PARIS, September 28, 1787.
DEAR SIR,--I have duly received your favor by Mr. Cutting. I had before
had a transient acquaintance with him, and knew him to be sensible.
Your recommendation is always a new merit. I really think, and had
taken the liberty some time ago of hinting to Congress, that they would
do well to have a diplomatic character at Lisbon. There is no country
whose commerce is more interesting to us. I wish Congress would
correspond to the wishes of that court, in sending a person there, and
to mine, in sending yourself. For I confess, I had rather see you there
than at London, because I doubt whether it be honorable for us to keep
anybody at London, unless they keep some person at New York. Of all
nations on earth, they require to be treated with the most hauteur.
They require to be kicked into common good manners. You ask, if you
shall say anything to Sullivan about the bill. No. Only that it is
paid. I have within these two or three days, received letters from him
explaining the matter. It was really for the skin and bones of the
moose, as I had conjectured. It was my fault, that I had not given him
a rough idea of the expense I would be willing to incur for them. He
had made the acquisition an object of a regular campaign, and that too
of a winter one. The troops he employed sallied forth, as he writes me,
in the month of March--much snow--a herd attacked--one killed--in the
wilderness--a road to cut twenty miles--to be drawn by hand from the
frontiers to his house--bones to be cleaned, etc., etc., etc. In fine,
he puts himself to an infinitude of trouble, more than I meant: he did
it cheerfully, and I feel myself really under obligations to him. That
the tragedy might not want a proper catastrophe, the box, bones, and
all, are lost; so that this chapter of Natural History will still
remain a blank. But I have written to him not to send me another. I
will leave it for my successor to fill up, whenever I shall make my bow
here. The purchase for Mrs. Adams shall be made, and sent by Mr.
Cutting. I shall always be happy to receive her commands. Petit shall
be made happy by her praises of his last purchase for her. I must refer
you to Mr. Adams for the news. Those respecting the Dutch you know as
well as I. Nor should they be written but with the pen of Jeremiah.
Adieu mon ami! Yours affectionately.