_He_hasnothingagainst_him_，_but_the_suspicion_of_republicanprinciples_。Ithinkhewilloneday_beof_the_ministry_。Hisfoibleis，a_canineappetiteforpopularityandfame_；buthewillget_above_this。_TheCountdeVergennes_is_ill_。Thepossibilityofhis_recovery_，rendersitdangerousfor_ustoexpressadoubtofit：but_heis_indanger_。Heis_agreatminister_in_Europeanaffairs_，buthasvery_imperfectideas_of_ourinstitutions_，_andnoconfidencein_them。His_devotion_totheprinciplesof_puredespotism_，rendershim_unaffectionatetoourgovernments_。But_hisfear_of_Englandmakeshimvalueus_asa_makeweight_。Heis_cool，reservedinpoliticalconversations，butfreeandfamiliar_onother_subjects_，andavery_attentive，agreeableperson_to_dobusinesswith_。Itis_impossible_tohaveaclearer，better_organizedhead_；but_age_has_chilledhisheart_。Nothingshouldbespared，onourpart，toattachthiscountrytous。Itistheonlyoneonwhichwecanrelyforsupport，undereveryevent。Itsinhabitantsloveusmore，Ithink，thantheydoanyothernationonearth。ThisisverymuchtheeffectofthegooddispositionswithwhichtheFrenchofficersreturned。Inaformerletter，Imentionedtoyouthedislocationofmywrist。Icanmakenottheleastuseofit，exceptforthesinglearticleofwriting，thoughitisgoingonfivemonthssincetheaccidenthappened。Ihavegreatanxieties，lestIshouldneverrecoveranyconsiderableuseofit。Ishall，bytheadviceofmysurgeons，setoutinafortnightforthewatersofAix，inProvence。Ichosetheseoutofseveraltheyproposedtome，becauseiftheyfailtobeeffectual，myjourneywillnotbeuselessaltogether。ItwillgivemeanopportunityofexaminingthecanalofLanguedoc，andofacquiringknowledgeofthatspeciesofnavigation，whichmaybeusefulhereafter；butmoreimmediately，itwillenablemetomakethetouroftheportsconcernedincommercewithus，toexamine，onthespot，thedefectsofthelateregulationsrespectingourcommerce，tolearnthefurtherimprovementswhichmaybemadeinit，andonmyreturn，togetthisbusinessfinished。Ishallbeabsentbetweentwoandthreemonths，unlessanythinghappenstorecallmeheresooner，whichmayalwaysbeeffectedintendays，inwhateverpartofmyrouteImaybe。Inspeaking_ofcharacters_，Iomitted_thoseofReynevalandHennin_，the_twoeyes_of_CountdeVergennes_。The_former_isthemostimportant_character_，_becausepossessing_themostofthe_confidence_ofthe_Count_。_He_israther_cunning_
　　than_wise_，hisviewsofthingsbeingneither_great_nor_liberal_。
　　_Hegoverns_himselfby_principles_whichhehas_learned_by_rote_，andis_fitonly_forthe_details_of_execution_。_Hisheart_issusceptibleoflittle_passions_butnotof_goodones_。
　　_He_is_brother_-_in_-_law_to_M_。_Gerard_，fromwhomhereceived_disadvantageousimpressions_of_us_，_which_cannotbe_effaced_。
　　_He_hasmuch_duplicity_。_Hennin_isa_philosopher，sincere，friendly，liberal，learned，beloved_byeverybody；the_other_by_nobody_。I_think_itagreat_misfortune_thatthe_UnitedStates_
　　areinthe_department_ofthe_former_。Asparticularsofthiskindmaybeusefultoyou，inyourpresentsituation，Imayhereaftercontinuethechapter。Iknowitwillbesafelylodgedinyourdiscretion。
　　Feb。5。Sincewritingthusfar，_Franks_is_returned_from_England_。_Ilearn_that_Mr_。_Adams_desirestobe_recalled_，&
　　that_Smith_shouldbe_appointedchargedesaffaires_there。Itisnotformetodecidewhetherany_diplomaticcharacter_shouldbe_kept_ata_court_，which_keeps_nonewith_us_。Youcanjudgeof_Smith’s_abilitiesby_hisletters_。Theyarenotofthe_firstorder_，buttheyare_good_。Forhis_honesty_，heislikeourfriend_Monroe_；turnhis_soul_wrongsideoutwards，andthereisnotaspeckonit。_He_hasone_foible_，an_excessiveinflammability_of_temper_，buthefeelsitwhenitcomeson，andhas_resolutionenough_to_suppress_it，andto_remainsilent_tillit_passes_over。
