首页 >出版文学> LETTERS>第26章

第26章

  Loving,asyoudomadam,thepreciousremainsofantiquity,lovingarchitecture,gardening,awarmsunandaclearsky,IwonderyouhaveneverthoughtofmovingChavilletoNismes。This,asyouknow,hasnotalwaysbeendeemedimpracticable;andtherefore,thenexttimea_Sur-intendantdesbatimentsduroi_,aftertheexampleofM。Colbert,sendspersonstoNismestomovetheMaisonquarreetoParis,thattheymaynotcomeemptyhanded,desirethemtobringChavillewiththem,toreplaceit。AproposofParis。Ihavenowbeenthreeweeksfromthere,withoutknowinganythingofwhathaspassed。IsupposeIshallmeetitallatAix,whereIhavedirectedmyletterstobelodged,_posterestante_。MyjourneyhasgivenmeleisuretoreflectonthisAssembleedesNotables。UnderagoodandayoungKing,asthepresent,Ithinkgoodmaybemadeofit。I
  wouldhavethedeputiesthen,byallmeans,soconductthemselvesastoencouragehimtorepeatthecallsofthisAssembly。Theirfirststepshouldbe,togetthemselvesdividedintotwochambersinsteadofseven;theNoblesseandtheCommonsseparately。Thesecond,topersuadetheKing,insteadofchoosingthedeputiesoftheCommonshimself,tosummonthosechosenbythepeoplefortheProvincialadministrations。Thethird,astheNoblesseistoonumeroustobealloftheAssemblee,toobtainpermissionforthatbodytochooseitsowndeputies。TwoHouses,soelected,wouldcontainamassofwisdomwhichwouldmakethepeoplehappy,andtheKinggreat;wouldplacehiminhistorywherenootheractcanpossiblyplacehim。Theywouldthusputthemselvesinthetrackofthebestguidetheycanfollow,theywouldsoonovertakeit,becomeitsguideinturn,andleadtothewholesomemodificationswantinginthatmodel,andnecessarytoconstitutearationalgovernment。Shouldtheyattemptmorethantheestablishedhabitsofthepeopleareripefor,theymayloseall,andretardindefinitelytheultimateobjectoftheiraim。
  These,Madam,aremyopinions;butIwishtoknowyours,which,Iamsure,willbebetter。
  FromacorrespondentatNismes,youwillnotexpectnews。WereItoattempttogiveyounews,Ishouldtellyoustoriesonethousandyearsold。IshoulddetailtoyoutheintriguesofthecourtsoftheCaesars,howtheyaffectushere,theoppressionsoftheirpraetors,prefects,&c。Iamimmersedinantiquitiesfrommorningtonight。
  Forme,thecityofRomeisactuallyexistinginallthesplendorofitsempire。Iamfilledwithalarmsfortheeventoftheirruptionsdailymakingonus,bytheGoths,theVisigoths,Ostrogoths,andVandals,lesttheyshouldre-conquerustoouroriginalbarbarism。
  IfIamsometimesinducedtolookforwardtotheeighteenthcentury,itisonlywhenrecalledtoitbytherecollectionofyourgoodnessandfriendship,andbythosesentimentsofsincereesteemandrespect,withwhichIhavethehonortobe,Madam,yourmostobedientandmosthumbleservant,THEREWARDSOFTRAVEL
  _ToLafayette_
  _Nice,April11,1787_
  Yourhead,mydearfriend,isfullofNotablethings;andbeingbetteremployed,therefore,Idonotexpectlettersfromyou。Iamconstantlyrovingabout,toseewhatIhaveneverseenbefore,andshallneverseeagain。Inthegreatcities,Igotoseewhattravellersthinkaloneworthyofbeingseen;butImakeajobofit,andgenerallygulpitalldowninaday。Ontheotherhand,Iamneversatiatedwithramblingthroughthefieldsandfarms,examiningthecultureandcultivators,withadegreeofcuriositywhichmakessometakemetobeafool,andotherstobemuchwiserthanIam。I
  havebeenpleasedtofindamongthepeoplealessdegreeofphysicalmiserythanIhadexpected。Theyaregenerallywellclothed,andhaveaplentyoffood,notanimalindeed,butvegetable,whichisaswholesome。Perhapstheyareoverworked,theexcessoftherentrequiredbythelandlord,obligingthemtotoomanyhoursoflaborinordertoproducethat,andwhere-withtofeedandclothethemselves。
