for them, although I shall be obliged to allow a discount. If I sell for
paper, I throw away more than half, so rapid is the depreciation; nor do
I know that it will be received long. I sold a bill to Blodget at five
for one, which was looked upon as high at that time. The week after I
received it, two emissions were taken out of circulation, and the
greater part of what I had proved to be of that sort; so that those to
whom I was indebted are obliged to wait, and before it becomes due, or
is exchanged, it will be good for--as much as it will fetch, which will
be nothing, if it goes on as it has done for this three months past. I
will not tire your patience any longer. I have not drawn any further
upon you. I mean to wait the return of the Alliance, which with longing
eyes I look for. God grant it may bring me comfortable tidings from my
dear, dear friend, whose welfare is so essential to my happiness that it
is entwined around my heart, and cannot be impaired or separated from it
without rending it asunder.
I cannot say that I think our affairs go very well here. Our currency
seems to be the source of all our evils. We cannot fill up our
Continental army by means of it. No bounty will prevail with them. What
can be done with it? It will sink in less than a year. The advantage the
enemy daily gains over us is owing to this. Most truly did you prophesy,
when you said that they would do all the mischief in their power with
the forces they had here.
My tenderest regards ever attend you. In all places and situations, know
me to be ever, ever yours.
AUTEUIL, 5th September, 1784.
_My, Dear Sister_:
Auteuil is a village four miles distant from Paris, and one from Passy.
The house we have taken is large, commodious, and agreeably situated
near the woods of Boulogne, which belong to the King, and which Mr.
Adams calls his park, for he walks an hour or two every day in them. The
house is much larger than we have need of; upon occasion, forty beds may
be made in it. I fancy it must be very cold in winter. There are few
houses with the privilege which this enjoys, that of having the salon,
as it is called, the apartment where we receive company, upon the first
floor. This room is very elegant, and about a third larger than General
Warren's hall. The dining-room is upon the right hand, and the salon
upon the left, of the entry, which has large glass doors opposite to
each other, one opening into the court, as they call
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