A note of Paine to Jefferson, dated February 19, 1788, shows him in
that city consulting with Lafayette about his bridge, and preparing a
memorial for the government. The visit was no doubt meant to secure a
patent, and also arrange for the erection of the bridge. This appears to
be his last meeting with Jefferson in Europe. He must have returned
soon to England, where a letter of June 15th reports to Jefferson large
progress in his patent, and other arrangements. Paine's letters were
by no means confined to his personal affairs. In one of his letters
Jefferson says: "I have great confidence in your communications, and
since Mr. Adams' departure I am in need of authentic information from
that country." Jefferson subscribes his letters--"I am with great
and sincere attachment, dear Sir, your affectionate friend and
servant,"--and Paine responded with wonted fidelity. For more than a
year the United States government was supplied by Paine, mainly through
Jefferson, with information concerning affairs in England. It will be
seen by some of the subjoined extracts that Paine was recognized
by English statesmen as a sort of American Minister, and that the
information he transmits is rarely, if ever, erroneous. All of this
would appear more clearly could space be here given to the entire
letters. The omissions are chiefly of items of news now without
interest, or of technical details concerning the bridge. It is only
just to remind the reader, before introducing the quotations, that these
letters were confidential, and to a very intimate friend, being thus not
liable to any charge of egotism from the public, for whose eye they were
not intended.
"London, Broad Street Buildings, No. 13. Sept. 9, 1788.--That I am a bad
correspondent is so general a complaint against me, that I must expect
the same accusation from you--But hear me first--When there is no
matter to write upon, a letter is not worth the trouble of receiving and
reading and while any thing which is to be the subject of a letter,
is in suspence, it is difficult to write and perhaps best to let it
alone--'least said is soonest mended,' and nothing said requires no
mending.
"The model has the good fortune of preserving in England the reputation
which it received from the Academy of Sciences. It is a favourite hobby
horse with all who have seen it; and every one who has talked with me on
the subject advised me to endeavour to obtain a Patent, as it is only by
that means that I can secure to myself the direction and management. For
this purpose I went, in company with Mr Whiteside to the office which
is an appendage to Lord Sydney's--told them who I was, and made an
affidavit that the construction was my own Invention. This was the only
step I took in the business. Last Wednesday I received a Patent for
England, the next day a Patent for Scotland, and I am to have one for
Ireland.
"As I had already the opinion of the scientific Judges both in France
and England on the Model, it was also necessary that I should have that
of the practical Iron men who must finally be the executors of the work.
There are several capital Iron Works in this country, the principal
of which are those in Shropshire, Yorkshire, and Scotland. It was my
intention to have communicated with Mr. Wilkinson, who is one of the
proprietors of the Shropshire Iron Works, and concerned in those in
France, but his departure for Sweden before I had possession of the
patents prevented me. The Iron Works in Yorkshire belonging to the
Walkers near to Sheffield are the most eminent in England in point of
establishment and property. The proprietors are reputed to be worth two
hundred thousand pounds and consequently capable of giving energy to any
great undertaking. A friend of theirs who had seen the model wrote to
them on the subject, and two of them came to London last Fryday to see
it and talk with me on the business. Their opinion is very decided that
it can be executed either in wrought or cast Iron, and I am to go down
to their Works next week to erect an experiment arch. This is the point
I am now got to, and until now I had nothing to inform you of. If I
succeed in erecting the arch all reasoning and opinion will be at an
end, and, as this will soon be known, I shall not return to France till
that time; and until then I wish every thing to remain respecting my
Bridge over the Seine, in the state I left matters in when I came from
France. With respect to the Patents in England it is my intention to
dispose of them as soon as I have established the certainty of the
construction.
"Besides the ill success of Black friars Bridge, two Bridges built
successively on the same spot, the last by Mr Smeaton, at Hexham, over
the Tyne in Northumberland, have fallen down, occasioned by quicksands
under the bed of the river. If therefore arches can be extended in the
proportion the model promises, the construction in certain situations,
without regard to cheapness or dearness, will be valuable in all
countries.... As to English news or Politics, there is little more than
what the public papers contain. The assembling the States General, and
the reappointment of Mr. Neckar, make considerable impression here. They
overawe a great deal of the English habitual rashness, and check that
triumph of presumption which they indulged themselves in with respect
to what they called the deranged and almost ruinous condition of the
finances of France. They acknowledge unreservedly that the natural
resources of France are greater than those of England, but they plume
themselves on the superiority of the means necessary to bring national
resources forth. But the two circumstances above mentioned serve very
well to lower this exaltation.