　　IsendyoubyColo。Franks，yourpockettelescope，walkingstick&chemicalbox。Thetwoformercouldnotbecombinedtogether。
　　Thelattercouldnotbehadintheformyoureferredto。Havingagreatdesiretohaveaportablecopyingmachine，&beingsatisfiedfromsomeexperimentsthattheprincipleofthelargemachinemightbeappliedinasmallone，IplannedonewheninEngland&haditmade。Itanswersperfectly。Ihavesincesetaworkmantomakingthemhere，&theyareinsuchdemandthathehashishandsfull。
　　Beingassuredthatyouwillbepleasedtohaveone，whenyoushallhavetriedit’sconvenience，IsendyouonebyColo。Franks。Themachinecosts96livres，theappendages24livres，andIsendyoupaper&inkfor12livres；inall132livres。Thereisaprintedpaperofdirections；butyoumustexpecttomakemanyessaysbeforeyousucceedperfectly。Asoftbrush，likeashavingbrush，ismoreconvenientthanthesponge。Youcangetasmuchink&paperasyoupleasefromLondon。Thepapercostsaguineaaream。”THEEMPTYBUSTLEOFPARIS”
　　_ToAnneWillingBingham_
　　_Paris，February7，1787_
　　Iknow，Madam，thatthetwelvemonthisnotyetexpired；butitwillbe，nearly，beforethiswillhavethehonorofbeingputintoyourhands。Youarethenengagedtotellme，trulyandhonestly，whetheryoudonotfindthetranquilpleasuresofAmerica，preferabletotheemptybustleofParis。Fortowhatdoesthatbustletend?Ateleveno’clock，itisday，_chezmadame_。Thecurtainsaredrawn。
　　Proppedonbolstersandpillows，andherheadscratchedintoalittleorder，thebulletinsofthesickareread，andthebilletsofthewell。Shewritestosomeofheracquaintance，andreceivesthevisitsofothers。Ifthemorningisnotverythronged，sheisabletogetoutandhobbleroundthecageofthePalaisroyal；butshemusthobblequickly，forthe_coeffeur’s_turniscome；andatremendousturnitis！Happy，ifhedoesnotmakeherarrivewhendinnerishalfover！Thetorpitudeofdigestionalittlepassed，shefluttershalfanhourthroughthestreets，bywayofpayingvisits，andthentothespectacles。Thesefinished，anotherhalfhourisdevotedtododginginandoutofthedoorsofherverysincerefriends，andawaytosupper。Aftersupper，cards；andaftercards，bed；toriseatnoonthenextday，andtotread，likeamillhorse，thesametroddencircleoveragain。Thusthedaysoflifeareconsumed，onebyone，withoutanobjectbeyondthepresentmoment；
　　everflyingfromtheennuiofthat，yetcarryingitwithus；
　　eternallyinpursuitofhappiness，whichkeepseternallybeforeus。
　　Ifdeathorbankruptcyhappentotripusoutofthecircle，itismatterforthebuzoftheevening，andiscompletelyforgottenbythenextmorning。InAmerica，ontheotherhand，thesocietyofyourhusband，thefondcaresforthechildren，thearrangementsofthehouse，theimprovementsofthegrounds，filleverymomentwithahealthyandanusefulactivity。Everyexertionisencouraging，becausetopresentamusement，itjoinsthepromiseofsomefuturegood。Theintervalsofleisurearefilledbythesocietyofrealfriends，whoseaffectionsarenotthinnedtocob-web，bybeingspreadoverathousandobjects。Thisisthepicture，inthelightitispresentedtomymind；nowletmehaveitinyours。Ifwedonotconcurthisyear，weshallthenext；orifnotthen，inayearortwomore。YouseeIamdeterminednottosupposemyselfmistaken。
　　ToletyouseethatParisisnotchangedinitspursuits，sinceitwashonoredwithyourpresence，Isendyouitsmonthlyhistory。
