Loving，asyoudomadam，thepreciousremainsofantiquity，lovingarchitecture，gardening，awarmsunandaclearsky，IwonderyouhaveneverthoughtofmovingChavilletoNismes。This，asyouknow，hasnotalwaysbeendeemedimpracticable；andtherefore，thenexttimea_Sur-intendantdesbatimentsduroi_，aftertheexampleofM。Colbert，sendspersonstoNismestomovetheMaisonquarreetoParis，thattheymaynotcomeemptyhanded，desirethemtobringChavillewiththem，toreplaceit。AproposofParis。Ihavenowbeenthreeweeksfromthere，withoutknowinganythingofwhathaspassed。IsupposeIshallmeetitallatAix，whereIhavedirectedmyletterstobelodged，_posterestante_。MyjourneyhasgivenmeleisuretoreflectonthisAssembleedesNotables。UnderagoodandayoungKing，asthepresent，Ithinkgoodmaybemadeofit。I
wouldhavethedeputiesthen，byallmeans，soconductthemselvesastoencouragehimtorepeatthecallsofthisAssembly。Theirfirststepshouldbe，togetthemselvesdividedintotwochambersinsteadofseven；theNoblesseandtheCommonsseparately。Thesecond，topersuadetheKing，insteadofchoosingthedeputiesoftheCommonshimself，tosummonthosechosenbythepeoplefortheProvincialadministrations。Thethird，astheNoblesseistoonumeroustobealloftheAssemblee，toobtainpermissionforthatbodytochooseitsowndeputies。TwoHouses，soelected，wouldcontainamassofwisdomwhichwouldmakethepeoplehappy，andtheKinggreat；wouldplacehiminhistorywherenootheractcanpossiblyplacehim。Theywouldthusputthemselvesinthetrackofthebestguidetheycanfollow，theywouldsoonovertakeit，becomeitsguideinturn，andleadtothewholesomemodificationswantinginthatmodel，andnecessarytoconstitutearationalgovernment。Shouldtheyattemptmorethantheestablishedhabitsofthepeopleareripefor，theymayloseall，andretardindefinitelytheultimateobjectoftheiraim。
These，Madam，aremyopinions；butIwishtoknowyours，which，Iamsure，willbebetter。
FromacorrespondentatNismes，youwillnotexpectnews。WereItoattempttogiveyounews，Ishouldtellyoustoriesonethousandyearsold。IshoulddetailtoyoutheintriguesofthecourtsoftheCaesars，howtheyaffectushere，theoppressionsoftheirpraetors，prefects，&c。Iamimmersedinantiquitiesfrommorningtonight。
Forme，thecityofRomeisactuallyexistinginallthesplendorofitsempire。Iamfilledwithalarmsfortheeventoftheirruptionsdailymakingonus，bytheGoths，theVisigoths，Ostrogoths，andVandals，lesttheyshouldre-conquerustoouroriginalbarbarism。
IfIamsometimesinducedtolookforwardtotheeighteenthcentury，itisonlywhenrecalledtoitbytherecollectionofyourgoodnessandfriendship，andbythosesentimentsofsincereesteemandrespect，withwhichIhavethehonortobe，Madam，yourmostobedientandmosthumbleservant，THEREWARDSOFTRAVEL
_ToLafayette_
_Nice，April11，1787_
Yourhead，mydearfriend，isfullofNotablethings；andbeingbetteremployed，therefore，Idonotexpectlettersfromyou。Iamconstantlyrovingabout，toseewhatIhaveneverseenbefore，andshallneverseeagain。Inthegreatcities，Igotoseewhattravellersthinkaloneworthyofbeingseen；butImakeajobofit，andgenerallygulpitalldowninaday。Ontheotherhand，Iamneversatiatedwithramblingthroughthefieldsandfarms，examiningthecultureandcultivators，withadegreeofcuriositywhichmakessometakemetobeafool，andotherstobemuchwiserthanIam。I
havebeenpleasedtofindamongthepeoplealessdegreeofphysicalmiserythanIhadexpected。Theyaregenerallywellclothed，andhaveaplentyoffood，notanimalindeed，butvegetable，whichisaswholesome。Perhapstheyareoverworked，theexcessoftherentrequiredbythelandlord，obligingthemtotoomanyhoursoflaborinordertoproducethat，andwhere-withtofeedandclothethemselves。
