is the only one on which we can rely for support, under every event.
Its inhabitants love us more, I think, than they do any other nation on
earth. This is very much the effect of the good dispositions with which
the French officers returned. In a former letter, I mentioned to you the
dislocation of my wrist. I can make not the least use of it, except for
the single article of writing, though it is going on five months since
the accident happened. I have great anxieties, lest I should never
recover any considerable use of it. I shall, by the advice of my
surgeons, set out in a fortnight for the waters of Aix, in Provence. I
chose these out of several they proposed to me, because if they fail to
be effectual, my journey will not be useless altogether. It will give
me an opportunity of examining the canal of Languedoc, and of acquiring
knowledge of that species of navigation, which may be useful hereafter:
but, more immediately, it will enable me to make the tour of the ports
concerned in commerce with us, to examine, on the spot, the defects
of the late regulations, respecting our commerce, to learn the further
improvements which may be made in it, and, on my return, to get this
business finished. I shall be absent between two and three months,
unless anything happens to recall me here sooner, which may always be
effected in ten days, in whatever part of my route I may be.
In speaking of characters, I omitted those of Reyneval and Hennin,
the two eyes of Count de Vergennes. The former is the most important
character, because possessing the most of the confidence of the Count.
He is rather cunning than wise, his views of things being neither great
nor liberal. He governs himself by principles which he has learned
by rote, and is fit only for the details of execution. His heart
is susceptible of little passions, but not of good ones. He is
brother-in-law to M. Gerard, from whom he received disadvantageous
impressions of us, which cannot be effaced. He has much duplicity.
Hennin is a philosopher, sincere, friendly, liberal, learned, beloved by
every body: the other by nobody. I think it a great misfortune that the
United States are in the department of the former. As particulars
of this kind may be useful to you, in your present situation, I may
hereafter continue the chapter. I know it will be safely lodged in your
discretion. Feb. 5. Since writing thus far, Franks has returned from
England. I learn that Mr. Adams desires to be recalled, and that Smith
should be appointed _Chargé des Affaires_ there. It is not for me to
decide whether any diplomatic character should be kept at a court, which
keeps none with us. You can judge of Smith’s abilities by his letters.
They are not of the first order, but they are good. For his honesty, he
is like our friend Monroe; turn his soul wrong side outwards, and there
is not a speck on it. He has one foible, an excessive inflammability of
temper, but he feels it when it comes on, and has resolution enough to
suppress it, and to remain silent till it passes over.
I send you, by Colonel Franks, your pocket telescope, walking stick, and
chemical box. The two former could not be combined together. The latter
could not be had in the form you referred to. Having a great desire
to have a portable copying machine, and being satisfied from some
experiment, that the principle of the large machine might be applied in
a small one, I planned one when in England, and had it made. It answers
perfectly. I have since set a workman to making them here, and they are
in such demand that he has his hands full. Being assured that you will
be pleased to have one, when you shall have tried its convenience, I
send you one by Colonel Franks. The machine costs ninety-six livres, the
appendages twenty-four livres, and I send you paper and ink for twelve
livres; in all, one hundred and thirty-two livres. There is a printed
paper of directions: but you must expect to make many essays before
you succeed perfectly. A soft brush, like a shaving-brush, is more
convenient than the sponge. You can get as much ink and paper as you
please, from London. The paper costs a guinea a ream. I am, Dear Sir,
with sincere esteem and affection, your most obedient, humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XLV.--TO JOHN JAY, February 1, 1787
TO JOHN JAY.
Sir,
Paris, February 1, 1787.
My last letters were of the 31st of December and 9th of January; since
which last date, I have been honored with yours of December the 13th and
14th. I shall pay immediate attention to your instructions relative
to the South Carolina frigate. I had the honor of informing you of
an improvement in the art of coining, made here by one Drost, and of
sending you, by Colonel Franks, a specimen of his execution in gold and
silver. I expected to have sent also a coin of copper. The enclosed note
from Drost will explain the reason why this was not sent. It will let
you see also, that he may be employed; as I suppose he is not so certain
as he was of being engaged here. Mr. Grand, who knows him, gives me
reason to believe he may be engaged reasonably. Congress will decide
whether it be worth their attention.
In some of my former letters, I suggested an opportunity of obliging the
court, by borrowing as much money in Holland as would pay the debt due
here, if such a loan could be obtained; as to which, I was altogether
ignorant. To save time, I wrote to Mr. Dumas, to know whether he thought
it probable a loan could be obtained, enjoining on him the strictest
secrecy, and informing him I was making the inquiry merely of my own
motion, and without instruction. I enclose you his answer. He thinks
purchasers of the debt could be found, with a sacrifice of a small part
of the capital, and a postponement be obtained of some of the first
reimbursements. The proposition by him, for an immediate adoption of
this measure by me, was probably urged, on his mind by a desire to serve
our country, more than a strict attention to my duty, and the magnitude
of the object. I hope, on the contrary, that if it should be thought
worth a trial, it may be put into the hands of Mr. Adams, who knows the
ground, and is known there, and whose former successful negotiations in
this line would give better founded hopes of success on this occasion.
