PARIS, January 13, 1788.
SIR,--By Captain Shewell, who is sailing about this time from
Marseilles to Charleston, I directed to be forwarded to you one of two
couffes of rough rice, which I had brought from Egypt. The other came
on to me here, and will be carried from Havre to New York, addressed to
you, to the care of the Delegates of South Carolina in Congress. I wish
both may arrive in time for the approaching seed time, and that the
trials with this and the Piedmont rice may furnish new advantages to
your agriculture. I have considerable hopes of receiving some dry rice
from Cochin-China, the young Prince of that country, lately gone from
hence, having undertaken that it shall come to me. But it will be some
time first. These are all but experiments; the precept, however, is
wise which directs us to try all things, and hold fast that which is
good.
Your letter of May the 22d, 1787, informs me that mine of May the 6th,
1786, had never got to hand. I now have the honor to enclose you a copy
of it, of no other consequence than to show you that I was incapable of
so insensible an inattention as the miscarriage of that letter exposed
me to the charge of in your mind. I shall take opportunities of
forwarding to you more of the seed of the Spanish Saintfoine, some of
which I have received directly from Malta. I have the honor to be, with
sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir, your most
obedient, and most humble servant.