Paris, Hotel de Valois, 16 February, 1780.
My dearest Friend,--I have the honor to be lodged here with no less a
personage than the Prince of Hesse Cassel, who is here upon a visit. We
occupy different apartments in the same house, and have no intercourse
with each other, to be sure; but some wags are of opinion that if I were
authorized to open a negotiation with him, I might obtain from him as
many troops to fight on our side of the question as he has already hired
out to the English against us.
I have found everything agreeable here as yet. The children are happy in
their academy, of which I send you the plan inclosed.
The English bounce a great deal about obtaining seven thousand troops
from the petty German princes and ten thousand from Ireland, to send to
America, but this is only a repetition of their annual gasconade. We are
in pain for Charleston, S. C., being apprehensive that they have made or
will make an effort to obtain that; which will be a terrible misfortune
to that people, and a great loss to the United States, but will be no
lasting advantage to our enemies.
The channel of correspondence you propose, by way of Bilbao and Cadiz,
will bring many letters, no doubt, and I have received one of the 10th
of December, but the postage is so expensive, being obliged to pay
forty-four livres for the packet that came with yours, that I would not
advise you to send anything that way, unless it be a single letter or
anything material in the journals of Congress, or letters from my
friends in Congress or elsewhere, that contain anything particularly
interesting. The house of Joseph Gardoqui and Sons have sent to you, by
Captain Babson, of Newburyport, belonging to Mr. Tracy, some necessaries
for the family, and you may write to Mr. Gardoqui for anything you want
by any vessel belonging to your uncle, to Mr. Jackson, or Mr. Tracy,
provided you don't exceed one hundred dollars by any one vessel. Mr.
Gardoqui will readily send them and draw upon me for the money.
I had a great deal of pleasure in the acquaintance of this family of
Guardoquis, and was treated by them with the magnificence of a prince.
They will be very glad to be useful to you in anything they can do. You
will remember, however, that we have many children, and that our duty to
them requires that we should manage all our affairs with the strictest
economy. My journey through Spain has been infinitely expensive to me,
and exceeded far my income. It is very expensive here, and I fear that I
shall find it difficult to make both ends meet; but I must and will send
you something for necessary use by every opportunity. If Mr. Lovell does
not procure me the resolution of Congress I mentioned to him, that of
drawing on a certain gentleman or his banker, I shall soon be starved
out. Pray mention it to him.
I shall write as often as possible, but conveyances will be very rare, I
fear.