"Some time ago I spent a week at Mr. Burke's, and the Duke of Portland's
in Buckinghamshire. You will recollect that the Duke was the member
during the time of the coalition--he is now in the opposition, and I
find the opposition as much warped in some respects as to Continental
Politics as the Ministry.--What the extent of the Treaty with Russia is,
Mr. B[urke] says that he and all the opposition are totally unacquainted
with; and they speak of it not as a very wise measure, but rather
tending to involve England in unnecessary continental disputes. The
preference of the opposition is to a connection with Prussia if it could
have been obtained. Sir George Staunton tells me that the interference
with respect to Holland last year met with considerable opposition from
part of the Cabinet. Mr. Pitt was against it at first, but it was a
favourite measure with the King, and that the opposition at that crisis
contrived to have it known to him that they were disposed to support his
measures. This together with the notification of the 16th of September
gave Mr. Pitt cause and pretence for changing his ground.
"The Marquis of Landsdown is unconnected either with the Ministry or the
opposition. His politics is distinct from both. This plan is a sort of
armed neutrality which has many advocates. In conversation with me
he reprobated the conduct of the Ministry towards France last year as
operating to '_cut the throat of confidence_' (this was his expression)
between France and England at a time when there was a fair opportunity
of improving it.
"The enmity of this country against Russia is as bitter as it ever was
against America, and is carried to every pitch of abuse and vulgarity.
What I hear in conversations exceeds what may be seen in the
news-papers. They are sour and mortified at every success she acquires,
and voraciously believe and rejoice in the most improbable accounts
and rumours to the contrary. You may mention this to Mr. Simelin on any
terms you please for you cannot exceed the fact.
"There are those who amuse themselves here in the hopes of managing
Spain. The notification which the Marquis del Campo made last year to
the British Cabinet, is perhaps the only secret kept in this country.
Mr. B[urke] tells me that the opposition knows nothing of it. They all
very freely admit that if the Combined fleets had had thirty or forty
thousand land forces, when they came up the channel last war, there
was nothing in England to oppose their landing, and that such a measure
would have been fatal to their resources, by at least a temporary
destruction of national credit. This is the point on which this country
is most impressible. Wars carried on at a distance, they care but little
about, and seem always disposed to enter into them. It is bringing the
matter home to them that makes them fear and feel, for their weakest
part is at home. This I take to be the reason of the attention they
are paying to Spain; for while France and Spain make a common cause and
_start_ together, they may easily overawe this country.
"I intended sending this letter by Mr. Parker, but he goes by the way of
Holland, and as I do not chuse to send it by the English Post, I shall
desire Mr. Bartholemy to forward it to you.
"Remember me with much affection to the Marquis de la Fayette. This
letter will serve for two letters. Whether I am in London or the country
any letter to me at Mr Whiteside's, Merchant, No. 13 Broad Street
Buildings, will come safe. My compliments to Mr. Short."
"London, September 15.--I have not heard of Mr. [Lewis] Littlepage since
I left Paris,--if you have, I shall be glad to know it. As he dined
sometimes at Mr. Neckar's, he undertook to describe the Bridge to him.
Mr. Neckar very readily conceived it. If you have an opportunity of
seeing Mr. Neckar, and see it convenient to renew the subject, you
might mention that I am going forward with an experiment arch.--Mr.
Le Couteulx desired me to examine the construction of the Albion Steam
Mills erected by Bolton and Watt. I have not yet written to him because
I had nothing certain to write about. I have talked with Mr. Rumsey, who
is here, upon this matter, and who appears to me to be master of that
subject, and who has procured a model of the Mill, which is worked
originally from the steam.... When you see Mr. Le Roy please to present
my compliments. I hope to realize the opinion of the Academy on the
Model, in which case I shall give the Academy the proper information.