  ThesoilofChampagneandBurgundyIhavefoundmoreuniversallygoodthanIhadexpected,andasIcouldnothelpmakingacomparisonwithEngland,Ifoundthatcomparisonmoreunfavorabletothelatterthanisgenerallyadmitted。Thesoil,theclimate,andtheproductionsaresuperiortothoseofEngland,andthehusbandryasgood,exceptinonepoint;thatofmanure。InEngland,longleasesfortwenty-oneyears,orthreelives,towit,thatofthefarmer,hiswife,andson,renewedbythesonassoonashecomestothepossession,forhisownlife,hiswife’sandeldestchild’s,andsoon,renderthefarmstherealmosthereditary,makeitworththefarmer’swhiletomanurethelandshighly,andgivethelandlordanopportunityofoccasionallymakinghisrentkeeppacewiththeimprovedstateofthelands。Heretheleasesareeitherduringpleasure,orforthree,six,ornineyears,whichdoesnotgivethefarmertimetorepayhimselffortheexpensiveoperationofwellmanuring,andtherefore,hemanuresill,ornotatall。Isuppose,thatcouldthepracticeofleasingforthreelivesbeintroducedinthewholekingdom,itwould,withinthetermofyourlife,increaseagriculturalproductionsfiftypercent;orwereanyoneproprietortodoitwithhisownlands,itwouldincreasehisrentsfiftypercent,inthecourseoftwenty-fiveyears。ButIamtoldthelawsdonotpermitit。Thelawsthen,inthisparticular,areunwiseandunjust,andoughttogivethatpermission。Inthesouthernprovinces,wherethesoilispoor,theclimatehotanddry,andtherearefewanimals,theywouldlearntheart,foundsopreciousinEngland,ofmakingvegetablemanure,andthusimprovingtheseprovincesinthearticleinwhichnaturehasbeenleastkindtothem。Indeed,theseprovincesaffordasingularspectacle。Calculatingonthepovertyoftheirsoil,andtheirclimatebyitslatitudeonly,theyshouldhavebeenthepoorestinFrance。Onthecontrary,theyaretherichest,fromonefortuitouscircumstance。Spursorramificationsofhighmountains,makingdownfromtheAlps,andasitwere,reticulatingtheseprovinces,givetothevalliestheprotectionofaparticularinclosuretoeach,andthebenefitofageneralstagnationofthenorthernwindsproducedbythewholeofthem,andthuscountervailtheadvantageofseveraldegreesoflatitude。FromthefirstolivefieldsofPierrelatte,totheorangeriesofHieres,hasbeencontinuedrapturetome。Ihaveoftenwishedforyou。Ithinkyouhavenotmadethisjourney。Itisapleasureyouhavetocome,andanimprovementtobeaddedtothemanyyouhavealreadymade。Itwillbeagreatcomforttoyou,toknow,fromyourowninspection,theconditionofalltheprovincesofyourowncountry,anditwillbeinterestingtothematsomefutureday,tobeknowntoyou。Thisis,perhaps,theonlymomentofyourlifeinwhichyoucanacquirethatknowledge。Andtodoitmosteffectually,youmustbeabsolutelyincognito,youmustferretthepeopleoutoftheirhovelsasIhavedone,lookintotheirkettles,eattheirbread,lollontheirbedsunderpretenceofrestingyourself,butinfacttofindiftheyaresoft。Youwillfeelasublimepleasureinthecourseofthisinvestigation,andasublimeronehereafter,whenyoushallbeabletoapplyyourknowledgetothesofteningoftheirbeds,orthethrowingamorselofmeatintotheirkettleofvegetables。
  Youwillnotwonderatthesubjectsofmyletter:theyaretheonlyoneswhichhavebeenpresentedtomymindforsometimepast;
  andthewatersmustalwaysbewhatarethefountainsfromwhichtheyflow。Accordingtothis,indeed,Ishouldhaveintermixed,frombeginningtoend,warmexpressionsoffriendshiptoyou。But,accordingtotheideasofourcountry,wedonotpermitourselvestospeakeventruths,whentheymayhavetheairofflattery。Icontentmyself,therefore,withsayingonceforall,thatIloveyou,yourwifeandchildren。Tellthemso,andadieu。
  Yoursaffectionately,”THEGRANDRECIPEFORFELICITY”
  _ToMarthaJefferson_
  _May21,1787_
