PARIS, Feb. 21, 1788.
SIR,--I am now to acknowledge the receipt of the letter you did me the
honor to write me on the 21st of January, together with the book on the
culture of the olive tree. This is a precious present to me, and I pray
you to accept my thanks for it. I am just gratified by letters from
South Carolina, which inform me that in consequence of the information
I had given them on the subject of the olive tree, and the probability
of its succeeding with them, several rich individuals propose to begin
its culture there. This will not interfere with the commerce of France,
because she imports much more oil than she exports, and because the
consumption of oil in the United States at present, is so
inconsiderable, that should their demand be totally withdrawn at the
European market, and supplied at home, it will produce no sensible
effect in Europe. We can never produce that article in very great
quantity, because it happens that in our two southernmost States, where
only the climate is adapted to the olive, the soil is so generally rich
as to be unfit for that tree, and proper for other productions of more
immediate profit. I am to thank you, also, for the raisins of Smyrna,
without seed, which I received from you through Mr. Grand. * * * * *