PARIS, August 4, 1787.
DEAR SIR,--I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of November
8 and April 7, and the pleasure to inform you that the translation of
your book sells well, and is universally approved. Froulle will send
you some copies of it, by the first opportunity. I am happy to hear you
are occupied on the general history. It is a subject worthy your pen. I
observe Stockdale in London has printed your work and advertised it for
sale. Since I wrote to you on the subject of rice, I have had an
opportunity of examining the rice-fields of Lombardy, and having
committed my observations to writing, in a letter to Mr. Drayton, as
President of the Agricultural Society, I will take the liberty of
referring you to that letter, in which probably there is little new to
your countrymen, though all was new to me. However, if there be a
little new and useful, it will be my reward. I have been pressing on
the merchants here the expediency of enticing the rice-trade to
Bordeaux and Honfleur. At length, I have received the enclosed
propositions. They are a firm and very solid house. I wish they may
produce the effect desired. I have enclosed a copy to Mr. Izard, but
forgot to mention to him, on the subject of white plains and hoes
(particularly named in his letter to me), that this house will begin by
furnishing them from England, which they think they can do as cheap as
you can receive them directly from England. The allowance made to
wholesale purchasers will countervail the double voyage. They hope that
after a while they can have them imitated here. Will you be so good as
to mention this to Mr. Izard? I fear that my zeal will make me expose
myself to ridicule in this business, for I am no merchant, and still
less knowing in the culture of rice. But this risk becomes a duty by
the bare possibility of doing good. You mention in your letter, your
instalment law as needing apology. I have never heard the payment by
instalment complained of in Europe. On the contrary, in the conferences
Mr. Adams and myself had with merchants in London, they admitted the
necessity of them. It is only necessary that the terms be faithfully
observed, and the payments be in real money. I am sensible that there
are defects in our federal government, yet they are so much lighter
than those of monarchies, that I view them with much indulgence. I
rely, too, on the good sense of the people for remedy, whereas the
evils of monarchical government are beyond remedy. If any of our
countrymen wish for a King, give them Æsop's fable of the frogs who
asked a King; if this does not cure them, send them to Europe. They
will go back good republicans. Whether we shall have war or not, is
still doubtful. I conclude we shall not, from, the inability of both
France and England to undertake a war. But our friend George is rather
remarkable for doing exactly what he ought not to do. He may,
therefore, force on a war in favor of his cousin of Holland. I am, with
very great esteem, Sir, your most obedient humble servant.