ThesoilofChampagneandBurgundyIhavefoundmoreuniversallygoodthanIhadexpected，andasIcouldnothelpmakingacomparisonwithEngland，Ifoundthatcomparisonmoreunfavorabletothelatterthanisgenerallyadmitted。Thesoil，theclimate，andtheproductionsaresuperiortothoseofEngland，andthehusbandryasgood，exceptinonepoint；thatofmanure。InEngland，longleasesfortwenty-oneyears，orthreelives，towit，thatofthefarmer，hiswife，andson，renewedbythesonassoonashecomestothepossession，forhisownlife，hiswife’sandeldestchild’s，andsoon，renderthefarmstherealmosthereditary，makeitworththefarmer’swhiletomanurethelandshighly，andgivethelandlordanopportunityofoccasionallymakinghisrentkeeppacewiththeimprovedstateofthelands。Heretheleasesareeitherduringpleasure，orforthree，six，ornineyears，whichdoesnotgivethefarmertimetorepayhimselffortheexpensiveoperationofwellmanuring，andtherefore，hemanuresill，ornotatall。Isuppose，thatcouldthepracticeofleasingforthreelivesbeintroducedinthewholekingdom，itwould，withinthetermofyourlife，increaseagriculturalproductionsfiftypercent；orwereanyoneproprietortodoitwithhisownlands，itwouldincreasehisrentsfiftypercent，inthecourseoftwenty-fiveyears。ButIamtoldthelawsdonotpermitit。Thelawsthen，inthisparticular，areunwiseandunjust，andoughttogivethatpermission。Inthesouthernprovinces，wherethesoilispoor，theclimatehotanddry，andtherearefewanimals，theywouldlearntheart，foundsopreciousinEngland，ofmakingvegetablemanure，andthusimprovingtheseprovincesinthearticleinwhichnaturehasbeenleastkindtothem。Indeed，theseprovincesaffordasingularspectacle。Calculatingonthepovertyoftheirsoil，andtheirclimatebyitslatitudeonly，theyshouldhavebeenthepoorestinFrance。Onthecontrary，theyaretherichest，fromonefortuitouscircumstance。Spursorramificationsofhighmountains，makingdownfromtheAlps，andasitwere，reticulatingtheseprovinces，givetothevalliestheprotectionofaparticularinclosuretoeach，andthebenefitofageneralstagnationofthenorthernwindsproducedbythewholeofthem，andthuscountervailtheadvantageofseveraldegreesoflatitude。FromthefirstolivefieldsofPierrelatte，totheorangeriesofHieres，hasbeencontinuedrapturetome。Ihaveoftenwishedforyou。Ithinkyouhavenotmadethisjourney。Itisapleasureyouhavetocome，andanimprovementtobeaddedtothemanyyouhavealreadymade。Itwillbeagreatcomforttoyou，toknow，fromyourowninspection，theconditionofalltheprovincesofyourowncountry，anditwillbeinterestingtothematsomefutureday，tobeknowntoyou。Thisis，perhaps，theonlymomentofyourlifeinwhichyoucanacquirethatknowledge。Andtodoitmosteffectually，youmustbeabsolutelyincognito，youmustferretthepeopleoutoftheirhovelsasIhavedone，lookintotheirkettles，eattheirbread，lollontheirbedsunderpretenceofrestingyourself，butinfacttofindiftheyaresoft。Youwillfeelasublimepleasureinthecourseofthisinvestigation，andasublimeronehereafter，whenyoushallbeabletoapplyyourknowledgetothesofteningoftheirbeds，orthethrowingamorselofmeatintotheirkettleofvegetables。
Youwillnotwonderatthesubjectsofmyletter：theyaretheonlyoneswhichhavebeenpresentedtomymindforsometimepast；
andthewatersmustalwaysbewhatarethefountainsfromwhichtheyflow。Accordingtothis，indeed，Ishouldhaveintermixed，frombeginningtoend，warmexpressionsoffriendshiptoyou。But，accordingtotheideasofourcountry，wedonotpermitourselvestospeakeventruths，whentheymayhavetheairofflattery。Icontentmyself，therefore，withsayingonceforall，thatIloveyou，yourwifeandchildren。Tellthemso，andadieu。
Yoursaffectionately，”THEGRANDRECIPEFORFELICITY”
_ToMarthaJefferson_
_May21，1787_
