of these, we make one useful acquisition, it repays our trouble.  Perhaps it is the peculiar duty of associated bodies, to undertake these experiments.  Under this sense of the views of the society, and with so little opportunity of being otherwise useful to them, I shall be attentive to procure for them the seeds of such plants, as they will be so good as to point out to me, or as shall occur to myself as worthy their notice.  I send at present, by Mr. McQueen, some seeds of a grass, found very useful in the southern parts of Europe, and particularly, and almost solely, cultivated in Malta.  It is called by the names of Sulla, and Spanish St. Foin, and is the Hedysarum coronarium of Linnaeus.  It is usually sown early in autumn.  I shall receive a supply of fresher seed this fall, which I will also do myself the honor of forwarding to you.  I expect, in the same season, from the south of France, some acorns of the cork oak, which I propose for your society, as I am persuaded they will succeed with you.  I observed it to grow in England, without shelter; not well indeed; but so as to give hopes that it would do well with you.  I shall consider myself as always honored by the commands of the society, whenever they shall find it convenient to make use of me, and beg you to be assured, personally, of the sentiments of respect and esteem, with which I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XI.—­TO W. T. FRANKLIN, May 7, 1786

TO W. T. FRANKLIN.

Paris, May 7, 1786.

Dear Sir,

On my return from a two months’ visit to England, I found here your favor of January the 18th.  This contains the latest intelligence I have from America.  Your effects not being then arrived, gives me anxiety for them, as I think they went in a vessel, which sailed from Havre the 11th of November.  In this vessel, went also the two Mr. Fitzhughs of Virginia, with the Prussian treaty, our papers relative to the Barbary States, with the despatches for Congress, and letters which I had been writing to other persons in America for six weeks preceding their departure.  I am obliged to you for the information as to Dr. Franklin’s health, in which I feel a great interest.  I concur in opinion with you, that in the present factious division of your State, an angel from heaven could do no good.  I have been sorry, therefore, from the beginning, to see such time as Dr. Franklin’s wasted on so hopeless a business.  You have formed a just opinion of Monroe.  He is a man whose soul might be turned wrong side outwards, without discovering a blemish to the world.  I wish with all my heart, Congress may call you into the diplomatic line, as that seems to have attracted your own desires.  It is not one in which you can do any thing more, than pass the present hour agreeably, without any prospect to future provision.  Perhaps the arrangements