tranquil happiness of domestic life.  If her own experience has not yet taught her this truth, she has in its favor the testimony of one, who has gone through the various scenes of business, of bustle, of office, of rambling, and of quiet retirement, and who can assure her, that the latter is the only point upon which the mind can settle at rest.  Though not clear of inquietudes, because no earthly situation is so, they are fewer in number, and mixed with more objects of contentment, than in any other mode of life.  But I must not philosophize too much with her, lest I give her too serious apprehensions of a friendship I shall impose on her.  I am with very great esteem, Dear Sir, your sincere friend and servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XXXV.—­TO MR. CARMICHAEL, December 26,1786

TO MR. CARMICHAEL.

Paris, December 26,1786.

Dear Sir,

A note from me of the 22nd of September apprized you it would be some time before I should be able to answer your letters.  I did not then expect it would have been so long.

I enclose herein a resolution of Congress recalling Mr. Lambe, which I will beg the favor of you to have delivered him.  I have written to Mr. Adams on the subject of directing him to settle with Mr. Barclay, and attend his answer.  In the mean time, I am not without hopes Mr. Barclay has done the business.  I send also a note desiring Mr. Lambe to deliver you his cipher:  and a copy of a letter from the minister of finance here to me, announcing several regulations in favor of our commerce.

My Notes on Virginia, having been hastily written, need abundance of corrections.  Two or three of these are so material, that I am reprinting a few leaves to substitute for the old.  As soon as these shall be ready, I will beg your acceptance of a copy.  I shall be proud to be permitted to send a copy also to the Count de Campomanes, as a tribute to his science and his virtues.  You will find in them, that the Natural Bridge has found an admirer in me also.  I should be happy to make with you the tour of the curiosities you will find therein mentioned.  That kind of pleasure surpasses much, in my estimation, whatever I find on this side the Atlantic.  I sometimes think of building a little hermitage at the Natural Bridge (for it is my property), and of passing there a part of the year at least.

I have received American papers to the 1st of November.  Some tumultuous meetings of the people have taken place in the eastern States; i.e. one in Massachusetts, one in Connecticut, and one in New Hampshire.  Their principal demand was a respite in the judiciary proceedings.  No injury was done, however, in a single instance, to the person or property of any one, nor did the tumult continue twenty-four hours in any one instance.  In Massachusetts this was owing to the discretion which the malcontents still