William Short to Willam Smith, 5 August 1786

Your letter of the 18^th. ult^o. was delivered me a few days ago, my dear Sir, by M^r Trumbull. I should have answered it by the last post, but learning at the same time that M^r. Lediard would set off for London to-morrow I determined rather to commit it to his care.

Espagnol has entered into M^r Jefferson's service as a Valet de chambre; & Petit is promoted to the Rank of Maitre d'hotel: these changes took place about a month ago in consequence of embezzlements & depredations committed by _^^{Monr Mark} the late Controller of Finances in his department. Petit's honesty had long been well known & his abilities which alone were questionable at present stand acknowledged— He would have suited you à merveille; but I do not think that Espagnol, notwithstanding his honesty & his good dispositions are I am sure equal to Petit's, would answer your purpose even if the Service in which he is at present engaged permitted the subject to be mentioned to him. M^r. Jefferson is of the same opinion or I am sure he would relinquish any right he may have, in your favor. I take it however that Espagnol though an excellent Valet de chambre is entirely without experience in the Line in which you would wish him to move. Would you not do better to get a Cook from Paris than a Maitre d'hotel? determine this matter for yourself; viz. in concert with her who makes with you but one & the same person, & give me your orders thereon. I will make every exertion Sir to procure for you such a Servant as you should chuse^wish— you have only to mark out the qualities that you would chuse in him.

The M^r. Jackson whom you mention, I never heard of before & suppose he has been born & begotten in some London Garret. I think M^r. Barclay therefore will have nothing to fear at least from him— & as for his Aid de Camp I think he has little to fear or hope from any body— you allow them two years to return in— their movements are out of my calculation altogether; for as M^r. B— offers his Services to go to Constantinople or any where else that his abilities may be useful; perhaps he may be engaged to pass the rest of his life in going about doing good. you know he has had the example of this set about 1786 years ago. I know not at what rate he travelled, but certain it is that M^r. B— ought to travel much faster, since as there was no Post established in those days, the last of them were obliged to voyage about on mules & asses.—

Our Friend David has written a letter to M^r Jefferson— but not to me— I hope he will do me the pleasure by the next Packet— his letter contains a mixture of good & bad news— he says nothing of himself: this I suppose he reserves for me, & it is what I am most anxious to be informed about.— The Interest which you seem to take in my welfare, my dear Sir, & which I am sure is sincere, forces me to quiet the uneasiness which friendship naturally inspires when the object is supposed to stand in jeopardy every hour. I am much obliged to you for communicating the fears because I find it fully in my power to remove them by a number of different ways— the last will be to tell you that my manner of passing my time is precisely that which you recommend— one day is a repetition of another & each is passed in exercise, & in the conversation of our good & amiable Friend. no inducement was necessary to make me seek his society— it has long been the source of my greatest pleasure: if it was so in Virginia it is not strange that it should be still more at Paris— This scene is now & then varied by visits to my Friends in the country, & most commonly with him: perhaps it is some of these Friends in the country that occasion your fears— be assured Sir you have nothing to fear— although I am much attracted to my Friends every where, yet no attachements in France can ever weaken those already formed^{in youth}, strengthened by habit, & approved by reflexion, I mean the attachments to a free country, & sincere friends. Notwithstanding Sir that I stand in no need of a Visit to London, as we both supposed the Col^o. did, yet it would give me so much pleasure, that of other circumstances squared with my wishes you would see me in that Enemy's country— for whilst in London I could never persuade^divest myself of the Idea of being under a flag of Truce as then in the Lines of the Enemy except when at your house or M^rAdam's which the Laws of Nations make a part of the Territory of the United States. I reserve for a future letter an answer to the first post of your's on political Subjects. In the mean Time Sir do me the Honor to present me to your amicable Lady & be assured of the Sentiments of the warmest Attachment of

Your Friend & Serv^t