1From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Donald, 17 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you on the 28th. of July, when appearan[ces] rather threatened a war in Europe from the quarter of Holland. Since that the affairs of that country have continued to become more and more incapable of reconciliation. In the mean time a war has actually broken out between the Turks and Russians. It has been formally declared by the former against the latter, and...