fficacy of the waters,
I came on to this place, for the purpose of informing myself here, as I
mean to do at the other seaport towns, of whatever may be interesting to
our commerce. So far as carried on in our own bottoms, I find it almost
nothing; and so it must probably remain, till something can be done with
the Algerines. Though severely afflicted with the plague, they have
come out within these few days, and showed themselves in force along the
coast of Genoa, cannonading a little town and taking several vessels.

Among other objects of inquiry, this was the place to learn something
more certain on the subject of rice, as it is a great emporium for that
of the Levant, and of Italy. I wished particularly to know, whether it
was the use of a different machine for cleaning, which brought European
rice to market less broken than ours, as had been represented to me, by
those who deal in that article in Paris. I found several persons who had
passed through the rice country of Italy, but not one who could explain
to me the nature of the machine. But I was given to believe, that I
might see it myself immediately on entering Piedmont. As this would
require but about three weeks, I determined to go, and ascertain this
point; as the chance only of placing our rice above all rivalship in
quality, as it is in color, by the introduction of a better machine, if
a better existed, seemed to justify the application of that much time to
it. I found the rice country to be in truth Lombardy, one hundred miles
further than had been represented, and that though called Piedmont rice,
not a grain is made in the country of Piedmont. I passed through the
rice-fields of the Vercellese and Milanese, about sixty miles, and
returned from thence last night, having found that the machine is
absolutely the same as ours, and of course, that we need not listen more
to that suggestion. It is a difference in the species of grain; of which
the government of Turin is so sensible, that, as I was informed, they
prohibit the exportation of rough rice, on pain of death. I have taken
measures, however, which I think will not fail, for obtaining a quantity
of it, and I bought on the spot a small parcel, which I have with me.
As further details on this subject to Congress would be misplaced, I
propose, on my return to Paris, to communicate them, and send the rice
to the society at Charleston for promoting agriculture, supposing that
they will be best able to try