We have no certain accounts here of the arrangement of the new Ministry.
The papers mention Count St. Preist for Foreign Affairs. When you
see him please to present my compliments.... Please to present my
compliments to M. and Madame De Corney."
"London, December 16.--That the King is insane is now old news. He yet
continues in the same state, and the Parliament are on the business of
appointing a Regent. The Dukes of York and Gloucester have both made
speeches in the house of Peers. An embarrassing question, whether
the Prince of Wales has a right in himself by succession during the
incapacity of his father, or whether the right must derive to him
thro' Parliament, has been agitated in both Houses. [Illegible] and the
speeches of York and Gloucester of avoiding the question. This day is
fixt for bringing the matter on in the house of Commons. A change of
Ministry is expected, and I believe determined on. The Duke of Portland
and his friends will in all probability come in. I shall be exceedingly
glad to hear from you, and to know if you have received my letters, and
also when you intend setting off for America, or whether you intend to
visit England before you go. In case of change of Ministry here there
are certain matters I shall be glad to see you upon. Remember me to the
Marquis de la Fayette. We hear good things from France, and I sincerely
wish them all well and happy. Remember me to Mr. Short and Mr. Mazzei.*"
* Mazzei was a scientific Italian who settled in Virginia
with a Tuscan colony before the Revolution, in which he took
up arms and was captured by the British. His colony had
been under the patronage of Jefferson, to whose fortunes he
was always devoted, though the publication of Jefferson's
famous letter to him, reflecting on Washington's
administration, caused his patron much trouble.
"London, Jan. 15, 1789.--My last letter requested to know if you had any
thoughts of coming to England before you sailed to America. There will
certainly be a change of ministry, and probably some change of measures,
and it might not be inconvenient if you could know before your sailing,
for the information of the new Congress, what measures the new Ministry
here intended to pursue or adopt with respect to commercial arrangements
with America. I am in some intimacy with Mr. Burke, and after the new
ministry are formed he has proposed to introduce me to them. The Duke
of Portland, at whose seat in the country I was a few days last summer,
will be at the head of the Treasury, and Mr. Fox Secretary for Foreign
Affairs. The King continues, I believe, as mad as ever. It appears that
he has amassed several millions of money, great part of which is in
foreign funds. He had made a Will, while he had his senses, and devised
it among his children, but a second Will has been produced, made since
he was mad, dated the 25th of Oct., in which he gives his property to
the Queen. This will probably produce much dispute, as it is attended
with many suspicious circumstances. It came out in the examination
of the physicians, that one of them, Dr. Warrens, on being asked
the particular time of his observing the King's insanity, said the
twenty-second of October, and some influence has been exerted to induce
him to retract that declaration, or to say that the insanity was not so
much as to prevent him making a Will, which he has refused to do."
"London, February 16.--Your favour of the 23d December continued to the
---- Janry. came safe to hand,--for which I thank you. I begin this
without knowing of any opportunity of conveyance, and shall follow the
method of your letter by writing on till an opportunity offers.
"I thank you for the many and judicious observations about my bridge.
I am exactly in your Ideas as you will perceive by the following
account.--I went to the Iron Works the latter end of Octr. My intention
at the time of writing to you was to construct an experiment arch of 250
feet, but in the first place, the season was too far advanced to work
out of doors and an arch of that extent could not be worked within
doors, and nextly, there was a prospect of a real Bridge being wanted on
the spot of 90 feet extent. The person who appeared disposed to erect a
Bridge is Mr. Foljambe nephew to the late Sir George Saville, and member
in the last Parliament for Yorkshire. He lives about three miles from
the works, and the River Don runs in front of his house, over which
there is an old ill constructed Bridge which he wants to remove.
These circumstances determined me to begin an arch of 90 feet with an
elevation of 5 feet. This extent I could manage within doors by working
half the arch at a time.... A great part of our time, as you will
naturally suppose was taken up in preparations, but after we began to
work we went on rapidly, and that without any mistake, or anything
to alter or amend. The foreman of the works is a Relation to the
Proprietors, an excellent mechanic and who fell into all my Ideas with
great ease and penetration. I staid at the works till one half the Rib,
45 feet, was compleated and framed horizontally together and came up to
London at the meeting of Parliament on the 4th of December. The foreman,
whom, as I told him, I should appoint 'President of the Board of Works,'
in my absence wrote me word that he has got the other half together with
much less trouble than the first. He is now preparing for erecting and I
for returning.
