I have recd. your Letter of the 25 Novr1— Altho the Privations you voluntarily submit to, exceed the “ne quid nimis”2 of the wise men, yet they evince a sound mind, and will I hope tend to preserve it long in a sound Body.

My Inquiries respecting Speltz were in Terms too general. To sow wheat here, is like taking a Ticket in a Lottery—more blanks than prizes—the Fly destroys more than we reap.3 A Substitute therefore is desireable; and if Speltz, like Rye, escapes the Ravages of that Insect, it might be a good one.—I did not recollect that it required a particular Process for cleaning.— as we have no mill here adapted to that purpose, it would be useless to introduce it.

From your description of the Rye sent to you from France, it appears far to exceed the kind we have. I wish that, instead of dividing it, you had sowed the whole in your own ground, and distributed parcels of the Increase.

It is said that the Quality of Rye depends greatly on that of the Soil. The prevailing Opinion among us is, that the Rye of this Country is all of one and the same Species, and yet in some ^places^ the Rye Bread is excellent, and in others black and strong. The weight and Quality of the Rye you mention lead me to suspect that it is of another Species, or a distinct Variety. I doubt there being danger of its depreciating, unless sown too near our own, or in particular cases of neglect. I know but of one kind of Grain which, notwithstanding good Management, depreciates here; and that is oats.—

The Cause of the Tunisians has been well defended— In my mind they stand more than acquitted— they have derived Credit from the Investigation of their Character. Be so good as to save for me a Ram and two Ewes of your next Lambs—4 but for the Dogs, I should like to begin with a greater number— They who write on Subjects which, like that of Husbandry in its various Branches, demand Accuracy as to Facts, and candid well informed Judgment as to the Conclusions drawn from them, should sometimes doubt, and stop, and reflect, and inquire. From your Review of the Piece alluded to, the author and others may deduce a useful Lesson. The Page you suppressed would have stung many more than it would have reformed. Whenever Demagogues mislead the mass of Electors, and govern public opinion and public affairs, partial Interests and not the general Good, will be the most consulted, and the best provided for. Certainly all is not right in our country— but on what Country can we cast our Eyes, and see and say that all is right?— Every form of Government has a peculiar Class of Evils attached to it— and our’s is not exempt.—

I am glad your 2d Volume will soon be published.5 I expect to read it with pleasure, especially as there has been a Hand in it, which can make “a Goose Quill” diffuse the “utile” and the “dulce” thro’ many a Page. I suppose a number will be printed for Sale— if so, be so obliging as to desire the Bookseller to send for me Six Sets, (comprehending both volumes) directed to my Son Peter Augustus Jay at New York, and to name to him some person there to recieve the price of them. I mean to place a Set in our town Library, and to distribute others among certain Persons in the Neighbourhood, who in my opinion would make proper use of them.—

among the accounts you recieved from Doctr. Logan, there are some which I did not expect— particularly those which respect the relative State of the Agriculture and manufactures of England. In the present violent Fluctuation of European affairs, it does not appear to me extraordinary that Bullion should occasionally be scarce, and Paper depreciate, even in England. I suspect it to be merely occasional and transient, for I have heard of no adequate Cause which could produce and continue to produce such Effects— I have some Reason to believe that the Idea of “dividing” is not a new one. If the micrometer is practically accurate, the Inventor has done more than I should have expected.—

Civil Discord it seems, is assigning to Spanish america, a part in the prodigious Tragedy which is exhibiting on the Theatre of the world. We have seen and heard of strange things, and unless you should take your “French Leave” before the Curtain drops, you will doubtless see and hear of many more. I expect to take my Leave more deliberately, but probably more early.—be that as it may— it is a comfortable Reflection, that when we do, Hope will be the only article in Pandora’s Box that we shall take with us. Altho’ a little more indisposed than I lately was, yet I am still much less unwell than I was at this Time last Year— so that at present, there is some Prospect of my living to see further Proofs of the Perfectibility of human nature by modern Philosophers, and of the increased Illumination of this Age of Reason. Adieu my Dr Sir Yours sincerely