so to give inquietude lest it should be lost.  This would be a cause of much concern to me:  I beg the favor of you to mention this circumstance to the Baron de Thulemeyer, as an apology for his not hearing from us.  The last advices from America bring us nothing interesting.  A principal object of my journey to London was, to enter into commercial arrangements with Portugal.  This has been done almost in the precise terms of those of Prussia.  The English are still our enemies.  The spirit existing there, and rising in America, has a very lowering aspect.  To what events it may give birth, I cannot foresee.  We are young, and can survive them; but their rotten machine must crush under the trial.  The animosities of sovereigns are temporary, and may be allayed:  but those which seize the whole body of a people, and of a people, too, who dictate their own measures, produce calamities of long duration.  I shall not wonder to see the scenes of ancient Rome and Carthage renewed in our day; and if not pursued to the same issue, it may be, because the republic of modern powers will not permit the extinction of any one of its members.  Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy:  and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.  But the temper and folly of our enemies may not leave this in our choice.  I am happy in our prospect of friendship with the most estimable powers of Europe, and particularly with those of the confederacy, of which yours is.  That your present crisis may have a happy issue, is the prayer and wish of him, who has the honor to be, with great respect and esteem, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER X.—­TO WILLIAM DRAYTON, May 6, 1786

TO WILLIAM DRAYTON.

Paris, May 6, 1786.

Sir,

Your favor of November the 23rd came duly to hand.  A call to England, soon after its receipt, has prevented my acknowledging it so soon as I should have done.  I am very sensible of the honor done me by the South Carolina society for promoting and improving agriculture and other rural concerns, when they were pleased to elect me to be of their body:  and I beg leave, through you, Sir, to convey to them my grateful thanks for this favor.  They will find in me, indeed, but a very unprofitable servant.  At present, particularly, my situation is unfavorable to the desire I feel, of promoting their views.  However, I shall certainly avail myself of every occasion, which shall occur of doing so.  Perhaps I may render some service, by forwarding to the society such new objects of culture, as may be likely to succeed in the soil and climate of South Carolina.  In an infant country, as ours is, these experiments are important.  We are probably far from possessing, as yet, all the articles of culture for which nature has fitted our country.  To find out these, will require abundance of unsuccessful experiments.  But if in a multitude