PARIS, July 2, 1787.
DEAR SIR,--Your favor of February the 16th, came to my hands in the
moment I was setting out on a tour through the southern parts of France
and northern of Italy, from which I am but just now returned. I avail
myself of the earliest moment to acknowledge its receipt, and to thank
you for the box of magnets which I found here. Though I do not know
certainly, by, or from whom they come, I presume they came by Colonel
Smith, who was here in my absence, and from Messrs. Nairne and Blunt,
through your good offices. I think your letter of February the 16th,
flatters me with the expectation of another, with observations, on the
hygrometers I had proposed. I value what comes from you too much, not
to remind you of it. Your favor by Mr. Garnett also, came during my
absence. I presume he has left Paris, as I can hear nothing of him. I
have lost the opportunity, therefore, of seeing his method of resisting
friction, as well as of showing, by attentions to him, respect for
yourself and your recommendations. Mr. Paine (Common Sense) is here on
his way to England. He has brought the model of an iron bridge, with
which he supposes a single arch of four hundred feet, may be made. It
has not yet arrived in Paris. Among other projects, with which we begin
to abound in America, is one for finding the latitude by the variation
of the magnetic needle. The author supposes two points, one near each
pole, through the northern of which, pass all the magnetic meridians of
the northern hemisphere, and through the southern, those of the
southern hemisphere. He determines their present position and
periodical revolution. It is said, his publication is plausible. I have
not seen it.
What are you going to do with your naval armament on your side the
channel? Perhaps you will ask me, what they are about to do here? A
British navy and Prussian army hanging over Holland on one side, a
French navy and army hanging over it on the other, looks as if they
thought of fighting. Yet I think both parties too wise for that, too
laudably intent on economizing, rather than on further embarrassing
their finances. May they not propose to have a force on the spot, to
establish some neutral form of a constitution, which these powers will
cook up among themselves, without consulting the parties for whom it is
intended? The affair of Geneva shows such combinations possible.
Wretched, indeed, is the nation in whose affairs foreign powers are
once permitted to intermeddle. Lord Wycombe is with us at present. His
good sense, information and discretion, are much beyond his years, and
promise good things for your country.
I beg you to accept assurances of the esteem and respect with which I
have the honor to be, dear Sir, your most obedient, and most humble
servant.