"February 26.--A few days ago I received a letter from Mr. Foljambe in
which he says: I saw the Rib of your Bridge. In point of elegance and
beauty, it far exceeded my expectations and is certainly beyond any
thing I ever saw.'--My model and myself had many visitors while I was at
the works. A few days after I got there, Lord Fitz-William, heir to the
Marquis of Rockingham, came with Mr. Burke. The former gave the workmen
five guineas and invited me to Wentworth House, a few miles distant from
the works, where I went, and staid a few days.
"This Bridge I expect will bring forth something greater, but in the
meantime I feel like a Bird from its nest and wishing most anxiously
to return. Therefore, as soon as I can bring any thing to bear, I shall
dispose of the contract and bid adieu. I can very truly say that my mind
is not at home.
"I am very much rejoiced at the account you give me of the state of
affairs in France. I feel exceedingly interested in the happiness of
that nation. They are now got or getting into the right way, and the
present reign will be more Immortalized in France than any that ever
preceded it. They have all died away, forgotten in the common mass
of things, but this will be to France like an Anno Mundi, or an Anno
Domini. The happiness of doing good and the Pride of doing great
things unite themselves in this business. But as there are two kinds
of Pride--the little and the great, the privileged orders will in some
degree be governed by this Division.
"Those of little pride (I mean little-minded pride) will be schismatical,
and those of the great pride will be orthodox, with respect to the
States General. Interest will likewise have some share, and could this
operate freely it would arrange itself on the orthodox side. To enrich
a Nation is to enrich the individuals which compose it. To enrich
the farmer is to enrich the farm--and consequently the Landlord;--for
whatever the farmer is, the farm will be. The richer the subject, the
richer the revenue, because the consumption from which Taxes are raised
is in proportion to the abilities of people to consume; therefore the
most effectual method to raise both the revenue and the rental of a
country is to raise the condition of the people,--or that order known
in france by the Tiers Etat. But I ought to ask pardon for entering
into reasonings in a letter to you, and only do it because I like the
subject.
"I observe in all the companies I go into the impression which the
present circumstances of France has upon this Country. _An internal
Alliance_ in France [between Throne and People] is an alliance which
England never dreamed of, and which she most dreads. Whether she will be
better or worse tempered afterwards I cannot judge of, but I believe she
will be more cautious in giving offence. She is likewise impressed with
an Idea that a negotiation is on foot between the King [Louis XVI.] and
the Emperor for adding Austrian Flanders to France. This appears to me
such a probable thing, and may be rendered so conducive to the interest
and good of all the parties concerned, that I am inclined to give it
credit and wish it success. I hope then to see the Scheld opened, for it
is a sin to refuse the bounties of nature. On these matters I shall be
glad of your opinion. I think the States General of Holland could not be
in earnest when they applied to France for the payment of the quota to
the Emperor. All things considered to request it was meanness, and
to expect it absurdity. I am more inclined to think they made it an
opportunity to find how they stood with France. Absalom (I think it was)
set fire to his brother's field of corn to bring on a conversation.
"March 12.--With respect to Political matters here, the truth is,
the people are fools. They have no discernment into principles and
consequences. Had Mr. Pitt proposed a National Convention, at the time
of the King's insanity, he had done right; but instead of this he has
absorbed the right of the Nation into a right of Parliament,--one house
of which (the Peers) is hereditary in its own right, and over which the
people have no controul (not so much as they have over their King;) and
the other elective by only a small part of the Nation. Therefore he has
lessened instead of increased the rights of the people; but as they have
not sense enough to see it, they have been huzzaing him. There can be
no fixed principles of government, or anything like a constitution in a
country where the Government can alter itself, or one part of it supply
the other.
