ke 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 any thing. 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,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CIV.--TO JOHN JAY, October 8, 1787

TO JOHN JAY.

(Private.) Paris, October 8, 1787.

Dear Sir,

The Count de Moustier, Minister Plenipotentiary from the court of
Versailles to the United States, will have the honor of delivering you
this. The connection of your office