Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/412

 396

with me from Boston to England, promised to send to you, in my name, some hares, rabbits, pheasants, and partridges, by the return of the ship, which was to go to Virginia, and the captain promised to take great care of them. My friend procured the animals, and, the ship changing her destination, he kept them, in hopes of finding some other conveyance, till they all perished. I do not despair, however, of finding some opportunity still, of sending a colony of useful animals. I am making a collection of vines for wine, and for the table; also of some trees, such as the cork oak, &ic. &ic.

Every thing is absolutely quiet in Europe. There is not, there fore, a word of news to communicate. I pray you to present rne affectionately to your family, and that of Tuckahoe. Whatever expense is necessary for procuring me the articles above-mentioned, I will instantly replace, either in cash, or in any tiling you may wish from hence.

I am, with very sincere esteem, Dear Sir,

your most obedient humble servant,

TH: JEFFERSON.

LETTER CL. TO MAJOR GENERAL GREENE.

Paris, January 12, 1786. DEAR SIR,

Your favor of June the 1st, did not come to hand till the 3rd of September. I immediately made inquiries on the subject of the frigate, you had authorised your relation to sell to this govern ment, and 1 found, that he had, long before that, sold her to go vernment, and sold her very well, as I understood. I noted the price on the back of your letter, which I have since, unfortunately, mislaid, so that I cannot, at this moment, state to you the price. But the transaction is of so long standing, that you cannot fail to have received advice of it. I should, without delay, have given you this information, but that I hoped to be able to accompany it with information as to the live oak, which was another object of your letter. This matter, though it has been constantly pressed by Mr. St. John, and also by the Marquis de la Fayette, since his return from Berlin, has been spun to a great length, and, at last, they have only decided to send to you for samples of the wood. Letters on this subject, from the Marquis de la Fayette, accom pany this.

Every thing in Europe is quiet, and promises quiet for at least