I formerly mentioned to you the hopes of preferment, entertained by the
Chevalier de la Luzerne. They have been baffled by events; none of the
vacancies taking place which had been expected. Had I pressed his being
ordered back, I have reason to believe the order would have been given.
But he would have gone back in ill humor with Congress, he would have
laid for ever at their door the failure of a promotion then viewed
as certain; and this might have excited dispositions that would have
disappointed us of the good we hoped from his return. The line I have
observed with him has been, to make him sensible that nothing was more
desired by Congress than his return, but that they would not willingly
press it, so as to defeat him of a personal advantage. He sees his
prospects fail, and will return in the approaching spring unless
something unexpected should turn up in his favor. In this case, the
Count de Moutier has the promise of succeeding to him, and if I do not
mistake his character, he would give great satisfaction. So that I think
you may calculate on seeing one or the other, by midsummer.
It had been suspected that France and England might adopt those
concerted regulations of commerce for their West Indies, of which your
letter expresses some apprehensions. But the expressions in the
4th, 5th, 7th, 11th, 18th, and other articles of their treaty, which
communicate to the English the privileges of the most favored European
nation only, has lessened, if not removed those fears. They have clearly
reserved a right of favoring, specially, any nation not European; and
there is no nation out of Europe, who could so probably have been
in their eye at that time, as ours. They are wise. They must see it
probable, at least, that any concert with England will be but of
short duration; and they could hardly propose to sacrifice for that, a
connection with us, which may be perpetual.
We have been for some days, in much inquietude for the Count de
Vergennes. He is very seriously ill. Nature seems struggling to decide
his disease into a gout. A swelled foot, at present gives us a hope-of
this issue. His loss would at all times have been great; but it would be
immense during the critical poise of European affairs, existing at
this moment. I enclose you a letter from one of the foreign officers,
complaining of the non-payment of their interest. It is only one out
of many I have received. This is accompanied by a second copy of the
Moorish declaration sent me by Mr. Barclay. He went to Alicant to settle
with Mr. Lambe; but on his arrival there, found he was gone to Minorca.
A copy of his letter will inform you of this circumstance, and of some
others relative to Algiers, with his opinion on them. Whatever the
States may enable Congress to do for obtaining the peace of that
country, it is a separate question whether they will redeem our
captives, how, and at what price. If they decide to redeem them, I will
beg leave to observe, that it is of great importance that the first
redemption be made at as low a price as possible, because it will form
the future tariff. If these pirates find that they can have a very great
price for Americans, they will abandon proportionably their pursuits
against other nations, to direct them towards ours. That the choice
of Congress may be enlarged, as to the instruments they may use for
effecting the redemption, I think it my duty to inform them, that there
is here an order of priests called the Mathurins, the object of whose
institution is to beg alms for the redemption of captives. They keep
members always in Barbary, searching out the captives of their country,
and redeem, I believe, on better terms than any other body, public or
private. It occurred to me, that their agency might be obtained for the
redemption of our prisoners at Algiers. I obtained conferences with the
General, and with some members of the order. The General, with all
the benevolence and cordiality possible, undertook to act for us if we
should, desire it. He told me that their last considerable redemption
was of about three hundred prisoners, who cost them somewhat upwards
of fifteen hundred livres apiece. But that they should not be able
to redeem ours, as cheap as they do their own; and that it must be
absolutely unknown that the public concern themselves in the operation,
or the price would be greatly enhanced. The difference of religion was
not once mentioned, nor did it appear to me to be thought of. It was
a silent reclamation and acknowledgment of fraternity, between two
religions of the same family, which historical events of ancient
date had rendered more hostile to one another, than to their common
adversaries. I informed the General, that I should communicate the
good dispositions of his order, to those who alone had the authority to
decide whatever related to our captives. Mr. Carmichael informs me, that
monies have been advanced for the support of our prisoners at Algiers,
which ought to be replaced. I infer from the context of his letter,
that these advances have been made by the court of Madrid. I submit the
information to Congress.
A treaty of commerce is certainly concluded between France and Russia.
The particulars of it are yet secret.
I enclose the gazettes of France and Leyden to this date, and have the
honor of assuring you of those sentiments of perfect esteem and respect,
with which I am, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XLVI.--TO MRS. BINGHAM, February 7, 1787
TO MRS. BINGHAM.
Paris, February 7, 1787.
I know, Madam, that the twelve-month is not yet expired; but it will be,
nearly, before this will have the honor of being put into your hands.
