Philadelphia Apr. 12. 1792.
Unremitting business must be my apology, as it is really the true one, for my having been longer without writing to you than my affections dictated. I am never a day without wishing myself with you, and more and more as the fine sun shine comes on, which seems made for all the world but me. Congress will rise about the 21st. They have past the Representation bill at one for 33,000. which gives to Virginia 19. members. They have voted an army of 5000. men, and the President has given the command to Wayne, with 4. brigadiers, to wit Morgan, Brooks, Willet, and Wilkinson. Congress is now engaged on the ways and means of raising money to pay this army. A further assumption of state debts has been proposed by the Secretary of the Treasury, which has been rejected by a small majority: but the chickens of the treasury have so many contrivances and are so indefatigable within doors and without, that we all fear they will get it in yet some way or other. As the doctrine is that a public debt is a public blessing, so they think a perpetual one is a perpetual blessing, and therefore wish to make it so large as that we can never pay it off.
I must ask the favor of you to send the bonds taken at my sale, to Mr. Eppes, who will deliver them to Hanson, and take a proper receipt, so as to clear me of the paiments of July next and July twelvemonth. I imagine Mr. Randolph
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Th: Jefferson