Iwritetoyou，mydearPatsy，fromtheCanalofLanguedoc，onwhichIamatpresentsailing，asIhavebeenforaweekpast，cloudlessskiesabove，limpidwatersbelow，andfindoneachhandarowofnightingalesinfullchorus。ThisdelightfulbirdhadgivenmearichtreatbeforeatthefountainofVaucluse。AftervisitingthetombofLauraatAvignon，Iwenttoseethisfountain，anobleoneofitself，andrenderedforeverfamousbythesongsofPetrarchwholivednearit。Iarrivedtheresomewhatfatigued，andsatdownbythefountaintoreposemyself。Itgushes，ofthesizeofariver，fromasecludedvalleyofthemountain，theruinsofPetrarch’schateaubeingperchedonarock200feetperpendicularabove。Toaddtotheenchantmentofthescene，everytreeandbushwasfilledwithnightingalesinfullsong。Ithinkyoutoldmeyouhadnotyetnoticedthisbird。Asyouhavetreesinthegardenoftheconvent，theremustbenightingalesinthem，andthisistheseasonoftheirsong。Endeavormydear，tomakeyourselfacquaintedwiththemusicofthisbird，thatwhenyoureturntoyourowncountryyoumaybeabletoestimateit’smeritincomparisonwiththatofthemockingbird。Thelatterhastheadvantageofsingingthro’agreatpartoftheyear，whereasthenightingalesingsbutabout5。or6weeksinthespring，andastillshortertermandwithamorefeeblevoiceinthefall。IexpecttobeatParisaboutthemiddleofnextmonth。
BythattimewemaybegintoexpectourdearPolly。Itwillbeacircumstanceofinexpressiblecomforttometohaveyoubothwithmeoncemore。Theobjectmostinterestingtomefortheresidueofmylife，willbetoseeyoubothdevelopingdailythoseprinciplesofvirtueandgoodnesswhichwillmakeyouvaluabletoothersandhappyinyourselves，andacquiringthosetalentsandthatdegreeofsciencewhichwillguardyouatalltimesagainstennui，themostdangerouspoisonoflife。Amindalwaysemployedisalwayshappy。Thisisthetruesecret，thegrandrecipeforfelicity。Theidlearetheonlywretched。Inaworldwhichfurnishessomanyemploimentswhichareuseful，andsomanywhichareamusing，itisourownfaultifweeverknowwhatennuiis，orifweareeverdriventothemiserableresourceofgaming，whichcorruptsourdispositions，andteachesusahabitofhostilityagainstallmankind。WearenowenteringtheportofToulouse，whereIquitmybark；andofcoursemustconcludemyletter。Begoodandbeindustrious，andyouwillbewhatIshallmostloveintheworld。Adieumydearchild。Yoursaffectionately，AFFAIRSOFDIPLOMACY
_ToJohnAdams_
_Paris，July1，1787_
DEARSIR——Ireturnedaboutthreeweeksagofromaveryuselessvoiage。Useless，Imean，astotheobjectwhichfirstsuggestedit，thatoftryingtheeffectofthemineralwatersofAixenProvenceonmyhand。Itriedthesebecauserecommendedamongsixoreightothersasequallybeneficial，andbecausetheywouldplacemeatthebeginningofatourtotheseaportsofMarseilles，Bourdeaux，NantesandLorientwhichIhadlongmeditated，inhopesthataknowlegeoftheplacesandpersonsconcernedinourcommerceandtheinformationtobegotfromthemmightenablemesometimestobeuseful。IhadexpectedtosatisfymyselfatMarseillesofthecausesofthedifferenceofqualitybetweenthericeofCarolinaandthatofPiedmontwhichisbroughtinquantitiestoMarseilles。Notbeingabletodoit，ImadeanexcursionofthreeweeksintothericecountrybeyondtheAlps，goingthroughitfromVercellitoPaviaabout60miles。Ifoundthedifferencetobe，notinthemanagementashadbeensupposedbothhereandinCarolina，butinthespeciesofrice，andIhopetoenabletheminCarolinatobegintheCultivationofthePiedmontriceandcarryitonhandinhandwiththeirownthattheymaysupplybothqualities，whichisabsolutelynecessaryatthismarket。IhadbeforeendeavoredtoleadthedepotofricefromCowestoHonfleurandhopetogetitreceivedthereonsuchtermsasmaydrawthatbranchofcommercefromEnglandtothiscountry。Itisanobjectof250，000guineasayear。