"Whether a man that has been so compleatly mad as not to be managed
but by force and the mad shirt can ever be confided in afterwards as
a reasonable man, is a matter I have very little opinion of. Such a
circumstance, in my estimation, if mentioned, ought to be a perpetual
disqualification.
"The Emperor I am told has entered a caveat against the Elector of
Hanover (not the electoral vote) for King of the Romans. John Bull,
however, is not so mad as he was, and a message has been manufactured
for him to Parliament in which there is nothing particular. The Treaty
with Prussia is not yet before Parliament but is to be.
"Had the Regency gone on and the new administration been formed I should
have been able to communicate some matters of business to you, both
with respect to America and France; as an interview for that purpose was
agreed upon and to take place as soon as the persons who were to fill
the offices should succeed. I am the more confidential with those
persons, as they are distinguished by the name of the Blue & Buff,--a
dress taken up during the American War, and is the undress uniform of
General Washington with Lapels which they still wear.* But, at any rate,
I do not think it is worth while for Congress to appoint any Minister
to this Court. The greater distance Congress observes on this point
the better. It will be all money thrown away to go to any expence about
it--at least during the present reign. I know the nation well, and the
line of acquaintance I am in enables me to judge better than any other
American can judge--especially at a distance. If Congress should have
any business to state to the Government here, it can be easily done
thro' their Minister at Paris--but the seldomer the better.
* On this Blue and Buff Society, Canning wrote some
satirical verses. He also described "French philanthropy" as
"Condorcet filtered through the dregs of Paine."
"I believe I am not so much in the good graces of the Marquis of
Landsdowne as I used to be--I do not answer his purpose. He was always
talking of a sort of reconnection of England and America, and my
coldness and reserve on this subject checked communication."
"London, April 10.--The King continues in his amended state, but Dr.
Willis, his son, and attendants, are yet about his person. He has not
been to Parliament nor made any public appearance, but he has fixed the
23d April for a public thanksgiving, and he is to go in great Parade to
offer up his Devotions at St. Paul's on that day. Those about him have
endeavoured to dissuade him from this ostentatious pilgrimage, most
probably from an apprehension of some effect it may have upon him, but
he persists.... The acts for regulating the trade with America are to
be continued as last year. A paper from the Privy Council respecting
the American fly is before Parliament. I had some conversation with
Sir Joseph Banks upon this subject, as he was the person whom the Privy
Council referred to. I told him that the Hessian fly attacked only
the green plant, and did not exist in the dry grain. He said that with
respect to the Hessian fly, they had no apprehension, but it was the
weevil they alluded to. I told him the weevil had always more or less
been in the wheat countries of America, and that if the prohibition was
on that account it was as necessary fifty or sixty years ago, as now;
that I believe it was only a political manoeuvre of the Ministry to
please the landed interest, as a balance for prohibiting the exportation
of wool to please the manufacturing interest. He did not reply, and
as we are on very sociable terms I went farther by saying--The English
ought not to complain of the non-payment of Debts from America while
they prohibit the means of payment.
"I suggest to you a thought on this subject. The debts due before the
war, ought to be distinguished from the debts contracted since, and all
and every mode of payment and remittance under which they _have bein
discharged at the time they were contracted_ ought to accompany those
Debts, so long as any of them shall continue unpaid; because the
circumstances of payment became united with the debt, and cannot be
separated by subsequent acts of one side only. If this was taken up in
America, and insisted on as a right coeval with and inseparable from
those Debts, it would force some of the restrictions here to give way.
"You speak very truly of this country when you say 'that they are
slumbering under a half reformation of Politics and religion, and cannot
be excited by any thing they hear or see to question the remains of
prejudice.' Their ignorance on some matters, is unfathomable, for
instance the Bank of England discount Bills at 5 p cent, but a proposal
is talked of for discounting at 4 1/2; and the reason given is the vast
quantity of money, and that money of the good houses discounts at 4
1/2; from this they deduce the great ability and credit of the nation.
