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a more early answer to it. I am glad to find, that among the various
branches of science presenting themselves to your mind, you have fixed
on that of politics as your principal pursuit. Your country will derive
from this a more immediate and sensible benefit. She has much for you
to do. For though we may say with confidence, that the worst of the
American constitutions, is better than the best which ever existed
before, in any other country, and that they are wonderfully perfect for
a first essay, yet every human essay must have defects. It will remain,
therefore, to those now coming on the stage of public affairs, to
perfect what has been so well begun by those, going off it. Mathematics,
Natural Philosophy, Natural History, Anatomy, Chemistry, Botany, will
become amusements for your hours of relaxation, and auxiliaries to your
principal studies. Precious and delightful ones they will be. As soon
as such a foundation is laid in them, as you may build on as you please,
hereafter, I suppose you will proceed to your main objects, Politics,
Law, Rhetoric, and History. As to these, the place where you study them
is absolutely indifferent. I should except Rhetoric, a very essential
member of them, and which I suppose must be taught to advantage where
you are. You would do well, therefore, to attend the public exercises
in this branch also, and to do it with very particular diligence.
This being done, the question arises, where you shall fix yourself for
studying Politics, Law, and History. I should not hesitate to decide
in favor of France, because you will, at the same time, be learning to
speak the language of that country, become absolutely essential under
our present circumstances. The best method of doing this, would be
to fix yourself in some family where there are women and children, in
Passy, Auteuil, or some other of the little towns in reach of Paris. The
principal hours of the day you will attend to your studies, and in those
of relaxation associate with the family. You will learn to speak better
from women and children in three months, than from men in a year. Such a
situation, too, will render more easy a due attention to economy of time
and money. Having pursued your main studies here about two years, and
acquired a facility in speaking French, take a tour of four or five
months through this country and Italy, return then to Virginia, and pass
a year in Williamsburg, under the care of Mr. Wythe; and you will b