Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 2Jefferson, Thomas
History
Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 2
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
Head. It would have been happy for you, if my diagrams and crotchets
had gotten you to sleep on that day, as you are pleased to say they
eternally do. My visit to Legrand and Motinos, had public utility for
its object. A market is to be built in Richmond. What a commodious plan
is that of Legrand and Motinos; especially, if we put on it the noble
dome of the _Halle aux bleds_. If such a bridge as they showed us, can
be thrown across the Schuylkill, at Philadelphia, the floating bridges
taken up, and the navigation of that river opened, what a copious
resource will be added of wood and provisions, to warm and feed the poor
of that city? While I was occupied with these objects, you were dilating
with your new acquaintances, and contriving how to prevent a separation
from them. Every soul of you had an engagement for the day. Yet all
these were to be sacrificed, that you might dine together. Lying
messengers were to be despatched into every quarter of the city, with
apologies for your breach of engagement. You, particularly, had the
effrontery to send word to the Duchess Danville, that on the moment
we were setting out to dine with her, despatches came to hand, which
required immediate attention. You wanted me to invent a more ingenious
excuse; but I knew you were getting into a scrape, and I would have
nothing to do with it. Well; after dinner to St. Cloud, from St. Cloud
to Ruggieri’s, from Ruggieri’s to Krumfoltz; and if the day had been as
long as a Lapland summer day, you would still have contrived means among
you to have filled it.
Heart. Oh! my dear friend, how you have revived me, by recalling to mind
the transactions of that day! How well I remember them all, and that
when I came home at night, and looked back to the morning, it seemed to
have been a month agone. Go on, then, like a kind comforter, and paint
to me the day we went to St. Germains. How beautiful was every object!
the _Port de Reuilly_, the hills along the Seine, the rainbows of the
machine of Marly, the terras of St. Germains, the chateaux, the gardens,
the statues of Marly, the pavillion of Lucienne. Recollect, too, Madrid,
Bagatelle, the King’s garden, the Desert. How grand the idea excited by
the remains of such a column. The spiral staircase, too, was beautiful.
Every moment was filled with something agreeable. The wheels of time
moved on with a rapidity, of which those of our carriage gave but a
faint idea. And yet, in the evening, when one took a retrospect of the
day, what a mass of happiness had we travelled over! Retrace all those
scenes to me, my good companion, and I will forgive the unkindness with
which you were chiding me. The day we went to St. Germains was a little
too warm, I think; was it not?
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