The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
DEAR SIR,--The bearer hereof, the Count de Moustier, successor to Monsieur
de La Luzerne, would, from his office, need no letter of introduction
to you or to anybody. Yet I take the liberty of recommending him to
you, to shorten those formal approaches, which the same office would
otherwise expose him to, in making your acquaintance. He is a great
enemy to formality, etiquette, ostentation and luxury. He goes with
the best dispositions to cultivate society, without poisoning it by ill
example. He is sensible, disposed to view things favorably, and being well
acquainted with the constitution of England, her manners and language, is
the better prepared for his station with us. But I should have performed
only the lesser, and least pleasing half of my task, were I not to add
my recommendations of Madame de Brehan. She is goodness itself. You must
be well acquainted with her. You will find her well disposed to meet
your acquaintance, and well worthy of it. The way to please her, is to
receive her as an acquaintance of a thousand years standing. She speaks
little English. You must teach her more, and learn French from her. She
hopes, by accompanying Monsieur de Moustier, to improve her health, which
is very feeble, and still more, to improve her son in his education,
and to remove him to a distance from the seductions of this country. You
will wonder to be told, that there are no schools in this country to be
compared to ours, in the sciences. The husband of Madame de Brehan is
an officer, and obliged by the times to remain with the army. Monsieur
de Moustier brings your watch. I have worn it two months, and really
find it a most incomparable one. It will not want the little re-dressing
which new watches generally do, after going about a year. It costs six
hundred livres. To open it in all its parts, press the little pin on the
edge, with the point of your nail; that opens the crystal; then open the
dial-plate in the usual way; then press the stem, at the end within the
loop, and it opens the back for winding up or regulating.
De Moustier is remarkably communicative. With adroitness he may be pumped
of anything. His openness is from character, not from affectation. An
intimacy with him may, on this account, be politically valuable. I am,
dear Sir, your affectionate friend and servant.
TO JOHN JAY.
(Private.) PARIS, October 8, 1787.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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