Whereas the contrary is the case. This money is all in paper, and the
quantity is greater than the object to circulate it upon, and therefore
shows that the market is glutted, and consequently the ability for
farther paper excretions is lessened.--If a war should ever break out,
between the countries again, this is the spot where it ought to be
prosecuted, they neither feel nor care for any thing at a distance, but
are frightened and spiritless at every thing which happens at home. The
Combined fleet coming up the Channel, Paul Jones, and the Mob of 1738,
are the dreadful eras of this country. But for national puffing none
equals them. The addresses which have been presented are stuffed with
nonsense of this kind. One of them published in the London Gazette and
presented by a Sir William Appleby begins thus,--'Britain, the Queen of
Isles, the pride of Nations, the Arbitress of Europe, perhaps of the
world.'... On the receipt of your last, I went to Sir Joseph Banks to
inform him of your having heard from Ledyard, from Grand Cairo, but
found he had a letter from him of the same date. Sir Joseph is one of
the society for promoting that undertaking. He has an high opinion of
Ledyard, and thinks him the only man fitted for such an exploration. As
you may probably hear of Ledyard by accounts that may not reach here,
Sir Joseph will be obliged to you to communicate to him any matters
respecting him that may come to you (Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., Soho
Square)....
"While writing this I am informed that the Minister has had a conference
with some of the American creditors, and proposed to them to assume the
debts and give them ten shillings on the pound--the conjecture is that
he means, when the new Congress is established, to demand the payment.
If you are writing to General Washington, it may not be amiss to mention
this--and if I hear farther on the matter I will inform you.* But, as
being a money matter it cannot come forward but thro' Parliament, there
will be notice given of the business. This would be a proper time to
show that the British Acts since the Peace militate against the payment
by narrowing the means by which those debts might have been paid when
they were contracted, and which ought to be considered as constituant
parts of the contract."
* This and other parts of Paine's correspondence were
forwarded to Washington.
"June 17.--I received your last to the 21st May. I am just now informed
of Messrs. Parker and Cutting setting off tomorrow morning for Paris
by whom this will be delivered to you. Nothing new is showing here. The
trial of Hastings, and the Examination of evidence before the house of
Commons into the Slave Trade still continue.
"I wrote Sir Joseph Banks an account of my Experiment Arch. In his
answer he informs me of its being read before the Royal Society who
expressed 'great satisfaction at the Communication.' 'I expect' says Sir
Joseph 'many improvements from your Countrymen who think with vigor,
and are in a great measure free from those shackles of Theory which are
imposed on the minds of our people before they are capable of exerting
their mental faculties to advantage.' In the close of his letter he
says: 'We have lost poor Ledyard. He had agreed with certain Moors to
conduct him to Sennar. The time for their departure was arrived when
he found himself ill, and took a large dose of Emetic Tartar, burst a
blood-vessel in the operation, which carried him off in three days. We
sincerely lament his loss, as the papers we have received from him are
full of those emanations of spirit, which taught you to construct a
Bridge without any reference to the means used by your predecessors
in that art.' I have wrote to the Walkers and proposed to them to
manufacture me a compleat Bridge and erect it in London, and afterwards
put it up to sale. I do this by way of bringing forward a Bridge over
the Thames--which appears to me the most advantageous of all objects.
For, if only a fifth of the persons, at a half penny each, pass over a
new Bridge as now pass over the old ones the tolls will pay 25 per Cent
besides what will arise from carriage and horses. Mrs. Williams tells me
that her letters from America mention Dr. Franklin as being exceedingly
ill. I have been to see the Cotton Mills,--the Potteries--the Steel
furnaces--Tin plate manufacture--White lead manufacture. All those
things might be easily carried on in America. I saw a few days ago part
of a hand bill of what was called a geometrical wheelbarrow,--but cannot
find where it is to be seen. The Idea is one of those that needed
only to be thought of,--for it is very easy to conceive that if a
wheelbarrow, as it is called, be driven round a piece of land,--a sheet
of paper may be placed in it--so as to receive by the tracings of a
Pencil, regulated by a little Mechanism--the figure and content of the
land--and that neither Theodolite nor chain are necessary."
