PARIS, October 8, 1787.
DEAR SIR,--The bearer hereof, the Count de Moustier, successor to
Monsieur de La Luzerne, would, from his office, need no letter of
introduction to you or to anybody. Yet I take the liberty of
recommending him to you, to shorten those formal approaches, which the
same office would otherwise expose him to, in making your acquaintance.
He is a great enemy to formality, etiquette, ostentation and luxury. He
goes with the best dispositions to cultivate society, without poisoning
it by ill example. He is sensible, disposed to view things favorably,
and being well acquainted with the constitution of England, her manners
and language, is the better prepared for his station with us. But I
should have performed only the lesser, and least pleasing half of my
task, were I not to add my recommendations of Madame de Brehan. She is
goodness itself. You must be well acquainted with her. You will find
her well disposed to meet your acquaintance, and well worthy of it. The
way to please her, is to receive her as an acquaintance of a thousand
years standing. She speaks little English. You must teach her more, and
learn French from her. She hopes, by accompanying Monsieur de Moustier,
to improve her health, which is very feeble, and still more, to improve
her son in his education, and to remove him to a distance from the
seductions of this country. You will wonder to be told, that there are
no schools in this country to be compared to ours, in the sciences. The
husband of Madame de Brehan is an officer, and obliged by the times to
remain with the army. Monsieur de Moustier brings your watch. I have
worn it two months, and really find it a most incomparable one. It will
not want the little redressing which new watches generally do, after
going about a year. It costs six hundred livres. To open it in all its
parts, press the little pin on the edge, with the point of your nail;
that opens the crystal; then open the dial-plate in the usual way; then
press the stem, at the end within the loop, and it opens the back for
winding up or regulating.
De Moustier is remarkably communicative. With adroitness he may be
pumped of anything. His openness is from character, not from
affectation. An intimacy with him may, on this account, be politically
valuable. I am, dear Sir, your affectionate friend and servant.