To Thomas Jefferson.

PHILADELPHIA, Mar. 13, 1796.

DEAR SIR,—Since my last, by the last weekly mail, I have seen Mr. Rittenhouse on the subject of the kitchen stoves. He says that at Lancaster, where they were invented and are best known, two only remain in use. They certainly save fuel, but are so much complicated in their operation as to require particular care, and are liable to the objection of keeping the kitchen excessively hot. Mrs. Rittenhouse intimated that as several modes of cookery, roasting, baking, &c., were carried on at the same time, it often happened that one of the modes did not keep pace with the other. Mr. R. could not learn the price. He supposed, from the quantity of Iron, that it must be considerable.

We are at length embarked in the discussion of the Treaty, which was drawn in rather abruptly, by a proposition calling on the President for papers. The point in debate is, the constitutional right of Congress in relation to Treaties. There seem at present strong reasons to conclude that a majority will be firm in the doctrine that the House has a Constitutional right to refuse to pass laws for executing a Treaty, and that the Treaty power is limited by the enumerated powers. Whether the right ought, in the present case, to be exerted, will be a distinct question on the merits of the Treaty, which have not yet come into discussion. I understand the Treaty party expect success on this question, but despair on every other.

Nothing very late from Europe. The British armament is arriving in the West Indies, which looks like a postponement of peace. It will augment the call on this country for provisions, and of course the price. Flour is about 15 dolls. here at present.