Whilepassingthro’thetownsofTurin，MilanandGenoa，IsatisfiedmyselfofthepracticabilityofintroducingourwhaleoilfortheirconsumptionandIsupposeitwouldbeequallysointheothergreatcitiesofthatcountry。IwassorrythatIwasnotauthorizedtosetthematteronfoot。ThemerchantswithwhomIchosetoaskconferences，metmefreely，andcommunicatedfully，knowingIwasinapubliccharacter。Icouldhoweveronlyprepareadispositiontomeetouroilmerchants。OnthearticleoftobaccoIwasmoreinpossessionofmyground，andputmattersintoatrainforinducingtheirgovernmenttodrawtheirtobaccosdirectlyfromtheU。S。andnotasheretoforefromG。B。Iamnowoccupiedwiththenewministryheretoputtheconcludinghandtothenewregulationsforourcommercewiththiscountry，announcedintheletterofM。deCalonneswhichIsentyoulastfall。Iaminhopesinadditiontothose，toobtainasuppressionofthedutiesonTar，pitch，andturpentine，andanextensionoftheprivilegesofAmerican_whale_oil，totheir_fish_oilsingeneral。IfindthatthequantityofCodfishoilbroughttoLorientisconsiderable。Thisbeinggotoffhandwhichwillbeinafewdaysthechicaneriesandvexationsofthefarmersonthearticleoftobacco，andtheirelusionsoftheorderofBernis，callforthenextattention。Ihavereasontohopegooddispositionsinthenewministrytowardsourcommercewiththiscountry。Besidesendeavoringonalloccasionstomultiplythepointsofcontactandconnectionwiththiscountry，whichIconsiderasoursurestmain-stayundereveryevent，Ihavehaditmuchathearttoremovefrombetweenuseverysubjectofmisunderstandingorirritation。Ourdebtstotheking，totheofficers，andthefarmersareofthisdescription。Thehavingcompliedwithnopartofourengagementsinthesedrawsonusagreatdealofcensure，andoccasionedalanguageintheAssembleesdesnotablesverylikelytoproducedissatisfactionbetweenus。DumasbeingonthespotinHolland，Ihadaskedofhimsometimeago，inconfidence，hisopiniononthepracticabilityoftransferringthesedebtsfromFrancetoHolland，andcommunicatedhisanswertoCongress，pressingthemtogetyoutogoovertoHollandandtrytoeffectthisbusiness。Yourknowlegeofthegroundandformersuccessesoccasionedmetotakethislibertywithoutconsultingyou，becauseIwassureyouwouldnotweighyourpersonaltroubleagainstpublicgood。IhavehadnoanswerfromCongress，buthearingofyourjourneytoHollandhavehopedthatsomemoneyoperationhadledyouthere。IfitrelatedtothedebtsofthiscountryIwouldaskacommunicationofwhatyouthinkyourselfatlibertytocommunicate，asitmightchangetheformofmyanswerstotheeternalapplicationsIreceive。ThedebttotheofficersofFrancecarriesaninterestofabout2000guineas，sowemaysupposeit’sprincipalisbetween30。
and40，000。Thismakesmorenoiseagainst[us]thanallourotherdebtsputtogether。
Isendyouthearretswhichbeginthereformationhere，andsomeotherpublicationsrespectingAmerica：togetherwithcopiesoflettersreceivedfromObryonandLambe。ItisbelievedthatanavalarmamenthasbeenorderedatBrestincorrespondencewiththatofEngland。WeknowcertainlythatordersaregiventoformacampintheneighborhoodofBrabant，andthatCountRochambeauhasthecommandofit。It’samountIcannotassert。Reportsays15，000men。
Thiswillderangetheplansofoeconomy。ItakethelibertyofputtingunderyourcoveraletterforMrs。KinlochofSouthCarolina，withapacket，andwilltroubleyoutoenquireforherandhavethemdelivered。Thepacketisofgreatconsequence，andthereforereferredtohercare，asshewillknowthesafeopportunitiesofconveyingit。Shouldyounotbeabletofindher，andcanforwardthepackettoit’saddressbyanyverysafeconveianceIwillbegyoutodoit。IhavethehonourtobewithsentimentsofthemostperfectfriendshipandesteemDearSiryourmostobedientandmosthumbleservant，”APEEP……INTOELYSIUM”