You are then engaged to tell me, truly and honestly, whether you do not
find the tranquil pleasures of America, preferable to the empty bustle
of Paris. For to what does that bustle tend? At eleven o’clock, it is
day, _chez madame_, the curtains are drawn. Propped on bolsters and
pillows, and her head scratched into a little order, the bulletins of
the sick are read, and the billets of the well. She writes to some of
her acquaintance, and receives the visits of others. If the morning is
not very thronged, she is able to get out and hobble round the cage of
the Palais Royal; but she must hobble quickly, for the coiffeurs turn is
come; and a tremendous turn it is! Happy, if he does not make her arrive
when dinner is half over! The torpitude of digestion a little passed,
she flutters half an hour through the streets, by way of paying visits,
and then to the spectacles. These finished; another half hour is devoted
to dodging in and out of the doors of her very sincere friends, and away
to supper. After supper, cards and after cards, bed; to rise at noon the
next day, and to tread, like a mill-horse, the same trodden circle over
again. Thus the days of life are consumed, one by one, without an object
beyond the present moment; ever flying from the ennui of that, yet
carrying it with us; eternally in pursuit of happiness, which keeps
eternally before us. If death or bankruptcy happen to trip us out of
the circle, it is matter for the buzz of the evening, and is completely
forgotten by the next morning. In America, on the other hand,
the society of your husband, the fond cares for the children, the
arrangements of the house, the improvements of the grounds, fill
every moment with a healthy and an useful activity. Every exertion is
encouraging, because to present amusement it joins the promise of some
future good. The intervals of leisure are filled by the society of real
friends, whose affections are not thinned to cobweb, by being spread
over a thousand objects. This is the picture, in the light it is
presented to my mind; now let me have it in yours. If we do not concur
this year, we shall the next; or if not then, in a year or two more. You
see I am determined not to suppose myself mistaken.
To let you see that Paris is not changed in its pursuits, since it was
honored with your presence, I send you its monthly history. But this
relating only to the embellishments of their persons, I must add, that
those of the city go on well also. A new bridge, for example, is begun
at the _Place Louis Quinze_; the old ones are clearing of the rubbish
which encumbered them in the form of houses 5 new hospitals erecting;
magnificent walls of inclosure, and Custom-houses at their entrances,
&c. &c. &c. I know of no interesting change among those whom you honored
with your acquaintance, unless Monsieur de Saint James was of that
number. His bankruptcy, and taking asylum in the Bastille, have
furnished matter of astonishment. His garden, at the Pont de Neuilly,
where, on seventeen acres of ground he had laid out fifty thousand
louis, will probably sell for somewhat less money. The workmen of Paris
are making rapid strides towards English perfection. Would you believe,
that in the course of the last two years, they have learned even to
surpass their London rivals in some articles? Commission me to have you
a phaeton made, and if it is not as much handsomer than a London one,
as that is than a fiacre, send it back to me. Shall I fill the box with
caps, bonnets, &c.? Not of my own choosing, but I was going to say,
of Mademoiselle Bertin’s, forgetting for the moment, that she too is
bankrupt. They shall be chosen then by whom you please; or, if you are
altogether nonplused by her eclipse, we will call an _Assemblées des
Notables_, to help you out of the difficulty, as is now the fashion.
In short, honor me with your, commands of any kind, and they shall be
faithfully executed. The packets now established from Havre to New York
furnish good opportunities of sending whatever you wish.
I shall end where I began, like a Paris day, reminding you of your
engagement to write me a letter of respectable length, an engagement
the more precious to me, as it has furnished me the occasion, after
presenting my respects to Mr. Bingham, of assuring you of the sincerity
of those sentiments of esteem and respect, with which I have the honor
to be, Dear Madam, your most obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson,
LETTER XLVII.--TO GOVERNOR RANDOLPH, February 7, 1787
TO GOVERNOR RANDOLPH.
Paris, February 7, 1787.
I have the honor of enclosing to your Excellency a report of the
proceedings on the inauguration of the bust of the Marquis de la
Fayette, in this city. This has been attended with a considerable, but
a necessary delay. The principle that the King is the sole fountain
of honor in this country, opposed a barrier to our desires, which
threatened to be insurmountable. No instance of a similar proposition
from a foreign power, had occurred in their history. The admitting it
in this case, is a singular proof of the King’s friendly dispositions
towards the States of America, and of his personal esteem for the
character of the Marquis de la Fayette.
I take this, the earliest occasion, of congratulating my country on your
excellency’s appointment to the chair of government, and of assuring
you, with great sincerity, of those sentiments of perfect esteem and
respect, with which I have the honor to be your. Excellency’s most
obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XLVIII.--TO JOHN JAY, February 8, 1787
TO JOHN JAY.
Paris, February 8, 1787.
