the assiduity you can.  That language and the English covering nearly the whole face of America, they should be well known to every inhabitant, who means to look beyond the limits of his farm.  I like well the distribution of your time, mentioned in your letter of March the 18th; and the counsels of Mr. Wythe, so kindly extended to you, leave it necessary for me to add nothing of that kind.  Be assiduous in learning, take much exercise for your health, and practise much virtue.  Health, learning, and virtue, will insure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem, and public honor.  Beyond these, we want nothing but physical necessaries, and they are easily obtained.  My daughters are well, and join me in love to yourself, your mother, brothers, and sisters.

I am, with very sincere esteem, Dear Peter, your affectionate

friend,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CXLII.—­TO THE COMTE DE BERNSTORFF, June 19, 1788

TO THE COMTE DE BERNSTORFF.

Paris, June 19, 1788.

I had the honor of addressing your Excellency, by Admiral Paul Jones, on the 21st of January, on the subject of the prizes taken under his command during the late war, and sent into Bergen.  I communicated at the same time a copy of the powers which the Congress of the United States of America had been pleased to confide to me therein, having previously shown the original to the Baron de Blome, Envoy Extraordinary of his Majesty, the King of Denmark, at this court; and I furnished, at the same time, to Admiral Paul Jones, such authority as I was empowered to delegate, for the arrangement of this affair.  That officer has transmitted me a copy of your Excellency’s letter to him of the 4th of April, wherein you are pleased to observe, that the want of full powers on his part was an invincible obstacle to the definitive discussion of this claim with him, and to express your dispositions to institute a settlement at this place.  Always assured of the justice and honor of the court of Denmark, and encouraged by the particular readiness of your Excellency to settle and remove this difficulty from between the two nations, I take the liberty of recalling your attention to it.  The place of negotiation proposed by your Excellency, meets no objection from us, and it removes, at the same time, that which the want of full powers in Admiral Paul Jones had produced in your mind.  These full powers Congress have been pleased to honor me with.  The arrangement taken between the person to be charged with your full powers and myself, will be final and conclusive.  You are pleased to express a willingness to treat at the same time on the subjects of amity and commerce.  The powers formerly communicated on our part, were given to Mr. Adams, Doctor Franklin, and myself, for a limited term only.  That term has expired, and the other two gentlemen returned to America; so that no person is commissioned at this