can procure, in exchange for them,
much more wine, and better than he could raise by its direct culture.

I sent you formerly copies of the documents on the Tagliaferro family,
which I had received from Mr. Febroni. I now send the originals. I have
procured for you a copy of Polybius, the best edition; but the best
edition of Vitruvius, which is with the commentaries of Ticinus, is not
to be got here. I have sent to Holland for it. In the meantime, the
Polybius comes in a box containing books for Peter Carr, and for some
of my friends in Williamsburg and its vicinities. I have taken the
liberty of addressing the box to you. It goes to New York in the packet
boat which carries this letter, and will be forwarded to you by water,
by Mr. Madison. Its freight to New York is paid here. The
transportation from thence to Williamsburg will be demanded of you, and
shall stand as the equivalent to the cost of Polybius and Vitruvius, if
you please. The difference either way will not be worth the trouble of
raising and transmitting accounts. I send you herewith, a state of the
contents of the box, and for whom each article is. Among these are
some, as you will perceive, of which I ask your acceptance. It is a
great comfort to me, that while here, I am able to furnish some
amusement to my friends, by sending them such productions of genius,
ancient and modern, as might otherwise escape them; and I hope they
will permit me to avail myself of the occasion while it lasts.

This world is going all to war. I hope ours will remain clear of it. It
is already declared between the Turks and Russians, and considering the
present situation of Holland, it cannot fail to spread itself all over
Europe. Perhaps it may not be till next spring, that the other powers
will be engaged in it: nor is it as yet clear how they will arrange
themselves. I think it not impossible that France and the two empires
may join against all the rest. The Patriotic party in Holland will be
saved by this, and the Turks sacrificed. The only thing which can
prevent the union of France and the two empires, is the difficulty of
agreeing about the partition of the spoils. Constantinople is the key
of Asia. Who shall have it? is the question. I cannot help looking
forward to the re-establishment of the Greeks as a people, and the
language of Homer becoming again a living language, as among possible
events. You have now with you Mr. Paradise, who can tell you how easily
the mo