it is to extend to several States. Whether professors
itinerant from one State to another may succeed, I am unable to say,
having never known an experiment of it. The fear that these professors
may be disappointed in their expectations, has determined me not to
meddle in the business at all. Knowing how much people going to America
overrate the resources of living there, I have made a point never to
encourage any person to go there, that I may not partake of the censure
which may follow their disappointment. I beg you, therefore, not to
alter your plan in any part of it on my account, but permit me to
pursue mine of being absolutely neutral. Monsieur de La Luzerne and the
Marquis de La Fayette, know too much of the country themselves to need
any information from me, or any reference to my opinion; and the
friendly dispositions which they have towards you, will insure you
their good offices. Convinced of the honesty of your intentions and of
your zeal, I wish you every possible success, and shall be really happy
to see your plan answer your expectations. You have more courage than I
have, to take upon yourself the risk of transplanting and contenting so
many persons. I beg you to be assured of the sincerity of the esteem
with which I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient, and most
humble servant.

TO MR. DRAYTON.

PARIS, January 13, 1788.

SIR,--By Captain Shewell, who is sailing about this time from
Marseilles to Charleston, I directed to be forwarded to you one of two
couffes of rough rice, which I had brought from Egypt. The other came
on to me here, and will be carried from Havre to New York, addressed to
you, to the care of the Delegates of South Carolina in Congress. I wish
both may arrive in time for the approaching seed time, and that the
trials with this and the Piedmont rice may furnish new advantages to
your agriculture. I have considerable hopes of receiving some dry rice
from Cochin-China, the young Prince of that country, lately gone from
hence, having undertaken that it shall come to me. But it will be some
time first. These are all but experiments; the precept, however, is
wise which directs us to try all things, and hold fast that which is
good.

Your letter of May the 22d, 1787, informs me that mine of May the 6th,
1786, had never got to hand. I now have the honor to enclose you a copy
of it, of no other consequence than to show you that I was incapable of
so insensible an inattenti