Arts and arms are alike asleep for the moment.  Ballooning indeed goes on.  There are two artists in the neighborhood of Paris, who seem to be advancing towards the desideratum in this business.  They are able to rise and fall at will, without expending their gas, and to deflect forty-five degrees from the course of the wind.

I desired you in my last to send the newspapers, notwithstanding the expense.  I had then no idea of it.  Some late instances have made me perfectly acquainted with it.  I have therefore been obliged to adopt the following plan.  To have my newspapers, from the different States, enclosed to the office for Foreign Affairs, and to desire Mr. Jay to pack the whole in a box, and send it by the packet as merchandise, directed to the American consul at L’Orient, who will forward it to me by the periodical wagons.  In this way they will only cost me livres where they now cost me guineas, I must pray you, just before the departure of every French packet, to send my papers on hand to Mr. Jay, in this way.  I do not know whether I am subject to American postage or not, in general; but I think newspapers never are.  I have sometimes thought of sending a copy of my Notes to the Philosophical Society, as a tribute due to them:  but this would seem as if I considered them as worth something, which I am conscious they are not.  I will not ask you for your advice on this occasion, because it is one of those on which no man is authorized to ask a sincere opinion.  I shall therefore refer it to further thoughts.

I am, with very sincere esteem, Dear Sir,

your friend and servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CXIV.—­TO LISTER ASQUITH, September 26,1785

TO LISTER ASQUITH.

Paris, September 26,1785.

Sir,

I have received your letter of September the 19th, with your log-book and other papers.  I now wait for the letter from your lawyer, as, till I know the real nature and state of your process, it is impossible for me to judge what can be done for you here.  As soon as I receive them, you shall hear from me.  In the mean time, I supposed it would be a comfort to you to know that your papers had come safe to hand, and that I shall be attentive to do whatever circumstances will admit.

I am, Sir, your very humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CXV.—­TO R. IZARD, September 26,1783

TO R. IZARD.

Paris, September 26,1783.

Dear Sir,