　　Butthisrelatingonlytotheembellishmentsoftheirpersons，Imustadd，thatthoseofthecitygoonwellalso。Anewbridge，forexample，isbegunatthePlaceLouisQuinze；theoldonesareclearingoftherubbishwhichencumberedthemintheformofhouses；
　　newhospitalserecting；magnificentwallsofinclosure，andCustomhousesattheirentrances，&c。&c。&c。Iknowofnointerestingchangeamongthosewhomyouhonoredwithyouracquaintance，unlessMonsieurdeSaintJameswasofthatnumber。Hisbankruptcy，andtakingasylumintheBastile，havefurnishedmatterofaston-ishment。
　　Hisgarden，atthePontdeNeuilly，where，onseventeenacresofgroundhehadlaidoutfiftythousandlouis，willprobablysellforsomewhatlessmoney。TheworkmenofParisaremakingrapidstridestowardsEnglishperfection。Wouldyoubelieve，thatinthecourseofthelasttwoyears，theyhavelearnedeventosurpasstheirLondonrivalsinsomearticles?Commissionmetohaveyouaphaetonmade，andifitisnotasmuchhandsomerthanaLondonone，asthatisthanaFiacre，senditbacktome。ShallIfilltheboxwithcaps，bonnets，&c。?Notofmyownchoosing，but——Iwasgoingtosay，ofMademoiselleBertin’s，forgettingforthemoment，thatshetooisbankrupt。Theyshallbechosenthenbywhomyouplease；or，ifyouarealtogethernonplusedbyhereclipse，wewillcallanAssembleedesNotables，tohelpyououtofthedifficulty，asisnowthefashion。Inshort，honormewithyourcommandsofanykind，andtheyshallbefaithfullyexecuted。ThepacketsnowestablishedfromHavretoNewYork，furnishgoodopportunitiesofsendingwhateveryouwish。
　　IshallendwhereIbegan，likeaParisday，remindingyouofyourengagementtowritemealetterofrespectablelength，anengagementthemoreprecioustome，asithasfurnishedmetheoccasion，afterpresentingmyrespectstoMr。Bingham，ofassuringyouofthesincerityofthosesenti-mentsofesteemandrespect，withwhichIhavethehonortobe，DearMadam，yourmostobedientandmosthumbleservant，”ALITTLEREBELLIONNOWANDTHEN”
　　_ToAbigailAdams_
　　_Paris，Feb。22，1787_
　　DEARMADAM——IamtoacknolegethehonorofyourletterofJan。29。andofthepapersyouweresogoodastosendme。TheywerethelatestIhadseenorhaveyetseen。Theyleftofftooinacriticalmoment；justatthepointwheretheMalcontentsmaketheirsubmissiononconditionofpardon，andbeforetheanswerofgovernmentwasknown。Ihopetheypardonedthem。Thespiritofresistancetogovernmentissovaluableoncertainoccasions，thatI
　　wishittobealwayskeptalive。Itwilloftenbeexercisedwhenwrong，butbettersothannottobeexercisedatall。Ilikealittlerebellionnowandthen。ItislikeastormintheAtmosphere。
　　ItiswonderfulthatnoletterorpapertellsuswhoispresidentofCongress，tho’therearelettersinParistothebeginningofJanuary。IsupposeIshallhearwhenIcomebackfrommyjourney，whichwillbeeightmonthsafterhewillhavebeenchosen。Andyettheycomplainofusfornotgivingthemintelligence。OurNotablesassembledto-day，andIhopebeforethedepartureofMr。CairnesI
　　shallhaveheardsomethingoftheirproceedingsworthcommunicatingtoMr。Adams。Themostremarkeableeffectofthisconventionasyetisthenumberofpunsandbonmotsithasgenerated。IthinkweretheyallcollecteditwouldmakeamorevoluminousworkthantheEncyclopedie。Thisoccasion，morethananythingIhaveseen，convincesmethatthisnationisincapableofanyseriouseffortbutunderthewordofcommand。Thepeopleatlargevieweveryobjectonlyasitmayfurnishpunsandbonmots；andIpronouncethatagoodpunsterwoulddisarmthewholenationweretheyeversoseriouslydisposedtorevolt。Indeed，Madam，theyaregone。WhenameasuresocapableofdoinggoodasthecallingtheNotablesistreatedwithsomuchridicule，wemayconcludethenationdesperate，andincharitypraythatheavenmaysendthemgoodkings——ThebridgeattheplaceLouisXV。isbegun。