the Falls of James river, at Westham, we seem to have confidence enough in ourselves to undertake them; and mean to do so without having recourse to either canals or Locks.-Thro' all the Falls and rapids above the Great falls, we mean to attempt nothing more than to open a strait passage to avoid, as much as possible, currents;-giving sufficient depth, and as much smoothness as may be to the surface;-and if Rumsey's project fails (of which he has not the smallest apprehension) to pull the Boats up by chains floated by buoys :-the latter, when Ice begins to form, may be slipped and thereby saved; whilst the former rivoted to rocks at bottom, may remain during the intemperate season undisturbed and without injury.

Upon an estimate of the expence of those chains and Buoys, we (that is, the Directors of the Potomac navigation and myself) are of opinion, without having an eye to the probable advantages which are expected to be derived from Rumsey's mechanical discovery, that it will be infinitely less than what must arise from cutting canals, building Locks, making track paths, &c., as was the design of Ballendine and others; and will have this advantage over them, that when once done, that is when the passage is opened in a straight direction in the natural bed of the river, it is done as it were forever, whereas canals and Locks, besides the natural decay of them, are exposed to much injury from Ice, drift-wood, and even the common freshes ;-in a word, are never safe where there are such sudden inundations and violent torrents, as the rivers in this country are subject to.

It has so happened that Thursday the 22d inst. is a day of my own appointing to meet the Directors at the Great Falls of this river, for the purpose of examining the place proposed for a canal; and the river and ground from thence to tide water, on which business I expect to be employed (at least to be from home) four or five days.

Altho' I see no impropriety myself in laying the Proceedings of the Potomac Company before the Board of Directors of the James river navigation, it being my wish that every intelligence which one can give to the other should be mutually afforded; yet it is my desire that the act may be considered as transmitted for the private information (if it should convey any light) of yourself and the Directors.

We are endeavoring to engage our miners to bore by the foot; rather than by the day; but as yet have not agreed with any in this way :-they ask a shilling, which we think is too much-to common labourers we pay 40/ per month; and we find paying the workmen every fortnight, rather troublesome-once a month. would do better:-as they will be frequently moving, we have provided Tents as most convenient & least expensive, for their accommodation.

I find I have been under a mistake with respect to the subscriptions for the James river navigation;I conceived the Books were to lie open 'till the general meeting appointed (as that for this river was) by law; and if the aggregate amounted to more than the sum required by the act, at such meeting—

they were then to be reduced in the manner therein directed.

The expression of the Law, "the highest point practicable" is certainly too indefinite; and in the hurry which the act passed, the import of it was not sufficiently adverted to :-but how far it may be politic for the Potomac Company to meddle in the matter, I will not at this moment undertake to decide; as the concurrence of two States is required to effect the Alteration, and as one of them, it is said by those who are unfriendly to the measure, has been surprized into it.

If it would not be too troublesome for your Secretary, it would be a satisfaction to me to receive a copy of your proceedings-With great esteem & sincere friendship, I am, &c.

DEAR SIR,

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

MOUNT VERNON, 26 September, 1785.

I have had the honor to receive your favors of the 10th and 17th of July, which were committed to the care of M. Houdon; but I have not yet had the pleasure to see that gentleman. His instruments and materials, (Doctor Franklin informs me,) were sent down the Seine; but, not being arrived when the ship left Havre, he was obliged to leave them, and is now busied in supplying himself with others at Philadelphia, with which, when done, he will come on to this place. I shall take great pleasure in showing M.

Houdon every civility and attention in my power during his stay in this country; for I feel myself under personal obligation to you and Dr. Franklin (as the State of Virginia has done me the honor to direct a statue to be erected to my memory) for having placed the execution in the hands of so eminent an artist, and so worthy a character.1

I have the further pleasure to inform you and should have done it long since, had I not supposed that your information would have been more full and perfect from some of your friends in the Assembly, that a resolution of the Assembly authorized the Executive to appoint commissioners to explore and report the best communication between the waters

1 Writing to Lafayette, November 8th, Washington said :

"I have now to thank you for your favors of the 9th and 14th of July; the first by M. Houdon, who stayed no more than a fortnight with me, and to whom, for his trouble and risk in crossing the seas (although I had no agency in the business), I feel myself under personal obligations.

"Doctor Franklin has met with a grateful reception in Pennsylvania. He has again embarked on a troubled ocean; I am persuaded with the best designs, and I wish his purposes may be answered, which undoubtedly are to reconcile the jarring interests of the State. He permitted himself to be nominated for the city of Philadelphia as a counsellor, a step to the chair, which no doubt he will fill; but whether to the satisfaction of both parties is a question of some magnitude, and of real importance to himself, at least to his quiet. His grandson shall meet with every civility and attention I can show him, when occasions offer."

"Gatteaux the engraver lives in the Street St. Thomas de Louvre, opposite the Treasury of the Duke de Chartres. Now that there is no obstacle to commencing the medal for Genl. Washington since Houdon's return, I could wish (should it not be giving you too much trouble) that you would send for Du Vivier who lives in the Old Louvre, and propose to him undertaking it upon exactly the terms he had offered, which I think were 2400 livres, besides the gold & expense of coming. If he should not [ it we must let it rest until

Dupre shall have finished Genl. Greene's. Gatteaux has a paper on which is the description of Genl. Washington's medal."-D. Humphreys to Jefferson, 30 January, 1786.

of Elizabeth river and those of Albermarle ;-that the commissioners have proceeded to the Surveyand have reported in favor of that which will pass thro' Drummonds Pond to the Pasquotank. But what will be the result, I am unable to inform youas I find by some of the principal characters of North Carolina (members of Congress) who have called here; that a considerable jealousy prevails, and a powerful opposition will be given to any water communication between the two States-lest it should draw their exports from them.

I am very happy to find, that your sentiments respecting the interest the Assembly was pleased to give me in the two navigations of the Potomac and James Rivers coincide with my own. I never for a moment entertained an idea of accepting it. The difficulty, which labored in my mind was how to refuse without giving offence. Ultimately I have it in contemplation to apply the profits arising from the tolls to some public use. In this, if I knew how, I would meet the wishes of the Assembly; but, if I am not able to come at these, my own inclination leads me to apply them to the establishment of two charity schools, one on each river, for the education and support of poor children, especially the descendants of those, who have fallen in defence of their country.

I can say nothing decisively respecting the western settlement of this State. The inhabitants of Kentucky have held several conventions, and have resolved to apply for a separation; but what may be the final issue of it, is not for me to inform you. Opinions,