  Iwritetoyou,mydearPatsy,fromtheCanalofLanguedoc,onwhichIamatpresentsailing,asIhavebeenforaweekpast,cloudlessskiesabove,limpidwatersbelow,andfindoneachhandarowofnightingalesinfullchorus。ThisdelightfulbirdhadgivenmearichtreatbeforeatthefountainofVaucluse。AftervisitingthetombofLauraatAvignon,Iwenttoseethisfountain,anobleoneofitself,andrenderedforeverfamousbythesongsofPetrarchwholivednearit。Iarrivedtheresomewhatfatigued,andsatdownbythefountaintoreposemyself。Itgushes,ofthesizeofariver,fromasecludedvalleyofthemountain,theruinsofPetrarch’schateaubeingperchedonarock200feetperpendicularabove。Toaddtotheenchantmentofthescene,everytreeandbushwasfilledwithnightingalesinfullsong。Ithinkyoutoldmeyouhadnotyetnoticedthisbird。Asyouhavetreesinthegardenoftheconvent,theremustbenightingalesinthem,andthisistheseasonoftheirsong。Endeavormydear,tomakeyourselfacquaintedwiththemusicofthisbird,thatwhenyoureturntoyourowncountryyoumaybeabletoestimateit’smeritincomparisonwiththatofthemockingbird。Thelatterhastheadvantageofsingingthro’agreatpartoftheyear,whereasthenightingalesingsbutabout5。or6weeksinthespring,andastillshortertermandwithamorefeeblevoiceinthefall。IexpecttobeatParisaboutthemiddleofnextmonth。
  BythattimewemaybegintoexpectourdearPolly。Itwillbeacircumstanceofinexpressiblecomforttometohaveyoubothwithmeoncemore。Theobjectmostinterestingtomefortheresidueofmylife,willbetoseeyoubothdevelopingdailythoseprinciplesofvirtueandgoodnesswhichwillmakeyouvaluabletoothersandhappyinyourselves,andacquiringthosetalentsandthatdegreeofsciencewhichwillguardyouatalltimesagainstennui,themostdangerouspoisonoflife。Amindalwaysemployedisalwayshappy。Thisisthetruesecret,thegrandrecipeforfelicity。Theidlearetheonlywretched。Inaworldwhichfurnishessomanyemploimentswhichareuseful,andsomanywhichareamusing,itisourownfaultifweeverknowwhatennuiis,orifweareeverdriventothemiserableresourceofgaming,whichcorruptsourdispositions,andteachesusahabitofhostilityagainstallmankind。WearenowenteringtheportofToulouse,whereIquitmybark;andofcoursemustconcludemyletter。Begoodandbeindustrious,andyouwillbewhatIshallmostloveintheworld。Adieumydearchild。Yoursaffectionately,AFFAIRSOFDIPLOMACY
  _ToJohnAdams_
  _Paris,July1,1787_
  DEARSIR——Ireturnedaboutthreeweeksagofromaveryuselessvoiage。Useless,Imean,astotheobjectwhichfirstsuggestedit,thatoftryingtheeffectofthemineralwatersofAixenProvenceonmyhand。Itriedthesebecauserecommendedamongsixoreightothersasequallybeneficial,andbecausetheywouldplacemeatthebeginningofatourtotheseaportsofMarseilles,Bourdeaux,NantesandLorientwhichIhadlongmeditated,inhopesthataknowlegeoftheplacesandpersonsconcernedinourcommerceandtheinformationtobegotfromthemmightenablemesometimestobeuseful。IhadexpectedtosatisfymyselfatMarseillesofthecausesofthedifferenceofqualitybetweenthericeofCarolinaandthatofPiedmontwhichisbroughtinquantitiestoMarseilles。Notbeingabletodoit,ImadeanexcursionofthreeweeksintothericecountrybeyondtheAlps,goingthroughitfromVercellitoPaviaabout60miles。Ifoundthedifferencetobe,notinthemanagementashadbeensupposedbothhereandinCarolina,butinthespeciesofrice,andIhopetoenabletheminCarolinatobegintheCultivationofthePiedmontriceandcarryitonhandinhandwiththeirownthattheymaysupplybothqualities,whichisabsolutelynecessaryatthismarket。IhadbeforeendeavoredtoleadthedepotofricefromCowestoHonfleurandhopetogetitreceivedthereonsuchtermsasmaydrawthatbranchofcommercefromEnglandtothiscountry。Itisanobjectof250,000guineasayear。