I thank you for the long extract you took the trouble of making from
Mr。 Stone's letter。 Certainly the information it communicates as to
Alexander kindles a great deal of interest in his existence； and
strong spasms of the heart in his favor。 Tho his means of doing good
are great； yet the materials on which he is to work are refractory。
Whether he engages in private correspondences abroad； as the King of
Prussia did much； his grandmother sometimes； I know not； but
certainly such a correspondence would be very interesting to those
who are sincerely anxious to see mankind raised from their present
abject condition。 It delights me to find that there are persons who
still think that all is not lost in France： that their retrogradation
from a limited to an unlimited despotism； is but to give themselves a
new impulse。 But I see not how or when。 The press； the only tocsin
of a nation； is compleatly silenced there； and all means of a general
effort taken away。 However； I am willing to hope； as long as anybody
will hope with me； and I am entirely persuaded that the agitations of
the public mind advance its powers； and that at every vibration
between the points of liberty and despotism； something will be gained
for the former。 As men become better informed； their rulers must
respect them the more。 I think you will be sensible that our
citizens are fast returning； from the panic into which they were
artfully thrown to the dictates of their own reason； and I believe
the delusions they have seen themselves hurried into will be useful
as a lesson under similar attempts on them in future。 The good
effects of our late fiscal arrangements will certainly tend to unite
them in opinion； and in a confidence as to the views of their public
functionaries； legislative & executive。 The path we have to pursue
is so quiet that we have nothing scarcely to propose to our
Legislature。 A noiseless course； not meddling with the affairs of
others； unattractive of notice； is a mark that society is going on in
happiness。 If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors
of the people； under the pretence of taking care of them； they must
become happy。 Their finances are now under such a course of
application as nothing could derange but war or federalism。 The
gripe of the latter has shown itself as deadly as the jaws of the
former。 Our adversaries say we are indebted to their providence for
the means of paying the public debt。 We never charged them with the
want of foresight in providing money； but with the misapplication of
it after they have levied it。 We say they raised not only enough；
but too much； and that after giving back the surplus we do more with
a part than they did with the whole。
Your letter of Nov 18 is also received。 The places of
midshipman are so much sought that （being limited） there is never a
vacancy。 Your son shall be set down for the 2d； which shall happen；
the 1st being anticipated。 We are not long generally without
vacancies happening。 As soon as he can be appointed you shall know
it。 I pray you to accept assurances of my great attachment and
respect。
CRISIS ON THE MISSISSIPPI
_To the Special Envoy to France_
（JAMES MONROE）
_Washington； Jan。 13； 1803_
DEAR SIR； I dropped you a line on the 10th informing you of
a nomination I had made of you to the Senate； and yesterday I
enclosed you their approbation not then having time to write。 The
agitation of the public mind on occasion of the late suspension of
our right of deposit at N。 Orleans is extreme。 In the western
country it is natural and grounded on honest motives。 In the
seaports it proceeds from a desire for war which increases the
mercantile lottery； in the federalists generally and especially those
of Congress the object is to force us into war if possible； in order
to derange our finances； or if this cannot be done； to attach the
western country to them； as their best friends； and thus get again
into power。 Remonstrances memorials &c。 are now circulating through
the whole of the western country and signing by the body of the
people。 The measures we have been pursuing being invisible； do not
satisfy their minds。 Something sensible therefore was become
necessary； and indeed our object of purchasing N。 Orleans and the
Floridas is a measure li