Sir,
The packet being to sail the day after to-morrow, I have awaited the
last possible moment of writing by her, in hopes I might be able
to announce some favorable change in the situation of the Count de
Vergennes. But none has occurred, and in the mean time he has become
weaker by the continuance of his illness. Though not desperately ill, he
is dangerously so. The Comptroller General, M. de Calonne, has been very
ill also, but he is getting well. These circumstances have occasioned
the postponement of the Assemblée des Notables to the 14th instant, and
will probably occasion a further postponement. As I shall set out this
day se’nnight for the waters of Aix, you will probably hear the issue
of the Count de Vergennes illness through some other channel, before I
shall have the honor of addressing you again. I may observe the same as
to the final decision for the enfranchisement of Honfleur, which is in
a fair way of being speedily concluded. The exertions of Monsieur de
Creve-coeur, and particularly his influence with the Duke d’Harcourt,
the principal instrument in effecting it, have been of chief consequence
in this matter.
I have the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir,
your most obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XLIX.--TO MR. DUMAS, February 9, 1787
TO MR. DUMAS.
Paris, February 9, 1787.
Sir,
My last to you was dated December the 25th; since which I have been
honored with your several favors of December the 29th, January the 5th,
9th, and 23rd. I thought that your affairs could not be more interesting
than they have been for a considerable time. Yet in the present moment
they are become more so, by the apparent withdrawing of so considerable
a personage in the drama, as the King of Prussia. To increase this
interest, another person, whose importance scarcely admits calculation,
is in a situation which fills us with alarm. Nature is struggling to
relieve him by a decided gout; she has my sincere prayers to aid her, as
I am persuaded she has yours. I have letters and papers from America
as late as the 15th of December. The government of Massachusetts had
imprisoned three of the leaders of their insurgents. The insurgents,
being collected to the number of three or four hundred, had sent in
their petition to the government, praying another act of pardon for
their leaders and themselves, and on this condition offering to go every
man home, and conduct himself dutifully afterwards. This is the latest
intelligence.
I thank you for your attention to the question I had taken the liberty
of proposing to you. I think with you, that it would be advisable to
have our debt transferred to individuals of your country. There could
and would be no objection to the guarantee remaining as you propose;
and a postponement of the first payments of capital would surely be a
convenience to us. For though the resources of the United States are
great and growing, and their dispositions good, yet their machine is
new, and they have not got it to go well. It is the object of their
general wish at present, and they are all in movement, to set it in a
good train; but their movements are necessarily slow. They will surely
effect it in the end, because all have the same end in view; the
difficulty being only to get all the thirteen States to agree on the
same means. Divesting myself of every partiality, and speaking from that
thorough knowledge which I have of the country, their resources, and
their principles, I had rather trust money in their hands, than in that
of any government on earth; because, though for a while the payments of
the interest might be less regular, yet the final reimbursement of the
capital would be more sure.
I set out next week for the south of France, to try whether some mineral
waters in that quarter, much recommended, will restore the use of my
hand. I shall be absent from Paris two or three months; but I take
arrangements for the regular receipt of your favors, as if I were here.
It will be better, however, for you to put your letters to Mr. Jay under
cover to Mr. Short, who remains here, and will forward them.
I have thought it my duty to submit to Congress the proposition about
the French debt, and may expect their answer in four months.
I have the honor to be, with sincere esteem and respect, Sir, your most
obedient and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER L.--TO JOHN JAY, February 14, 1787
TO JOHN JAY.
Paris, February 14, 1787.
Sir,
In the letter of the 8th instant, which I had the honor of writing you,
I informed you that the Count de Vergennes was dangerously ill. He
died yesterday morning, and the Count de Montmorin is appointed
his successor. Your personal knowledge of this gentleman renders it
unnecessary for me to say any thing of him.
Mr. Morris, during his office, being authorized to have the medals
and swords executed, which had been ordered by Congress, he authorized
Colonel Humphreys to take measures here for the execution. Colonel
Humphreys did so; and the swords were finished in time for him to carry
them. The medals not being finished, he desired me to attend to them.
The workman who was to make that of General Greene, brought me yesterday
the medal in gold, twenty-three in copper, and the die. Mr. Short,
during my absence, will avail himself of the first occasion which shall
offer, of forwarding the medals to you. I must beg leave, through you,
to ask the pleasure of Congress as to the number they would choose
to have struck. Perhaps they might be willing to deposite one of each
person in every college of the United States. Perhaps they might choose
to give a series of them to each of the crowned heads of Europe, which
would be an acceptable present to them. They will be pleased to decide.
In the mean time I have sealed up the die, and shall retain it till I
am honored with their orders as to this medal, and the others also when
they shall be finished.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and
respect,
Sir, your most obedient
and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER LI.--TO JOHN JAY, February 23, 1787
TO JOHN JAY.
Paris, February 23, 1787.
Sir,