"Rotherham,Yorkshire, July 13.--The Walkers are to find all the
materials, and fit and frame them ready for erecting, put them on board
a vessel & send them to London. I am to undertake all expense from
that time & to compleat the erecting. We intend first to exhibit it and
afterwards put it up to sale, or dispose of it by private contract,
and after paying the expences of each party the remainder to be equally
divided--one half theirs, the other mine. My principal object in this
plan is to open the way for a Bridge over the Thames.... I shall now
have occasion to draw upon some funds I have in America. I have one
thousand Dollars stock in the Bank at Philadelphia, and two years
interest due upon it last April, L180 in the hands of General Morris
',L40 with Mr. Constable of New York; a house at Borden Town, and a farm
at New Rochelle. The stock and interest in the Bank, which Mr. Willing
manages for me, is the easiest negotiated, and full sufficient for what
I shall want. On this fund I have drawn fifteen guineas payable to
Mr. Trumbull, tho' I shall not want the money longer than till the
Exhibition and sale of the Bridge. I had rather draw than ask to borrow
of any body here. If you go to America this year I shall be very glad if
you can manage this matter for me, by giving me credit for two hundred
pounds, on London, and receiving that amount of Mr. Willing. I am not
acquainted with the method of negotiating money matters, but if you can
accommodate me in this, and will direct me how the transfer is to be
made, I shall be much obliged to you. Please direct to me under cover to
Mr. Trumbull. I have some thoughts of coming over to France for two or
three weeks, as I shall have little to do here until the Bridge is ready
for erecting.
"September 15.--When I left Paris I was to return with the Model, but I
could now bring over a compleat Bridge. Tho' I have a slender opinion
of myself for executive business, I think, upon the whole that I have
managed this matter tolerable well. With no money to spare for such an
undertaking I am the sole Patentee here, and connected with one of the
first and best established houses in the Nation. But absent from America
I feel a craving desire to return and I can scarcely forbear weeping at
the thoughts of your going and my staying behind.
"Accept my dear Sir, my most hearty thanks for your many services
and friendship. Remember me with an overflowing affection to my dear
America--the people and the place. Be so kind to shake hands with them
for me, and tell our beloved General Washington, and my old friend Dr.
Franklin how much I long to see them. I wish you would spend a day with
General Morris of Morrisania, and present my best wishes to all the
family.--But I find myself wandering into a melancholy subject that will
be tiresome to read,--so wishing you a prosperous passage, and a happy
meeting with all your friends and mine, I remain yours affectionately,
etc.
"I shall be very glad to hear from you when you arrive. If you direct
for me to the care of Mr. Benjamin Vaughn it will find me.--Please
present my friendship to Captain Nicholson and family of New York, and
to Mr. and Mrs. Few.
"September 18.--I this moment receive yours of ye 13 int. which being
Post Night, affords me the welcome opportunity of acknowledging it. I
wrote you on the 15 th by post--but I was so full of the thoughts of
America and my American friends that I forgot France.
"The people of this Country speak very differently on the affairs of
France. The mass of them, so far as I can collect, say that France is
a much freer Country than England. The Peers, the Bishops, &c. say the
National Assembly has gone too far. There are yet in this country, very
considerable remains of the feudal System which people did not see
till the revolution in france placed it before their eyes. While the
multitude here could be terrified with the cry and apprehension of
Arbitrary power, wooden shoes, popery, and such like stuff, they thought
themselves by comparison an extraordinary free people; but this bugbear
now loses its force, and they appear to me to be turning their eyes
towards the Aristocrats of their own Nation. This is a new mode of
conquering, and I think it will have its effect.
"I am looking out for a place to erect my Bridge, within some of the
Squares would be very convenient. I had thought of Soho Square, where
Sir Joseph Banks lives, but he is now in Lincolnshire. I expect it
will be ready for erecting and in London by the latter end of October.
Whether I shall then sell it in England or bring it over to Paris, and
re-erect it there, I have not determined in my mind.. In order to bring
any kind of a contract forward for the Seine, it is necessary it should
be seen, and, as oeconomy will now be a principle in the Government, it
will have a better chance than before.
"If you should pass thro' Borden Town in Jersey, which is not out
of your way from Philadelphia to New York, I shall be glad you would
enquire out my particular friend Col. Kirkbride. You will be very much
pleased with him. His house is my home when in that part of the
Country--and it was there that I made the Model of my Bridge."