Thehoteldieuistobeabandonedandnewonestobebuilt。Theoldhousesontheoldbridgesareinacourseofdemolition。ThisisallIknowofParis。WeareabouttolosetheCountd’Aranda，whohasdesiredandobtainedhisrecall。FernandNunnez，beforedestinedforLondonistocomehere。TheAbbesArnouxandChalutarewell。TheDutchessDanvillesomewhatrecoveredfromthelossofherdaughter。Mrs。Barrettveryhomesick，andfancyingherselfotherwisesick。TheywillprobablyremovetoHonfleur。Thisisallournews。IhaveonlytoaddthenthatMr。Cairneshastakenchargeof15。aunesofblacklaceforyouat9livrestheaune，purchasedbyPetitandthereforeIhopebetterpurchasedthansomethingshavebeenforyou；andthatIamwithsincereesteemDearMadamyouraffectionatehumbleservt。，THEMAISONCARREE
　　_ToMadamedeTesse_
　　_Nismes，March20，1787_
　　HereIam，Madam，gazingwholehoursattheMaisonquarree，likealoverathismistress。Thestockingweaversandsilkspinnersaroundit，considermeasahypochondriacEnglishman，abouttowritewithapistol，thelastchapterofhishistory。ThisisthesecondtimeIhavebeeninlovesinceIleftParis。ThefirstwaswithaDianaattheChateaudeLaye-EpinayeinBeaujolois，adeliciousmorselofsculpture，byM。A。Slodtz。This，youwillsay，wasarule，tofallinlovewithafemalebeauty：butwithahouse！Itisoutofallprecedent。No，Madam，itisnotwithoutaprecedent，inmyownhistory。WhileinParis，IwasviolentlysmittenwiththeHoteldeSalm，andusedtogototheThuileriesalmostdaily，tolookatit。The_loueusedeschaises_，inattentivetomypassion，neverhadthecomplaisancetoplaceachairthere，sothatsittingontheparapet，andtwistingmyneckroundtoseetheobjectofmyadmiration，Igenerallyleftitwitha_torti_-_colli_。
　　FromLyonstoNismesIhavebeennourishedwiththeremainsofRomangrandeur。Theyhavealwaysbroughtyoutomymind，becauseI
　　knowyouraffectionforwhateverisRomanandnoble。AtVienneI
　　thoughtofyou。ButIamgladyouwerenotthere；foryouwouldhaveseenmemoreangrythan，Ihope，youwilleverseeme。ThePraetorianpalace，asitiscalled，comparable，foritsfineproportions，totheMaisonquarree，defacedbythebarbarianswhohaveconvertedittoitspresentpurpose，itsbeautifulflutedCorinthiancolumnscutout，inpart，tomakespaceforGothicwindows，andheweddown，intheresidue，totheplaneofthebuilding，wasenough，youmustadmit，todisturbmycomposure。AtOrangetoo，Ithoughtofyou。Iwassureyouhadseenwithpleasure，thesublimetriumphalarchofMariusattheentranceofthecity。I
　　wentthentotheArenae。Wouldyoubelieve，Madam，thatinthiseighteenthcentury，inFrance，underthereignofLouisXVI。theyareatthismomontpullingdownthecircularwallofthissuperbremain，topavearoad?Andthattoofromahillwhichisitselfanentiremassofstone，justasfit，andmoreaccessible?Aformerintendant，aM。deBasvillehasrenderedhismemorydeartothetravellerandamateur，bythepainshetooktopreserveandrestorethesemonumentsofantiquity。ThepresentoneIdonotknowwhoheisisdemolishingtheobject，tomakeagoodroadtoit。Ithoughtofyouagain，andIwastheningreatgoodhumor，atthePontduGard，asublimeantiquity，andwellpreserved。Butmostofallhere，whereRomantaste，geniusandmagnificence，exciteideasanalogoustoyoursateverystep。Icouldnolongeropposetheinclinationtoavailmyselfofyourpermissiontowritetoyou，apermissiongivenwithtoomuchcomplaisancebyyou，andusedbyme，withtoomuchindiscretion。MadamedeTottdidmethesamehonor。Butshe，beingonlythedescendantofsomeofthosepunyheroeswhoboiledtheirownkettlesbeforethewallsofTroy，IshallwritetoherfromaGrecian，ratherthanaRomancanton：whenIshallfindmyself，forexampleamongherPhocaeanrelationsatMarseilles。