Without date, 1780.
My dear Portia,--The inclosed dialogue in the shades was written by Mr.
Edmund Jennings, now residing at Brussels, a native of Maryland. I will
send you the rest when I can get it. How I lament the loss of my packets
by Austin! There were, I suppose, letters from Congress of great
importance to me. I know not what I shall do without them. I suppose
there was authority to draw, etc. Mr. T.'s letter from his father hints
that Mr. L. is coming here. This will be excellent.
Since my arrival this time, I have driven about Paris more than I did
before. The rural scenes around this town are charming. The public
walks, gardens, etc., are extremely beautiful. The gardens of the Palais
Royal and the gardens of the Tuileries are very fine. The Place de Louis
XV., the Place Vendome or Place de Louis XIV., the Place Victoire, the
Place Royale, are fine squares, ornamented with very magnificent
statues. I wish I had time to describe these objects to you, in a manner
that I should have done twenty-five years ago; but my head is too full
of schemes, and my heart of anxiety, to use expressions borrowed from
you know whom. To take a walk in the gardens of the palace of the
Tuileries, and describe the statues there, all in marble, in which the
ancient divinities and heroes are represented with exquisite art, would
be a very pleasant amusement and instructive entertainment, improving in
history, mythology, poetry, as well as in statuary. Another walk in the
gardens of Versailles would be useful and agreeable. But to observe
these objects with taste, and describe them so as to be understood,
would require more time and thought than I can possibly spare. It is not
indeed the fine arts which our country requires; the useful, the
mechanic arts are those which we have occasion for in a young country as
yet simple and not far advanced in luxury, although perhaps much too far
for her age and character. I could fill volumes with descriptions of
temples and palaces, paintings, sculptures, tapestry, porcelain, etc.,
etc., etc., if I could have time; but I could not do this without
neglecting my duty. The science of government it is my duty to study,
more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration
and negotiation ought to take place of, indeed to exclude, in a manner,
all other arts. I must study politics and war, that my sons may have
liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study
mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval
architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give
their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture,
statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. Adieu.