Whilepassingthro’thetownsofTurin,MilanandGenoa,IsatisfiedmyselfofthepracticabilityofintroducingourwhaleoilfortheirconsumptionandIsupposeitwouldbeequallysointheothergreatcitiesofthatcountry。IwassorrythatIwasnotauthorizedtosetthematteronfoot。ThemerchantswithwhomIchosetoaskconferences,metmefreely,andcommunicatedfully,knowingIwasinapubliccharacter。Icouldhoweveronlyprepareadispositiontomeetouroilmerchants。OnthearticleoftobaccoIwasmoreinpossessionofmyground,andputmattersintoatrainforinducingtheirgovernmenttodrawtheirtobaccosdirectlyfromtheU。S。andnotasheretoforefromG。B。Iamnowoccupiedwiththenewministryheretoputtheconcludinghandtothenewregulationsforourcommercewiththiscountry,announcedintheletterofM。deCalonneswhichIsentyoulastfall。Iaminhopesinadditiontothose,toobtainasuppressionofthedutiesonTar,pitch,andturpentine,andanextensionoftheprivilegesofAmerican_whale_oil,totheir_fish_oilsingeneral。IfindthatthequantityofCodfishoilbroughttoLorientisconsiderable。Thisbeinggotoffhandwhichwillbeinafewdaysthechicaneriesandvexationsofthefarmersonthearticleoftobacco,andtheirelusionsoftheorderofBernis,callforthenextattention。Ihavereasontohopegooddispositionsinthenewministrytowardsourcommercewiththiscountry。Besidesendeavoringonalloccasionstomultiplythepointsofcontactandconnectionwiththiscountry,whichIconsiderasoursurestmain-stayundereveryevent,Ihavehaditmuchathearttoremovefrombetweenuseverysubjectofmisunderstandingorirritation。Ourdebtstotheking,totheofficers,andthefarmersareofthisdescription。Thehavingcompliedwithnopartofourengagementsinthesedrawsonusagreatdealofcensure,andoccasionedalanguageintheAssembleesdesnotablesverylikelytoproducedissatisfactionbetweenus。DumasbeingonthespotinHolland,Ihadaskedofhimsometimeago,inconfidence,hisopiniononthepracticabilityoftransferringthesedebtsfromFrancetoHolland,andcommunicatedhisanswertoCongress,pressingthemtogetyoutogoovertoHollandandtrytoeffectthisbusiness。Yourknowlegeofthegroundandformersuccessesoccasionedmetotakethislibertywithoutconsultingyou,becauseIwassureyouwouldnotweighyourpersonaltroubleagainstpublicgood。IhavehadnoanswerfromCongress,buthearingofyourjourneytoHollandhavehopedthatsomemoneyoperationhadledyouthere。IfitrelatedtothedebtsofthiscountryIwouldaskacommunicationofwhatyouthinkyourselfatlibertytocommunicate,asitmightchangetheformofmyanswerstotheeternalapplicationsIreceive。ThedebttotheofficersofFrancecarriesaninterestofabout2000guineas,sowemaysupposeit’sprincipalisbetween30。
  and40,000。Thismakesmorenoiseagainst[us]thanallourotherdebtsputtogether。
  Isendyouthearretswhichbeginthereformationhere,andsomeotherpublicationsrespectingAmerica:togetherwithcopiesoflettersreceivedfromObryonandLambe。ItisbelievedthatanavalarmamenthasbeenorderedatBrestincorrespondencewiththatofEngland。WeknowcertainlythatordersaregiventoformacampintheneighborhoodofBrabant,andthatCountRochambeauhasthecommandofit。It’samountIcannotassert。Reportsays15,000men。
  Thiswillderangetheplansofoeconomy。ItakethelibertyofputtingunderyourcoveraletterforMrs。KinlochofSouthCarolina,withapacket,andwilltroubleyoutoenquireforherandhavethemdelivered。Thepacketisofgreatconsequence,andthereforereferredtohercare,asshewillknowthesafeopportunitiesofconveyingit。Shouldyounotbeabletofindher,andcanforwardthepackettoit’saddressbyanyverysafeconveianceIwillbegyoutodoit。IhavethehonourtobewithsentimentsofthemostperfectfriendshipandesteemDearSiryourmostobedientandmosthumbleservant,”APEEP……INTOELYSIUM”