Today, the Jefferson Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin remembers a letter written by the gentleman to Mr. R. Izard 232 years ago.
That era did not have the technology of today but they still had ways to spy on communications.
Plus, they did have their new “technology,” in this case men attempting flight in balloons.
The letter’s addressee, Mr. Izard, was a prominent South Carolinian who was active in politics both before and after the Constitution.
From The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, edited by H. A. Washington, published in 1853:
=====
To R. Izard. Paris, September 26, 1785.
Dear Sir, —
I received, a few days ago, your favor of the 10th of June, and am to thank you for the trouble you have given yourself, to procure me information on the subject of the commerce of your State.
I pray you also, to take the trouble of expressing my acknowledgments to the Governor and Chamber of Commerce, as well as to Mr. Hall, for the very precise details on this subject, with which they have been pleased to honor me.
Your letter of last January, of which you make mention, never came to my hands.
Of course, the papers now received are the first and only ones which have come safe.
The infidelities of the post offices, both of England and France, are not unknown to you.
The former are the most rascally, because they retain one’s letters, not choosing to take the trouble of copying them.
The latter, when they have taken copies, are so civil as to send the originals, resealed clumsily with a composition, on which they have previously taken the impression of the seal.
England shows no dispositions to enter into friendly connections with us.
On the contrary, her detention of our posts, seems to be the speck which is to produce a storm.
I judge that a war with America would be a popular war in England.
Perhaps the situation of Ireland may deter the ministry from hastening it on.
Peace is at length made between the Emperor and Dutch.
The terms are not published, but it is said, he gets ten millions of florins, the navigation of the Scheldt not quite to Antwerp, and two forts.
However, this is not to be absolutely relied on.
The league formed by the King of Prussia against the Emperor, is a most formidable obstacle to his ambitious designs.
It certainly has defeated his views on Bavaria, and will render doubtful the election of his nephew to be King of the Romans.
Matters are not yet settled between him and the Turk.
In truth, he undertakes too much. At home he has made some good regulations.
Your present pursuit being (the wisest of all) agriculture, I am not in a situation to be useful to it.
You know that France is not the country’s most celebrated for this art.
I went the other day to see a plough which was to be worked by a windlass, without horses or oxen.
It was a poor affair.
With a very troublesome apparatus, applicable only to a dead level, four men could do the work of two horses.
There seems a possibility that the great desideratum in the use of the balloon may be obtained.
There are two persons at Javel (opposite to Auteuil) who are pushing this matter.
They are able to rise and fall at will, without expending their gas, and they can deflect forty-five degrees from the course of the wind.
I took the liberty of asking you to order me a Charleston newspaper.
The expense of French postage is so enormous, that I have been obliged to desire that my newspapers, from the different States, may be sent to the office for Foreign Affairs at New York; and I have requested of Mr. Jay to have them always packed in a box, and sent by the French packets as merchandise, to the care of the American consul at L’Orient, who will send them on by the periodical wagons.
Will you permit me to add this to the trouble I have before given you, of ordering the printer to send them, under cover to Mr. Jay, by such opportunities by water, as occur from time to time.
This request must go to the acts of your Assembly also.
I shall be on the watch to send you anything that may appear here on the subjects of agriculture or the arts, which may be worth your perusal.
I sincerely congratulate Mrs. Izard and yourself, on the double accession to your family by marriage and a new birth.
My daughter values much your remembrance of her, and prays to have her respects presented to the ladies and yourself.
In this I join her, and shall embrace with pleasure every opportunity of assuring you of the sincere esteem, with which I have the honor to be, dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant.
=====
The Jefferson Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin shows with an image of Ralph Izard by artist John Trumbull, circa 1793.
