Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER CLXXIV.—­TO MR. SHORT, December 8, 1788

TO MR. SHORT.

Paris, December 8, 1788.

Dear Sir,

My last to you was of the 21st of November, addressed to Milan, poste restante, according to the desire expressed through Mrs. Paradise.  I have lately received yours of the 19th of November, and sincerely felicitate you on your recovery.  I wish you may have suffered this to be sufficiently established before you set out on your journey.  The present letter will probably reach you amidst the classical enjoyments of Rome.  I feel myself kindle at the reflection, to make that journey; but circumstances will oblige me to postpone it at least.  We are here under a most extraordinary degree of cold.  The thermometer has been ten degrees of Reaumur below freezing:  this is eight degrees of Fahrenheit above zero, and was the degree of cold here in the year 1740.  The long continuance of this severity, and the snow now on the ground, give physical prognostications of a hard winter.  You will be in a privileged climate, and will have had an enviable escape from this.  The Notables are not yet separated, nor is their treasonable vote against the people yet consolidated; but it will be.  The parliament have taken up the subject, and passed a very laudable vote in opposition.  They have made it the occasion of giving sketches of what should be a bill of rights.  Perhaps this opposition of authority may give the court an option between the two.  Stocks are rising slowly, but steadily.  The loan of 1784 is at thirteen loss; the caisse d’escompte, four thousand and seventy-five.  The Count de Bryenne has retired, and M. de Puysegur succeeded to his place.  Madame de Chambonois (sister of M. de Langear) is dead of the small-pox.  Pio is likely to receive a good appointment in his own country, which will take him from us.  Corn is likely to become extremely scarce in France, Spain, and England.  This country has offered a premium of forty sous the quintal on flour of the United States, and thirty sous the quintal on our wheat, to be brought here between February and June.

General Washington writes me, that industry and economy begin to take place of that idleness and extravagance which had succeeded the close of the war.  The Potomac canal is in great forwardness.  J. M. writes me word, that Mr. Jay and General Knox are talked of in the Middle States for Vice-Presidents, but he queries whether both will not prefer their present births.  It seems agreed, that some emendations will be made to the new constitution.  All are willing to add a bill of rights; but they fear the power of internal taxation will be abridged.  The friends of the new government will oppose the method of amendment by a federal convention, which would subject the whole instrument to change, and they will support the other method, which admits Congress, by a vote of two thirds, to submit specific changes to the Assemblies, three fourths of whom must concur to establish them.