h the case with respect to turpentine, tar and pitch, which are
principal articles of remittance for the State of North Carolina. It is
hoped, that it will coincide with the views of government, in making
the present regulations, to suppress the duties on these articles,
which, of all others, can bear them best.

TO T. M. RANDOLPH, JUNIOR.

PARIS, July 6, 1787.

DEAR SIR,--Your favor of April the 14th, came here during my absence on
a journey through the southern parts of France and northern of Italy,
from which I am but lately returned. This cause alone has prevented
your receiving 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