acceptance of my resignation arrives, as I expect, and we finish the peace as soon as I can reasonably hope, I shall not now be able to embark before October. The affairs of the world have little complaisance for my happiness or yours, but it is not worth our while to be impatient, because it will do us no good. I am astonished, however, that we have nothing from Congress nor from you. If you and your daughter were with me, I could keep up my spirits; but idly and insipidly as I pass my time, I am weary, worn, and disgusted to death. I had rather chop wood, dig ditches and make fence upon my poor little farm. Alas, poor farm and poorer family, what have you lost, that your country might be free, and that others might catch fish and hunt deer and beaver at their ease?

There will be as few of the tears of gratitude or the smiles of admiration or the sighs of pity for us as for the army. But all this should not hinder me from going over the same scenes again upon the same occasion, scenes which I would not encounter for all the wealth, pomp and powers of the world. Boys! if you ever say one word or utter one complaint, I will disinherit you. Work, you rogues, and be free. You will never have so hard work to do as papa has had. Daughter! get you an honest man for a husband and keep him honest. No matter whether he is rich, provided he be independent. Regard the honor and the moral character of the man, more than all other circumstances. Think of no other greatness but that of the soul, no other riches but

those of the heart. An honest, sensible, humane man, above all the littlenesses of vanity and extravagances of imagination, laboring to do good rather than be rich, to be useful rather than make a show, living in a moderate simplicity clearly within his means, and free from debts or obligations, is really the most respectable man in society, makes himself and all about him the most happy.

I long to see my dear John, as much as the rest, but he is well at the Hague, and I cannot go to him, nor do I think it prudent to bring him to Paris.

I have accomplished a correspondence between the Royal Society of Medicine here and the republican one at Boston, at the desire of Dr. Tufts, but have not yet found a careful hand to send the diploma. Adieu, adieu, adieu.

LETTER CXCIV.

Paris, 19 June, 1783.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

THE legion of Lauzun has arrived, and we hope has brought the orders of Congress for us, but we have not yet received them, and are as much at a loss as ever. I know not whether my resignation is accepted, and consequently can give you no conjecture when I shall be able to get away. As the spring and

summer passage is lost, I cannot now embark before September, or October, or November. Whether I shall embark from France, Holland, or England, I don't know. It will be according as I hear of a convenient passage. Write me by all these ways. I have received no line from you dated since December.

The definitive treaty may be signed in three weeks, and it may as probably be trained on till Christmas. In the last case, provided the acceptance of my resignation should not arrive, it may be spring before I can embark. In this state of suspense and perplexity you may well suppose I do not sleep upon a bed of roses, especially as the public affairs are as uncertain as our private ones. I should like very well to take a short tour to London before my return, for the sake of taking a look at that country, and seeing some personages there, because if I waive this opportunity it is not likely I shall ever have another. Once more

at home, it is not probable I shall again go abroad. Indeed, it is more for the sake of Mr. John than for my own that I wish to see England at all.

I was at Versailles the day before yesterday, and paid my respects to the King and Queen, Monsieur and Madame his lady, the Comte d'Artois, Madame Elizabeth, and the Mesdames of France, Adelaide and Victoire. As the weather was more like a spring equinox than a summer solstice, the number of ambassadors was smaller than usual, and the attendant crowd less, so that I had a better opportunity of viewing the royal family at leisure than I ever had before.

I dined and breakfasted, indeed, with the ambassadors, and found them universally more sociable than ever they were before. They begin now universally to consider and treat us as members of their body.

It is forbidden, I suppose, to princes and princesses upon these occasions to utter a sentiment, lest they should betray a secret of state, or say something which might lead a sagacious ambassador to political consequences. Accordingly no one word is ever said, except asking a question about some common thing, as the weather, the "spectacles," or, have you come from Paris to-day? I know an ambassador who has been fourteen years at a court, who has attended regularly once a week, who says that a prince has never failed to ask him the same question "Did every timeyou come from home to-day ?” and never any other. This ambassador, too, is of the highest rank. Among all the officers who come in play upon these occasions, such as introducers of ambassadors, secretary of the presentations of ambassadors, &c., there ought, I think, to be one preceptor to teach the princes and princesses the art of asking questions and making observations upon these occasions.

The Prince of Orange's court is a miniature of that of Versailles. The ceremonials and the conversation of princes and princesses is much the same. The English gentlemen here, particularly Mr. Hartley, tells me I must be presented at court, if I should go to London only for a visit, in my public character as a minister at the peace. This is rather a discouraging

circumstance, as I should wish to go incog. as much as possible, and my appearance at court would make more talk than I wish. I should be stared at as a sight. I should be treated, however, complaisantly enough, I doubt not. The case is altered. I had rather make my court to my princesses at Penn's hill than to all the others in the world. This honor I hope for, but cannot promise myself so soon as I wish.

LETTER CXCV.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

Paris, 7 September, 1783.

THIS morning, for the first time, was delivered me the resolution of Congress of the first of May, that a commission and instructions should be made out to me, Dr. Franklin, and Mr. Jay, to make a treaty of commerce with Great Britain. If this intelligence had been sent us by Barney, who sailed from Philadelphia a month after the first of May, and has now been sailed from hence on his return home above a month, it would have saved me and others much anxiety. I am even now at a loss. It is of great importance that such a treaty should be well made. The loan in Holland must be attended to, and when the present one is full, another must be opened, which cannot be done but by me or my successor. There are other things, too, to be